To beat commuter blues while reducing your carbon footprint, the Vectrix Electric Maxi-Scooter is definitely worth considering, writes Conor Twomey
Electric vehicles have a bad reputation by and large and it's not difficult to see why. Technically speaking, they're usually vastly overweight due to all the on-board batteries, have a poor range, take forever to recharge and are as slow as an arthritic slug. They also tend to look odd, handle poorly, come from obscure companies and aren't terribly well made, so you can understand my trepidation at trying out the Vectrix Electric Maxi-Scooter.
The all-electric Maxi-Scooter is imported into Ireland through Green Machines in Dublin, and is built in the US and Poland by Vectrix Corporation, a company set up in 1996 by a consortium of wealthy American businessmen.
By building a scooter, as opposed to a car, Vectrix has bypassed many of the problems associated with electric vehicles - scooters are small and light so you don't have to have half a tonne of batteries in the boot to propel them along. On the contrary, performance is pretty impressive thanks to the Maxi-Scooter's resulting light weight (210kg) and the nature of the electric motor, which is housed within the rear wheel hub and delivers all its 65Nm torque from 0 rpm.
Vectrix claims the Maxi-Scooter can out-drag conventional scooters, reaching 50km/h in just 3.6 seconds and restricted to 100km/h. Scooters also tend to be ridden for short distances only and for that reason, the Maxi-Scooter's range of up to 100km (there's a range indicator so you know what's left) isn't really an issue. Recharging the bike through a conventional three-pin socket takes about three hours, although two hours will net you an 80 per cent charge.
There's really nothing about the Vectrix's appearance to suggest it's anything other than a conventional scooter. The lines are clean and understated and the beefy fairing offers reasonable weather protection, there's a large storage area under the rear seat and a front glovebox with 12V socket for charging phones and powering Sat Nav systems, too.
Anyone used to scooters will find the Vectrix largely conventional to ride, and anyone thinking about buying one to end the endless commute needn't worry either. The start-up procedure involves turning the key, pulling the two brake levers (just to ensure that the computers know you mean business), raising the kick-stand and winding back the throttle grip. Compared to normal scooters, the Vectrix is virtually silent, although the motors do whine to make sure pedestrians don't keep walking out in front of you.
When slowing down, the rider has a choice of using the powerful Brembo brakes or winding the throttle forward which puts the Maxi-Scooter into regenerative braking mode, using the bike's momentum to boost battery levels slightly and using the resistance within the motor and gearbox to slow the bike down.
Its neatest feature is the low-speed reverse function which is operated by winding the throttle forward once the scooter is stopped and makes parking and turning around a quick and stress-free affair. Other than that, the Vectrix is as much of a hoot as a regular scooter to ride. There's a fair bit more weight than on a conventional machine, but its position down low in the frame gives the Maxi-Scooter tremendous stability and the standard Pirelli tyres give it plenty of grip for extreme manoeuvring.
The steering is light and the throttle is sharp and responsive, although, while the suspension is set up for sportiness, it is a little hard over rough surfaces. Personally, I also found the riding position a little cramped.
For anyone looking for a simple way to beat the rush hour blues, then the Vectrix is definitely something you should take a look at. It isn't cheap at €10,700, but that does include a four-year warranty, the low running costs (it's classed as a 250 by insurance companies) and there might even be some tax breaks down the line as well.
Factfile: Vectrix Electric Maxi-Scooter
Engine:Brushless DC radial air-gap electric motor
Output:27hp, 65Nm
Performance:0-50 km/h in 3.6 seconds, 0-80km/h in 6.8, 100km/h top speed
Transmission:Integrated planetary gear drive
Frame:Aluminium box-section
Dimensions:wheelbase: 1,525mm, seat height: 800mm
Weight:210kg dry
Suspension:Marzocchi telescopic forks, aluminium swingarms with twin Sachs shock absorbers
Wheels:Aluminium, 14" front, 13" rear
Tyres:Pirelli GTS23, 120/70-14 (front) Pirelli GTS24, 140/60-13 (rear)
Brakes:two-piston Brembo front calliper, single disc; Brembo rear calliper, single disc.
Price:€10,700