Zero emission motorbikes

Understanding Zero Emission Motorbikes

ZEMs are motorbikes that produce zero tailpipe emissions. Electric motorbikes (motorcycles) as well as hydrogen fuel cell motorbikes are included in the term ZEM.

The ACT Government is actively supporting the transition to ZEMs as part of the Zero Emissions Vehicle (ZEV) Strategy.

Read more about the future of zero emission vehicles (ZEVs) in the ACT.

Why should I purchase a ZEM?

ZEMs have many benefits, including health, running costs, and reliability.

Health

ZEMs do not pollute the air when operating because they do not burn petrol or diesel. This is beneficial for our health as the exhaust build-up from an internal combustion engine (ICE) in enclosed spaces or when idling can be hazardous.

Performance

In comparison to ICE motorbikes, ZEMs are often more responsive and offer smoother power delivery, along with excellent handling due to their low centre of gravity and instant torque.

Regenerative braking

A ZEM may take advantage of regenerative braking, where the electric motor generates energy during braking. This charges the battery instead of wearing down brakes, improving efficiency and reducing brake servicing costs. A bonus if you are doing a lot of stop-start city riding and feels like engine braking.

Refinement

Internal combustion engines are loud and create vibrations that are sent through the body of a motorbike, reducing comfort for riders. An electric motor is vibration free and operates in near silence, which provides a more comfortable and luxurious riding experience.

Reliability

There is less that can go wrong in a ZEM with less susceptibility to drivetrain (group of mechanical components that deliver the power from the source to the rear wheel) failure due to the robust nature of batteries and electric motors. ZEMs also have less servicing requirements, making them cheaper to maintain than an ICE motorbike.

Running costs

An ICE motorbike consuming 5L/100 km of petrol at $1.65/L would cost $8.25 per 100 km, while an average electric motorbike charged with electricity at 26c/kWh would only cost around $4 per 100 km when charged at home. This cost can be much less if charging with off peak electricity or using solar panels. ZEMs also have very limited servicing requirements, typically only requiring annual safety and functionality checks. This can represent a cost saving of $500 - $1,000 per year for the life of the vehicle.

Emissions free

The ACT electricity grid is powered by 100% renewable electricity, so all EVs (electric cars and motorbikes) are always emission free when charged in the ACT. Interstate travel may not always be emission free due to gas and coal in the national energy mix but will still have lower emissions than driving an ICE vehicle. Some public EV chargers in other states are powered from 100% renewable energy.

Selecting a ZEM

The latest edition of the Electric Vehicle Council’s State of EVs report (July 2023) notes that there are currently approximately 42 models of electric motorbikes and scooters (mopeds) available in Australia. ZEMS available to purchase under the SHS can be found by searching for approved ZEM vendors on the Brighte marketplace.

Read the full report: State of Electric Vehicles Report 2023 - Electric Vehicle Council

Charging and battery considerations

To maintain the health of the battery a ZEM should not have its battery excessively depleted before waiting to charge, as running it all the down to under 20% can cause more rapid degradation of the battery. Equally, batteries should also not be charged to more than 80% or 90% for daily usage (depending on model), as regular charging to 100% can prematurely degrade the battery and reduce useable range over time.

Rather than excessively depleting the battery by riding your ZEM all week and letting its battery drop down, simply plug it in each day when not in use and maintain the battery near or at its manufacturer’s recommended daily charge limit. You can then limit the charge of the battery to 80% of 90% (depending on manufacturer’s specifications) to prevent over-charging. The exception to this is LFP (lithium iron phosphate) batteries which use a different type of lithium-ion chemistry that allows them to be charged to 100% regularly.

Please consult your vendor about the charging requirements for your electric motorbike.

Charging your ZEM at home

The biggest difference in owning a ZEM compared to an ICE motorbike? is they can be charged at home or at public chargers, which can provide greater flexibility in ‘refuelling’ and avoids the need to visit service stations. Home charging speed and cost is dependent on what charging infrastructure you will use. Most new electric motor bikes) come with a portable charging cable that can simply be plugged into a standard household wall socket. For most people installing dedicated charging infrastructure will not be required for a ZEM.

A standard 10A wall socket will produce 2.4 kilowatts (kW) of power and will take 3 to 5 hours (charging from 20% to 100% capacity) to fully recharge an ZEM depending on battery size. If a higher charge rate is required, other options include a faster 15 A wall socket. A 15 A wall socket upgrade will cost around $300 and outputs 3.6 kW, enough for recharging in 2 to 3 hours. Both options are adequate for most Canberra riders who travel an average 38 km a day, while still being able to easily facilitate longer drives when needed, such as weekend getaways or road trips.

Public chargers for electric motorbikes

Electric motorbikes can plug into a normal residential power outlet and some models can utilise a Level 2 electric vehicle charging station (which are widely available in the ACT).

For long distance driving or where home charging is not possible there are over 2,500 public charging stations across Australia found on the PlugShare website.

Most of these output between 7-22 kW and many are often free or very cheap to use, which could provide a full charge in half the time of a 15A socket, making it more suitable for recharging along your journey.

There are even several ZEM models capable of level 3, DC charging, allowing an 80% recharge in up to 40 minutes.

Hydrogen

These guidelines will be updated when hydrogen motorbikes become available on the Australian market. Canberra currently has one Hydrogen Refuelling Station (HRS), in Fyshwick.

Stamp duty waiver

When buying a ZEM in the ACT, you can benefit from the stamp duty waiver: no motor vehicle duty is payable for buyers of used Zero Emission Vehicles (electric vehicles and hydrogen vehicles) purchased on or after 1 August 2022.

Learn about motor vehicle duty.

How to apply for a loan under the Sustainable Household Scheme

Firstly, check you are eligible to participate in the Scheme by reviewing the Scheme Guidelines. It’s also a good idea to review the Scheme terms and conditions. If you’ve decided a ZEM is right for you, just follow these easy steps to apply for your zero-interest loan:

• Use the Brighte marketplace to see the accredited vendors that you can purchase a ZEM from. This includes all participating ACT dealerships and online sellers.
• Select several vendors that sell ZEMs you are interested in and request a quote or call back regarding your ZEM options.
• You can also visit participating dealerships directly and simply ask about the Sustainable Household Scheme interest fee loans for ZEMs.
• Once you have selected a ZEM to purchase, the dealership can arrange the finance application with Brighte on your behalf or you can apply directly with Brighte. Brighte will then contact you to go through the loan application process.

Some important things to note

• The Scheme participant must ordinarily reside in the ACT as evidenced by a rates notice or utility bill.
• The Scheme participant must hold a valid ACT Driver Licence.
• The Scheme’s Unimproved Value (UV) criteria do not apply for the purchase of a ZEM, i.e., you can apply for a loan for this product regardless of your UV.
• You must select a new or used ZEM under the $40,000 threshold.
• Only new or used ZEMs that are registrable in Australian jurisdictions (including the ACT) are eligible.
• Dedicated ZEM charging equipment can be included in the loan, if it’s part of the purchase contract.
• Any requirements to upgrade your ZEM charger can be included as part of your loan, if it’s part of the purchase contract.
• Please consult your vendor about the charging requirements for your electric motorbike.
• Only one loan can be provided to each household, so you cannot access a loan for a ZEM if you have already used $15,000 for other products under the scheme.

Need some free advice?

Contact the team for general and free energy advice on 1300 141 777 or email SustainableHomeAdviceProgram@act.gov.au.