Zoomi Life

As with our electric car picks for 2008, of top electric scooter picks are all available in the USA now or will be in 2009 and are top picks for various reasons: design, capability, innovation, etc. Most of you know by now that scooters are one of my least favorite things, but there are an amazing number of them on the EV market and they seem to be popular as commuters and all-around “get around” machines.

We narrowed the picks and left the best electric scooters by cutting out all that aren’t commuters, per se, and are really just glorified toys. So you won’t see any modified Razors or skateboards with handlebars on this list. You will see one and two passenger scooters and mopeds, though.

#1 – Piaggio MP3 Hybrid

Availability: 2009
Price: TBD

The Piaggio MP3 Hybrid is the only one on this list that’s not all-electric, but it won out purely on design and innovation. It’s 3-wheeled design, amazing engineering that allows a 40-degree tilt to either side, maximum stability (and safety) and extreme performance, all pushed it to the top of this list. Available world-wide next year, including here in the USA, this one will be hard to beat.

#2 – Vectrix VX-1

Availability: Now
Price: $10,495

While not a lot of change and innovation took place with the Vectrix VX-1 for the 2009 model, it’s one that already looks good, has great performance, and is tried-and-true on American streets. A name change and a paint job make this scooter different from its predecessors, with performance and reliability already tested. New models, like the VX-1e and VX-2 will also be available next year, but are basically dumbed-down versions of this number two pick.

#3 – Zero Emission Motors Bolt

Availability: Now
Price: $1,645

Not the most stylish moped on the market, maybe, but the Zero Emission Motors Bolt electric scooter is a reliable performer with great characteristics. Aimed at a market that looks for affordability as part of their main requirements for an EV commuter, this model definitely delivers great performance for value. We were most impressed with the range and speed capabilities of this little goer.

#4 – Zuumer Electric Scooter

Availability: January 2009
Price: $2,195

I know I said I wouldn’t include any glorified skateboards on this list, but the Zuumer electric scooter is just too cool to skip. This one, though, is technically a glorified SNOWboard, so it sneaks past that little roadblock. There’s no other words to describe this one other than “cool” and “fun as hell.” The Zuumer is probably the most innovative scooter on this list as far as an enjoyable ride goes. Anyone who tries one will become addicted. Ask our editor, Sebastian. He’s waiting impatiently for his.

#5 – ZAP’s Zapino

Availability: Now
Price: $3,500

The Zapino is not the most stylish or most innovative scooter on the market, sure, but definitely one of the most popular and affordable. That puts the Zapino on our list, since not only are these well-tested, but they are also consistently popular. Their low price tag and decent performance are what make them the favorite for many EV buyers.

In motor vehicles, whether they be electric or gasoline powered, or halfway between, there’s a basic understanding among manufacturers: if you don’t have anything to ad, repaint it and call it “new” anyway, so you can market it to the masses.

Such is the case with Vectrix’s new 2009 series. Not that this is a bad thing. The scooters (which look like motorcycles, as I mentioned in an article not long ago) are basically good how they are and don’t need much change anyway. They changed the name (from MaxiScooter to VX-1) and that’s about it.

The great machines still go up to 62mph and do 0-50 in 7 seconds. They still have the same great display, easy ride, and good performance. Otherwise, the only new addition will be two new models.

Oh wait, that’s a big addition. Well, OK, sort of. The first is the VX-1e, which will be available around Spring 2009 that is basically a standard VX-1 with slower top speeds and acceleration and a lower price tag to go with that. Sort of the “dumbed down” version of the regular edition.

The other is the VX-2, which is a much smaller version with much less power (equivalent to 50cc) and size, expected to appeal to the lower end of the market and short distance commuters. This one should be available by Summer.

Vectrix saw a lot of growth this year, with their dealership distribution network growing from 38 to 160 dealers and sales growth of 156%. Good news for the otherwise dismal industry!

Source: AutoblogGreen.com

Scooters have come a long way from their early days as glorified bicycles and nerd-haulers. They aren’t just for geeks anymore, but have grown up into stylish and sleek performance machines. The Vectrix VX-1 is one of the top machines on this list and is fast becoming the world’s leader in all-electric, road worthy electric scooters. Even the NYPD is fielding them!

These scooters (they look more like a small motorcycle to me) debuted in America in 2006 and went into broader national sales in 2008 and are now available in most major cities in both the U.S.A. and the EU. The ‘08 and ‘09 models retail for about $11,000 (before rebates or incentives) with all the trimmings and are made (for the most part) in the company’s Massachusetts plant while EU models are made primarily in Poland.

Sounds pretty expensive. Right? It is, all at once, for a “scooter.” Consider this, though: if you continue to drive your car, what will that cost? Let’s do some quick math. Over a year, the average person will drive their car to work about 250 days of the year. At a commute of about 30 miles round trip, gas prices at $2.50/gallon, and miles per gallon at 25 in-city, that works out to $750 in gas (7500 miles, 300 gallons). That’s an optimistic set of numbers and does not include maintenance costs, but it gets the point across. A VX-1 scooter, under the same conditions, would have less than half the maintenance costs of a car and zero gasoline purchases. Ad in the other errands you use a car for and you can see why these are becoming so desirable to people.

