Vectrix Electric Scooter: Easy rider with green appeal

Think "electric vehicle" and what springs to mind? Something whining, ugly and slow, like a golf cart or milk float? I thought the same, but my horizons have recently been expanded by a test ride on the Vectrix electric scooter.

From February next year the Vectrix will be the first full-size electrically driven scooter to go on sale. Unlike most electric vehicles, this one also moves the alternative power game forward in several respects.

Being electric, it's totally emission-free. Instead of a fuel filler-cap there's a three-pin plug under the seat. Simply plug it into a wall socket and the 1.5kW charger will replenish the scooter's 120V nickel metal hydride (NiMH) battery in two hours.

The battery has an estimated life of 80 000km and each charge gives a range of 110km. In a recent test a Vectrix managed four hours of urban running before it needed a recharge.

The compact, brushless, 20kW "radial air-gap" motor sits on the left side of the rear wheel. It has been jointly developed by teams in the US, UK and Italy, contains exactly 10 moving parts, requires no oil or filters and is effectively maintenance-free.

But what sets this apart from other electro motors is the patented multi-function throttle and regenerative braking system.

Twisting the throttle back gives liquid-smooth acceleration, while closing it allows the Vectrix to coast freely and twisting it forwards redirects energy to the battery, simultaneously extending range by up to 12 percent and providing braking.

So, this isn't just "twist-and-go" like most scooters, it's "twist-and-stop", too, and if extra braking is required then there are conventional hydraulic discs at front and rear.

The Vectrix is also "twist-and-back" thanks to its slow reverse mode - handy if you've parked nose-to-the-kerb on a cambered street.

I have a conventional scooter so I found the Vectrix easy to ride, despite its unusual throttle and weird electro soundtrack. One lap of Soho Square was all I needed before confidently embarking on a 40-minute ride around London.

I quickly found out that closing the throttle allowed it to coast as freely as a motorbike in neutral and that twisting it forward was as easy and effective as gently pulling the brakes.

Regenerative braking also brings satisfaction from knowing that in effect you're also topping up your "fuel tank" with amps.

With 80kg of battery amidships creating a very low centre of gravity and large wheels (14" front, 13" rear) to smooth out poorer surfaces, I had no concerns about the Vectrix's brakes, chassis or handling so I headed off to test the claimed 100km/h top speed.

Strong mid-range

I hit 104km/h before the limiter cut in (a higher maximum would be possible at the expense of range) but more impressive was the strong mid-range acceleration.

The Vectrix isn't that quick from a standstill (0-80km/h in 6.8sec) but its 65Nm of torque makes its overtaking sprint from 50 to 80km/h truly remarkable.

The Vectrix is about the same size as a 400cc maxi-scooter, but anyone with a 125cc motorcycle licence can ride one.

The price has yet to be confirmed but will be in the region of £5000 (about R57 000 at 9/05/05). That's substantially more than for an conventional 125cc scooter, but with free licencing (in Britain), insurance at about half what you'd pay for a 125, minimal maintenance and immeasurably small fuel costs, plus the Vectrix's green appeal, I'm struggling for a reason not to buy one. - The Independent, London

- The Vectrix website has a chart showing that a Vectrix would be about 25 percent cheaper to run in Europe than a 400cc scooter over a four year period.

- In South Africa, it would cost R132 a year to licence, the same as any other motorcycle, and yes, according to the Cape Town traffic department you can ride it on a 125cc licence.