At New Century Motorcycles in Alhambra, a handful of electric motorcycles are tucked in the back of the store, behind dirt bikes. A salesperson said the store sells at most one per month.

Motorcyclists have long loved the noisy, gas-powered machines that allow them to travel long distances on highways and remote roads with little refueling.

Now California is planning a nationwide first New rules boosting sales of zero-emission motorcycles in a quest to clean the air and combat climate-warming gases.

The regulations would impose a credit system on manufacturers that would ensure that 10% of motorcycles sold in California would be zero-emission by 2028 and 50% by 2035, according to the State Air Resources Board. At the same time, a tougher standard for new gasoline-powered motorcycles will reduce their emissions for the first time in more than 25 years.

Under the proposed rules, more than 280,000 new electric or hydrogen motorcycles would be sold in California by 2045; that number is nearly eight times the total currently on the road. Electric motorcycles account for only 1% of current motorcycle sales.

State Air Resources Board to vote on proposed rules 7 November following a public hearing.

Motorcycles are used more for recreation than daily commuting, and collectively they emit much less pollution than gasoline-powered cars and diesel trucks. But a mile driven on a gas-powered motorcycle emits far more pollutants than a mile in a new gas-powered car — 20 times more per mile in terms of smog-forming reactive gases, according to the air board.

Several gas-powered motorcycles are parked in a motorcycle-only area in Venice.

In a state with some of the worst polluted air in the country and dangerous levels of fine particles, air quality officials say no source can be left unchecked: All vehicles powered by fossil fuels must be left uncontrolled cleaned and switched to zero emissions.

State officials hope more motorcyclists will be interested in the benefits battery-powered motorcycles offer: lower fuel costs and less maintenance.

However, many motorcyclists state: California’s inadequate network of public charging stations and a limited number of electric models that are not suitable for long-distance driving. They worry the rule will limit the bikes they can choose in the future. Others say it could fill an untapped market for urban motorcyclists interested in fast bikes for short trips.

“There is no infrastructure for electric vehicles,” Michael DiPiero of the American Brotherhood for Education in California, which represents motorcyclists, said in written comments to the air board. “We cannot meet our current electricity needs in this state.”

Rob Smith, a motorcyclist from Santa Monica, owns an electric car and considers himself an environmentalist. But he’s not ready to switch to electric motorcycles, and he doesn’t think most motorcyclists are either. They are expensive, quiet, and have a range of about 100 miles.

“I think it’s the future, I just don’t know that timeline,” Smith said of the Air Resources Board proposal. “This will only hit a niche. Can you reach 50% with just this niche?”

Harley Davidson and the Motorcycle Industry Council, a group that represents manufacturers, did not respond to a request for comment on the proposed rules.

State officials said the regulation strikes a balance by moving toward electrification of motorcycles and meeting European standards for gas-powered motorcycles, while still providing California consumers with a variety of options.

“We realized we couldn’t get to 100% because there may be some situations where zero-emission motorcycles won’t be able to access the infrastructure to charge their bikes,” said Annette Hèbert, the air board’s vice president of mobile devices. source rules are in the Southern California office.

Motorcycles account for less than 1% of all vehicle miles driven in California. But air board officials said that although they are “a very small portion of the state’s overall transportation sector,” they contribute “a very large portion of the pollutants that create smog.”

“Motorcycles (emissions) may seem small when taken alone, but when you consider the additive impact to all the other small sources together, you can understand why we need to hit every little bit,” Hèbert said.

If California is going to finally have healthy air and make progress in combating climate change, “we need this paradigm shift, because that’s the only way we’re going to get there,” he said.

Tons of air pollution will be eliminated

Californians breathe some of the unhealthiest air in the country, and most of that pollution comes from vehicles. The Los Angeles basin has for decades been at the top of the list of cities with the worst ozone, a key component of smog, according to the American Lung Association. ozone and particle pollution It can trigger asthma and heart attacks, as well as other diseases.

According to the Air Resources Board, motorcycle regulation would save an estimated $649 million due to reduced death rates and prevention of hospitalizations and illnesses linked to motorcycle emissions.

The rules are expected to eliminate approximately 20,000 tonnes of smog-forming reactive gases and nitrogen oxides and 33 tonnes of fine particulate matter by 2045. This would be about half the emissions from all California motorcycles.

