Scooter News The life electric Fuel crisis? What fuel crisis
Words by JEREMY BOWDLER, photography by LOU MARTIN, JEREMY BOWDLER & courtesy of VECTRIX Petrol costs getting you down? Try going electric. There has been a recent influx of electrically-powered scooters into Australia, with the release of the $3999 EVT 4000e [Scooter #8] and 168, which are both registrable and available now, not to mention the Evader, due for release in October [see following page]. There is as well a maxi electric scooter in the wings, the Vectrix, which is claimed to be good for 100kmh, undergoing ADR approval at present...
Pocket power
Yamaha has two electric scooters under evaluation and neither of them could be claimed to be maxis! The EC-02 and the Passol are current Japanese domestic models zipping noiselessly around Tokyo and may soon be a not so common sight around Oz, at roughly $2000 each. Apart from being tiny – and easily portable – the top speeds of about 40kmh may restrict their use to high-density urban areas, but on our brief spin they were a lot of fun – and made getting coffee that much easier.
 One of the major problems with electric vehicles (apart from the ADR bureaucracy scratching its head about capacity) is the sheer weight of the lead-acid batteries. The EVT 4000e weighs in at 127kg, or roughly twice many comparable 50cc scooters. The Yamaha's on the other hand, make use of lithium-ion batteries, and weigh in at 44kg for the passol and 47kg for the EC-02.
At the heart of the Passol is the YIPU (Yamaha Integrated Power Unit). The super-slim YIPU power unit mounted on the EC-02, and the Passol-L is comprised of a rear hub containing: a super-fl at, opposing-type, brushless DC motor; a compact controller; a planetary-type decelerator transmission unit; and a drum brake. To achieve even greater compactness, this is all then built into the vehicle’s rear arm. In combination with the electronic throttle and advanced motor control functions, Yamaha claims this unit provides clean and smooth running performance.
Laugh if you like, but these electric engines are merely the tip of the iceberg of zero-emission/green-powered vehicles. Sure, the batteries need charging, but get your electricity from a green provider and you’ll be doing your bit. Use for these diminutive ground-breakers will be limited in Australia, but when you go to collect your battery-powered T-Max, remember, you read it here first.
Plug and play maxi
The Vectrix electric maxi is claimed to have a top speed of 100kmh and a range of up to 110km, with a recharge cycle of two-and-ahalf hours from any power point. The quoted performance figure for 0-80kmh is seven seconds. Where the Vectrix becomes clever is with the regenerative throttle technology. As well as operating as a normal accelerator, when you twist the throttle the other way, it operates as an electric brake, transferring the energy into recharging the battery, upping the range by a claimed figure of up to 12 per cent. There are, of course, normal brakes should you need them.
The batteries are nickel-hydride for low weight, and are carried low in the aluminium frame for an improved centre of gravity. There is a fuel cell model under development which will have an extended range as the owner has the option to trickle charge the battery from the fuel cell itself, or from an external power source.
Marzocchi supplies the front suspension, with braking by Brembo while Sachs twin spring-damper units are used at the rear. The electrics are operated by a Can-Bus system which allows all of the components to “talk” to each other, making diagnostics much easier. A similar system is employed by modern BMW motorcycles and is common in the automotive world.
Because the batteries are mounted low in the chassis, there is ample space under the seat for a helmet and other necessities.
The Vectrix is undergoing ADR-approval at present, with a view to a local launch some time later this year. Watch this space.
 As well as the Maxi scooter about to be launched, Vectrix has a prototype three-wheeler, similar to the Vespa MP3, and a sports scooter in the wings.
<www.yamaha-motor.com.au>
<www.evt.com.au>
<www.vectrix.com.au>
As published in TW SCOOTER MAGAZINE - 1/02/2007
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