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© Maeving
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© Maeving
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© BMW
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© BMW
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© Energica
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© Energica
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© Super Soco
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© Super Soco
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© Haymarket Media
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© Haymarket Media
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© Haymarket Media
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© Haymarket Media
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© Haymarket Media
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© Silence
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© Silence
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© Lightning
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© Lightning Motorcycles
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© Livewire
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© Livewire
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© Triumph
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© Triumph
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Going electric on two wheels is becoming increasingly more accessible, with both established brands and start-ups offering various innovative electric motorbikes, from bigger touring machines, to smaller city commuters.
The breadth of choice is growing dramatically, and with this in mind we thought we’d put together a list of some of the best electric two-wheelers on sale today.
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Maeving RM1
Don’t be fooled by its retro-looks. You see, the Maeving RM1 might look like a classic racer from yesteryear, but is in fact an electric motorcycle primed to take on the urban jungle. It’s certainly a looker, and thankfully it has the technology to go with its stylish aesthetic.
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The RM1 makes use of swappable battery technology and has a range of up to 80 miles – although that’s if you go for the dual-battery setup. Standard models have a top speed of up to 45mph, while the RM1S can do up to 65mph.
Prices start from £4995, but the 80-mile range model costs from £5990. The recently launched RM1S commands an even bigger premium at £7495.
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BMW CE 04
The futuristic machine arrived last year as BMW’s new flagship electric scooter, featuring a striking and angular exterior and extended wheelbase.Intriguingly, the CE 04 is fitted with a 8.9kWh battery with the cells taken from the German brand’s BMW-i electric car line-up.
The CE 04 has an 80-mile range, with a peak power output of 31kW. There is also a 23kW variant which can travel up to 62 miles on a charge. Using a wallbox charger the radical machine can be charged from 10-80% in under four hours.
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To ensure a stable and agile ride, BMW developed the CE 04 so that the batteries were placed low down in the chassis.
Prices start from £12,850, but BMW offers a number of optional packages which will likely increase the price to around £14-15,000.
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Energica Experia
Known for its range of electric sports bikes, Italian brand Energica branched out into the touring segment with its latest machine, the Experia.
Priced from £25,990, the Experia features a 22.5kWh battery, which Energical claims is the largest battery capacity of any electric motorbike on sale today.
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The battery’s chemistry was revised in order to boost capacity, with the Experia offering a city range of up to 261 miles, or 130 miles for extra-urban routes (mix of motorways and fast A-roads.)
The brilliant all-rounder features a lightweight frame and can be charged from 0-80% in 40 minutes using a DC fast charger.
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Super Soco TC Max
Want an affordable, stylish and easy to ride electric motorbike? There are plenty of options that have these qualities but a standout e-motorbike is the Super Soco TC Max.
With prices starting from £4499, the TC Max is one of the cheaper options in the urban e-motorbike market, with its low price making it a viable alternative to a petrol powered machine.
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Super Soco TC Max
The 125cc equivalent has a range of up to 60 miles, and features a removable battery for easier charging. The TC Max has a maximum output of 5kW, with a top speed of 60mph - that’s ideal for both urban and suburban jaunts.
Built using a carbon and steel frame, the lightweight Super Soco is ideal for city commute, and charging takes just 3-4 hours. And because its power is similar to a 125cc machine, you can ride it from 17-years-old on a CBT licence.
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Zero DSR/X
The American start-up has become a trailblazer in the e-motorbike sector, and pushed the boundaries further with the launch of the DSR/X adventure bike.
Blending urban and motorway cruising with off-road capabilities, the DSR/X is a great all-rounder that costs from £24,150. It gets the brand’s Z-Force motor that is paired with a 17.3kWh battery, allowing for a range of up to 134 miles; or 180 for city commuting.
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It features clever adjustable suspension, three storage compartments and a bespoke frame. Plug in to a level 3 standard charge and the battery can be topped up to 100% in two hours,
You can also add a rapid onboard charger and this drops the charging time down to one hour.
