Europe Electric Scooters and Motorcycles Market Size & Share Analysis - Trends, Drivers, Competitive Landscape, and Forecasts (2024 - 2030)

Europe Electric Scooters and Motorcycles Market Trends & Drivers

Increasing Demand for High-Powered Electric Motorcycles

• The demand for high-powered electric motorcycles is increasing in the European region. Major manufacturers are offering electric motorcycles with motor power of more than 30 kW and have also announced their plans to launch models of higher motor power.
• Besides, various manufacturers of traditional petrol-based vehicles have announced their future strategy of launching high-powered electric motorcycles in the coming period. Thus, the increasing demand for electric motorcycles with high-power engines is one of the key trends observed in the European electric scooters and motorcycles market.

Increasing Sales of Electric Two-Wheelers Through E-Commerce

• The market is positively impacted by the growing sales of electric two-wheelers through e-commerce platforms. Online sales and purchasing activities have proved highly convenient for both buyers and sellers of electric scooters and motorcycles.
• In Europe, online mediums have also facilitated the sales of electric scooters and motorcycles by OEMs based outside the region.
• Besides, these mediums have proved quite effective in helping companies carry out their commercial operations and reach a larger pool of customers. This has also enabled consumers to gain access to a myriad of alternative brands to choose from and make informed purchase decisions.
• Most Chinese manufacturers sell their vehicles through e-commerce websites. For instance, Yadea sells its electric scooter models YD1200D-01 and YD-EM05 through websites named en.makepolo.com and sklep.auto-kowalczyk.pl.
• Similarly, Zero Motorcycles has registered considerable growth in sales through its website zeromotorcycles.com. Thus, online sales are fast gaining traction in the market.

Traffic Woes in Major European Cities

• The rising population in major European cities has led to an increased number of daily commuters, leading to significant road congestion, especially during peak hours. This traffic congestion is growing manifold across the region and causing considerable loss of time.
• While the adoption of car-sharing models has helped address the commuting needs of the general public, it has not solved the problem of traffic congestion, mainly associated with the heavy weight and large size of these cars.
• Moreover, as compared to a two-wheeler, a car takes more space on the road and also considerable space for parking.
• Thus, European countries are working toward introducing lightweight transportation alternatives to address the problems associated with these vehicles.
• This is also resulting in the increased demand for electric scooters and motorcycles, as they are lighter and smaller and prove a great alternative to ease congestion on roads and address the problem of traffic congestion in European countries.

Rising Concerns over GHG Emission Leading to Several Government Initiatives

• The accelerating rate of environmental degradation caused by greenhouse gas emissions has become a major concern for governments across the region.
• This has resulted in various government initiatives to reduce carbon emissions on a larger level. Thus, the increasing amount of exhaust fumes from automobiles, including scooters and motorcycles, is contributing significantly to the degradation of air quality in Europe.
• In the year 2023, it was estimated a decrease of almost 7% in carbon dioxide emissions as compared to the previous year. This demonstrates the advantage of using electric vehicles on the environment.
• Since road transport accounts for about 74% of the total transport greenhouse gas emissions, the European government is taking various initiatives to curb the growing pollution levels in the region.
• For instance, the government has incentivized the purchase of electric motorcycles and scooters to promote the adoption of environment-friendly vehicles in the region.
• The Italian government enacted legislation to provide subsidies on electric scooter purchases. Similarly, the Belgian government is providing such funding to support these initiatives.
• In this way, these initiatives by the government to enhance the adoption of EVs for the reduction of carbon emissions are propelling the market growth for electric motorcycles and scooters in the region.

Range Anxiety and Inadequate Infrastructure

• Range anxiety in customers is a major factor affecting the deployment and adoption of electric scooters and motorcycles across the region. Since the battery of an electric vehicle cannot store an equivalent amount of energy as a gasoline vehicle tank, electric scooters and motorcycles suffer a substantial disadvantage in terms of range.
• Most electric scooters have a lower range (less than 100 km) than their equivalent conventional scooters. Drivers often experience range anxiety for long-distance travel needs. This is primarily due to inadequate charging infrastructure across countries in Europe.
• To support a fully electric scooter and motorcycle fleet for transportation, the countries need to set up an adequate number of charging stations and battery-swapping stations.
• Since most countries are still not equipped with these charging stations, the adoption of electric scooters is affected to some extent, thus impacting the market growth.

