Electric motorcycles are more popular than ever, helping cyclists and replacing car rides along the way. The most important news about electric motorcycles of 2022. These stories have garnered millions of views from around the world, which has helped spread the word about electric motorcycles along the way.
Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, in fact, is one of the main stories of 2022. We never imagined this would spread to the world of electric bikes, but it just means we underestimated Ukrainian ingenuity.
Brave fighters from the Ukrainian Defense Forces have teamed up with Ukrainian e-bike manufacturer Delfast to create combat-ready electric bikes that may outsmart Russian ones.
Those fast and rugged electric motorcycles were not capable of covering rough terrain in near-silent operation, but were also equipped with NLAW (next-generation light armor weapons) rockets that destroy tanks. These rockets are specially designed to allow a single operator to destroy an enemy tank.
The guns are meant to be transported through men and infantry, but the 28-pound (12. 5 kg) rocket is a lot to be transported over long distances when carried on the back of an electric bike.
These portable anti-tank guns have proven to be a game-changer in Ukraine’s fight to protect its sovereign territory from a Russian takeover, but their use does not carry significant risk. They disclose the operator’s position and make him vulnerable to a quick recoil shot. But when supplied with an 80 km/h (50 mph) engine, the soldier can temporarily shoot with the gun and then escape, greatly reducing the risk.
E-bikes are equipment for good, helping cyclists exercise, get some fresh air, and avoid traffic. But when they were called to confront evil, they answered that call in Ukraine.
Of course, not all the news is good, such as Bolt’s abandonment of thousands upon thousands of shared electric motorcycles and scooters in cities across the United States.
The shared micromobility provider used a style similar to Lime and Bird, where floating electric bikes and electric scooters can be rented by the minute via a smartphone app.
The concept is sound, even if the economy has been shown to be breaking down, especially with so much competition on the ground.
When Bolt Mobility shut down operations in most cities overnight, those vehicles were deserted. We caught up with the original manufacturer who provided the electric motorcycles to Bolt Mobility to find out how they were looking to help. Element LEV, the electric bicycle manufacturer, was looking for municipalities in each and every domain where Bolt abandoned his team.
The manufacturer, which was able to unlock the vehicles, began working with each city separately to find a solution, either by making e-bikes public as part of a city-owned program or by seeking solutions of choice.
Iconic motorcycle company Indian partnered with equally iconic electric motorcycle manufacturer Super73 in spring 2022 to build an Indian-themed electric motorcycle known as eFTR Hooligan 1. 2.
A motorcycle license is not needed, as this new electric two-wheeler has been legally classified as an electric bicycle.
The Hooligan eFTR was largely based on Super73’s famous S2 electric motorcycle. Electrek editor Seth Weintraub and I were lucky enough to do some important miles on this bike when we rode it in Europe last fall.
We haven’t been able to test the Indian edition on the Hooligan 1. 2 eFTR, but it’s the smartest on our list.
As Indan explained, the motorcycle was modified by adding an inverted front fork, mid-height motorcycle-style handlebars, an LED headlight with an FTR-inspired wind deflector, and more competitive tires.
The eFTR Hooligan 1. 2 also got rid of the original front and rear fenders, lowered the battery to the bottom tube (which intensified forward balance) and added a gold chain to give it that original Indian motorcycle look.
This proposal for national tax credits for electric bikes would likely have failed before the final line, but Oregon stepped in with its own statewide reimbursement for electric bikes.
A new bill known as the 1994 Legislative Concept (LC) proposed by outgoing Oregon State Representative Karin Power to help offer discounts to e-bike buyers. Rep. Dacia Grayber was recently sent to sponsor the bill at the next session.
We still don’t know for sure if the refund will apply. But if that’s the case, it will offer up to $1,200 off max on e-bikes and up to $1,700 off shipping e-bikes.
There are a few other small qualification rules, such as the fact that motorcycles will have to charge at least $950, however, there are no income restrictions or other major barriers to access.
Oregon may soon enroll in other states like Vermont and New York that have implemented or are in the process of creating their own statewide e-bike reduction programs.
NIU is known for its hugely popular smart electric scooters, which have taken off in Asia and continue to show strong sales in the European and North American markets. But the company’s generation has also made its way into a wider diversity of lighter electric vehicles. One year, NIU introduced an electric motorcycle that caught the eye in the electric motorcycle industry.
The NIU BQi used a step-by-step design, but did so without resorting to a Dutch motorcycle design or anything resembling a vintage “women’s bike. “
The U-shaped frame made the bike less difficult to handle and less difficult to care for when the rear grille is loaded with a lot of weight or children.
Another merit of this exclusive framework is an exclusive way to buy batteries. Yes, “batteries” as plural. While the vast majority of e-bikes use a single detachable battery, NIU’s unique frame design makes it easy to install two batteries. And it was controlled to have compatibility with two batteries without looking for bulky or disproportionate ones.
The motorcycle was presented at a price of $ 1,999, ranking first in the valuable category of electric motorcycles.
Here are the five biggest electric motorcycle news of the year for 2022, but who knows what we’ll see next year.
As the e-bike industry continues to grow, we may have a plethora of new models, new technologies, or even new scandals waiting for next year. We expect more from the first two!
Micah Toll is a private EV enthusiast, a battery nerd, and one of Amazon’s bestsellers, DIY Lithium Batteries, DIY Solar Power, The Ultimate Guide to Electric Bikes, and The Electric Bike Manifesto.
The electric motorcycles that make up Micah’s existing riders are the $999 Lectric XP 2. 0, the $1,095 Ride1Up Roadster V2, the $1,199 Rad Power Bikes RadMission and the $3,299 Priority Current. But it’s a pretty changeable list these days.
You can send Micah’s advice to Micah@electrek. co, or to him on Twitter, Instagram, or TikTok.