Honda announced on  Friday that it is in the process of developing an electric motorcycle. Production and sales of the electric motorcycle should begin next year, in 2010, but there’s no word yet about whether or not it will be available stateside. Motorauthority.com quotes Honda’s CEO, Takeo Fukui, as stating that the electric motorcycle is aimed primarily at "newly emerging countries in regions such as Asia and South America", because "motorcycles are being used for everyday transportation" and that these markets are exhibiting "long-term and steady market growth."

Here is some more analysis of the announcement, from Motorauthority.com:

Honda’s plans to develop the electric motorcycle demonstrate the company’s greater focus on volume products, especially following last year’s dismal period for the automotive market for which Honda is expected to announce a profit of just 1.6 billion euros ($2.2 billion), almost three-quarters less than 2007’s earnings. For this reason CEO Takeo Fukui is determined to refocus the company on where it excels – small, fuel efficient vehicles.