MP3 Hybrid

OK, on to a more realistic plug-in. This is Piaggio MP3 Hybrid. You will actually be able buy these next year, and I think I actually want one. It will be (they claim) the first production plug-in hybrid vehicle. It runs on electricity, AND has a 124cc gas-powered engine that will take over when your charge is up. That means its range is not limited. And the battery is a Lithium-ion battery, the kind like in your cell phone that charges quickly and lasts long (another first for a production hybrid).

It will reach 64mph, and they claim 140mpg. Of course, if your trips are short and the gas engine never kicks in, that 140 could approach infinity.

The unlimited range and the electric engine make this an appealing package. One cool thing about an electric engine is that 100% of the torque is avalable from the instant you twitch the throttle. So even though it's a green vehicle, it won't be a wimp. This thing will jump off the line. Is it me, or does this even look better than the other MP3s? To read more, see Piaggio's website.

Brammo Enertia

This is the Brammo Enertia. It is a motorcycle that is completely electric. It only goes for about 45 miles on a charge, tops out at 55 miles per hour (not bad, actually), and cost $12,000. That's right, it costs as much as a BWM 800. So, what's so interesting about that? You can't buy it at a motorcycle dealer. It's going to be sold at, get this, Best Buy!

I don't expect to see a lot of these around. Partly because, for now, they only have plans to release them in the Northwest United States. But mostly, it is so expensive for what you get, I can only imagine it as some sort of status-symbol toy. So that makes the distribution the most interesting part. If vehicles in the future are going to be consumer electronics, what does that mean for the sales model? Will car dealers cease to exist? Will you be dickering with Radio Shack? An intersting thought experiment for a County that currently awaits a Best Buy to repace our one Circuit City.

Xebra Zaptruck

Xebra cars and trucks from Zap are now for sale in Lancaster County. Mike Cronin of the Lititz Car Co. had all kinds of trouble with PennDOT red tape getting these things approved for sale, but he finally prevailed.

These all-electric, 3-wheeled vehicles are plated as motorcycles, mostly to get around that the safety requirements of normal automobiles. So think of them as plug-in scooters with hauling volume.

Electric Bikes

CNN.com recently ran an article about electric bicycles. They are like mopeds in that they are bicycles with a motor assist. But there are different types; those that have scooter-like controls for the motor, and those whose motor kicks in automatically.

There are some very different designs. Some look almost like normal bikes, and some have a radical design like the Ultra Motor A2B pictured above. Electric bikes, of course, suffer from the same issues as electric scooters and cars. Range is limited. Old batteries are heavy, modern batteries are expensive. Their cost is often comparable to the next step up in transportation; in this case, a scooter or even a used car. The same arguments as mentioned in the entry about ZAP cars.

Speaking of ZAP, PPL donated an electric ZAP bike to the Lancaster Police way back in 1999. Growth in the electric bike market and advances in electric vehicle technology practically guarantee that we'll be seeing more electric bikes on the streets of Lancaster soon.

Zap Cars Coming to Lancaster

The Lititz Car Company will soon be selling Zap Xebra electric "cars". Why am I writing about cars on a scooter blog? Why the quote marks? Because these 3-wheeled vehicles are classified as motorcycles. And if they have automatic transmissions, that makes them scooters in my mind.

A lot of people are anxious for a practical electric car... and I'm not sure this is it. The 3-wheel motorcycle designation exempts it from many of the safety features required of a car. There are no creature comforts like air-conditioning. But as a scooter rider, I'm O.K. with all that, as long as you buy it with that knowledge. They claim a 40 mile range, but that is with an extended battery (an upgrade option). Owners report only 12-17 miles without it. The batteries are lead acid; not quite state-of-the-art. And they are still pricey. About $12,000.

But I bet there will be a market for them. Under some very specific conditions, they could be the the perfect vehicle. That pick-up can haul a lot more bulk than a scooter. They are street legal, which is step up from a golf cart. How about something to link campus properties? As a delivery vehicle or an in-city all-weather commuter, they could be the ticket. A plug-in car sure is intriguing.

They have their detracters, that's for sure. Wired wrote a long, scathing article about Zap. The Xebra itself has gotten some bad reviews. But every car has its enthusiasts. For that perspective, see Xebra World. I look forward to seeing them on the road here in Lancaster. I think they're cute.

Electric Scooters To The Rescue?

There are some people who are very interested in electric scooters. I recently ran across an entertaining article by Dexter Ford about the Vectrix electric scooter. Could electric scooters save the world? It's not as far-fetched as it sounds. 15 years from now, we might all be riding electric vehicles.

Why electric? Because electricity can be created in many ways, domesticly. Two of America's greatest energy resources are wind and natural gas (no, that's not a bean joke). Both can be used to generate electricity, and natural gas can power cars. To learn more about how, read The Pickens Plan. That's just so crazy, it might work!

Electric Scooter Question

Hope asks, "...I'm thinking of getting a scooter. My husband saw electric scooters today although I don't know what store he saw them in. I know you need a motorcycle license for a gas powered scooter but do you need one for the electric ones?"

Dear Hope,

License in PA is determined by engine power, not fuel type. The cut off is 5 brake horsepower. Under, a regular automobile license will do. Over, you need a motorcycle license. (Source) Brake horsepower means horsepower measured at the motor, not at the drive wheel. Actual power of the scooter will be less.

To be driven on the highways and roadways of the Commonwealth, a motor vehicle must be registered, titled, inspected and insured. If the scooter doesn’t have a have a license plate, an inspection sticker, and turn signals, I doubt it’s street legal.

I don't have any personal experience with electric scooters, so I don't know if the electric ones are any good. But the idea is tempting...