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Zero SR/S
Electric sports bikes are harder to come by in the e-motorbike world, but one of the more refined options which has excellent pace and performance is the Zero SR/S. In fairness, the SR/S is more of a sports tourer (GT motorbike), but if it were fitted with a petrol engine it would rival the likes of the Honda Fireblade or Ducati Panigale.
The SR/S is fitted with a 17.3kWh battery and 82kW electric motor, which allows for a top speed of up to 124mph. And thanks to its larger battery capacity, the SR/S has a claimed city range of up to 187 miles, or 124 miles for a mix of urban and motorway riding.
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While initial costs are high, the SR/S is cheaper to run than a petrol machine, and with its twist-and-go throttle it's very easy to ride in all environments.
The SR/S costs from £20,495 in the UK, but Zero offers a number of options which will likely push the price up to around £25,000.
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Livewire One
An electric Harley-Davidson?! While that might come as a shock to die-hard motorcyclists, its first attempt at an electric motorbike was a success. When it first launched it wore the Harley nameplate, but the fabled US motorbike brand split out LiveWire into a standalone EV-only company last year.
It uses a 15.4kWh battery and 75kW motor, helping the LiveWire on to a top speed of up to 110mph. Range is ok, with the combined figure of 95 miles – although the LiveWire has a claimed city range of up to 146 miles.
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The sleek and refined e-motorbike can be charged from 0-80% in around 40 minutes using a DC fast charger, and comes with Brembo brakes, and smartphone connectivity.
Prices for the LiveWire start from £22,990.
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Silence S01+
If you’re after an electric scooter that’s good for commuting or deliveries, the Silence S01+ is a great machine that even has the range for longer rides.
It features a clever removable battery pack which slides out the side of the machine and is easy to manoeuvre thanks to its trolley-like wheels and handle. Charging the S01+ is done via a three-pin socket and takes around 7 hours.
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The S01+ is based on the Silence S01 Connected model, but features a 5.6kWh removable battery and 7.5kW motor. This allows for a 0-30 mph time of just 3.9 seconds and a limited top speed of 62mph.
Prices for the range-topping S01+ start at £7475.
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Lightning LS-218
If sheer pace is all you want from an electric motorbike, the LS-218 is the go-to machine due to its superbike beating top speed figure of 218mph.
Boasting a peak power output of 180kW and a whopping 220lb ft of torque, the super-slick, aerodynamically-honed LS-218 is the second fastest electric motorbike yet made. It can even do 0-60mph in as little as 2sec.
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Range is good too at 180 miles - although the real-world range is more likely to come in at around 130-150 miles.
Such blistering performance comes at a pretty hefty cost though, with the LS-218 priced from $38,988 (£31,938). Lightning is also working on a daily commuter called the Strike, which is set to have a top speed of 150mph.
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Livewire S2 Del Mar
The Harley spin-off launched its entry-level model last year to sit under the brand's flagship Livewire One model, with the Del Mar costing from £18,990 in the UK. Its powered by a 63kW electric motor, which helps it achieve a 0-60mph time of 3.0sec. The new machine tops out at 103mph.
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The bike has a city range of up to 113 miles, but this drops to 70 miles for the highway range at an average speed of 55mph. Cruise around at an average speed of 70mph and this drops further to 43 miles.
Using a level 2 electric charger will replenish the Del Mar's battery in just over two hours.
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Bonus pick -Triumph TE-1
The striking all-electric TE-1 is based heavily on the British brand’s Speed Triple naked sports bike and was designed as a prototype to support the development of a fully electric production model.
While the TE-1 won’t make it to market, it will play a significant role in the development of the brand’s future electric motorbikes.
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It features a 15kWh battery and 130kW electric motor, helping it along to a top speed of 135mph and capable of 0-60mph time of just 3.6sec. Range is up to 100 miles.
Triumph claims the TE-1 takes just 20min to charge from 0-80% and weighs 220kg, citing a wild 795bhp per tonne power figure. Any future electric motorbike from Triumph will likely cost from £25,000 to £30,000.