How have Manufacturers made their Bikes friendlier for the Planet?

Over the next ten years, global industries will have to make a huge shift towards eco-friendly energy in order to counteract the effects of climate change. The extremes of which we are seeing already, like record heat waves across the UK or severe flooding in Pakistan only serve to highlight this need.

Within the motorcycle industry, we are seeing a push towards a better future. In this week’s blog we are taking a look at what some of the world’s biggest bike manufacturers are doing to push us there. We will focus on the US’s three biggest manufacturers; Harley-Davidson, Honda and Yamaha.

Harley-Davidson.

Harley needs no introduction and is perhaps the most famous bike manufacturer in the world. Its name conjures nothing but style, attitude and exuberance, but that it isn’t always the best for the planet. 

Fortunately, Harley has made some excellent steps over the last few years to clean up their production and make it better for the planet. In the company’s most recent Inclusive Stakeholder Management Report they detail the ways that Harley Davidson plans to make eco-friendly production a reality. Firstly, they have committed to halving their carbon emissions by 2030, and forging a path to Net-Zero by 2050. Though they don’t offer much detail, It’s great for a brand like Harley to set an industry precedent for other manufacturers. 

Also, Harley is investing heavily in their e-motorbike production. With the creation of the LiveWire brand and the introduction of the LiveWire ONE model in 2020, Harley can see where the future is headed and clearly want to build a name for themselves in this field.

Check out this excellent video on the LiveWire from Freddie Dobbs

Honda:

The second biggest manufacturer in the states, Honda appears to have a plan in place for both its car and motorcycle market. Their 2022 Sustainability Report includes lots of information about the brands plans to phase out Fuel Cell Vehicles (FCV) completely by 2040, ten years prior to Harley’s intended Net-Zero deadline. 

The company is also spending a lot of their resources to find new ways to create batteries for EV’s that can be sustainably produced. Honda made clear their plans to eventually shift away from Lithium Ion Batteries, which rely on raw materials from the Earth, to funding initiatives that can create Solid-State Batteries with a less impactful production and a longer life. 

Yamaha:

Yamaha Motors are in a similar position as the previous two but uniquely tie their strategy for the environment together with pressing social issues. For example on their website, the Yamaha Motor plan groups fighting inequality and increasing diversity with their promotion of sustainable industrialisation. 

This might seem odd but it makes sense. Those directly affected by the extremes of climate change, caused mostly by richer nations, often come from poorer sections of the world. In recognising this, Yamaha has set itself apart from other manufacturers by recognising that reducing their environmental impact, and spreading that benefit out to the countries where they operate, can also tackle wider social issues at the same time. 

It’s important to note however that, while these manufacturers are making moves towards an electric future, Electric bicycles and cars are still sitting ahead of EV motorbikes by a large margin. A Lot has to do with available models being expensive and powerful bikes. Check out this great video from FortNine about the problems that still face the industry.