Electric Glide: Passing Pumps on a Scooter

Los Angeles I WAS riding down Sepulveda Boulevard in Los Angeles, watching wallowing S.U.V.’s recede in my mirrors. An ARCO station loomed over the windscreen. Unleaded regular, just $3.09 a gallon?I had flicked the blinker on and was banking toward the pumps when it hit me. Gasoline? I don’t need no stinking gasoline.I was riding a Vectrix, a slick Futurama-spec scooter powered by a 20-kilowatt (26.8 horsepower) direct-current motor. Instead of gasoline, ethanol, hydrogen or plutonium, it was motivated by squeaky-clean electrons racing between the poles of its 3.7-kilowatt-hour nickel-metal-hydride battery pack. The Vectrix scooter is similar in design to gasoline-powered maxi scooters by Honda, Suzuki, Piaggio and others — practical, economical, motorcycle-size transpo-pods that are far more popular in Europe and Asia than in S.U.V.-besotted America. But instead of a conventional maxi’s 250 cc-to-400 cc gas engine, the Vectrix’s brushless electric motor gets the job done using stockpiled household current.The Vectrix is designed to accommodate riders with little motorcycle or scooter experience, though in most states it will require a motorcycle license. (Newbies would be well advised to first learn defensive riding through the Motorcycle Safety Foundation RiderCourse, available at www.msf-usa.org.) Riding the Vectrix is like nothing else. The twistgrip control works like a motorcycle throttle — rotate the top of the grip rearward for more power. But unlike a motorcycle, the twistgrip also acts as a brake: rolling the top of the grip forward engages regenerative braking, recharging the battery as the scooter slows. There are excellent, motorcycle-spec Brembo disc brakes, front and rear, which can be used to stop even faster. But for most riding, the energy-efficient regen braking is more than sufficient. The innovative twistgrip has yet another trick: from a standstill, twisting the grip forward activates reverse, helping the rider (slowly) back out of a tight parking space. The Vectrix motor, combined in the rear hub with a single-speed planetary gearset, spins the rear wheel in a smooth, silent surge of power. The machine is anything but slow: its instantly available torque builds speed quickly, easily staying with lead-footed car drivers from stoplight to stoplight. Top speed is 62 miles an hour, which is dictated more by decreasing range at higher speeds than by limited power. On a rush-hour freeway run from Hollywood to Manhattan Beach, the Vectrix easily kept pace with 90 percent of auto traffic. Its steering is precise and its handling inspires confidence, thanks to a rigid aluminum chassis, low center of mass and motorcycle-style suspension and tires.The only significant limitation is range. Vectrix claims 40 to 60 miles in average driving conditions. With this throttle-happy test rider on board, a 40-mile loop at routine speeds depleted the battery pack completely. And that rush-hour trip dropped the charge meter to nearly zero after only 25 miles. The Vectrix takes about two hours to refuel with its built-in charger, which can be plugged into any standard outlet.So the Vectrix is not for long-haul touring. But for the daily driving most of us do most of the time, the Vectrix is a viable choice. It’s smooth, disarmingly fun to ride, has enough luggage space under its flip-up seat for two open-face helmets or a couple of canvas grocery bags, and is comfortable for two adults. It’s warranted for two years and unlimited miles, and its battery pack is projected to last for 50,000 miles — quite a way to go on an open-air scooter. The Vectrix Corporation is a well-financed, truly international effort with offices in Rome and Newport, R.I., and production facilities in Poland. Big high-tech companies including Lockheed Martin, Alcoa and Parker-Hannifin have contributed to the project.The Vectrix is on sale in major American cities for $11,850. And though the initial cost is high compared with gas-powered scooters, the savings come, of course, on fuel costs: the company estimates those at 2 cents a mile. This saving-the-planet thing may be more fun than we expected. Powered By iWebRSS.co.cc