Comparison of bend-taking on combustion engine and electric motorcycles: qualitative studies

Riders of powered two-wheelers are overrepresented in road accidents. With growing environmental concerns, the number of electric vehicles on the road, including electric motorcycles, is expected to increase. However, electric motorcycles have distinct characteristics, notably the absence of a gearbox, as well as engines without sound, vibrations, and inertia. The ”electric” rider would have fewer sensory cues available to them and this could put them in danger. This raises the question of the transition from the combustion engine motorcycle to the electric motorcycle. To explore this issue, two preliminary studies were conducted as part of the eMC2 ANR research project: ”Electric Motorcycles and Road Safety”. Both experienced and novice electric motorcycle riders participated in tests using instrumented electric and combustion engine motorcycles, providing a substantial dataset for analyzing riding behaviors. This dataset was further complemented by subjective measures, particularly on mental workload. The results show a fairly rapid adaptation to the electric motorcycle for most of the participants. They also show an increase in mental workload when novices are riding an electric motorcycle. Novices reported being more disturbed by differences in sensory cues between combustion engine and electric motorcycles than experienced riders. While this trend requires further investigation with non-professional riders, it highlights the potential need for awareness raising campaigns or even targeted training programs to facilitate the transition from combustion engine to electric motorcycles.