Will electric motorbike sales take off across Asia?

The term "electric vehicle" in the UK immediately conjures up images of a Tesla, or another similar car, but across Asia the battle for EV dominance is being waged on motorbikes.

Visit most Asian countries, and you'll immediately notice that motorcycles swarm and buzz about everywhere.

Often functioning much like a family car - only far more affordable - it's not uncommon to see a two-wheeler carrying an entire family, whether you are in Taiwan, Cambodia, India, or Indonesia.

Sales of electric motorbikes in China are being powered by government incentives and promotion as a means to help tackle urban pollution. Yet in other countries, such as Cambodia and Laos, the industry is basically starting from zero.

Tu Le, founder and managing director of Chinese automotive analysis firm Sino Auto Insights, says there are "still a lot of kinks to work out" before electric motorbikes can be prevalent across Asia. One key thing is the need for numerous charging stations, which makes them a trickier option in rural areas.

While the big Japanese motorbike manufacturers like Yamaha and Honda are now making electric models, the Asian market has been led by newer companies.

Taiwan's Gogoro is one such firm. In addition to a range of electric motorbikes, it has come up with a solution to the problem of a rider having to stand around while their bikes charge.

Instead of charging points, Gogoro's users in Taiwan simply need to drive to one of more than 2,200 battery stations, and swap their batteries for free. The outdoor stations run 24-hours a day, and are said to be able to withstand the typhoons and searing heat of Taiwanese summers.