I was recently very pleased to be able to test ride one of the new Plug in Drive Tech 'Sprint' Electric Scooters in London.
While at first glance the Plug in Drive Tech bike looks similar to several others, there are some important differences that make the riding experience very different to so many of the generic products that find their way to the UK under various guises.
With the Plug in Drive Tech controller the throttle control is exceptionally smooth and a world away from the rather jerky, 'on-off' throttle response of many smaller scooters. This gives confidence when negotiating traffic or maneuvering in confined spaces and is also likely to reduce the chances of wheelspin on slippery surfaces by the power suddenly kicking in. It is this smooth throttle delivery that marks out a quality electric scooter and here I found the Plug in Drive Tech scooter scored top marks.
There is also a five stage regenerative braking system so that you can choose the mode that suits you or the riding conditions in a matter of moments. Naturally, the scooter comes with appropriate Lithium batteries and a torquey 72V, 5000w motor that gives a 60mph+ max speed. There is also an on board charger which I think is preferable as you never know when you might find an opportunity for a handy top up charge!
I was really pleased to find that the standard and rather bouncy and weak rear dampers are replaced for much better quality items and this gave a surefooted feel around some of the rather slippery and bumpy roads that I tested the scooter on.
One of the best things about the Plug in Drive Tech scooter is that it has been developed by some ex-Vectrix technicians and has also had input from the reliable and knowledgeable Steve Scott who many Vectrix owners will know and trust.
The Plug in bikes come with a two year Warranty and the whole experience gave me some confidence that real progress is being made in the electric scooter world and I am pleased to be able to give it a 'thumbs up!'
You can learn more from the Plug in Drive Tech website here: http://www.plugindrivetech.com/index2.html
Hi-
Hoe does a Plug in compare to other bikes such as Emax? Where is it on the scale?
Where can they be tested? Do you know the price?
Thanks
Hi,
Well, it has been a while since I rode an e-Max scooter and when I did it was the 120S silicone gel battery version. It was a very nice riding scooter with a quality feel to the throttle control which, as you will have gathered, I think is very important for urban riding. The e-Max was a 45km/hr scooter so not directly comparable to the Plug In Drive Tech scooter that I recently rode as that was capable of just over 100km/hr!
People want two things it seems to me - speed capability and range - and here the Plug In scooter scores very well but still with that crucial smooth throttle control.
I saw a new e-Max 120 at the recent Motorcycle Show at the NEC and it looked very smart in matt black and orange - a bit like a baby KTM! I was told that Lithium is arriving 'soon.' Who knows what performance that will bring but it should obviously be better than the 45km/hr silicone gel battery version. Build quality on the e-Max always looks good but, as I mentioned, Plug In Drive Tech have also taken great pains to upgrade vital components and that scooter also looked and felt 'quality.'
In terms of price, I understand that UK prices for PDT have not yet been set in stone but are under consideration right now.
I was actually so impressed with my ride on the PDT scooter, LeanMachines are going to be stocking the PDT and two demo scooters should be with us soon. If you are anywhere near Canterbury in the UK then you are welcome to come and try them once they arrive.
LeanMachines
This is great Terry- Thanks
Thinking about the report I posted above and my response comparing the PDT scooters to the e-max, I now think that the PDT scooters should also more correctly be compared to the Vectrix VX1.
It has a similar speed capability and smooth throttle control for easy urban riding but in a smaller, lighter and more competitively package!
That can't be bad...can it?
LeanMachines
wait! No it cant be bad.. Especially if yoy rode it.. So my question is why isnt anyone else asking? It sounds really good- like better than the Vectrix from an end user perspective
For me it would depend upon how much power is developed at speed.
The Vectrix uses a true sine wave controller, so with direct field weakening power drop off is small past the point where motor voltage = battery voltage. (30% increase in speed past that point means ~6% reduction in power)
A BLDC based drive train has only indirect field weakening, so power drop off is very significant.
at 100kmh, how much power is developed?
My Vectrix develops ~29kW, a stock Vectrix develops ~21kW.
The 5000W Mountain Chen 72v based scooter I put a 400A controller in develops 22kW @ 80kmh, but only 7kW at 100kmh.
The effect is it can do 100kmh sometimes, but usually only 90kmh.
Matt
Daily Ride:
2007 Vectrix, modified with 42 x Thundersky 60Ah in July 2010. Done 194'000km