Electric motorcycle vs. e-bike: running cost
An e-bike is cheaper to run: about $16 a year versus $131 for an electric motorcycle at typical use and 17.99¢/kWh, a $115 difference.
| Electric motorcycle | E-bike | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical watts | 1,300 W | 100 W |
| Watt range | 600–6,600 W | 60–250 W |
| Typical use | 20 miles a day | 10 miles a day |
| Energy per year | 731 kWh | 91 kWh |
| Cost per hour | 23¢ | 1.8¢ |
| Cost per day | 36¢ | 4.5¢ |
| Cost per month | $10.95 | $1.37 |
| Cost per year | $131 | $16 |
| Per year in Hawaii (43.51¢) | $318 | $40 |
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What drives the difference
- Electric motorcycle: Electric motorcycles use about 0.08-0.12 kWh per mile at the wall, a third of a car.
- E-bike: E-bikes use about 15-25 Wh per mile, roughly 0.025 kWh at the wall, so 10 miles a day costs about $15 a year.
Ways to cut either cost
Smart plug with timer
Stops charging at 80% for battery longevity.
See options on Amazon Smart plug with energy monitoring
Tracks charging energy and schedules off-peak charging.
See options on AmazonWe may earn a commission from qualifying purchases. It never changes the numbers we show. Disclosure.
Frequently asked questions
Which costs more to run, an electric motorcycle or an e-bike?
At typical use and the U.S. average rate (17.99¢/kWh), an electric motorcycle costs about $131 a year versus $16 for an e-bike. That's $115 more, or 8.0× as much.
How many watts do electric motorcycle and e-bike use?
An electric motorcycle typically draws 1,300 W (range 600–6,600 W). An e-bike draws 100 W (range 60–250 W). Watts alone don't decide cost. Hours of use, cycling and standby matter just as much.
Rates: EIA, 12 months ending 2026-07. Methodology.