So you want to eliminate gasoline as much as possible from your daily travel?
Get an electric scooter, e-bike, or NEV.
Many have thought about them, but are afraid of things they have heard;
1- EV's are slow and low powered;
Slow is a relative term. Slow to some is fast for others. Lets take E-scooters/mopeds for example; The weakest gas scooter is the 50cc type. Average speed is 35 to 40mph. This is the most popular selling size. So, obviously, this speed is acceptable. Today's E-scooters that have 60 volt systems can match this speed, up to 50+ mph. Forty mph is considered the safe minimum speed to travel around two and four lane city streets. Power of newer E-scoots exceeds 50cc gas scooters, approaching the 150cc machines at this time. E-Motorcycles are at the 250cc power level.
2 - EV's have limited range;
This is also relative depending on a persons needs. According to the DOT, 80% of commuters in the US going to work or school travel less than 20 miles per day. 50% of this is not on a freeway. This is a huge market that could use a 2 wheeler. To say a gas scooter can go 100 miles per gallon ignores the fact nobody goes 100 miles per day on a scooter anyway, so, it is irrelevent, even if it went 1000 miles.
3 - EV's are more expensive;
Again, depends on how one defines expensive.. If only considering the purchase price on day one. then yes, a gas scooter is cheaper. If on the other hand, one considers all the expenses of operating the machine, the electric scooter wins hands down. Many americans are short sighted in this way. This type of thinking leads to long term expenses that far exceed that initial purchase cost. Nothing cheap is good and vice-versa. Notice how dealers who sell gas machines like to brag about their "service" departments ...why?? They are in fact telling you that the machine they are selling WILL break down and require expensive service and repairs to keep it operating properly. This normally occurs after the warranty expires. This is a dealers main profit center. Gas purchases add up to hundreds of times more than the cost of electric charges. E-scoot maintenance consists of keeping air in the tires. A high quality E-scooter is coming next year.
4 - EV's cant recharge anywhere like at gas stations.
Answer. Their not supposed to. Gas stations will slowly be replaced by charging stations. EV's are "full" every time u leave in the morning, being full charged overnite. THATS where the "refueling" happens. Knowing how far one normally travels in a day, negates the need for charging away from home. Many e-bikers recharge at work by taking their battery pack inside. A 30 to 40 mile range satisfies the daily commute of most Americans. That's the purpose of an EV. Not to go cross country or drive at freeway speeds for hours.
5 - Batteries arent safe;
A hell of a lot safer than a tank of gasoline !
6 - No local dealers;
Most scooter dealers can take care of the basic chassis needs as they arise, flat tire, etc. Few gas scooter dealers want to sell electrics as they dont want the competition electrics bring to their gas machine sales. There is no servicing required on electrics.
The whole EV market is promoted by individuals, not big companies.
Future cleaner, environmentally sustainable transportion is in the hands of the individual.
More enjoyable to ride, no noise, no smell makes E scooters truly the ride of the future.
