E-bike company moves to get motorists out of a jam

Siy said that lithium batteries are capable of producing such high speeds with their design. Evoke motorcycles leave the entire space under the seat for the battery, which can last for more than 150 kilometers after a full charge.

“We adjusted the acceleration, so that people can adjust the speed freely to what they are used to,” said Siy. “People can choose a comfortable speed. For the beginners, maybe 60 km/h, and for the motorcycle lovers, maybe over 100.” In addition, seats are designed to be lower, and batteries and motorcycle bodies are designed lighter. Siy said it’s “the way designed for Asians”, taking safety as the main concern.

There are two problems that need solving in the development of electric motorcycles in China, according to Siy. The first is that charging is not convenient enough, and the other is that traffic regulations for electric vehicles are not clear enough.

One of the things Siy and his colleagues are doing is to talk to convenience stores about making charging stations available for e-riders.

“It’s a win-win thing. Riders pay stores, and stores provide them with electricity,” Siy said, adding that he believes that more and more charging stations will be built in the near future.

As for regulation, Siy said there are no license plates for electric scooters, and license plates for electric motorcycles are hard to get. Many of the scooters on the street don’t have tags.

The company’s motorcycles aren’t cheap by local standards, with the Evoke Urban Series running 39,000-44,000 yuan ($4,200-$6,900) depending on level of battery. Sales are slow, but they’re confident they will pick up.

“We are waiting for the regulations. Only when it’s clear will we know what to follow.”

Siy and Chvobok discussed their idea with officials, showing them the designs of the electric motorcycle. They were pleased that the officials showed interest in their product. “The procedure might take long, but we’d like to wait till things change and we come into a new era of electric motorcycles,” said Chvobok.

In Siy’s eyes, Beijing has a fast pace, providing a lot of opportunities. “If you are hungry and young, it’s a great place to grow,” he said.

Yan Dongjie contributed to this story.