Yesterday we were at the MCIA (Motorcycle Industry Association) annual conference held at the National Motorcycle Museum in Birmingham. If you love riding for leisure the news isn’t particularly good.
End date for new petrol vehicles
The conference was attended by global manufacturers, importers, distributors, service providers and senior industry representatives. Among the topics for discussion was the phasing out of ALL NEW PETROL motorcycles and scooters BY 2035. Even scarier, the end date is 2030 for smaller-capacity machines – that’s just seven years away. One way or another this will affect us all, no matter what we ride. As time moves on it will be harder and harder to find the super unleaded our classic scooters rely on, E10 will become the norm but will be replaced with higher ethanol content fuel. Fuel stations will become charge and battery swap stations.
The agenda was led by talks about electrification but also up for discussion were possible alternatives to electric vehicles. We’ll bring more information about that in another article and hopefully have some good news for the bioheads of the future! But first, here’s the bad news…
The end is nigh!
The Government has been undertaking a consultation into the end of life for new non-zero carbon emission vehicles. Sadly that includes ALL new scooters and motorcycles.
One of the key speakers (via video link) at the conference was the Rt Hon Jesse Norman, MP. He’s the Minister of State for Transport Decarbonisation and Technology. In his speech, the MP focussed on phasing out the sale of new L-category vehicles. Yes, that’s going to affect anybody wanting a new scooter/motorcycle in just a few years’ time.
Here’s what the MP had to say about it…
“It’s clear to me now that with end-of-sale dates for non-zero emission cars and vans already in place, we must match that ambition across L-Category vehicles. And that will open us up to a future where our roads are, if we play it right, less congested, offering not only tangible carbon cutting but a reduction in air and noise pollution, and an increase in the well-being of everyone. A future where motorbikes like Maeving’s (pictured above) are a symbol as quintessentially British as the morning milk float or the MCC.”
“Of course, we know some vehicles may need longer to make that transition than others. This is a Government that is trying to listen. And we are not going to risk a one size fits all approach. We know that the diversity of vehicles in our system each offer something different to the public and the economy, whether that’s touring down to Truro on a high-powered motorcycle or nipping round the streets of Nuneaton on a moped. From leisure journeys to last mile deliveries. So, for each of them we’re determined to try and secure the regulatory solution of best fit and, underpinning all of that, is our desire to place convenience at the heart of riding a zero emission powered light vehicle.”
MCIA’s Tony Campbell responds
In response to the Minister’s speech, Tony Campbell, CEO of MCIA (and former managing director of Piaggio UK) commented “In this first-of-its-kind MCIA annual conference, we’re delighted by the support shown by the Minister.”
“The Association and industry at large have made monumental strides in the last five years in getting our essential sector recognised as an instrumental form of transport, not only in helping realise the Government’s environmental ambitions but its future of transport ambitions too. The conceiving and implementation of the Joint Action Plan is a testament to the latter and our strong collaborative working relationship, both of which we will continue to deliver on in 2023.”
“We remain committed to working with the Government to ensure the most appropriate and fair approach is taken to transitioning our vehicles to zero emissions and in a way that is proportionate to vehicle size and emissions and that does not negatively impact our sector.”
What are ‘L-category’ vehicles?
- L1 – light 2-wheel powered vehicles (including mopeds)
- L2 – 3-wheel mopeds
- L3 – 2-wheel motorcycles
- L3e – 2-wheel motorcycles up to 125cc
- L4 – 2-wheel motorcycles with sidecars
- L5 – powered tricycles
- L6 – light quadricycles
- L7 – heavy quadricycles
The government are proposing end dates of 2030 for L1, L2, L3e-A1, L6 and L7 sub-category vehicles.
2035 for all L-category vehicles at the latest.
UK end dates not world
The United Kingdom is a fairly small market for Powered Two Wheelers (PTWs) and these Government end dates are led by the UK, rather than the world. We’re like a single pimple on an acne-covered head. This means we may well end up putting a very small and ineffective sticking plaster on to what is a massive global puss-filled problem.
Pulling out of the UK market?
The rest of the world isn’t likely to follow our ambitious plans to de-fossilise their own transport. Or at least not, as soon as we’re planning to do, which leaves us in a vulnerable place.
