The variety of electric two-wheelers now being produced ranges from very portable, step-on scooters (intended for short urban journeys) to high performance, racing motorcycles, and everything in between. The dynamics of an electric powertrain would seem to suit the performance requirements of motorcycles and scooters, with smooth, instant torque delivery. Indeed, electric motorcycles have been successfully raced at the challenging, high-speed Isle of Man circuit and there is now a premiere class, e-motorcycle championship (FIM Enel MotoE World Cup).

However, engineers and manufacturers in this segment share much the same technical challenges in bringing electrified models to a mass market as their counterparts in the four-wheel sector. In fact, the limited space to package the powertrain in a motorcycle is arguably even more of a challenge, taking into account the size, weight and power density of the battery required to deliver acceptable levels of range and performance.