Riding the future: Environmental, primary energy and economic analysis of an electric motorcycle - A Kenyan case study

The transport sector is heavily dominated by fossil fuels, which have significant health and environmental implications. Electrification or e-mobility is a key strategy to mitigate the negative environmental and health impacts of the transport sector. In developing countries, a high share of transport energy use arises from motorcycles, and research regarding potential electrification is scarce. This study analyzes, ex-ante, the environmental impact, primary energy demand and total cost of ownership during the life cycle of an electric motorcycle designed for the African market. A case study is performed in Kenya, which has a high share of renewable energy in the electricity mix. A series of sensitivity analyses are performed to also include an electricity mix with a low share of renewable energy and daily driving distance. The user phase contributes to the highest primary energy demand. The electricity used for charging the motorcycle is, however, shown to be an important factor influencing the environmental impact and the primary energy demand. Despite higher initial costs, electric motorcycles prove cost-effective over the user phase due to lower operating and maintenance costs. One key finding from this study is that electric motorcycles hold a vast decarbonization potential. In conclusion, this study provides insights into the environmental, energy, and economic aspects of electric motorcycles in Kenya, where results easily can be generalizable to any country where high shares of motorcycles are found. • Lifecycle assessment of an electric motorcycle in a Kenyan context. • The user phase causes the highest environmental impact and primary energy demand. • The electricity mix for charging the motorcycle is shown to be an important factor. • Results show that electric motorcycles hold a vast decarbonization potential. • The total cost of ownership is lower for an electric motorcycle than a conventional.