EVTAMERICA UPDATE for THE Z-20 WAITING LIST CLUB.

I still don't see how they can sell it for so little. Their 30 mph 1.5kW scooter (the 4000e) sells for $2900. The Z-20 has 25% more power but they claim a 50% faster top speed and a lower price?

They could be purchasing the components from a different company, who knows? But they do have a good reputation for their other products. I don't think they'd blow it by cheating a bunch of people.

I signed up for the waiting list, and I'll buy it sight unseen when it comes available. Call me a fool, but I need to go faster than the usual 25-30 MPH of all the other electric mopeds. I need something that'll blend in better with traffic.

The only other one out their that boasts the same speed and motor size is X-Treme with their XM-2000 for about $1600. They have a horrible reputation for reliability and customer service though.

I don't think there's anything else other than those. Even the Vectrix at $11,000 is still a ways off.

So, I'll either be an early sucker or one of the fortunate ones, we'll see. I'll keep ya posted.

CGameProgrammer,

EVT America is NOT the same company as EVT (out of Taiwan), maker of the EVT 168 and 4000e. EVT America sells EVT products, but does not manufacturer them. EVT America claims it will be manufacturing and selling the Z-20 soon. EVT has been selling the 4000e for almost 5 years. The 4000e is a real product that can be bought today (and modified to go 35+ MPH). Do you want to ride a good scooter now, or wait for a "better" scooter tomorrow?

-Crusher300
Silver EVT 4000e (60 volt) San Mateo, CA

That's good info to know. Wonder what the difference in quality will be?

As for the good scooter now versus better scooter tomorrow thing, I'm sorry, but I won't buy something that goes only 35 MPH. I'd be forever pulling over to let traffic past. There are PLENTY of good scooters that go 25-35 MPH, but that's not fast enough for the average American driver (the ones in the cars). Which is also why I wouldn't buy an NEV--25 MPH is entirely too slow for surface streets. Seems that 45 and up is the magic number.

So, if I had a choice between having a slower scooter or not one at all, I'd rather not have one at all and just wait till a faster one came around. Hence the wait for the Z-20. At least on my Charger Electric bike I have a quasi-lane by myself. If a car door opens on me, there goes the door!

No one discussed the content of this release. Is the "new improved engine" referring to a switch to a brushless motor?

Also, as far as price, the $1900 price tag is an introductory deal only for those on the waiting list, they did it because e-max has a similar introductory waiting list price and they thought they had a competitor. I think the regular price will be in $2800 range.

I am on the waiting list, but will not be exercising my option. The scooter budget got committed to my two e-max's.

As far as the 45 mph speed, the buyer should have realistic expectations. Range will be limited - maybe 12-15 miles at most - if ridden at that speed on a typical at 45 mph suburban drag with traffic lights. As reported earlier, my e-max with it's 60-volt upgrade consumes 53 amps at 45 mph versus the low 30's at 35 mph. That translates to, at best, 60% of the range as at 35 mph, which in turn is somewhat less than the advertised range which is based on a steady 25 mph, no stops, no hills, no wind, and a 98 lb rider.

It usually helps to pick an alternate route so you use streets or roads with 25 to 35 mph speed limits.

EVTAmerica just sent a note to the waiting list that the new motor is going to be a 2500 Watt brushless.

Yes, that is right. Here's the new update mail from Fernando Pruna on 02-June-2007.

Script follows ==>>

This is an EVTAMERICA UPDATE for THE Z-20 WAITING LIST CLUB.

The Z-20 is still set to make its debut in the US market in the year 2007. Our timeline has been changed and our projected date of delivery has had to be rescheduled to July-August. Based on our new timeline we will therefore be asking for deposits by the end of June 2007.

We do not want to ask for deposits until we are almost ready to confirm sales and delivery. To date we are on schedule.

The reason for our delay is that we are in the process of testing a new improved engine that will significantly increase the Z-20's performance and reliability. In harmony with our policy to offer the best in technology as it is developed and tested, we preferred to delay delivery in order to install the new engine on the Z-20.

The new engine is a 2500-watt brushless hub motor. Detailed specifications of the new engine will soon be published on our webiste which has not yet been updated.

We feel that we have made a right decision that will benefit all future buyers of the Z-20.

Price for those on the waiting list will be honored and not change and the functionality and reliability of the Z-20 will be improved. Top speed will remain at 45 miles per hour. The Z-20 is an all electric motorcycle.

So that there is no doubt, introductory price for those registered on the Z-20 Waiting List Club is net $1,999.00 plus the cost of shipping. Sales tax and registration fees are to be paid by buyer when registering their Z-20 in their home State.

A more detailed update with specifics will soon appear on our website www.evtamerica.com which we understand has become outdated as a result of this development. We are gathering all pertinent and detailed technical information before proceeding with the update. New photos will also be included.

It has always been our goal and our policy to manufacture the best electric motorcycle available in the market today at the most affordable price.

Owning a Z-20 motorcycle should convey an unequivocal sense of pride and satisfaction. We are putting all our effort in accomplishing this objective.

EVTAMERICA apologizes for any inconvenience resulting from the announced delay. We do not foresee any future delays and feel that we will be able to comply with the announced agenda.

UPDATES will now be more frequent. YOU WILL BE WITH US ALL THE WAY.

I have been on the waiting list for more than 2 years now.

Since I have two satisfactory-running modified e-maxs of comparable performance, I'd be interested in either transferring or being a "proxy" for someone who wants to get on the waiting list if needed. But, according to their web site, they are still accepting people onto the waiting list.

When I get an interested passer-by inquiring about my e-max, I have been directing them to EVT America.

We need to patient with EVT America - it isn't like that are developing some Silicon Valley trinket and have venture capitalists flocking to their door. We are talking "cottage industry" here. The Chinese crap put out so far have been thrown together with very little development testing and some are so shoddy it is criminal. I think EVT is are trying to develop a much better product - they are still reliant on Chinese components, but they are not trusting the manufacturers specs.

As far as anyone sewing up a market, I am probably the only owner of a usable-performance electric cycle in the western two-thirds of Pennsylvania, so I don't think there is much of a market at all yet. Developing demand for these useful and planet-friendly products is going to be up to all of us.

The $1999 price is still a tough sell - an identical-looking 50cc gas version - can be had for as low as $800. I think that with 45 mph or higher speeds, what sorely needs to be done is to go to a larger scooter platform - like those widely sold larger 150cc Chinese scooters. The existing Z-20/e-max/EVT4000 frame is simply too small for a lot of people and the little 10" rims don't instill a feeding of security.

Gman,

Did you mean _western_ PA?

Llke I wrote, I am an absolute pioneer in my area for electric scooters.

As far as I'm concerned, electric scooters aren't going anywhere until they have the speed and acceleration to be usable in main-drag traffic, and size to accommodate tall people. Here in Pittsburgh, the scooter also needs hill climbing ability. A 48-volt scooter need a minimum of 90-100 amps to climb the hills satisfactorily. Annoying drivers behind me, while creeping up a hill, or worse, having to "hobby-horse" it up a really steep hill, when I was limited to the stock 70 amps, wasn't helping the EV cause at all!

With enough tinkering, and thanks to a their conservatively-rated 2000W motor, I got my two e-maxs up to usable performance, but this doesn't help the ordinary US consumer who doesn't know amps from ohms.

Also, In Pennsylvania, anything motorized without pedals is a motorcycle - but no MC operators license is needed if they are 5 hp or less and no gear shifting is needed. So, there is none of that "30 mph limit" stuff. But also, no riding in bike lanes - even if we had bike lanes. So, the liberty EB-643 would be fairly useless here.