Who said electrification was only for four-wheelers? Two-wheelers were in on the action at CES 2023 as several electric motorbikes and scooters grabbed eyeballs for their cool designs, innovative features, and strong performance. The wide range of offerings highlighted the growing maturity of the electric two- wheeler (e2W) market and underlined how concerns over transport-related carbon emissions have been adding impetus to market growth.
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- Swedish manufacturer Cake unveiled the new Åik platform, its first electric bike platform targeting the utility bike segment. The new eBike platform features long range with its three batteries offering a claimed range of 224 miles or higher with pedal assist. It joins Cake’s :work series portfolio that targets commercial customers.
- Finnish manufacturer Verge Motorcycles revealed the new TS Ultra hyper electric motorcycle which features a unique hubless electric motor that puts out 1200 Nm of torque and does 0-60 miles in 2.5 sec. The TS Ultra will go on sale by Q4 2023.
- Chinese company Yadea, the world’s largest e2W brand, made its CES debut by unveiling a range of high-speed straddle and pedal electric motorcycles, along with a complete ecosystem for electric vehicle product and services. A standout at CES 2023 was its first electric motorcycle, Keeness VFD.
- Marking its debut at CES was another Chinese company, Davinci Motor. The company displayed its high-performance electric motorcycle DC100 which offers power and top speed rivaling ICE superbikes. The DC100 is compatible with L3 fast chargers and offers a 400 km range. It packs 1000 chips and 200 sensors capable of self-balancing and self-riding.
- Japanese manufacturer Icoma went the origami way with a foldable electric motorbike, the Tatamel. The full-size electric motorbike can fold down into the size of a suitcase and the side panel can lift up to act as a makeshift desk. It features a 50cc equivalent electric motor and has a top speed of around 25kmph. Potentially targeting last mile, low speed commutes, it picked up a CES Innovation Award in the Vehicle Tech and Advanced Mobility category.
- India’s leading two- and three-wheeler manufacturer, Bajaj Auto Limited, showcased the Yulu eBike. Designed for short, intra city commutes and last mile delivery businesses, it has been built ground up to tackle challenging urban roads.
- Heybike exhibited a folding fat tire eBike with a unibody magnesium alloy frame which provides additional strength and adds to the design aesthetics. It features a 750W electric motor, internally routed cables, and multi-terrain tires.
- RCA Commercial Electronics launched its E-City line of eBikes and eScooters, marking the iconic brand’s foray into the electric transportation space. RCA’s eBikes and eScooters target a variety of riders, including adults and children. Retail sales are expected to begin Q2 2023.
- FLLUID-3, a long-range, step-through eBike, featuring a 1kWh battery for upto 110 miles of range was the new offering from FUELL Inc. It is powered by Valeo’s all-new 750W high performance electric motor with integrated 7 speed gearbox.
- Cryusher debuted a new lineup of fat tire eBikes with high-performance electric motors. The range includes high step eBikes, step-through eBikes, and the brand’s first low step, full suspension eBike.
To learn more, please access our research reports, Indian Electric Two-wheeler Growth Opportunities, Growth Opportunities for Global Premium Two-wheelers, Italian Two-wheeler Growth Opportunities, Strategic Analysis of the Global Electric Two- and Three-wheeler Battery Swapping Market, and Global Two-wheeler Outlook, 2022, or contact sathyanarayanak@frost.com for information on a private briefing.
Other e2W Technology
CarbonX announced the launch of a sustainable tire compound which boosts tire performance, is longer lasting, and environmentally friendly. Fast charging station startup, Chargepoly, emphasized its intention of expanding its geographic footprint via its US subsidiary. Notably, the startup was a recipient of the Innovation Award in the Vehicle & Transport Intelligence category at CES 2022. Qualcomm collaborated with Trek Bicycle to feature Spoke Mobility solution’s C-V2X technology on its #snapdragon Auto Connectivity Platform.
Our Perspective
CES 2023 demonstrated that the transition to e2Ws is gathering momentum. Stringent emissions regulations, improvements in charging infrastructure and battery technology, changing consumer perceptions, rising investments, inter-industry partnerships, and expanding use in various business models are providing a fillip to e2W market development.
France, the Netherlands, and Germany lead the fast-growing European e2W market, while the much larger Asian market is spearheaded by China, India, Vietnam, and Indonesia. As seen at CES 2023, several Asian e2W OEMs have their sights set on Europe and North America.
Inter-industry collaborations have characterized the overall electric mobility industry. Such partnerships are poised to continue, driving new product development, bolstering distribution and supply chain networks, and boosting e2W adoption. Illustrative of such strategic trends are the ten-year partnership between Polaris and Zero to manufacture and sell electrified off-road vehicles (ORVs) and snowmobiles using Zero’s powertrain technology, hardware and software or Damon Motorcycles’ strategic alliance with Colombian 2W manufacturer Auteco Mobility, to “deliver the world’s smartest, safest, connected electric motorcycles to the Latin American market.”
As has been evident in recent years, traditional two-wheeler OEMs will continue to push forward on green mobility. From Hero MotoCorp which recently launched a new electric mobility brand, Vida, to BMW Motorrad, Harley Davidson to Kawasaki, Yamaha to TVS Motors, it is clear that portfolio electrification will be a central theme in 2023.
Much like in 2022, we will see massive investments pour into the e2W space. Investors will look to the growth potential of e2Ws in new business models, such as ride sharing and last mile delivery. This will underline the emergence of a virtuous cycle where innovations across the ecosystem will generate exciting growth opportunities in new, tech-driven business models.
Cutting-edge tech and cool designs apart, what was clear in CES 2023 is that while electrification in the two-wheeler arena is yet to reach the levels or create the buzz of its four-wheeled counterparts, the trend towards hybrid and electric is here to stay.
