UK has new importer

Congratulations!
I'm really glad for you.
It's time for a friend inside this forum to make a test ride with a vectrix...;-)

That's great news!! yipee!!!

Welcome back, Steve!

I wish you the best..

Your link made me curious about the other scooter...and google took me here, which i'll be looking at next week

http://www.erider.com.au/prod39.htm

Yes it is about time I actually test rode one of these things, I tried to find one to test ride but they wanted me to pay for the test ride so I gave them a miss.

Anyway I will test ride one, but buy one, the problem for me is recharging the thing, I don’t live in a place that makes it easy to recharge so the problem for me still exists.

And by the look of things V have not changed their design to accommodate people that live above the first floor.

If V made a model that was the same specs as the VX but had slot in batteries I probably would have one already and would have been driven mad by the break downs, but as it stands they don’t so if I purchased one it would mean it would simply sit and discharge till it became completely useless.

You say the company you work for has become an importer of these vehicles, which is great but how about a VX with slot in batteries so it would become a real choice for people that live above the ground floor of which there are a lot?

In London alone you will find many people just don’t have recharging facilities available to them that are convenient, many people have to park away from their flat or the flat is over the top of something else or perhaps in blocks of flats, in each of these types of dwelling there may be people that would be interested in purchasing such a machine but are put off by the lack of being able to recharge it.

So now that there is a new kid on the block perhaps they will take into consideration the situation of many of their potential future customers and get Vectrix to change the design a little so the battery is a removable slot in type and that way it may well become a real alternative if the price was right of course.

Public chargepoints are the answer to that. This is what Amsterdam is doing

Here is a picture of my bike charging in Amsterdam

By the way, this one sound promising also!
The Maxi

@Steve
You may want to change your signature, and drop in some advertising :-)

Great news Steve! And I am pleased to see Emission Free Solutions shown as the UK importer on the Vectrix website. It would be nice to see an official announcement from Vectrix too mind.....

I am however very pleased to know that Emission Free Solutions has a large stock of VX1 spares from the ex- Vectrix Technical Centre in Hampshire. I hope that this will reassure potential purchasers!

On another point, I am not sure that removeable batteries for a bike of the size, performance and range of the VX1 is viable. Even if they were lithium, they would still be pretty heavy and bulky and I certainly wouldn't fancy hoiking them in and out every time they needed a charge. Far easier to use a good quality extension cable.

Hope to see you, Campbell, David and Yesim at the Eco2 show at Earls Court.

What I like the most about this is that finally the Vectrix is being sold by people who know something about EV's!

AFAIK in the beginning, in the year or so before the bankruptcy, the business model was to only allow "Signature Shops" to become Vectrix dealers.

IMHO this caused a lot of the problems, because those people who became dealers were too green behind the ears wrt EV technologies!

Making your own ICL from a 40W light globe instead of waiting for elusive and terribly overpriced and over-engineered ICL's from Vectrix would be an obvious move from someone with the know how.

They would also likely have had the wits to apply a small DC current to the battery to bring it back to chargeable voltage levels if it was over-discharged due to long shipping delays.

One would also expect that an experienced EV shop has some sort of a CC high voltage DC charger to make sure each battery is as balanced and as full as it gets upon delivery.

Sounds like the Vectrix dealership is finally in the right hands, at least in some locations!

I'm a bit confused...how do these specs compare with the VX-1??

Motor 5000W brushless hub motor

Battery 60 volt 60amp LFP Lithium - Ion & 24 Cells

Max torque 160Nm

weight is 124kg which is a HUGE difference.

kingcharles

Yes public charge points would be a very good idea for such a vehicle except we are talking about the UK and in particular London, and I can see many problems with having public charge points, here are a few of the problems.

1/ kids would pull the plug out thinking it funny.
2/ because kids pull the plug out they would be seen as dangerous and would be taken away.
3/ the councils would not allow motorcycles to park on the pavement even if for charging.
4/ any charge point for motorcycle would probably cost quite a few pound per half hour charge time, remember we are talking London, the greed capital of the world.
5/ they would be poorly maintained thus making them dangerous and would be removed.

