Future of Electric Two-Wheelers
If you have watched the cult classic movie “2001: A Space Odyssey” and understood the Monolith’s then probably you would understand this line by Nietzsche “ Man/Woman is the missing link between primitive apes and civilized human beings”. Before the wheel was invented, the commute was limited to foot and the individuals own stamina. But then some inquisitive man or woman invented the wheel and it has been a roller coaster ride since then. We now travel across all mediums air, water, and land.
But now when we look back at the last 100 years or so we do feel that maybe we could have done it a little better. We can’t at this point in time turn a blind eye to the fact that climate change is for real and we as citizens of this blue planet owe a mandatory tax to nature. Because for future generation to look back and not feel cheated by us, the time is now for us to embrace change. The commercially viable Electric Vehicle has arrived and embraced the new technology is the only way ahead.
From the not so efficient and badly designed 2W EV’s to the present day ones equipped with AI, GPS and Self Charging capability, the journey has been a long and fascinating one. Although there are still challenges and roadblocks ahead, still there now appears the development of an exclusive consensus for a strategic platform that could facilitate the next giant leap for mankind as a whole(Of course we will include those also who still feel climate change is a hoax).
In this blog, we try to throw light on the promising and exciting future of Electric Two-Wheelers and also at the same time bring forth the technical issues and financial roadblocks ahead in the buzzing EV 2W market.
What makes the future of Electric Two Wheeler ‘Promising!!’?
Background
Like Yin and Yang, Every new technology has to go through repeated cycles of development and improvement to reach a commercially viable state. The Yin/Yang cycles for the two-wheeler electric vehicles began as early as the 19th century. Through series of great and repeated efforts by technology enthusiasts, engineers and most importantly dreamers, the two-wheeler EV could finally be mass produced in 1996.
Peugeot Scoot’Elec was the first mass-produced two-wheeler EV. It generated power from Nickel-Cadmium batteries and had a range of 40 km. The advent of the 21st century witnessed the EV vehicles see eye to eye with their fossil eating and poison emitting counterparts. The first commercially viable and high-performance electric scooter was introduced in 2006 by Vectrix. But special mention has to be made of the electric car manufacturer Tesla which stood against all odds and delivered a commercially successful electric four-wheeler at a price much lower than the premium traditional offerings from the Industry giants. Today the water it seems has changed its course and we now see increasingly new as well as traditional automakers pegging their hopes on a greener electric future.
The following reasons may be attributed to this paradigm shift in approach:
Environment-Friendly:
As per the Paris Climate Control pact, developing countries like India, Brazil, And China are given certain liberties to meet energy needs by overusing coal, oil, and other natural resources. However, this comes at a huge environmental cost for us. But India is technologically apt now and has a transport infrastructure to support very fast adoption of electric vehicles. Especially in the overpopulated and congested Indian Cities, Electric 2W’s are ideal for maintaining at least normal levels of air pollutants. Electric two-wheelers are free of any tailpipe emissions and also produce much less noise.
We must remember that by saving environment today, we will save lives of tomorrow.
Read also: TVS To Unveil Electric Scooters and Motorcycles At Auto Expo 2018
Powerful Performance:
High-end Two Wheeler EV’s surpass the conventionally powered ones in performance. Today Electric 2W’s boast of Regenerative Braking System. Every time the rider applies brakes, The two-wheeler uses a feedback mechanism to recycle 6% of the battery charge. The battery comes equipped with fast charging modes and also they develop torque in an instant. Unlike the conventional two-wheelers, Instant torque in electric 2W’s helped them to generate 0 to 60 acceleration in the wink of an eye.
Low Maintenance:
Electric scooters and bikes demand very low maintenance cost. This is ideal for the Indian middle class or the working class. With electric two-wheelers, there are no conventional concerns like lubrication and tuning. The regenerative braking system also has a longer brake pad life. Also, the fuel cost advantage would be unfair to mention when comparing with traditional two-wheelers.
Smart Technology:
The Cloud-based data analytics, IOT, and AI have enabled electric 2 wheelers to be the smart vehicles of tomorrow. Now electric two-wheelers come equipped with AI that self-analyze the battery as well as overall conditions. Accordingly, alerts are sent to the owner via mobile apps. The two-wheeler EV’s come with following smart features:
- Self-learns and minimizes breakdowns.
- Determines a service plan based on individual owners riding behavior.
- Intelligent Collision Detection and Alert.
- Daily Analysis of Battery
- Geo-fencing enabled GPS
- Bluetooth
- Mobile charging Port
Better Design And Safety Features:
Modern-day Two wheeler EV’s are at par with conventional vehicles when it comes to exterior design as well as features like Projected headlamps, LED backlights, Great Storage capacity, Alloy wheels. In addition to this, they also come laden with driver specific safety features like:
- ABS
- Anti Theft GPRS/GPS
- Daily Alerts about weather condition, traffic etc.
Most EV’s have lifelong free Li-ion Battery rechargeable with a normal socket. Also, they are 100% water and dust protected.
Government Subsidies:
Manufacturing of modern-day Electric Vehicles involves a very high upfront cost. However, the Government of India’s plan to provide subsidies for hybrid and electric vehicles has to be appreciated in this regard. The Government’s approval to provide subsidies up to ₹ 150000 for cars and 50000 on two-wheelers is a step ahead towards a cleaner and noise free India. By 2020, Indian roads would boast of seven million electric vehicles. These kinds of visionary steps by a very fast growing economy is bound to inspire other developing and developed nations alike. India is at the forefront of becoming a world power in the next decade. A policy that supports a greener future will no doubt grant India a stronger voice at International forums.
