By While electric cars are increasingly being embraced as the woke man's vehicle of choice, electric motorbikes still feel a little like a contradiction in terms.
Historically, they are the steed of the outlaw. There's a sense of nihilism and self-reliance to the archetype of The Biker that doesn't quite marry with a commendably eco-conscious outlook. Marlon Brando wouldn't have looked quite so devil-may-care in The Wild One if he'd slowly pootled into the distance with a soft electrical whine.
The other problem is that the line between 'electric motorbike for the urban man' and 'motorised scooter' remains, in many cases, worryingly thin. And the truly good-looking electric bikes tend to be so expensive that it's hard to rationalise buying one that runs on petrol.
What the situation needs, clearly, is an affordable electric bike which looks like it could still belong to a surly youth in a leather jacket. Enter Super Soco.
The Chinese company has looked to the stripped-down rockabilly 'café racer' bikes of the 1950s and early '60s - which prioritised speed and handling over comfort - and revamped them as urban electrics that provide an affordable and stylish was to travel around a city.
At £2,349 and £2,849 respectively - and costing roughly £1 of electricity every 100 miles - they've got the 'affordable' bit down, and there's no road tax to pay on them either. The 40-mile single-charge range on the battery should be enough for a day exploring of the city, as should the TC's 45mph top speed. On top of having no exhaust emissions, there's no sound or leaking oil emissions either.
Yes, the experience of jamming the throttle open and hearing nothing except the roll of the tyres might take some getting used to, and yes, your extremely conscientious decision to save the world might be scant consolation when you're stuck behind a bus belching diesel fumes at eye height.
But if you're looking for a fun and inexpensive ride that understands giving a damn is the new don't-give-a-damn, start here.