So you see these are just a few of the issues, never mind the fact that if any such charge points were put that they would be put in the wrong place probably on double yellow lines or red lines so when you park to charge your bike you will get a parking ticket to go with your charge, or they will be put so out of the way that your bike gets nicked because it is in a secluded place.

Far better to have a removable battery, it would not need to be one big removable battery but linked together as separate packs that could be lifted out by undoing a key lock and lifting them out.

That way you would not need to rely on councils putting in recharge points in the wrong place, also have an alternative home charger that you could purchase so you could charge in your flat.

A long cable is a good idea if you only live as high as 1 level up but what if you live 10 levels up or higher, or live in a pedestrianised zone, such a cable would be of no use.

Also why rely on councils putting in these charging points when a simple redesign would do the trick, so you may not be able to carry the batteries all in one go but you could do top up charges.

1/ kids would pull the plug out thinking it funny.
2/ because kids pull the plug out they would be seen as dangerous and would be taken away.
3/ the councils would not allow motorcycles to park on the pavement even if for charging.
4/ any charge point for motorcycle would probably cost quite a few pound per half hour charge time, remember we are talking London, the greed capital of the world.
5/ they would be poorly maintained thus making them dangerous and would be removed.

1+2 The charge points are locked, it is impossible to remove the plug. You have an RFID card to unlock them after charging
3 Where do you park the vectrix now? In Amsterdam you will receive your charge point near your house. It will be installed on your request, but they are also public so can also be used by other EV owners (that is why they always are installed in pairs.
4 Charging is for free now to encourage people to start using EV's. After 2012 there will be a payment system based on your actual usage (using the RFID tag)
5 The owner is a Dutch utility company. They are responsible for maintenance.

The London council should pay Amsterdam a visit and rather than smoke a joint or visit the red lights have a chat with the local council :-)
I don't think that London or Amsterdam are that different as a city. So if it works here it should be possible there...

It would at least help you prevent back injuries carrying 90KG of batteries each day!

You do make me laugh justlooking! For someone apparently so keen to embrace an electric two wheeler you seem to find an awful lot of negative objections.
As King Charles quite rightly says, the manufacturers of these charging points (Elektromotive, Park and Power, Charge Point, Pod Point etc) have all recognised the issues and incorporated safety into their designs. Yes, the plugs are locked in place and can only be removed by the correct 'key' hence stopping oiks unplugging the vehicle for their warped fun. Most places charge a sensible amount for the power - some even let you have it free (e.g shopping centres like Lakeside, Bromley etc) because they like to know that you'll be there for a while spending money!
The footings for the ground mounted points are incredibly strong - after all they are designed to withstand a car running into them! Naturally, other safety overrides are also incorporated so there are no real 'safety' issues likely.
The GLA has published a long and detailed document (May2009) explaining exactly how they plan to have 25,000 (yes, that's 25,000) charge points around Greater London by 2016. Not all of them will be for the public of course, many are for Utilities and Business use. And just today, there was an announcement of the next tranche of 1,300 charging points around London going ahead. Go to Covent Garden and around Westminster (look on www.newride.co.uk) and see where these points are located. Sensibly, right by a parking bay! For goodness sake, even Istanbul are putting charge points in - you think London is going to be left out!?

If you want an electric scooter with removeable batteries then buy one! There is a Govecs Scooter with them, E City Wheels has just announced the lovely little EMO which has them and I think Johnathan Silver of the UK emax distributors has one on offer. Of course, all these bikes don't come near the VX1 performance simply because they do have 'lift out' batteries! But,you pays your money...

Of course, if you do live on the 10th floor then you DO have an issue. But you know, there are always round these things. I met someone at a show recently who lives way up in the sky and he managed to do a deal whereby he charges his scooter from the point where the gardeners/caretaker of his block of flats has their tool store. He secured an excellent price....sorry can't remember precisely what it was he said now.

