Surge in Electric Motorcycle Sales, Yet So Few Used for Daily Commutes

Despite MalayMail highlighting electric motorcycle (e-bike) manufacturers recording their highest sales in the first six months of 2024—surpassing the total sales from the previous five years combined—the visibility of these bikes on major roads is limited. This suggests that the government's rebate programme, though successful in boosting sales, has not yet impacted urban traffic in any significant way.

From Carz.com.my’s own daily analysis, we can sum up that most of these e-bikes are not being used for daily work commutes. Instead, they're largely purchased by the M40 and T20 groups for convenience rather than as a sustainable commuting solution.

The boost in e-bike sales is fueled by the RM2,400 MARiiCas rebate programme under Budget 2024, overseen by the Malaysian Automotive, Robotics and IoT Institute (MARii). This program saw 3,664 applications approved as of June this year, with RM8.7 million disbursed to buyers.

This program is seen as a positive indicator of growing interest in electric mobility, but this enthusiasm has not translated into widespread adoption for daily commuting.

Malaysia, which boasts one of the highest rates of car ownership per capita, continues to struggle with traffic congestion, despite the push for more electric vehicle (EV) usage. This trend undercuts the government's broader aim of positioning EVs as a key component in reducing the country’s reliance on fossil fuels and improving urban air quality.

Blueshark, in partnership with Grab, has made efforts to push for more electric mobility among delivery riders. However, this initiative has faced pushback as many delivery riders find that the limited speed and range of the electric bikes hinder their ability to complete more deliveries, thereby impacting their potential earnings. This has become a notable concern in the practical adoption of e-bikes for everyday work purposes.

A quick check on MARiiCas website reveals that the Blueshark e-bikes has a claimed range of only 110km and is able to achieve a top speed of 80KM/H and is priced at RM14,800 before the rebate. Additionally it takes 3 hours to fully charge the bikes and although a battery swapping option is provided, the stations are quite hard to come about as its roll-out has been rather slow.

Moreover, there are growing concerns that some authorised sellers have inflated prices to exploit the cash subsidies, leading to accusations of profiteering. MARii has addressed these claims, urging consumers to report any suspicious pricing and assuring that investigations will be carried out where necessary.

MARii emphasises that the base prices listed on the official MARiiCas platform must match what is being charged by retailers, and the public is advised to report any discrepancies in price to be reviewed.

While the rebate programme has undeniably driven up electric motorcycle sales, the broader goal of transforming Malaysia's urban transport system is yet to be realised. Until e-bike become more integrated into daily commuting patterns with variants that are able to offer higher travelling range and are able to maintain constant highway speeds at least, their impact on Klang Valley’s traffic and environmental goals will likely be limited.