Vectrix is still in business and has at least ten or so US dealerships. Current Motor Company in Ann Arbor, Michigan has no US dealerships yet but they will sell them direct. I'm sure there are others too.

Over the past 8 years, I bought and messed with, and modified and improved two small 50cc class (the old e-max) and also now own a Current maxi-size scooter. My perception is that interest in electric scooters, always marginal, is in decline in the US - even as scooters in general are taking off. The problem is simply the price and the declining fortunes of the younger US generation. The Vectrix and Current Scooters are over $8000, yet the the US demographic sector who would be most interested in electric scooters are urban youth who are stuck in low wage jobs and deep student debt. They can't afford to to pay such an amount for a scooter. This apartment-dwelling demographic also often does not have access to a place to charge the scooter either. Of course, the flip side of this is that the rich are getting richer, so Those who can afford a Vectrix or Current scooter it are rich enough to buy a Tesla.

Admittedly, I live in the rust belt - so maybe my perceptions are worse than typical.

This is a shame, becasue if produced in greater numbers, the price of e-scooters would probably be lower than a gas scooter.

One place where electric scooters are a wildly popular (but outside the US) is Toronto, where limited-speed moped-class scooters (32 kph - but many seem to go faster), - the kind with the token pedals, are seen everywhere in the streets. Their popularity is that no license and insurance is needed and make a great alternative to the high public transit fares. Being "green" seems to be somewhat more fashionable there too. I assume they are popular in other big Canadian cities (Vancouver, Calgary, Montreal) too. A lot of nice-looking models not available in the US are available there. If someone lives in a state where such no VIN, no-license/registration mopeds are street-legal, I'd recommend simply visiting a Canadian city and buying one up there.

Also, you might be interested in the recent post by Dave Herron on the announcement that old EVT America (still based in Miami?) is back in business selling three different scooter models 30 mph, 37 mph and 50 mph. Prices from $1776 to $5576. The lithium version are still awful high becasue the price of Chinese lithium cells remain high. A Lithium-battery equivalent to Moore's Law never panned out.

Paul D.

Randy,

Also check out zelectricvehicle.com. I bought their 6100 in 2010 and it is still running great. I got lucky with local tax incentives and it has been for the most part free.

What I like about it is it's simplicity. No regen, reverse, fancy proprietary computers nor other unnecessary stuff to fail. Unlike the Vectrix, it uses or can use many standard low cost parts. It averages 72WH/mile, but only because I like speed over efficiency.

What I didn't like is partly explained in the mods in my signature below. I feel a Cycle Analyst (CA) computer and balance wires going to each cell are modifications that owners of these scooters should make. If you don't feel comfortable making these modifications then maybe the scooter is not for you. I saw the company may be installing the CA but not sure. I was surprised to correspond with the ex Vectrix US national sales manager and find out he is now a ZEV maxiscooter supporter.

I wish I had bought the 7100 with 60AH cells. 40AH GBS cells simply have too much sag at the current these scooters can use, plus they shouldn't be charged at a rate over .3C or 13.5A. A pack of 60AH cells could easily be charged at 20A. Then the monster ZEV LRC with its 100AH cells could be charged at the full 32A from the many level 2 chargers available. How fast you can charge equates into how many miles you can ride after a one hour opportunity charge; not important to some, but for me it is important because I enjoy riding my scooter a lot and sometimes ride further than 40AH cells will take me.

Good to see someone looking at maxiscooters. As PJD mentioned, there are too few of us.

Just subscribed to the board and will throw a plug in for Flux Mopeds. We are a startup company in Madison, WI that designs 100% electric mopeds. I'm not sure what the definition of "large" is but our model can go 30 miles per hour off the 1.5kW hub motor and 1.4kWh lithium ion battery.

More of a problem is the definition of "moped". Legally, it used to mean a motorized bicycle with functioning pedals like the old Puch and Solex. But the popular definition seems to have come to mean "Chinese scooter". Even my Burgman-sized, 65 mph Current scooter is called a "moped" by many people in my area. But in Pennsylvania a "moped" needs to have pedals. What you are selling would technically be called "a motor-driven cycle" and I would call it a "scooter" (I find the term "moped" to be irritating - it seems to have connotations that I don't like. Would a Vespa or vintage Lambretta ever be called a "moped"?

