New Standard for Electric Motorcycle Range

The new City Riding Range Test Procedure for Electric Motorcycles was developed to establish a consistent method for defining the range of electric motorcycles under real-world conditions.

By using a standardized procedure, consumers will be able to accurately compare the range of electric motorcycles. Until now, electric motorcycle manufacturers used different methods for calculating the range of their products, making it difficult for consumers to compare them against each other. Previous methods of measurement were also based on unrealistic conditions, such as traveling on flat terrain at a constant speed.

“Widespread adoption of this new standard could really help shoppers who are looking to purchase an electric motorcycle,” says Larry Little, chairman of the MIC board of directors. “The MIC is the perfect place to unite various stakeholders and reach consensus on workable test procedures that will benefit both consumers and manufacturers.”

The MIC’s procedure is based on a similar standard used for electric cars under federal and California regulations. The procedure measures a vehicle’s range in miles or kilometres under stop-and-go operation in urban areas over a variety of road and traffic conditions.

The City Riding Range Test Procedure will measure a vehicle’s range by starting with a fully charged battery and riding until it can no longer maintain an established speed. The procedure establishes two such speed requirements. Higher-powered electric vehicles will be measured by riding with a top speed of 56.7 mph and an average speed of 19.6 mph. Electric vehicles with a top speed between 20 mph and 56.7 mph will be measured while maintaining an average speed of 17.7 mph and traveling under 36.5 mph. Electric vehicles with a top speed below 20 mph will not be measured under the MIC’s standard.

The new standard was established by the MIC’s Electric Vehicle Task Force which includes representatives from electric motorcycle manufacturers Brammo, Quantya and Zero, as well as other OEMs, distributors and MIC members.

“It’s vital for electric motorcycle manufacturers to have standards that we can agree on and that customers will find useful,” says Scot Harden, vice president of global marketing for Zero Motorcycles. “We appreciate the much-needed efforts of the MIC, and everyone connected with the Electric Vehicle Task Force, as more and more electric motorcycles emerge on the market.”