Hybrid News

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, On Two Wheels, Vectrix

We’ve been enamored with ROBRADY’s design for an electric superbike since we first saw it over a year ago. It may have taken a while, but the electric motorcycle (the design was commissioned by Vectrix, the electric maxiscooter company), is just now getting some love from the powers-that-be in the design world. The concept won a Design Award from the prestigious Red Dot Museum in Singapore. Because there is no engine sitting directly at the center of the cycle, the machine looks suitably futuristic and its instant torque would surely make it an exhilarating bike to ride.

Using lithium ion batteries and an rear-mounted electric motor, the concept bike is relatively quick and can reportedly hit speeds around 125 miles per hour. While that may not be all that fast in superbike terms, it’s pretty darn good for an electric two-wheeler. This machine exists beyond just the paper realm, as Vectrix has at least one of the machines making the motorcycle show rounds as we speak.

[Source: ROBRADY]

ROBRADY wins Red Dot Design Award for Vectrix electric superbike originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sat, 06 Dec 2008 08:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Original post by Jeremy Korzeniewski

Filed under: Etc., EV/Plug-in, Green Culture, On Two Wheels, Green Daily, Vectrix

Quaker Steak and Lube is a motor-themed restaurant chain, kind of like a NASCAR-loving version of Applebees. The first restaurant in the now-regional chain was started with the gas crisis of the 1970s in mind as a way “to preserve the culture of those old gas stations and high-powered muscle cars.” So, imagine AutoblogGreen reader Alric’s surprise when he went to the Lube in Middleton, Wisconsin and saw a Vectrix scooter hanging from the ceiling. Yup, the real thing, just hanging there. He wrote in to say that the bike was being advertised as available at a local motorcycle shop for $9,000 and he’s posted some pictures for us:

Our thanks to Alric.

Hanging with Vectrix: electric scooter hits Quaker Steak and Lube ceiling originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Mon, 10 Nov 2008 13:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Original post by Sebastian Blanco

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, On Two Wheels, Vectrix

Sure, Formula 1 is trying to introduce fuel-savings technologies in the coming years, starting with the KERS system that is currently being tested. Will we ever see the day when electric F1 cars are whizzing past gawking spectators across the world with the top drivers at the helm? Could be, but it’s not in the directly foreseeable future. Current F1 driver Giancarlo Fisichella is now a certified “Ambassador of the Electric.” We have visions of the Force, India driver getting down on one knee and being awarded his new title, like a Knight. Probably didn’t go down like that, but it’s the picture in our heads anyway. The Force India team apparently has two Vectrix electric scooters that it uses when the insane speed of its F1 cars isn’t required. Now, Fisichella has one of his own, as the company has given him one as part of his new role.

It seems that racing drivers have taken a liking to the electric Vectrix scooter. According to the manufacturer, Eddie Jordan, Damon Hill and Adrian Sutil all ride their own, though we’re not sure that these racers have actually been Knighted proclaimed “Official Electric Ambassadors.”

[Source: Vectrix]

Continue reading ʽ driver Giancarlo Fisichella now an “Electric Ambassador”

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Original post by Jeremy Korzeniewski

Filed under: Diesel, Etc., EV/Plug-in, On Two Wheels, Green Daily

Sure, there′ve been times when diesel gets attacked here on AutoblogGreen, but in general, we′re pretty keen on the high-mileage power of the gasoline alternative (see this review of the BMW 535d, for example) while we wait for something better and cleaner. For Nathan Burchfiel over at the “free enterprise” Business &amp Media Institute, diesel is just an opening to attack Hollywood for its “hypocrisy.”

I’m not that familiar with BMI, but whenever I hear someone talking about “free enterprise,” I feel the need to get my sodium levels checked. I need to take whatever they say with such a large dose of salt it’s not even funny. Why do people insist, in 2007, that “free enterprise” is possible, much less desired? I’ll just make the most basic point that no one at BMI could get to work without government-funded roads, roads without which all their economic models would fall into the public sewer system. Anyway, here’s how the shallow see Vectrix’s attempt at creating greener transportation with an booth at the Hollywood Goes Green conference:

…Vectrix Corporation (SEA:VCX) was displaying its electric scooter. […] The scooter costs nearly $12,000. Salesperson Tansy Brook said the comparable gasoline scooter would be about $4,000 cheaper, but said that maintenance costs would make up the difference over the life of the scooter. […] The Vectrix scooter, Brook said, will travel about 40-60 miles on one charge. A full charge takes about 3 hours on a standard electrical outlet. But you might be surprised at how the “green” scooter on display got to the hotel. In typical Hollywood “do as I say, not as I do” style, it arrived in a diesel truck adorned with ads for the “zero-emissions″ scooter.

