Many new electric vehicles have hit the marketplace in the past few years, and their popularity is growing fast. This post lists some of the non-car—two-wheeled or three-wheeled—electric (or hybrid) vehicles that are now available or are expected to be available soon. These vehicles have a wide range of prices, from very affordable to pretty pricey. Think of how much gas you could avoid buying (and burning) if you were to use one of these instead of driving a car!
The following vehicles are currently in production and are available to buy:
BMW
C Evolution electric maxi-scooter
(only manufactured and sold in Europe, so far)
Bolt Motorbikes
M-1 electric, pedal-able moped
Brammo
High-speed electric motorcycles: Empulse and Enertia models
KTM
Freeride E off-road electric motorcycle
Mission Motorcycles
Mission R and Mission RS models: High-performance, high-speed, high-priced electric motorcycle
Segway
Two-wheeled, standing, “Personal Transporter” electric vehicles
(an off-road version is available; and a three-wheeled version is available for law enforcement patrol use)
Switch Vehicles
Three-wheeled electric vehicles
Trikke
Three-wheeled, electric “carving vehicles”—essentially standing scooters (but with sort of a roller-blade or ski-like feel)
(Trikke also makes non-electric, human-powered scooters)
ZAP Jonway
Various electric motorcycles, scooters, and foot scooters
(as well as electric cars, trucks, and a minivan)
Zero Motorcycles
4 models of high-performance electric motorcycles
In addition, there are also many brands of electric bicycles and electric bike DIY kits. (Click on that link to see listings of a wide range of other Light Electric Vehicles (LEVs), as well, including other motorcycles and scooters, and various types of velomobiles.) The ELF is a particularly cool, solar-electric and pedal-powered hybrid, covered tricycle that has cargo room.
The following are alternative vehicles that are currently in development; they’re in the prototype phase, and they’re expected to be mass-produced in the near future. Some of these companies are currently taking reservations from people who want to be the first to buy these vehicles when they become available.
Elio Motors
Three-wheeled, enclosed electric vehicle
Green Lite Motors
Three-wheeled, two-passenger, 100MPG, enclosed, hybrid vehicle
Halfbike
Standing, folding, three-wheeled, human-powered bike
Harley-Davidson
Livewire electric motorcycle
Lit Motors
Two-wheeled, enclosed electric vehicle: C-1 and Kubo (cargo) models
Sway Motorsports
Three-wheeled, tilting, scooter-like electric vehicle
Toyota i-Road
Three-wheeled, enclosed electric vehicle
(currently in limited production in Japan and being used for a car-share fleet in Europe; not for sale to individuals at this point)
Have you tried riding/driving any of these yet? Do you know of other two- or three-wheeled electric or hybrid vehicles?
{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
I just remember a tweet from Bill McKibben saying that Harley’s new electric, “sounds like a jet fighter.” Why is that not a surprise?