California is proposing a tiered credit system for manufacturers. Companies that produce high-battery capacity, high-speed, highway-capable motorcycles (usually those that cause the most emissions) will receive the most credit. Low range low speed bikes will get the least gain.

Companies comply with the rule by producing zero-emission motorcycles in exchange for credits or by exchanging credits with other companies. For example, a manufacturer can achieve the 50% goal by spending 25% producing and selling electric motorcycles and then purchasing the remaining 25% on credit from an all-electric motorcycle company. Manufacturers will also receive bonus credits for producing and selling zero-emission bikes before 2029.

Additionally, starting with 2029 models, the regulation will require new gas-powered motorcycles to comply with stricter European Union standards for exhaust emissions and use better on-board engine diagnostic equipment to detect malfunctions in emissions systems.

Many manufacturers, including Harley Davison, Ducati and Kawasaki, already produce electric bikes, and some companies, such as Zero and Verge, also produce electric bikes exclusively. Electric bicycle startup Energyca recently filed for bankruptcy due to rising costs and supply issues.

An electric motorcycle purchased in 2020 costs an average of $5,365 more than a gas-powered motorcycle. State officials estimated the electric bike would save $215 a year in fuel and maintenance costs.

Electric motorcycles could also appeal to low-income motorcyclists who live in apartments and find it more difficult to charge electric cars near their homes, state officials said. Cheaper electric motorcycles may be small enough to fit inside apartments for charging or come with removable batteries that can be charged overnight.

However, officials emphasized that the aim of the regulation is not to turn car drivers into motorcyclists. Instead, it is an additional option for motorcyclists looking for a more cost-effective method of transportation.

Are electric motorcycles ready for prime time?

At a Harley Davidson dealership in Marina Del Rey, Live Wire brand electric motorcycles can be seen as soon as customers enter the showroom. Justin Fraiser, the dealership’s sales representative, said the dealership sells two or three electric Live Wire motorcycles a month.

“There are a lot of people in the Harley world who are stuck with internal combustion engines,” Fraiser said. But he’s not one of them. “This is the evolution of things. It will happen eventually.”

Smith, a motorcyclist from Santa Monica, said he thinks electric motorcycles are the future, but they are not ready for “prime time” yet.

California is a leader in climate solutions “for good reason,” Smith said. He said that he attaches importance to reducing emissions and protecting the environment. He is a partner in a venture capital firm that invests in startups that produce electric bicycles.

But he prefers the “noisy and obnoxious” Ducati motorcycle for its better range (up to 320 km) and safety; car drivers can hear him coming behind them.

Smith said the state should focus on reducing emissions from new motorcycles with internal combustion engines and was pleased to hear that was part of the regulation.

Karen Butterfield, a motorcyclist from San Diego, admitted that an electric motorcycle wouldn’t work for her.

He’s a member of the Southern California Motorcycle Association, which meets for long-distance rides from Mexico to Canada to all over the United States. They travel hundreds of kilometers without stopping; This is something an electric motorcycle cannot do with current charging network issues.

But he said there is a large untapped market among young riders, as he thinks electric motorcycles are generally easier to use.

“I think it’s a good thing for motorcycling in the sense that a smaller electric bike will help people get into motorcycling,” he said. “Future generations also seem to be more environmentally conscious, which is a good thing. “I think there is a market there, they just need to find it.”

Adrian Martinez, an attorney for climate advocate Earthjustice, said the organization supported the proposal but called it conservative. The group has been pushing for 100% electric motorcycles on a similar timeline.

“California has such dramatic air pollution problems that we realized we weren’t in a position to choose,” Martinez said. “We basically need to get to zero emissions wherever possible.”

But some motorcyclists believe it is not necessary to mandate electric motorcycle technology for a vehicle that produces relatively low emissions compared to other vehicles. People use motorcycles as a hobby, to socialize with other motorcyclists, and to ride in the mountains or other remote areas.

Chris Real, president of DPS Technical, a technical services company for motorcyclists, said some people use motorcycles as their primary means of transportation, and electric motorcycles may appeal to those people, but it’s a small percentage.

Real said he thought the regulation “won’t move the needle at all” on reducing emissions because most motorcyclists don’t put many miles on their bikes.

“Some consumers will embrace it, some consumers will not,” he said. “So very regional consumers, urban consumers who only drive 20 or 30 miles, it’s not going to affect them at all. “But for someone who has to travel a 100-mile commute to work, that’s not going to be possible.”