So you see, it can be done. Of course, there are always some people/circumstances where it won't work but hey, horses for courses eh?

But please, don't merely dismiss these things without researching it first.

kingcharles

Yes public charge points would be a very good idea for such a vehicle except we are talking about the UK and in particular London,[...] a simple redesign would do the trick, so you may not be able to carry the batteries all in one go but you could do top up charges.

Curious, one of the first things I thought about when I got the bike was "No Gasoline, I can go inside now" but I never hear about people who take the Vectrix inside more than just the garage. If I had a penthouse apartment I'd just wheel the thing onto the elevator and plug it in in the living room.

For some reason security keeps stopping me when I take the bike into stores and such. Hey it's not dangerous, it's electric. Must be the "will go 60MPH" that scares them...

-Randy

I'm a bit confused...how do these specs compare with the VX-1??

Motor 5000W brushless hub motor

Battery 60 volt 60amp LFP Lithium - Ion & 24 Cells

Max torque 160Nm

weight is 124kg which is a HUGE difference.

anyone??

I'm a bit confused...how do these specs compare with the VX-1??

Motor 5000W brushless hub motor

Battery 60 volt 60amp LFP Lithium - Ion & 24 Cells

Max torque 160Nm

weight is 124kg which is a HUGE difference.

Top speed is between 80kmh and 95kmh depending upon conditions.
range at top speed is limited by motor temperature, rather than battery capacity.

actual nominal pack voltage for 24 cells is 72v.

the motorcontroller tends to be undersized, so acceleration is sluggish.
a bigger controller is ~US$700 (400A 72v, or about the limit of what the batteries can do)

with a bigger controller, acceleration between 20kmh and 70kmh is better than the Vectix.
above 70kmh, the acceleration is far worse than a Vectrix

Matt

kingcharles

Look we are talking about the UK and London any which way the councils or govt can screw money out of people they will, this is a city that took a very good idea like bike hire from Europe and turned it into a bit of a farce, where as you could hire a bike straight off the rail in Europe here you have to register and whatever else.

This is a city that provides parking lots that are far too small for the vehicles they are meant to accommodate the sticks wheel clamps on your vehicle and tickets and when you complain they simply say, you should get a small car.

So forgive me if I’m not really that confident in the city of London getting it right.

Also it’s all very well having loads of charge points in the centre of London but then that will only mean people that live outside the main tourist area won’t be in a position to charge their vehicle up.

Try getting a charge point put in near where you live and you would probably have a better chance of booking a ticket on the next space shuttle.

Just look at what has happened to motorcycle parking in London, so you will have to forgive my bleak out look for electric charge points as anything else would be a break from tradition.

Holland in fact the whole of the rest of Europe is very much motorcycle friendly, they encourage people to use two wheelers, they encourage sensible behaviour by allowing road side parking and pavement parking, come to that matter when I was last in France motorcycles were parked everywhere no problem, London is such a backward city compared to these so I really don’t expect any kind of sensible actions from the London governing bodies because that would go against the grain.

leanm

Well I’m glad I brightened up your day but I’m just looking at things the way they usually end up going.

The GLA may have stated they will put in 25,000 power points but let’s be honest these points will probably end up in their private land all paid for by us or as I said put in the most un-user friendly positions that could ever be conceived.

As I said there are many in fact a huge amount of people in London that live above the ground floor so a plug in bike though desirable is not practical.

Yes there are other bikes on the market but then why spend so much money on what is basically a glorified electric push bike if you are a motorcyclist.

As I have said before I do like the Vx it is a nice looking bike but I would rather carry batteries around than be stuck not being able to charge the thing up, a simple design alteration could make them more accessible so they could be lifted out, the weight of the batteries is not a real problem as they could be put onto a trolley and wheeled into your flat link them together and charge them up, or as I said do a top up charge on a couple of packs to keep the batteries in top condition.

Long leads are great if they are of use but if you live above the first floor it is a real problem.

