Electric Scooter Survey--Your input desired

[TVB]

Here is my challange. Build an electric scooter that can complete the CBR in a "reasonable" time! I think this would prove the worthinss of electric scooters!

No, what it would prove is that they're ready for the Cannonball Run. A scooter can be quite "worthy" (that is, useful and practical for day-to-day use) without meeting those standards. I know: I ride one.

[cpaden]

I am embarrassed to ask this, but what is the CBR?

[ericalm]

I am embarrassed to ask this, but what is the CBR?

Don't be. It's the Scooter Cannonball Run.
http://www.scootercannonball.com/

[BuddyRaton]

Here is my challange. Build an electric scooter that can complete the CBR in a "reasonable" time! I think this would prove the worthinss of electric scooters!

No, what it would prove is that they're ready for the Cannonball Run. A scooter can be quite "worthy" (that is, useful and practical for day-to-day use) without meeting those standards. I know: I ride one.

Easy easy....I was having some fun!

But really wouldn't it be uber cool to see an electric category for CBR? There are a lot of hardcore scooter gearheads, modern and vintage, that run the Cannonball. I really want to see what the electric motor heads would come up with to run 2,500 miles in 8 days...probably some really cool rides!

[ericalm]

Here is my challange. Build an electric scooter that can complete the CBR in a "reasonable" time! I think this would prove the worthinss of electric scooters!

No, what it would prove is that they're ready for the Cannonball Run. A scooter can be quite "worthy" (that is, useful and practical for day-to-day use) without meeting those standards. I know: I ride one.

Easy easy....I was having some fun!

But really wouldn't it be uber cool to see an electric category for CBR? There are a lot of hardcore scooter gearheads, modern and vintage, that run the Cannonball. I really want to see what the electric motor heads would come up with to run 2,500 miles in 8 days...probably some really cool rides!

That would completely screw up the handicapping system!

[BuddyRaton]

No, what it would prove is that they're ready for the Cannonball Run. A scooter can be quite "worthy" (that is, useful and practical for day-to-day use) without meeting those standards. I know: I ride one.

Easy easy....I was having some fun!

But really wouldn't it be uber cool to see an electric category for CBR? There are a lot of hardcore scooter gearheads, modern and vintage, that run the Cannonball. I really want to see what the electric motor heads would come up with to run 2,500 miles in 8 days...probably some really cool rides!

That would completely screw up the handicapping system!

Yeah...it's not up to me but I would just give them 100%..see how they compare to a 79 P200. Off topic but I've got mine down to about 82%

[davidscooter]

1) Would you consider buying an electric-powered scooter? Why or why not?

Not unless they were made by a well-known scooter company. I've owned 2 electric scooters. Both of them experienced problems in the first 1000 miles, and (unlike gasoline scooters) there was no local shop to work on them. I ended up spending a lot of time and money keeping them going, and it just wasn't worth it. My gasoline scooter has been much more reliable, and there are 3 local shops that can fix it if it has problems.

2) Are there specific features of a scooter that you particularly like or would like to see developed?
1. Reliability
2. Reliability
3. Reliability
4. Local servicing
5. Lighter weight (enough with the 350 lb. electric scooters that only go 50 mph, max.)
6. An HONEST range of 50 miles, @ 45 mph

3) What speed and distance would you like (within reason) an electric scooter to be able to travel before needing to have the battery charged?
50 miles @ 45 mph

4) What price would you consider paying for an electric scooter? No more than $4000

5) How do you currently use your scooter? Work, school, recreational? Do you go nearby or long distances?
For work and recreation. My maximum daily use is about 40 miles.

[JHScoot]

1) Would you consider buying an electric-powered scooter? Why or why not?

2) Are there specific features of a scooter that you particularly like or would like to see developed?

3) What speed and distance would you like (within reason) an electric scooter to be able to travel before needing to have the battery charged?

4) What price would you consider paying for an electric scooter?

5) How do you currently use your scooter? Work, school, recreational? Do you go nearby or long distances?

1. No. My perception is they're too slow for my style of riding

2. An electric scooter? Sure. Performance. Make it go fast(er)

3. 80 miles at 50mph+. I would not care if it got the same mileage if 50mph was never reached. But an easily obtainable 50mph top speed, minimum.

4. Buddy sized and a total pro job with warranty and service provided and available? Also, meeting the requirements above? MSRP $4000. Give or take...

5. I use it for everything when in town. And I recently got use of a China scoot when out of town half the time. So I scoot quite a lot these days. I scoot surface streets within a 25 mile radius of where I live, usually.


I should say I answered this blind with no knowledge of electric scoots or the technology involved at all. Or even if a scoot such as i would want already exists?

Also, environmental concerns and fossil fuel considerations would not motivate a purchase for me

[davidscooter]

It's not electric motor efficiency that stands in the way of selling a successful electric scooter. It's (1) reliable, lightweight and affordable battery technology, (2) truly reliable electronics, and (3) a network of dealers that offer full repair support.

The now-dead electric scooter companies of the past 10 years - EVT, MoRad, E-max, FalconEV, Lepton, Zapino and others - failed technically due to problems with electronics and batteries, not motors per se. It's NOT that electric vehicle technology is unreliable. It's that it's hard to offer lighweight, reliable, decent-range, and decent-speed electric scooters at a price that can compete with the ultra-high-scale gasoline scooter industry.

Have a look at the "V is for Voltage" electric scooter forums: www.visforvoltage.com. Here you will see page after page of people having problems with their electric scooters, but getting no manufacturer support because the manufacturers are already bankrupt or have left the U.S market. This is a stark contrast with the ModernBuddy, ModVespa, and other gasoline scooter forums, which contain many pages of people who having fun on their scooters.

It's unfortunate that these companies gave so many people such bad experiences. You, and other people who want to revive the electric scooter market, therefore are left having to overcome the skeptical attitudes of past electric scooter owners who, like myself, have been burnt.

[LunaP]

1)
Not unless they were made by a well-known scooter company. I've owned 2 electric scooters. Both of them experienced problems in the first 1000 miles, and (unlike gasoline scooters) there was no local shop to work on them. I ended up spending a lot of time and money keeping them going, and it just wasn't worth it. My gasoline scooter has been much more reliable, and there are 3 local shops that can fix it if it has problems.

I agree wholeheartedly and I wish I'd said this as well. Anything brand new to the market will have a few kinks to be worked out, but overall igt needs to be a reliable scooter with local dealers and service shops. I don't want to have to send it off to be serviced or drive a state over or some mess like that.