[gnm]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Mesuge', 'r')eading challenged? I'll give you the point with Altairnano company in particular, they are OEM only at the moment.

But you can order quality and real life tested chinese or south korean lithium-ion/polymer batteries at $0.3-0.6 per Wh with 1500-3000 deep cycles. You need at least cca 12-20kWh for small passenger car.

[Rabbit]

I few days ago I took 600 watt ebike for a 2 day test run. It actually worked ok. This one had a max speed of 16 mph with me riding it (230 lbs). It was able to get from to work and back (12 miles) on a single charge. This ebikes are as little as $600. This may be a transportation solution for some working poor.

[s0cks]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Rabbit', 'I') few days ago I took 600 watt ebike for a 2 day test run. It actually worked ok. This one had a max speed of 16 mph with me riding it (230 lbs). It was able to get from to work and back (12 miles) on a single charge. This ebikes are as little as $600. This may be a transportation solution for some working poor.

[MD]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('s0cks', '
')...but people seem to think its something they can get on and let the motor do all the work. Yes you can but it deceives the point. If you cycle as you would normally, the motor allows you to go twice as quick and get to your destination twice as fast AND give you a workout. I have got over 30mph with pedalling+motor.".

[Rabbit]

The model I tried did not have a usable peddle system and the pedals were not installed. I plan to check out another one soon that is more like a normal bike with an electric assist. That way I can add pedal power to the motor power for greater speed.

[jedinvest]

Would love to try out a vehicle such as this:

EV-X7

Could also be a good donor-mobile when up against all the SUVs on the road!

[yesplease]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('roccman', 'I') am looking for an electric scooter that is built well...any input is appreciated.

[yesplease]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('JRP3', 'H')ow can a much lighter vehicle such as a scooter be less efficient than a heavier car?

[JRP3]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'J')RP3 wrote:
Since the vehicle is so much lighter you don't need as many batteries, which makes more advanced, expensive battery technology feasible at a reasonable cost.

[dunewalker]

A friend of mine here has had one of these for a few years and really likes it. I tested it out once, it's cool:

http://www.egovehicles.com/

http://www.kk.org/cooltools/archives/002819.php

[Rabbit]

One of the sites I maintain sells electric scooters. We did some numbers on what it cost to charge the scooters. A six hundred watt electric scooter can go about 25MPH. It costs 0.7 cents per mile in electricity. My Toyota Yaris gets 40 mpg and costs 10 cents per mile in gas.



http://scootersnbikes.com/

[mmasters]

Roccman of the future

[mmasters]

More seriously if I were going to get one I think I would go for one of these:

[yesplease]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('JRP3', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'J')RP3 wrote:
Since the vehicle is so much lighter you don't need as many batteries, which makes more advanced, expensive battery technology feasible at a reasonable cost.

[JRP3]

I don't know, I think there are aeromods available on a bike. Most fairings are designed to force air into and around the engine. Block off and smooth that front section and I would think you could make a large improvement. Make a nice smooth aero fairing from scratch and you might do even better.
My Seca Turbo and FJ1100 always got 40 + mpg, and that was often far beyond regular highway speeds The only car I've ever had that could come close was an 89 Dodge Colt, obviously not driven anywhere near the speeds the bikes were.

[BigTex]

The E-Go2 is nice.

I think its top speed is 25 mph.

Google it, I don't have a link right now.

[Mesuge]

Electric scooters> warning, e-scooters even from the better QaulityControl spectrum of chinese production often need some degree of aftersale user input! Namely, replacement of charging wires, or complete overhaul for single chargers per battery and other mech/elctronic tweaks etc. Even with the <20milion sales in China this is still experimental mode of transportation, mostly due to poor engineering and cheap production issues. Usually, the brochures and manual lack details/sincere info about range and operation discharge/charge recommendations to get the most life of it.

Obviously there are many user forums online, so the most plagued brands on the market could be avoided and exact repair solutions found..

In my view, either get a hightech electric (hybrid) bicycle with german/swiss powertrain, which will last a lifetime but expensive ~2-3k EUR. Or proceed with diy conversion based on small car, geo metro, fiat and such. The e-scooter is somehow in between and as such a big compromise..

[yesplease]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('JRP3', 'I') don't know, I think there are aeromods available on a bike. Most fairings are designed to force air into and around the engine. Block off and smooth that front section and I would think you could make a large improvement. Make a nice smooth aero fairing from scratch and you might do even better.
My Seca Turbo and FJ1100 always got 40 + mpg, and that was often far beyond regular highway speeds The only car I've ever had that could come close was an 89 Dodge Colt, obviously not driven anywhere near the speeds the bikes were.

[hopethreat]

we have a greenemotor scooter (donated to us) in the garage at my work...no one uses it though

www.greenemotor.com

[heroineworshipper]

In 2005, planned on buying a $160 Razor E300 for short trips when gas hit $3. At $160 it would recover its cost in 2000 miles. Now that E300 is $250 & gas is $4.25. It would still recover its cost in 2000 miles.

Unfortunately, it never happened. Personally saw someone trying to push an E300 across a street because it didn't have enough power. $1000 in LiPo batteries would solve that problem, but now the break even point is 8000 miles.

LiPo batteries, like the scooter, are rapidly going up in dollars per amp hour. No matter how expensive gas gets, the alternatives rise equally in price. The best alternative fuel: buy gas in Euros.

[edit - moved topic from Peak Oil Discussion to Open Discussion Forum - markl]