You may consider the points I have raised to be negative, and perhaps they are but they are realistic points that seems to be (so I’m lead to believe) more endemic of UK life, dopy kids that think it is fun to do stupid things to other peoples property and then the property owners get sued for not considering the potential for the dopy kids to do the dopy things if they get harmed.

Kind of like a child that may throw a petrol bomb at the police to then sue the police for not protecting him against him throwing a petrol bomb at them kind of attitude.

Oh and before anyone says it, no this is not a real situation that I have quoted that i know of, but the type of thing that could happen.

The long and the short of it is, London councils are like the dopy kids, only with more power.

Just look at personal transportation vehicles that don't need MOTs and Insurence they are banned in the UK if they are powered by anything other than your own legs or a 200 watt motor.

kingcharles,
This thread seems to have separated into 2 strands. I am delighted to see the appointment of the UK distributor, Emission Free Solutions, is now official and indeed visible at www.vectrixeurope.com.

We are the distributor in Ireland for Vectrix ...and also the Coulomb ChargePoint. This photo is me charging my Vectrix at a ChargePoint which I actually installed a few months earlier.

In addition to the information already supplied by you may I also mention the fact that a sophisticated network supports the ChargePoint and if someone unplugged your vehicle you would get a text and / or email message informing you of the problem. You can also get a message to tell you when your vehicle is fully charged ...and many other benefits.

I visited Amsterdam to view the charging infrastructure and was impressed by the ChargePoints which were allocated for bikes alone. I am encouraging this approach here at the moment and would welcome a good photo of a Vectrix charging at a ChargePoint. Can you help?

Did you ever go to one of the Amsterdam parties at www.plugnplay.nl (brilliant video!!) ...how was it??

Regards / Joe

Sorry Folks, that link at the end should be www.plugnparty.nl / Joe

Brilliant Steve, great news & couldn't happen to a better guy. I hope they realise what an asset they have in you. Marty

MCC Controls

I really think it is a great idea to have these plug in sites but as I have said before we are talking about the greed capital of the world London, where common sense is thrown out the window to make money out of people.

I note in your picture no yellow lines or red lines or anything else that restricts your parking, but London has virtually no place where there are no yellow or red lines and bikes are not allowed to park on the pavement except on private ground and even then so long as it is not in front of a display where it would block the display.

So parking in London is ridiculous, a motorcycle takes up very little space and could park anywhere without causing too much problem but Westminster for one is the greediest council of them all and would find some way to wreck any scheme that enables a motorcycle of any kind to benefit from anything.

At the moment there is a group taking them to court for illegally implementing a pay to park scheme which forces people to pay by mobile phone.

So yes they are great but realistically in London I expect the stupidity of our councils to prevail and the charge points to be insisted upon being put in completely useless locations where they will have to be dug up and relocated to more useless locations I’m sorry to say.

That’s how London does things.

They allow the roads to be dug up and filled in then a week later allow it to be dug up again and so on.

Perhaps I’m just a pessimist but nothing I see shows me any different, we are surrounded by incompetent council morons in London I’m sorry to say.

@just_looking

My advice is: Move to an EV friendly town :-)
Scooters with removable batteries will not happen for a long time I think.

Matt and Aircon:

Plug in Drive Tech is at www.plugindrivetech.com which includes the specs. The other site you found is not PDT- just a bike w similar plastic. Here are the FAQ':

1) What makes Plug in Drive Tech different from other electric motorbikes?

Plug in Drive Tech drive train is designed by our engineers with components designed and built in the UK and in the United States. Supported by its advanced power management and protection systems, the Sprint is reliable and comes with a two- year warranty.

All Plug in Drive Tech models has five regenerative modes to select from as well as reverse.

2) What is unique about the Plug in Drive Tech software technology?

Plug in Drive Tech software optimizes the performance of the motorbike by both customizing and managing the battery capacity and motor power. Bike performance can be modified based on customer demand without expensive hardware. This feature is particularly attractive for example to fleet operators who may wish to set speed or acceleration limits for safety.

