Trial of electric two-wheel motorbikes on grazing properties

Summary

Electric Two-Wheel Motorbikes were trialled to compare safety, weight cost and fossil fuel use relative to quad bikes as a mode of personal transport and mustering on farm.

More than 15 electric bikes were identified to be suitable for personal transport options that could potentially benefit the grazing industry. Producer’s trialled the bikes to determine ease of operation, safety benefits, operational cost and the ability to travel over terrain not passable by other motorized modes of transport.

Most riders preferred the full-sized electric bike, as it felt like their traditional bikes with the added advantage of quiet operation, no gears or clutch, light nimble handling and no engine maintenance.

Objectives

This project investigated emerging electric two-wheeled bikes for their on-farm suitability compared to petrol bikes. Five models ranging from a 2 kilowatt (kW) pedal-assist pushbike to a 9 kW full-size dirt bike were trialled and tested for:

• performance
• maintenance
• economic and environmental cost: benefit.

Key findings

• Producers who tested the electric bikes were surprised by the refinement of the motors and the integration into different two-wheeled variations.
• The battery range was sufficient for four hours of slow mustering, or around 50 kilometres of faster riding. One full charge cost approximately 50 cents.
• Sheep showed little variation in reaction if mustered by an electric or petrol bike.
• Cattle that were accustomed to petrol powered bikes were initially spooked by the electric bikes although soon became accustomed to having electric bikes moving around them.

Benefits to industry

There are several benefits of using two-wheeled electric bikes in red meat enterprises:

• they are suitable for personal transport and mustering
• electric bikes are preferred for the quiet operation, low weight, low total cost of operation, no gears, no clutch, no petrol or hot parts and ease of handling tough terrain
• either charged by solar or wind, electric bikes reduce the use and reliance on fossil-fuel derived transport fuels, and reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, relative to conventional bikes
• the lighter weight of the electric bikes reduces the crush risk of quads and side by side vehicles.

MLA action

This project has provided insights into the potential for electric bike use in the livestock industry. Further research and development opportunities are under consideration.

Future research

• Future research and development should include testing the next generation of electric two-wheeled bikes (due to be released by 2022).
• Continued long term testing of the electric bikes and reporting into the lifespan and maintenance costs would benefit future users.
• A solar charging station could be developed that can be placed at remote locations where grid electricity doesn’t exist.