Models have been test-driven and adopted by several large groups, including the New York City Police Department and police departments in Scotland, Italy, France, and others. So these aren’t fly-by-night machines, but real workhorses. Their 24-month warranty is standard. Of course, that means nothing without specs. Right?

Exactly. So let’s look at how these electric scooters stack up. The VX-1 2009 model specifications are pretty impressive for an electric. We’ll start with the fast numbers, the ones that will make-or-break this electric for most daily users:

• Max Speed: 62mph / 100km/h
• Acceleration: 0-31mph (50km/h) in 3.6 seconds
• Range: 68 miles under optimum conditions (35 miles average)
• Battery recharge time: 80% charge in 2 hours (110v)
• Estimated battery life: 10 years or 50,000 miles (80k km)

Those numbers will probably decide it for you. For some of us, an all-electric is not likely because of range restrictions, but for suburban and urban commuters, this little scooter is a very likely candidate. This is also one of the very few all-electrics available right now that is federally highway and freeway rated. That’s an important consideration for many.

The VX-1 has a lot of other impressive features besides it’s core specs. It’s really friendly LCD instrumentation is one. These can be seen in most light conditions and tell you at a glance where you are in terms of speed, battery power, etc. There’s even a “backwards mileage counter” on the display that shows you about how many more miles you can go under your current riding conditions.

The whole bike weighs about 450 pounds and has a “trunk” (under the seat) big enough for a full-face helmet to fit into, plus a small glove box at the front big enough for a cell phone, iPod, etc. (even with accessories). An optional cargo box ads even more storage. This means no nerdy backpack required while riding your scooter.

Other great ideas like regenerative braking, where you turn the throttle forwards (rather than back) to decelerate without using your physical brakes, can ad up to 15% of the power returning to the scooter. This form of braking still activates the brake lights, so it’s not dangerous to use it in traffic. Standard hand brakes (working like a motorcycle’s disc brakes) are also on the scooter.

Here’s the rest of the specs for you number junkies:

• Tires: Pirelli GTS23 12/70-14 (front) and GTS24 14/60-13 (rear)
• Suspension: Sachs Twin Shock
• Battery: Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH)
• Battery Capacity Rating: 30Ah, 3.7kW-h
• Battery Voltage Rating: 125V
• Charger Type: 1.5kW (on-board, 8ft cord in trunk)
• Battery Discharge Cycles: 1,700 (80%)
• Motor Type (rear-wheel drive): Brushless DC, radial air-gap
• Peak Power: 20kW at 3,000 rpm
• Max Torque: 65Nm
• Gearbox: Integrated rear-wheel planetary gear drive
• Electronics: DSP & IGBT-based all-digital
• Communications: CAN and Bluetooth wireless for diagnostics
• Seat Height: 30 inches
• Frame: Aluminum

So there you have it, the Vectrix VX-1 electric scooter. Watch for further developments too, as they test market their new three-wheeled model, which has better stability and handling.

Check out videos of the Vectrix VX-1 below - one is an official promo video, the other is a ‘drivers-view’ of what it’s like to ride a Vectrix:

Force India F1 driver Giancarlo Fisichella is the latest driver in a list of Formula One drivers that have taken an interest in electric vehicles. According to US electric vehicle maker Vectrix, Mr. Fisichella has received their “Electric Ambassador” Certificate. We assume this means that he’s going to be promoting Vectrix’s flagship product, the Vectrix Electric Scooter.

He’s not the only F1 driver riding a Vectrix - according to Vectrix, Eddie Jordan, Damon Hill and Adrian Sutil all ride their own, although none of them have been proclaimed “ambassadors” as of yet.

About the Vectrix Electric Scooter

Some of the key features of the Vectrix include:

• Zero carbon emissions
• Fully charged range up to 68 miles
• Top speed of 62 mph (100 km/h)
• Acceleration 0-50 in 6.8 seconds
• As responsive as a 400cc scooter but with a 125cc classification, making the bike accessible to anyone with a provisional licence who has completed CBT training.
• Multi-function throttle controls a slow-speed reverse for greater manoeuvrability and easy
  parking
• The onboard charger recharges the scooter in just over two hours from a standard 110/220V (3 pin) power socket.
• Low noise for reduced sound pollution
• Estimated battery life of 10 years (based on 5,000 miles per year)
• DAaRT™ system – Twist back the throttle for instant acceleration, and twist it forward to slow down smoothly and safely, in addition to the front and back Brembo disc brakes.

This Post via AutoBlogGreen

CDT/Mark Johnston

PSU Police Detective Bill Wagner test drives one of the department’s new Vectrix electric police bikes on the campus Friday, Sept 19, 2008. CDT/Mark Johnston

Penn State police this weekend will become the first university law enforcement agency in the nation and the first police department in the state to deploy “green,” battery-operated Vectrix motorcycles for patrolling, said Police Chief Steve Shelow.

Its also the departments first motorcycle patrol. Intended to allow police to move easily through crowds, it will be used for the first time before the football game against Temple, Shelow said.

“It’s fairly difficult at times to get a traditional police vehicle around the tailgating lots,” Shelow said. “We’ve found our police bicycles are very effective. The motorcycles will add more of a capability for quicker response.”

Each motorcycle cost $9,000, Shelow said.

Read more at Centre Daily Local News