Just one question, BMI: how should Vectrix have transported the scooter to the show?

Related:

• Vectrix home delivery will bring the all-electric scooter to where you live (in CA)
• Alt Car Expo 2007: Vectrix Scooter smiles for the ABG camera (VIDEO)

[Source: Business and Media Institute, h/t to Domenick]

 

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BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD Step behind the curtain at Ford Motor. Experience the documentary first-hand.

Original post by Sebastian Blanco

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, On Two Wheels

Our site has not been short on news about the Vectrix electric scooter… but here’s another report on it anyway. The fact that Cycle World found it fit to test ride and offer an opinion is a good thing, considering the fact that Cycle World is a major publication and their opinion is likely to carry a good deal of weight to many cyclists. So… what did they think?

Chris Worden of Cycle World found that the bike was comfortable and that it rode well. Being that the only comments that the rider made regarding the operation of the scooter was that it worked well, we’d say that the review was rather positive.

[Source: Cycle World]

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BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD Step behind the curtain at Ford Motor. Experience the documentary first-hand.

Original post by Jeremy Korzeniewski

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, On Two Wheels, Vectrix

On January 15, Vectrix released a regulatory announcement titled “Preliminary Results.” Thanks to some ABG reader comments that pointed out some just how bad the news is in this report, I thought it’d be a good idea to mention this on the front page. The short version: In 2007, Vectrix built 2,002 vehicles (the $12,000 scooter seen above) but sold just 123 of them and now has had a lot of debt.

Here are some key quotes from the statement:

During the 2007 financial year, we built 1,775 vehicles and sold in to dealers 462 of which 68 sold out to consumers. Through calendar 2007, we have built 2,002 vehicles and sold in 550 to dealers of which 123 sold out to consumers. The key financial impact of this is that for financial 2007 production and sales were not aligned and, as a result, both accounts receivable and inventory are much higher than expected. As we began financial 2008, we adjusted production due to slower than expected sales and we are increasing the number of dealers in our distribution network to accelerate vehicle sell through. […]

While the Company has launched an innovative vehicle and created significant product awareness with consumers, dealers and government officials in the EU, North America and Australia, we have been slow to convert enthusiasm into consumer sales and as a consequence our sales results are running significantly below management’s pre-IPO expectations. As a result of lower than expected sales and higher that [sic] expected inventories and a U.S. GAAP requirement that we forecast in a manner consistent with historical sales and trends, we incurred a US$9.1 million charge in cost of goods sold related to batteries and finished goods.

You can read the entire thing at the London Stock Exchange website. The question for us is, how long should we wait before we put Vectrix in the has-been pile? 2007 saw the launch of the MAXI Scooter, and Vectrix does have dealerships in seven countries now - will 2008 be the year these expensive but cool electric scooters catch on? And what’s happening with the 1,879 unsold scooters?

Related:

• NYPD to test Vectrix electric scooters next month
• Free enterprise wingers attack Vectrix for using a diesel truck
• Cycle World rides the Vectrix

[Source: London Stock Exchange.com]

 

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BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD Step behind the curtain at Ford Motor. Experience the documentary first-hand.

Original post by Sebastian Blanco

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, On Two Wheels, Pacific Region, Vectrix

It isn’t all depressing news for Vectrix these days. I mean, colorful sailboats make everyone happy, right? If the electric scooter company can’t sell (many) of the expensive rides, then perhaps they can give them away. This is what happened in Melbourne, Australia on Monday when, according to Sail World, twenty sail teams competed in the “Vectrix King of the Docklands Regatta.” The prize? Why, none other than a MAXI Scooter. Sail World doesn′t say who won the race and Google didn′t help either, but I like the consistency of a zero-emission race for a zero-emission scooter.

[Source: Sail World, h/t to Domenick]

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BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD Step behind the curtain at Ford Motor. Experience the documentary first-hand.

