Vectrix

[AndY1ksi]

Well, I got one a month ago and I'm very satisfied :-) I've driven 1000+km in 3 weeks.

It's fall here and winter is coming, so I had to pack it in the garage, but I can't wait to get out on the road with the Vectrix again.

Buy this maxi-scooter! You won't regret it!

[ThwartedEfforts]

Looked like a real hoot, though your filtering through slow traffic in town makes me wonder if you nicked it and/or are 12

[AndY1ksi]

I know I'm getting Vectrix as soon as they make a version with a LiPo battery pack. I'd even pay more for a LiPo version, just offer me a LiPo model. If I pay premium, I expect to get premium and I'm prepared to pay extra for the best possible.

I know what LiPo batteries offer; I fly electric RC helicopters. You can check my videos.

LiPo batteries are much lighter than NiMH and store more capacity than NiMH. LiPo batteries have better energy density than NiMH. But they are more expensive.

[geoffart]

anyway, if I had money free, and I could afford two modes of transport at once, I wolud definutly buy the vectrix, because it looks like a great machine, and I know its a great machine from what I've heard and the parts they've used and the performance I've seen.

[geoffart]

cheers for the link focovere.

Isnt it saying this (sports version) bike has a 70mile range thuogh? Needs more range for me.

truth be told, I'm happy if vectrix does 62, and I have cars passing me, if only I could get enough range out of it to make it a practicle way to get from A to B (and back).

maybe they'll put the milano battery in the current vectrix, and we'll see 120miles range?

In that case, I'd buy. but needs more recharge bays soon. 7K is quite an investment in a bike.

[focovere]

hi!keep in mind that one litre of diesel contains 10700wh.When you refill your car's gas tank,you feed inside the car 500000 watts of power.80kg of vectrix's battery holds only 3700 watts.The lithium version will hold 7500 watts.Without gas,you'll NEVER experience"range"again.The sooner you deal with reality,the easier it will be for you to swich to electric.You can chooose not to drive electric,and someday you'll have to deal with oil scarcity.Recharging planification can enchance range

[geoffart]

I know what your saying about batteries vs petrol, but with hyrogen fuel -thats not strictly true, as because h2 has greater energy than petrol per unit kg, and thats electric. The fuel cell will be with us soon'ish, just five yrs.

You have to buy things for the use they are to you, its not enough to buy something and say "I can deal with its limitations", if its limitations make it not perform the task you need it for. If you needed to ride down the motorway every day for 1/2 hr for example.

[geoffart]

also, take into account the massive inifficency of a combustion engine (around 33% efficent?), your wasting most of that potential power running down your fuel pipes when you drive/ride with a combustion engine.

Having said that, with a CG125/YBR125, you fill the tank for £12 and it does, at best, 120miles to gallon, or 250miles they say. which will see car drivers feeling the fuel prices before such a biker.

will still pay lots more for a electic vehicle that would get me from A to B

[focovere]

i also have a vectrix... its usperb the noise reaching 100km/h....

[geoffart]

I wanted one of these so badly for a long time, but dont you find the range limitation is a pain? stats I read are that it has a 60 mile range at just 25mph and, at its top speed of 63mph - well, they simply say "dont go far on the highway - couple of exists".

Then when I looked to see where recharge bays are: there's some in surry and london - thats it!

Whats it like to use? do you find these restrictions get in the way of dependable use as a vehical to get from A to B reliably??

[focovere]

dear geoffart.

The era of long distance trips is over. As soon as peak oil hits deep in the world markets, everything you've taken for granted will start to crumble and fall around.

After riding over 6000 km on my vectrix, I've never run out of electricity. I've traveled from barcelona to Sitges (50 km), Piera (47km, Cardedeu (52 km), and other towns, across highways and mountains.

[geoffart]

technology is improving at a massive pace though. I mean battery tech is one of the most potent things thats driven the electric motor this far. when they sort h2 storage, it'll be the fuel cell next.

There are only 2 ways for long trips to end I think: 1) public transport revolution (airships run on solar etc..)

2) collapse of hypermarket and restructure of civilization - local.

I think we'll go nuclear in UK, and transport will naturaly work off that until renewable becomes viable.

[focovere]

Dear Geofart.

From now, the best reserves estimations allocate uranium for 40 years of nuclear consumption.

However, the world is doubling the nunber of nuclears due to oil prices. This will reduce uranium usage to 20 years. On the other hand, in 15 years there won't be enought energy to extract and proces the uranium (South african mines are NOW closed due to power outages). By 2025 nuclears will be runnig out of uranium.

probable end of trip: general Die off by 2030. No energy, no food...

[geoffart]

I know where your coming from, as you are looking at the whole world situation.

In the UK there has very recently been a massive drive, and we are actually building lots and lots of nuclear power stations. This has been deemed viable for the longterm supply of energy, so the investment has been made.

Massive funds have been put in to achive this drive. There has been a comitment that in the next 20 years we'll be nuclear here. Apparently we have large supplies of plutonium left.

[focovere]

1/2

Once you get aware of the quantity of energy stored in the battery (about 1/3 litres of gas)you know perfectly how far you can travel. The feeling of riding a vectrix outperforms any drawback caused by lack of range. If you are capable of accepting that the energy density of batteries will never be the same as gas' energy density, buy one, you'll never regret doing that!

[geoffart]

I was watching this thing before it came out, and I bet its a blast to ride and to know you are producing zero emissions!

They say it sounds like the London underground, which is cool - nice sound.

But when I actually think in terms of my location, and how far and how fast I have to go (in UK it is 80mph standard motorway speeds), its use would be sadly limited.

If vectrix said for sure - "we've got an amazing battery upgrade round the corner", then I would buy one - for sure!

[focovere]

Uk has become oil importer in 6 years after north sea's peak oil. When UK will have difficulties in importing oil by 2012, And oil will become scarce, you'll be very happy riding the Vectrix at 60 mph.

[focovere]

Now you know this upgrade is going to exist for sure, are you going to buy it?

R

[focovere]

On the other hand, vectrix has broken its partnership with the battery dealer, and it is testing lithium upgrade: the battery will contain twice storage capacity. Check the new prototype googling "vectrix superbike milano"

I can assume that the battery upgrade is very real.