Also Plug in Drive Tech optimizes power control to obtain 92% efficiency from the battery. Compare this to other electric motorbikes which typically derive 80 to 85% efficiency.

3) Why are Plug in Drive Tech bikes the most reliable electric vehicles?

Our drive train system typically utilizes 50% of the capacity of its advanced components which means that even with high intensity use, the bike is safeguarded against heat damage.

4) How is the Sprint model different?

We started with the premise of no emissions and no gasoline and added the most advanced technology to create Sprint by Plug in Drive Tech. The result is a bike that is highway legal, climbs hills easily and accelerates smoothly – all while saving energy and money.

Easy to ride Sprint by Plug in Drive Tech can perform your everyday needs- to work and back, running errands around town, or just riding around. With a 100km/64 mile per hour top speed, the Sprint knows no limitations to utility and speed.

5) What are some unique features of the Sprint by Plug in Drive Tech?

The Sprint comes with a battery management system to protect the batteries, premium shock absorbers for a smooth ride, 5 regenerative braking modes to select from and reverse gear, a connection box making it very easy to change the rear tyre even with the hub wheel. It also has LED lights for energy efficiency and safety features such as a GO indicator and a kill switch.

It is also practical with its internal charger leaving plenty of storage space in the trunk and finally a 3 meter spiral charging cord you can plug in anywhere!

6) Why is Sprint by Plug in Drive Tech ideal for fleet operators?

The Sprint is versatile: It will ride silently both outdoors and indoors at airports, stadiums- anywhere work demands. It accommodates two riders and has great low speed handing to use at walking speed.

The Sprint’s step through design means an entire fleet staff can easily ride it. Its easy to learn because the throttle controls all acceleration and braking so no clutch is required

It can be charged from any outlet in 3-5 hours and fast chargers are available.

Its connection box means that in case of a flat, tyres can easily be changed by fleet users easily even with the hub motor.

Most importantly, low operating cost and NO gasoline means savings for all fleets. Using a Sprint will help a fleet reach its carbon emission and savings targets.

@MCC Controls
I am on the list and get notifications when a party is about to happen but have not managed to attend one. There were a few in the summertime.
These are sponsored by The New Motion who promote electric transport in the Netherlands.

I have two photo's online which you can view or link to. And these are also the only ones I have taken (using only a cell phone).
If you want I can bring a proper camera one day rather than my cell phone to make some better ones.

Links to the two photo's:
Photo one
Photo two

Matt and Aircon:

Plug in Drive Tech is at www.plugindrivetech.com which includes the specs. The other site you found is not PDT- just a bike w similar plastic. Here are the FAQ':

can you bring them to Australia please? Sounds like it's exactly what I want :)

The only downside with the vectrix for me is the size and weight really. Added range would be a bonus, but not a deal breaker.

can you bring them to Australia please? Sounds like it's exactly what I want :)

They are being sold:

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170562222616&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:VRI

http://www.erider.com.au/

note: The seller has very little knowledge how these work

also the "8000W" model means 8000W peak, not continuous, meaning its gutless as hell.
running the controller at its limits will also mean it will randomly burn out.

Matt

can you bring them to Australia please? Sounds like it's exactly what I want :)

They are being sold:

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170562222616&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:VRI

http://www.erider.com.au/

note: The seller has very little knowledge how these work

also the "8000W" model means 8000W peak, not continuous, meaning its gutless as hell.
running the controller at its limits will also mean it will randomly burn out.

Matt

the second one on this page is 5000w
http://www.erider.com.au/category11_1.htm $8550.00 ride away.

it doesn't look anything like the scooter the original poster is talking about. what makes you think it's the same thing?

the second one on this page is 5000w
http://www.erider.com.au/category11_1.htm $8550.00 ride away.

it doesn't look anything like the scooter the original poster is talking about. what makes you think it's the same thing?

try this link:
http://www.erider.com.au/category13_1.htm

the bikes on the other page are eFun IIRC, where as the bikes also sold by plugin tech are Mountain Chen.

I don't know about the Maxi coming to Australia

Matt