At a quick overview of two-wheel electric units, their division into three groups catches the eye immediately. Although, they are distinguished not only technically, but also ideologically.
First group
These are bicycles with an auxiliary electric drive extremely popular in Western Europe and Japan. They are fit with weak engines and modest capacity accumulators and, as a rule, are not able to move by only one electric traction. One has to pedal! And there are special sensors. Measuring an effort on pedals, they allow an electric motor to “harness” by heavy duties, for example, on rises. And the accumulator charge is replenished on descents.
Second group
These are electric scooters. Their turbulent proliferation is the contribution of the far-sighted government of China. It prohibited the use of two-wheel ICE units in megalopolises. Thus, it called into existence the entire industry of electric scooters and electric mini motorcycles production. Admittedly, a large part of this production has humble parameters from a technical point of view. However, the sharpened competition forces to refine production and extrudes electric bikes to the export markets to the much more experienced European and American consumers.
The attempts of creation of more powerful electric scooters still collapse. The super ambitious project Vectrix bankrupted. But it did not completely break off the interest in such type of mcies. For example, not long ago, the Republic of Korea concern S&T Motors (the brand name of Hyosung) introduced electric maxi-scooter GEM-4.0. But all the same, the hybrid technology seems more promising for the “maxi,” when an electric motor runs in a couple with ICE. The serial item of the type is produced by Piaggio (a trike MP3 Hybrid). Yamaha Motor Company threatens to master the production in union with the Toyota concern.
Third group
These are electric motorcycles. Its fundamental difference is “entertaining.” This group includes two varieties. The first one is represented by the off-road line. Its` most well-known representatives are American Zero MX and Swiss Quantya. Second is “electric” sport bikes such as American Zero Z, Mission One, and British Mavizen. There are Zero S mcy and modest Brammo Enertia resembling a sad workhorse somewhere halfway.
Just note
By the way, electric traction is more relevant for sports than for usual driving. In last decades both defenders of nature and ordinary citizens began the war against races. They are against noise and exhaust. Well, so get then a zero noise zero and a zero exhaust. Thus, it remains only to wait a bit and get used to the illusorily-noiseless movement. However, the last one is absolutely elective: the creators of electric mcies have already thought they must be equipped with sound synthesizers.