The conference speakers included the Head of Motorcycles at Honda UK, Neil Fletcher and Kawasaki’s General Manager Howard Dale. Both made good points that developing one brand new machine from design to conception takes a manufacturer around six years. The UK Government are expecting that in just 12 years they can redesign/create a complete range of new machines to meet zero emissions targets. That’s everything from a humble moped to a superbike and touring machine capable of covering Europe and beyond. Not only are manufacturers expected to do this but the likes of Honda/Kawasaki would still be able to sell ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) vehicles in other markets around the world. In all likelihood, it’s possible some manufacturers would stop supplying to the UK, or at least only supply whatever electric models they have available. Our choice of new machines will very likely be limited.
Renewable energy
Fuelled (pardon the pun) by the conflict in Ukraine, some countries are already firing up new fossil fuel-fed power stations and opening coal mines. This is to ensure they can make enough electricity to (ironically) power their electric vehicles, as well as houses, shops and businesses.
Our own National Grid is powered by a mixture of renewable energies including solar/wind/hydroelectric/nuclear and biomass. Even so, we still take around 53% of our energy from coal and gas. Demand is currently outstripping supply, hence consumers are being incentivised to cut down on their usage.
Power to the people
All new build houses in the UK now have to have three-phase electricity and a car charger as part of building regs, as do extensive house renovations, new supermarkets and work premises. Thousands of car charge points are being installed every year and the market for electric vehicles is growing exponentially (although the lack of switching incentives and price of electricity are likely to slow that down), yet we can’t make enough power for what we’re already using. There are some massive flaws in putting all our eggs in one electrified basket.
Although the immediate news doesn’t look good there is still hope. One thing the MCIA are managing to do is to bridge gaps between the motorcycle industry and Government. As part of that collaboration, the powers that be are recognising that powered two-wheelers are a great way of delivering affordable personal transport. They’re also a great way to reduce congestion and they’re a fun thing to ride. We’ll have to wait and see where that partnership takes us.
Iggy
I don’t understand how roads will be less congested because vehicles are electrically powered. The population still grows and they all need to travel. Unless of course thay are so expensive to run that the working man will have to get his bike out of the shed again.
They’re not overly bothered about congestion these days, it’s all about emissions. You’re right about the expense though, I don’t know how youngsters will be able to afford a first electric car. It will have a positive effect on the scooter/bike market though.
It’s the future they are planning for ..the so called 12 minute city . So the govt and authorities will have a conditioned population not wanting to venture out into the farther reaches of these islands ..What a mess its going to be .
I am glad that I’m now at an age where I won’t have to see the worst of global / environmental impact that will occur due to the massively high environmental costs to produce enough lithium to power all the new “eco” batteries required for life after 2035. Where do they think these raw materials come from? And the environmental production costs? Nobody is mentioning / talking about that side of “saving the planet”. Let alone where the electrical energy is coming from. What is the current daily requirement of all transport in the UK / World in terms of GWH? Thats the size of lithium storage required out of the ground and processed into batteries, and then that’s the daily requirement OVER what is required currently to power homes and industry . Be scared, but not just for the loss of two wheels as we know it.
The whole thing is a knee-jerk reaction to a problem, rather than thinking of the bigger picture. If you look at the National Grid usage, we’re quite often not able to produce enough energy to power the UK as it is. Add in the millions of rechargeable e-scooters, bikes, taxis, busses and cars projected over the next few years and it gets worrying. Without some massive power-generating, affordable green energy source we’re doomed.
The sad thing is though, we’ll be doing our bit to ‘help the planet’ whilst the mining goes on for the minerals needed and billions of perfectly good vehicles will be scrapped with plenty of life left in them – hardly green.
I don’t see the rationale in banning small bikes 5 years earlier than larger engined bikes. A 125cc four stroke produces circa 45 grams CO2, most larger bikes 800cc+ are 90-130 grams (and more likely to be a pure leisure vehicle). Furthermore, the energy required to manufacture & ship a small bike compared to any small car, electric or not, has to be substantially lower. Bonkers.
I don’t think there is any rationale other than the fact they can replace all smaller capacity machines with electric straightaway. Leisure use bikes are going to be a harder problem for them to solve without some significant technological leaps forwards.