Motorbikes as low emitting and fuel efficient vehicle

Its an interesting question that I think can only be reliably answered by the CIR process. As transportation options change and manufacturers develop new vehicle/engine combinations, I suspect these questions will continue to emerge. Historically, the problem with motorbikes has been tailpipe emissions (particulate matter and the like) rather than CO2, where they have a clear advantage. In many instances, the regulatory structure around tailpipe emissions for motorbikes is less stringent than that for cars as well. I know that 2 stroke engines are particularly vulnerable to this critique; I know less about the relative performance of 4 stroke engines in that regard. But if you feel there is a strong case to be made, a CIR that addresses all of the above issues is your best bet for confidence going forward.

I've been directly told "no" by GBCI on the motorcycle question. In general, they do get better gas mileage than cars, but the emission controls are, in some cases, zero (even with some 4-stroke engines). Also, if you take passenger MPG into account, the mileage can be worse than cars.

Tanmay, My question to GBCI wasn't in relation to any specific project, but was something I brought up in a discussion last time I was there. My guess is that a CIR is the way to go if you want to attempt credit for that approach, and that you would need to have a recognized LEV standard specific to motorcycles/motorbikes (e.g. California Air Resources Board (CARB) motorcycle emission standards), plus some way to demonstrate how all of these vehicles met the referenced standard.

I did a CIR on electric scooters for TAIPEI 101 and it was rejected. I think the reviewers got it wrong on several levels (they told me that electricity was not an 'alternative fuel' ?! I will continue to pursue this point for other projects. Even though their CO2/passenger-mile is very good, I don't think that regular motorcycles or scooters can comply, simply because their criteria emissions are so high. However, if electric cars qualify, and they do, and the purpose of the credit is to reduce air and land impacts of automobile travel, then electric scooters and/or motorcycles should qualify, IMHO.

I agree. Can't think of any reason electric scooters, Segways, or any electrically powered vehicles shouldn't count as AFV's when the functional difference between them and electric cars is basically the number of wheels.