Long Charging Time Is Foremost Challenges

• Longer time associated with the recharging of batteries used in electric scooters and motorcycles is another factor restraining the growth of the market in Europe.
• At present, electric scooters and motorcycles take about 3–5 hours to reach 80–100% of their battery charging capacity.
• Thus, the battery recharging of electric variants is quite time-consuming and slow as compared to conventional scooters and motorcycles, where fueling a vehicle requires a few minutes.
• Moreover, the charging of these vehicles must be guarded so as to avoid any damage to batteries. Besides, overcharging the battery may lead to permanent damage and the vehicle may no longer function properly.
• Thus, long charging time and the risks associated with the charging of batteries limit the adoption of electric scooters and motorcycles in the region to some extent, which, in turn, affects their market growth.

Europe Electric Scooters and Motorcycles Industry Outlook

Product Insights

• On the basis of product, the scooter category held the largest revenue share, of around 50%, in the electric scooters and motorcycles market in Europe in 2023, owing to low cost and weight.
• This is also due to the growing government support such as tax incentives and imposing hefty taxes on conventional fuel-based vehicles, across Europe.
• Additionally, these vehicles have good user experience with additional benefits such as the non-requirement of a driving license, insurance, inspections, and parking permits.

Based on product, the market is divided into the following categories:

• Scooter (Largest Category)
• Low-Powered Motorcycle
• High-Powered Motorcycle (Fastest-Growing Category)

Voltage Insights

During the forecast period, the market is expected to witness the fastest growth in the category of electric scooters and motorcycles having battery voltage of 72 V, in terms of volume. This is mainly due to growing consumer demand for high-speed vehicles, along with durable bodies and improved aesthetics.
Further, other voltage categories are:

• 48 V
• 60 V (Largest Category)
• 72 V (Fastest-Growing Category)
• 100 V and Above

Battery Insights

• Electric scooters and motorcycles equipped with Li-ion batteries accounted for around 75% sales volume in the European market in 2023.
• Till 2025, all-electric scooters and motorcycles in the region are expected to run on Li-ion batteries, mainly due to the rising demand for long-range high-powered two-wheelers, and gradually falling prices of these batteries.
• Moreover, Li-ion batteries have a high energy density, lightweight, long lifespans, fast charging time, low self-discharge, and customizable technology.

This segment is divided into further two categories:

• Sealed Lead Acid
• Li-Ion (Larger and Faster-Growing Category)

Geographical Analysis

Geographical Insights

• France held the largest share in the European electric scooters and motorcycles market during the historical period, accounting for around 35% volume share in 2023.
• However, Spain is expected to be the largest market for electric scooters and motorcycles in Europe during the forecast period, in terms of value. This is because the introduction of scooter sharing business is getting popular in major cities of the country.
• In addition, many new players have started their operations in Barcelona as the scooter culture is vibrant in the city. Additionally, the Spanish government is further taking initiatives on local and national levels to facilitate consumers to shift from conventional-based two-wheelers to electric variants, which is expected to benefit the market in the country during the forecast period.

Country level analysis:

• Austria
• Belgium
• France (Largest Country Market)
• Germany
• Italy
• Netherlands
• Spain (Fastest-Growing Country Market)
• Switzerland
• U.K.
• Rest of Europe

Competitve Analysis

The European electric scooters and motorcycles market was consolidated in nature, with the top four players accounting for a significant share in 2023. Number of operators in the European market has been rising. More than 100 companies operate in the market. Moreover, companies are focusing on product launches and geographical expansion to skyrocket their sales in different regions and countries.

European Electric Two Wheeler Companies News

• In October 2022, Niu Technologies announced the launch of its latest kick scooter, the KQi3 Max, with a maximum speed of 20 MPH.
• In December 2022, Astara Mobility S.L. and Silence signed a partnership agreement to distribute Silence products in Belgium and Luxembourg.
• In March 2023, LiveWire announced its appearance in the European market.