Sustainability On Two Wheels: A Green Urban Revolution

With ongoing urban densification, reliance on unsustainable energy for personal mobility threatens air quality, climate goals, and public health – especially in Asia’s booming megacities. However, there are green solutions available right now, and they're on two wheels.

Leading the global transition toward environmental sustainability is the rise of electric vehicles (EVs). The narrative around electrification often focuses on four-wheeled vehicles but, more intriguingly, electric two-wheelers can be greener and better suited to urban mobility needs. 

With smart design, elegant looks, and innovative battery solutions leading the charge, the global urban EV two-wheeler market is fertile ground to propel transport culture into a new era of green mobility on a rapid and massive scale. 

Well-known legacy brands are in on the game too. All are keenly aware that the global two-wheeler market in 2023 was estimated at more than $100 billion, and projected to hit $200 billion in 2032, with EVs anticipated to exceed 50% market penetration based on value. 

There are many factors impacting EV adoption on two wheels, such as shifts in consumer trends and nuances in battery tech and supporting EV infrastructure. 

Electric Two-Wheeler Consumer Trends

Both new and legacy brands see the development of better and more sustainable transport solutions for personal urban mobility as a big opportunity, resulting in many attempts at innovation in recent years. 

Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic transformed consumer demand across many sectors, not least personal urban mobility, as overcrowded mass transit and a persistent desire for social distancing shaped behavior.

These factors have created additional drivers of demand over and above the momentum created by urban densification. And unlike in the past, EV technology has created a sustainable choice.

Further, other effects of urban densification, such as the difficulty of parking cars and long travel times on surface mass transit have created demand among city dwellers to replace these modes of transit with EV two-wheelers.

This rising demand for sustainable mobility solutions, coupled with supportive policies and wider environmental awareness is reshaping industries and fostering product innovation in the two-wheeled EV space. 

"In the world of EV two-wheelers, the challenge we've taken on is to develop high-design sustainable personal urban mobility solutions without compromising performance and practicality that responds to the demands of urban densification and its new lifestyle globally."

Swin Chatsuwan, CEO, Zapp

Features of the New Wave of EV Two-Wheel Urban Mobility

4.4 billion people currently live in cities, and the World Bank is predicting that number to double by 2050.  If so, nearly 70% of the global population will be living in urban areas.

While this urban densification, and the sustainability and congestion issues that come with it, is making personal urban mobility solutions inevitable, companies will still have to create products that are desirable, aspirational and fit consumers' evolving urban lifestyles. Success in the sector will require winning designs twinned with day-to-day practicality that includes performance, safety and, importantly, convenient battery charging that does not rely on charge points.

One key trend in the sector is removal and portable batteries, but these often utilize a battery swapping station model.   Zapp, however, has created a battery architecture utilizing removable batteries that can be carried easily for charging from any standard wall socket.  Zapp's products are thus not constrained by, or reliant upon, the development of dedicated charging infrastructure, thus avoiding the range anxiety so prevalent in the four-wheel EV space.  The ability to charge batteries the same as one would charge a mobile phone or laptop will likely be most compelling for consumers.

Zapp also boasts other interesting features of its first product, i300, that resonate with today's consumer demands for personalization and expectations for sustainability. For example, the front fender is available in an array of colors and is interchangeable like a phone case.  In addition, the vehicle's storage is modular, like different shaped suitcases. And the battery solution results in a very low number of cells, creating a virtuous circle in reducing the weight of the vehicle. The company calls this ‘gen-2 sustainability'. 

"The i300 fits into the modern urban world of flagship mobile phones, creative architecture, artisanal marketplaces, experimental music, great local communities, and being known for style, class and fun."

Warin Thanathawee, Chief Design Officer, Zapp

The Time for EV Two-wheelers is Now

To sum up, as the population in urban centers increases, the need for sustainable transport solutions becomes urgent. EV two-wheelers represent the future of personal urban mobility, a key component in the overall movement of people.

Brands like Zapp are leading the way by virtue of their holistic approach to the lifestyle rider, offering innovative solutions such as portable, easy-to-charge batteries that cater to the daily needs of urbanites across the world. 

Now is the time for forward-thinking companies to shape the future of urban mobility, and take advantage of a unique opportunity to be part of the transformation that is turning the tide on climate change, and looking good while doing it.

 This post was authored by an external contributor and does not represent Benzinga’s opinions and has not been edited for content. This contains sponsored content and is for informational purposes only and not intended to be investing advice.