In Pennsylvania there is a separate "motor driven cycle" designation for scooters less than 50cc, but it always ends up getting registered as a motorcycle. Consequently the restricted speed does nothing - it still needs to be registered, insured, and a motorcycle license is needed - although the chance of a policeman checking the latter is nil.

Generally, I don't see much of a niche for a scooter that cannot go at least 40-45 mph, although it may find use in the denser city areas, as it has in Toronto, where (in Ontario anyway) electric full-performance MCs and scooters don't seem to be legal at all - in spite of the "green" image thy try to project up there.

Good luck with you venture - if you can keep the price at $1900 or less, you may do a lot better that all the previous failed businesses out there.

Randy,

I will relay your concerns to the webmaster (myself, hah)! We've done a number of different designs with mixed reviews from people. Someday we will get it right or decide to hire a professional web guru/graphic artist. Thanks for the kind words regarding Flux.

PJD,

There is no doubt that the naming conventions need work, part of this is simply that the DOT hasn't reacted quickly to the changing forms of transportation currently offered in the world. Our dealer license posted on the wall specifically states "moped" though and describes a two wheel vehicle that cannot exceed 30 MPH. On the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus we have thousands of these mopeds running around that shuttle students to and fro from class. The UW-Madison football team even has nice red ones that they ride all over campus including practices. At some point in time we might get into faster electric vehicles but we decided this was the place to start in Madison.

Alex

The removable battery pack is a very good idea - opening its use to not only apartment dwellers, without access to an outdoor outlet, but commuters without access to an outlet. For some reason, a lot of employers are reluctant to grant permission for outdoor EV charging, but a pack and charger brought indoors will be regarded more s just a personal item like a coffee pot or such.

Removable battery packs are only practical for lower-powered scooters. The pack in my large scooter weighs 120 lbs or 55 kg.

Right,Our PUMA have a 52kgs battery pack,this is real maxi size scooter

COMING now ....

The green white bike: same color scheme as BMW C EVOLUTION
The name: reminds me of Vectrix.

Let me guess, it is Chinese...

Most of us working-class stiffs can only afford Chinese Scooters - which are improving in quality all the time. So you may want to take your Vectrix-snobbishness elsewhere. As far as being a copycat, the scooter's direct-drive hub-motors are entirely a Chinese innovation as far as I know. There are only so many ways a maxi-scooter can be made to look different anyway.

That's correct,actually Vectrix assembled in China since 2012 and BMW's lithium battery come from China too.

Most of us working-class stiffs can only afford Chinese Scooters - which are improving in quality all the time. So you may want to take your Vectrix-snobbishness elsewhere. As far as being a copycat, the scooter's direct-drive hub-motors are entirely a Chinese innovation as far as I know. There are only so many ways a maxi-scooter can be made to look different anyway.

Come on, in the photo above even the "Vortex" logo is a rip off.
I have nothing against Chinese products, I just wish that they would stop carbon copying and do something original for once.

But then they would have to pay a designer and can no longer do it cheap I guess...

Most of us working-class stiffs can only afford Chinese Scooters - which are improving in quality all the time. So you may want to take your Vectrix-snobbishness elsewhere. As far as being a copycat, the scooter's direct-drive hub-motors are entirely a Chinese innovation as far as I know. There are only so many ways a maxi-scooter can be made to look different anyway.

Invented in Shanghai 1998, marketed by EVT Taiwan:

"Come on, in the photo above even the "Vortex" logo is a rip off."

Vextrix, Viper, Vortex, Vauxhall - lots of cars and MC's begin with "V".

"I just wish that they would stop carbon copying and do something original for once..."

I already gave you one example - confirmed by Johnny J...

Most of us working-class stiffs can only afford Chinese Scooters - which are improving in quality all the time. So you may want to take your Vectrix-snobbishness elsewhere. As far as being a copycat, the scooter's direct-drive hub-motors are entirely a Chinese innovation as far as I know. There are only so many ways a maxi-scooter can be made to look different anyway.

Invented in Shanghai 1998, marketed by EVT Taiwan:

1. Actually EVT asked Shanghai engineer to do first brushed HUB motor for them,I know that inventor !

Hi

The name "vortex" is a brand from a portuguese dealer.

I don't know if I can put the address here.

http://www.gingabike.pt/