Price, range, charging: How to choose your electric two-wheeler?

Choosing an electric scooter or motorcycle is not an easy task. Here’s what you need to know to avoid making mistakes.

An electric two-wheeler, okay, but which one? Many people ask themselves this question given the wide range of options and models available. The relatively new nature of the technology also raises questions and concerns. Here is an overview of the current situation to help clarify things.

50, 125, motorcycles accessible with a license: what are the options in the electric two-wheeler market?

The 50cc and 125cc segment offers the most electric scooters and motorcycles. Chinese models make up the majority of the offerings. Sometimes these are marketed by well-established brands on the Old Continent. Truly European productions—especially regarding assembly—are also gradually entering the market.

Electric two-wheelers requiring a proper motorcycle license—at least A2—are generally rarer. The number of manufacturers present in this market is quite limited. Examples include the Italian Energica, the American Zero Motorcycles, and the brand LiweWire, managed by Harley Davidson but now independent. It’s also worth mentioning the special case of BMW, which with its CE 04, offers one of the few electric scooters reserved for motorcycle license holders. Note that this model is also available in a 125cc equivalent.

Removable battery or fixed battery?

The removable battery definitively solves the issue of access to a charging point. Just take it out of the vehicle, carry it with you, and plug it into any household socket. Meanwhile, it is still possible to charge the scooter by plugging it in directly, without removing the battery.

To find a model with a removable battery, one must stick to the 50cc and 125cc segment. On more powerful vehicles, batteries are too heavy to be transported easily.

Within the 50cc family, a removable battery typically weighs around ten kilos. Many models offer an optional second battery for roughly double the range.

The situation is more complex in the 125cc electric family. More powerful and thus more energy-consuming, these models often come equipped with two removable batteries (each still weighing around ten kilos). They can also have a single, more powerful removable battery (generally around twenty kilos). On the Silence S01, the removable battery even weighs 40 kilos! Fortunately, it has small wheels and a large handle, similar to a suitcase.

Some 125cc models also feature a fixed battery (usually the most powerful ones). In the higher category (two-wheelers accessible with a motorcycle license), all models have fixed batteries. They are suitable only for owners with a garage or parking space with an outlet. When equipped with a type 2 plug, they can be charged faster at a charging station.

What range?

A 50cc model with a battery can generally travel about fifty kilometers on a full charge. With a second battery, the range is roughly doubled.

It’s more difficult to establish an average for the 125cc market, as models tend to vary more. However, most electric scooters and motorcycles with removable batteries typically have an average range between 70 and 100 km, although some models perform slightly better. On models with fixed batteries, the range often exceeds 100 km.

What price for an electric scooter or motorcycle?

Even today, an electric two-wheeler still costs more than an equivalent thermal-powered one. Purchase incentives (up to €900 with the national bonus) are detailed here.

For a mid-range 50cc, expect to pay roughly between €2,500 and €3,000. In the 125cc market, it’s hard to find models under €4,000. Many will require a larger investment; some even exceed €10,000. This is the case for example with the Ray 7.7 or the BMW CE 04 equivalent in a 125cc version. Large electric motorcycles start at around €20,000, but a LiveWire can reach €33,900 without options.

To give you a clearer idea of prices, we selected two popular models in each category:

Read also: Electric scooters and motorcycles: what are the available purchase aids?