Dear EarthTalk: Are there any electric bicycles or scooters that make for a nice cheap, green-friendly commute?
-- Sean Foley, Nashua, NH

Bicycle commuting has long been a symbol of greener living, and it is great exercise, too. But most people are probably not up to commutes much beyond five or 10 miles one-way in the interest of time and in not arriving at work too pooped (or sweaty) to pop.

Now a number of battery-powered two-wheelers are coming on the market that won’t get you your exercise but will get you from point A to B and back with minimal environmental impact. Consumers can start greening up their commutes on such vehicles for as little as $1,500 plus about 25 cents a day in electricity costs—not bad at all when you consider that a new car costs thousands of dollars more up front and chugs mass quantities off expensive and polluting gasoline.

Many of us conjuring up images of electric bikes and scooters may envision the finicky mopeds of the 70s and 80s, but today’s offerings are much improved and quite diverse.

Those who want to go fast but stay green should check out some of the electric scooters made by Miami-based EVTAMERICA. Each of the company’s three models tops out at a maximum speed of 45 miles per hour—respectable even on the highway. “People want to go at least 40 mph,” says the company’s co-owner, Fernando Pruna. “Everything built before could only do 25 or 30.”

Meanwhile, eGO of Somerville, Massachusetts makes electric bikes that can speed along at 25 miles per hour in “go fast” mode, but also have a “go far” mode, which trades off speed for distance (some 24 miles on a single charge). While eGO’s bikes may look diminutive, they are known for their strength. “Our bikes are powerful enough to tow a car,” says Kevin Kazlauskas, the company’s operations manager. “These are not toys, and customers aren’t treating them like toys.”

Another option might be an electric scooter made by Houston-based Veloteq. These scooters only go 20 miles per hour at top speed, but they can cover up to 50 miles on a single charge, which is more than enough distance to get most commuters back and forth to work, as long as they can avoid fast-moving highways along the way. A side benefit of the speed limitation on Veloteq’s vehicles is that they are typically exempt from licensing, registration and insurance regulations in most jurisdictions—yet another way to save money over those car drivers still mired in their 20th century car commutes.

Opting for one of these new scooters or bikes over a car commute will take a big bite out of your carbon footprint, but the future promises even greener versions. The lead-acid batteries that most models use today will soon be replaced with greener and more efficient varieties, lithium ion and nickel zinc being two of the more promising formats. These new fangled batteries will make the vehicles cost more, at least initially, but they will also trim bike weight significantly and provide a lot more distance per charge. And eGo is working on a model with a small solar array behind the seat to extend the bike’s range once its electric charge starts to run low.

CONTACTS: EVTAMERICA, www.evtamerica.com; eGO, www.egovehicles.com; Veloteq, www.veloteq.com.

EarthTalk is produced by E/The Environmental Magazine. GOT AN ENVIRONMENTAL QUESTION? Send it to: EarthTalk, c/o E/The Environmental Magazine, P.O. Box 5098, Westport, CT 06881; submit it at: www.emagazine.com/earthtalk/thisweek/, or e-mail: earthtalk@emagazine.com. Read past columns at: www.emagazine.com/earthtalk/archives.php.

3 Comments

1. 1. sunshinentrees 04:18 PM 10/22/08

   "tops out at a maximum speed of 45 miles per hourrespectable even on the highway." That's laughable! A top speed of 45 is barely respectable for typical traffic on most non-highway roads. Remember, vehicles tend to go about 5-10 miles over the speed limit, at minimum. And "top speed" does not mean a speed that can necessarily be easily reached or maintained. Hills, wind, and rider weight will all affect the real riding speed you can achieve. And the last thing you want on a 2-wheeled vehicle is an angry, frustrated tailgater putting your life at risk.
   
   A gas powered engine may not be as eco-friendly, but would be far more practical for many commutes, and with gas scooters now achieving as much as 100mpg for a top end of 65 mph -- they are still certainly a better deal for the environment than your car. Electric scooters and mopeds are great if they will really work for you. Just know the real needs of your commute and research your options to find out what vehicle will get you the most eco-bang for your buck. With a 125cc scooter, I've been able to get rid of my car completely. With one that maxes at 45mph, I would not have been able to do that.

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2. 2. candide 07:36 PM 10/22/08

   Where's the SCIENCE?
   
   Is this an AD?

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3. 3. Abby 01:53 AM 6/30/10

   Razor scooter is the best gift you can gift your kid because they have loads of fun with it and start learning things like balancing and many more.I bought razor for my kid last year and now planning to buy new upgraded one.I guess this is best and cheapest.electricrazorscooters.com
   

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