Fleets on two wheels

The Motorcycle Industry Association’s Stevie Muir reports on the many benefits a bike fleet can bring an organisation

Where fleet vehicles will be operated by a single person, it makes sound commercial sense to opt for low or zero emission motorcycles or scooters. Not just because the capital outlay is much cheaper than a car, but because powered two wheelers enjoy generic benefits associated with motorcycling which can cut operating costs dramatically.
    
Ask any motorcyclist about the advantages of life on two wheels and they will tell you they are numerous. There’s the free or cheap parking, low running costs, cheaper insurance and tax, no congestion charge, access to selected bus lanes, time saved on journeys – not to mention the further benefits of reduced stress and a more fulfilling travel experience.

Nipping in and out of traffic
The more serious issue of traffic congestion is estimated by the CBI to cost the British economy around £25.3billion a year.  Motorcycles and scooters can move more easily through traffic, reducing journey times and therefore saving money for the companies which choose two wheels over four.
   
Whether you opt for petrol or electric will depend on operational needs, but there’s an increasing choice of both. A new breed of small motorcycles and scooters can do up to 160mpg, which speaks for itself in terms of emissions. The most successful and long running examples of using small motorcycles and mopeds in a fleet context are to be found within local authorities. Around 30 councils and voluntary organisations run Wheels to Work schemes, many of which began in the 1990s. Typically, these provide transport to young people living in isolated rural areas and are highly cost-effective, with good safety records. 

A penny per mile
Those wanting to cut their emissions to zero will benefit from energy costs of ‘a penny a mile’ – the mantra for running costs for electric bikes. ‘Range’ is a major consideration when deciding to opt for petrol or electric, explains David Gibson of Emissions Free Solutions Ltd, who imports Vectrix electric scooters into the UK. “The distance to be travelled and whether there are opportunities for interim charging are important. Routes which allow for top-up charging fit in well with an electric fleet use.”
   
For a Vectrix, the maximum range is 65 to 70 miles, which has resulted in its scooters being used in a number of fleet applications both in the UK and worldwide. For example they are used by the facilities management team at Bluewater Shopping Centre in Kent for car park patrols and escort duties. Elsewhere, Strathclyde Police used the Vectrix at Glasgow Airport, Lothian Borders police use one to patrol the Scottish Parliament Buildings, and the AA has a fleet of eight bikes which it has used in Central London since 2009. The Los Angeles and New York City Police also have a fleet of Vectrix scooters.
   
Meanwhile, Zero Electric Motorcycles – started originally in California but making a splash in the UK – have a range of between 70 and 137 miles, depending on the type of riding.  This has resulted in a recent sale of 100 bikes to the Columbian Police, followed by another deal with the police in Hong Kong. UK forces could follow suit, as some are currently in the process of evaluating Zero bikes. 
   
Meanwhile Emissions Free Solutions Ltd is talking to a UK government department about a very large order to help them meet their CO2 target reduction.

Other brands in the sector are open to fleet sales; Yamaha has recently sold its electric scooter to Melton Borough Council’s Wheels to Work scheme. Rieju will throw in a free branded paint scheme for orders over ten and Agility Motors, whose innovative design has so far been pitched at the individual customer, is developing a fleet programme for later this year.
   
For fleet vehicles, maintenance costs are a huge consideration. Manufacturers of electric motorcycles and scooters point out that their products have far less moving parts than a combustion engine with no clutch or gears. There is obviously variation within the market as to how long batteries last, but these figures are readily available when investigating machine specifications.

Charging
All current electric motorcycles can use a simple domestic power outlet, meaning you can charge almost anywhere, any time. Some manufacturers are now offering ‘cartridge’ style battery packs that can be removed from the bike and taken indoors to charge. So with two battery packs, one on charge and one on the bike, you will never be out of power. And of course, as the battery is often the most expensive single item on the bike, and the bike is useless without it, removing the battery offers a major security advantage.
   