Original post by Sebastian Blanco

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Green Culture, Tesla Motors, On Two Wheels, Vectrix

Anyone who knows even a little about Jay Leno knows that not only is he a car nut, but he’s also environmentally aware. His large vehicle collection includes a 1909 Baker Electric and many of us know he has a biofueled super car project under way. It’s not a surprise then, that on his video-centric website, Jay Leno’s Garage, the Tesla Roadster is now being featured. Leno also, not so long ago, did a segment with the Vectrix two-wheel and three-wheeled maxi-scooters.

Leno starts the presentation by chatting with Tesla Big Cheese Elon Musk and goes over lots of basic information about the electric Roadster such as the origin of the chassis, the battery pack, the transmission situation and so on. The best part is when he hits the road. Because the car is so quiet, Jay can easily be heard by the camera in the chase car as he tells and shows us how much fun the thing is to drive. He quickly leaves the camera behind. Again and again.

In the Vectrix clip, Leno talks with chief marketing officer, Jeff Morrill while Dana (family name unknown), head of service, hangs out in the background ready to pounce into action should he be needed. He isn’t. They cover everything from range and speed, to the starting procedure and then finally go for a drive on a couple of two-wheelers and the soon-to-be-released three wheeler. Jay admits, “I didn’t want to like it but I do.” He seems to have a good time but does voice a desire for a bit more speed and range. He doesn’t try out the three-wheeler as he thinks it’s a little dorky but allows it is fascinating engineering. I think he was just being nice.

[Source: Jay’ Leno’s Garage]

 

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Original post by Domenick Yoney

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, On Two Wheels, Green Daily, USA, Vectrix

Click on the image to watch the full video

As the video pasted after the break points out, running a 26 mile marathon is a tough task as it is. Though this writer couldn′t hope to complete one anyway, doing so while bracketed by pollution-spewing cars and motorcycles makes it that much harder. So, we love the idea of using Vectrix electric scooters as the pace-setters and support vehicles for the just-finished Boston Marathon.

The video also mentions lighter but higher capacity batteries on the horizon. We can only assume that this refers to lithium ion packs. Take note of the electric MP3-style scooter that we’ve mentioned before which is slated to go on sale in eight months along with the electric sportsbike that could go on sale within a few years, depending on the interest level. The video concludes by making mention of the Brammo Enertia (see our ride here) and Zero Motorcycles off-road bike.

Video:

[Source: NECN]

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Original post by Jeremy Korzeniewski

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, AutoblogGreen Exclusive, Vectrix

Click for a high-res gallery

GM product development guru Bob Lutz has become particularly enamored of electric drive vehicles recently. As one of the major internal corporate sponsors of the Chevy Volt within GM, Lutz has been even more vocal than usual for the past year about the E-Flex program. Unfortunately even though Lutz has been one of the few to drive the Volt mule or Mali-Volt, it’s still a good 30 months (at least) away from Job 1. While biding his time and pushing the Volt engineering team along, he is adding other battery powered vehicles to his collection.

Lutz’s latest toy is a new Vectrix electric scooter. The Vectrix launched last fall and according to company treasurer John Schnorr they have built about 2,000 scooters so far and sold about half of the those. While the bike was lauded at launch for stylish looks and decent performance, the original $11,000 price tag was deemed a bit to steep. Vectrix recently reduced the price down to a more reasonable although still not cheap $8,795. Schnorr was on hand at Lutz’s home to personally deliver the new machine. Read more and check out the video after the jump.

Photos Copyright (C)2008 Sam Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc.
Click for a high-res gallery

GM product development guru Bob Lutz has become particularly enamored of electric drive vehicles recently. As one of the major internal corporate sponsors of the Chevy Volt within GM, Lutz has been even more vocal than usual for the past year about the E-Flex program. Unfortunately even though Lutz has been one of the few to drive the Volt mule or Mali-Volt, it’s still a good 30 months (at least) away from Job 1. While biding his time and pushing the Volt engineering team along, he is adding other battery powered vehicles to his collection.

Lutz’s latest toy is a new Vectrix electric scooter. The Vectrix launched last fall and according to company treasurer John Schnorr they have built about 2,000 scooters so far and sold about half of the those. While the bike was lauded at launch for stylish looks and decent performance, the original $11,000 price tag was deemed a bit to steep. Vectrix recently reduced the price down to a more reasonable although still not cheap $8,795. Schnorr was on hand at Lutz’s home to personally deliver the new machine. Read more and check out the video after the jump.

Photos Copyright (C)2008 Sam Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc.

 

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Original post by Sam Abuelsamid