• Go Green - Have Fun!
Better still, electric motorcycles enjoy a 20% government grant
of up to £1500 and very low servicing costs due to having so few moving parts. In fact, practically the only consumable item they have in common with regular motorcycles is tyres.
Being electric means no tailpipe emissions, so no pollution, no direct CO2, virtually no noise and absolutely no road tax.
However, it also means having vast amounts of torque, so that twisting the throttle delivers instant power with no delays and no need to change down, as there's no gearbox!
Most electric motorcycles charge from a mains plug, and the larger ones connect to a domestic EV charger*, which are also found all over the UK at public charging sites. The batteries of many smaller machines can be removed and charged from any 13 amp mains socket, which gets around the problem of not having power close to where you park.
The first Tesla was launched over 12 years ago, only a year after the first iPhone, and they’ve both come a very, very long way. EVs (Electric Vehicles) have evolved significantly over the last decade to become increasingly practical and affordable, to the point where sales are more than doubling every year. Whilst there’s huge awareness around electric cars, there’s surprisingly little around electric motorcycles, and here at Spark Motos we’re working hard to fix that. . .
• Massive 100% Electric Choice - From Mopeds to Superbikes
Fortunately, there’s a massive choice of electric motorcycles spanning the whole spectrum from models for 16 year olds limited to 28 mph, right the way up to superbikes that can reach motorway speeds in under four seconds, and cover up to 200 miles on a single charge.
• A Big Cost Saving
Electric motorcycles cost very little to run - from under 1p per mile in electricity costs. To put that into perspective, it’s the same as
getting 500 miles from a gallon of petrol (based on £1.20 a litre and electricity at 15p per kWh).
Electric Motorcycles and scooters are the next step in motorcycle evolution. By combining the best aspects of a traditional motorcycle with today’s most advanced technology, Zero produces high performance electric motorcycles that are lightweight, efficient, fast off the line and fun to ride. Each motorcycle is optimized from the ground up to leverage the revolutionary Z-Force® electric powertrain and uses a specially designed rigid, aircraft-grade aluminium frame to minimize weight.
Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) affects petrol and diesel vehicles in central London.
It is costing £12.50 per day.
Electric Motorcycles and
Scooters are exempt from this charge.
What are they?
Designated areas where high polluting vehicles are either banned or face financial penalties. The London ULEZ charge for a pre-Euro 3 motorcycle is £12.50 per day and the zone will extend out to the 379 square miles inside the North and South Circular from 25th October 2021.
Why They Exist?
Petrol and diesel vehicles emit Nitrogen Dioxide, Sulphur Dioxide, Ozone, Carbon Monoxide and particulates that penetrate into the lungs and bloodstream. According to Public Health England, between 28,000 and 36,000 people die each year in the UK from air pollution, which causes a range of respiratory diseases, strokes and lung cancer. Although petrol and diesel vehicles are becoming cleaner, it's all relative and the only way to dramatically improve air quality is to eliminate the tens of millions of combustion engines in use across the UK.
Where They Exist?
Low Emission Zones are in place in London, Birmingham, Brighton, Glasgow, Leeds, Nottingham, Norwich and Oxford, with many more towns and cities due to follow. Whilst cars that meet Euro 6 standards and motorcycles that meet Euro 3 standards currently avoid the London ULEZ charge, over time, compliance will become stricter, daily charges will increase and zones will become larger.
Zero Tailpipe Emissions
Ultimately, the only way to avoid ULEZ charges is to not pollute, and Electric Vehicles are the most viable, convenient and cost effective way we can do that. When you buy an electric motorcycle you join a relatively exclusive community that represents less than 1% of the UK's 38m motorists.
Offboard Emissions
Until we generate all our electricity from renewable sources, even Electric Vehicles cause some pollution, however, there are several important points to bear in mind;
-
Electric Vehicles are around 90% efficient vs 40% for combustion engines, hence they use far less energy per mile travelled
-
47% of all electricity generated in the first quarter of 2020 was from renewable sources
-
Whilst the effectiveness of anti-pollution technology used in petrol and diesel vehicles deteriorates over time, EVs will only become cleaner as the Grid moves increasingly towards renewable sources
-
EVs have a minimal impact on public health as any pollution from the Grid is released many miles from population centres