Future of Electric Two-Wheelers
Bikes Reviews and Tips
If you have watched the cult classic movie “2001: A Space Odyssey” and understood the Monolith’s then probably you would understand this line by Nietzsche “ Man/Woman is the missing link between primitive apes and civilized human beings”. Before the wheel was invented, the commute was limited to foot and the individuals own stamina. But then some inquisitive man or woman invented the wheel and it has been a roller coaster ride since then. We now travel across all mediums air, water, and land.
But now when we look back at the last 100 years or so we do feel that maybe we could have done it a little better. We can’t at this point in time turn a blind eye to the fact that climate change is for real and we as citizens of this blue planet owe a mandatory tax to nature. Because for future generation to look back and not feel cheated by us, the time is now for us to embrace change. The commercially viable Electric Vehicle has arrived and embraced the new technology is the only way ahead.
From the not so efficient and badly designed 2W EV’s to the present day ones equipped with AI, GPS and Self Charging capability, the journey has been a long and fascinating one. Although there are still challenges and roadblocks ahead, still there now appears the development of an exclusive consensus for a strategic platform that could facilitate the next giant leap for mankind as a whole(Of course we will include those also who still feel climate change is a hoax).
In this blog, we try to throw light on the promising and exciting future of Electric Two-Wheelers and also at the same time bring forth the technical issues and financial roadblocks ahead in the buzzing EV 2W market.
What makes the future of Electric Two Wheeler ‘Promising!!’?
Background
Like Yin and Yang, Every new technology has to go through repeated cycles of development and improvement to reach a commercially viable state. The Yin/Yang cycles for the two-wheeler electric vehicles began as early as the 19th century. Through series of great and repeated efforts by technology enthusiasts, engineers and most importantly dreamers, the two-wheeler EV could finally be mass produced in 1996.
Peugeot Scoot’Elec was the first mass-produced two-wheeler EV. It generated power from Nickel-Cadmium batteries and had a range of 40 km. The advent of the 21st century witnessed the EV vehicles see eye to eye with their fossil eating and poison emitting counterparts. The first commercially viable and high-performance electric scooter was introduced in 2006 by Vectrix. But special mention has to be made of the electric car manufacturer Tesla which stood against all odds and delivered a commercially successful electric four-wheeler at a price much lower than the premium traditional offerings from the Industry giants. Today the water it seems has changed its course and we now see increasingly new as well as traditional automakers pegging their hopes on a greener electric future.
The following reasons may be attributed to this paradigm shift in approach:
Environment-Friendly:
As per the Paris Climate Control pact, developing countries like India, Brazil, And China are given certain liberties to meet energy needs by overusing coal, oil, and other natural resources. However, this comes at a huge environmental cost for us. But India is technologically apt now and has a transport infrastructure to support very fast adoption of electric vehicles. Especially in the overpopulated and congested Indian Cities, Electric 2W’s are ideal for maintaining at least normal levels of air pollutants. Electric two-wheelers are free of any tailpipe emissions and also produce much less noise.
We must remember that by saving environment today, we will save lives of tomorrow.
Read also: TVS To Unveil Electric Scooters and Motorcycles At Auto Expo 2018
Powerful Performance:
High-end Two Wheeler EV’s surpass the conventionally powered ones in performance. Today Electric 2W’s boast of Regenerative Braking System. Every time the rider applies brakes, The two-wheeler uses a feedback mechanism to recycle 6% of the battery charge. The battery comes equipped with fast charging modes and also they develop torque in an instant. Unlike the conventional two-wheelers, Instant torque in electric 2W’s helped them to generate 0 to 60 acceleration in the wink of an eye.
Low Maintenance:
Electric scooters and bikes demand very low maintenance cost. This is ideal for the Indian middle class or the working class. With electric two-wheelers, there are no conventional concerns like lubrication and tuning. The regenerative braking system also has a longer brake pad life. Also, the fuel cost advantage would be unfair to mention when comparing with traditional two-wheelers.
Smart Technology:
The Cloud-based data analytics, IOT, and AI have enabled electric 2 wheelers to be the smart vehicles of tomorrow. Now electric two-wheelers come equipped with AI that self-analyze the battery as well as overall conditions. Accordingly, alerts are sent to the owner via mobile apps. The two-wheeler EV’s come with following smart features:
- Self-learns and minimizes breakdowns.
- Determines a service plan based on individual owners riding behavior.
- Intelligent Collision Detection and Alert.
- Daily Analysis of Battery
- Geo-fencing enabled GPS
- Bluetooth
- Mobile charging Port
Better Design And Safety Features:
Modern-day Two wheeler EV’s are at par with conventional vehicles when it comes to exterior design as well as features like Projected headlamps, LED backlights, Great Storage capacity, Alloy wheels. In addition to this, they also come laden with driver specific safety features like:
- ABS
- Anti Theft GPRS/GPS
- Daily Alerts about weather condition, traffic etc.
Most EV’s have lifelong free Li-ion Battery rechargeable with a normal socket. Also, they are 100% water and dust protected.
Government Subsidies:
Manufacturing of modern-day Electric Vehicles involves a very high upfront cost. However, the Government of India’s plan to provide subsidies for hybrid and electric vehicles has to be appreciated in this regard. The Government’s approval to provide subsidies up to ₹ 150000 for cars and 50000 on two-wheelers is a step ahead towards a cleaner and noise free India. By 2020, Indian roads would boast of seven million electric vehicles. These kinds of visionary steps by a very fast growing economy is bound to inspire other developing and developed nations alike. India is at the forefront of becoming a world power in the next decade. A policy that supports a greener future will no doubt grant India a stronger voice at International forums.
Thanks so much!