Zero is now able to offer the CHAdeMO fast charge option, allowing the usual charge time of 6 hours to be shortened to one and a half, or just 60 minutes for a 95 per cent charge.  Zero quotes the price for a full charge as just 40p, which is equivalent to an attractive 497mpg.
   
A number of local authorities are now targeting businesses as recipients for grants for charging infrastructure. Contact your local authority to find out what is available.

Safety
The right clothes and proper training should be a priority for any employer considering opting for powered two wheelers for staff.  The MCI’s safety director, Karen Cole, recommends riders do their full motorcycle test, rather than just the basic legal minimum, known as a CBT (Compulsory Basic Training). “And ideally, after six months of passing their test, riders should do enhanced rider training,” she adds. There is a potential cost benefit to this as well, as insurance companies usually lower premiums for those with an advanced certificate.

Although a helmet is the only compulsory item of safety wear for riders, full protective clothing for staff operating powered two wheelers should be a priority, to include CE marked armour. Any local dealer will be able to help with the required kit and it’s no longer a choice between leather and leather, with new high-tech lightweight fabrics on the market, styled into clothing which can be adapted for general wear.
   
Choosing the right helmet (and the best ones are not always the most expensive) is made much easier with a government website service known as SHARP, the Safety Helmet Assessment and Rating Programme. “Fit is the most important element”, explained Karen Cole. “And with the SHARP rating system you can make an informed choice.”

History
Cars seem to have dominated media representations of what’s available on the electric market, but that’s set to change as the electric motorcycle industry continues to mature. Like all developing sectors, some of the early innovators have been replaced.  Marques which kicked off the two wheel electric marketplace have given way to others, as technology and demand evolve. Key players have emerged, including Zero, Vectrix, Agility Motors, Yamaha and Rieju. These brands have demonstrated the longevity required to convince a fleet buyer that they will be in businesses for the duration. 
   
Early adopters with ‘staying power’ have generated enough faith in the sector to convince the big brands to consider the electric arena. BMW, Suzuki and Honda have all displayed ‘concept’ alternative fuelled bikes at international shows and are engaging with consumer groups to better understand product requirements in this market sector. The UK electric motorcycle market is getting ready to move up a gear.
   
There have been huge developments in the UK electric motorcycle industry as a whole, not least a powerful self-regulation under the electric Motorcycle Industry Association (eMCI), which is the envy of Europe. The eMCI has produced a Datasheet, setting out minimum standards by which electric vehicles in the eMCI should comply. Importantly this has given quality assurance to insurers and other service providers in both the products and integrity of the companies producing them. The eMCI can assist in directing companies interested in exploring the viability of an electric fleet and can be contacted through its website at www.emcia.co.uk. 
   
Further investigations into low emission petrol fleets should start with the Motorcycle Industry Association’s website, which lists its members, who are all reputable well‑known brands. These all belong to the MCI’s Buy With Confidence scheme, which offers quality assurances for both electric and petrol motorcycles under a ‘code of practice’ which all MCI members adhere to.
   
If there were more powered two wheelers on the road, congestion would be dramatically reduced. A study publicised by the motorcycle industry in Europe showed that when 10 per cent of cars were replaced by motorcycles, congestion for all road users reduced by 40 per cent. When 25 per cent of cars were replaced – congestion was eliminated altogether.
   
Any low or zero emission fleet will help meet environmental and social targets, but opting for two rather than four wheels presents extra savings in terms of cost and time, which can’t be delivered by cars. The ‘fun’ aspect is not to be dismissed lightly either; there are plenty of miserable car drivers but you’d be hard pushed to find the same on a motorcycle.
   
Motorcyclists who commute regularly, typically rate their journey to work as far more enjoyable than those who used public transport or drive and so there’s no reason to believe this wouldn’t also be the case for those who use them throughout their working day.

Further information
www.emcia.co.uk
www.mcia.co.uk