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A Landmark Product - The Vectrix Maxi Electric Scooter

Opening Notes: My report findings are based on a very short hands-on test ride. There will be no attempt to measure the Vectrix Maxi Electric Scooter in terms of dollar value or being cost effective. See "Comments" at the end of this mini-report for for any thoughts on those aspects.

 

 

The 2007 Vectrix Maxi Electric Scooter

Build and Fit and Finish. I am not the best judge for this topic, but I can say that the Vectrix seemed to be built to a high standard. The components looked robust, and on par with the best gas scooters from Japan and Taiwan. That was my knee-jerk reaction, as I didn't have the time to go over the unit carefully.
Rider space, balance, handling

I ride a Suzuki Burgman 400 maxi gas scooter and the Vectrix was as easy to handle, even though it actually was heavier. I see a small person having no problem handling it, and it even has a reverse for backing up! I am 6' 4"+ and weigh 225 lbs. My riding position was compact but very comfortable. It doesn't have as much room for me as the Burgman 400, but it does have as much room as other gas maxi's like the Yamaha Majesty, Piaggio BV500, X9, and the Kymco 500. A shorter person will have plenty of room.

The "official" test ride route was very brief and "U" shaped. One couldn't go any faster than 15-20 mph. I pinned the throttle coming into the final straight-away and then slammed on brakes, like in a panic stop with good results. I stopped on a dime and the rear stayed pretty much in place. I was going maybe 30 mph, but I suspect stable breaking at any speed will not be a problem with the Vectrix.

Acceleration and Top Speed I got to take the Vectrix out on the open road. The "official" test setup gave me bad vibes, that perhaps the Vectrix did not have the claimed acceleration and speed, and they were hiding that fact from the public - WRONG! I explained who I was and about ESW, and they let me take the unit onto the road by the demo site. To paraphrase the words of the former rapper "Biggy Smalls" The Vectrix went from 0 to 60 swiftly! I wish I could have raced against it on my Burgman 400, to know for sure, but it seemed just as fast. It has a brief delay when accelerating (probably a deliberate feature to keep someone from doing an unintended wheelie). Once it gets rolling, however, it has a smooth acceleration curve to the flat line. The speedometer indicated about 68 mph. Knowing almost all scooter/motorcycle and car speedometers read high (DOT encouraged), I feel the 62 mph claim is right on, at the least.
Range That is the big question. My 8+ years riding electric vehicles, and knowledge of the actual practical capacity of the battery pack leads me to conclude: the Vectrix is a 1-2 exit commuter (~ 20-25 miles) at high speeds, and probably has 35-45 miles range on varying city streets and terrain. Under ideal conditions and at a continuous slow speeds of 25 mph, I am sure it comes close to the range figures quoted. It should handle the inner city range needs of commuters and errand runners, including the ability to jump onto fast roads and expressways. The distant suburban commuter would need to be able to charge the unit before heading home.
Storage - Instrumentation

The under seat storage was nothing to right home about, but it should accommodate a 3/4 to full face helmet (depending on head size) or a bag or two of shopping items. I have seen more and less space on various expensive gas models. There is also a small front glove compartment.

I love the instrumentation as it is partly analog and digital. It reminds me of the Honda Silver Wing 600cc Maxi scooter layout.

Comments: If I could afford the $11,000 cost of the Vectrix Maxi Electric Scooter, then I would buy one. You don't pay $20,000 - $30,000 for a decked out Harley Davidson motorcycle because you want to save gas. You don't buy a 150 mph sports car or sedan for the speed, given the highest speed limit in the country is 80 mph, and most states have 65-70 mph speed limits. Do you really need a giant or 300 hp sports SUV to get to work during the few times a year it snows?

The Vectrix Maxi Electric Scooter is a landmark product. It will offer the speed and range most people need to travel in and around urban areas. It looks nice, is built well, and is super quiet and super cool! It is environment friendly and foretells our future.

I remember when a 1 GB computer hard drive cost almost $2,000 and was thought to be the state-of-the-art. HD TV, Digital cameras, computers, etc., all had high cost at the start. Volume buying allowed prices to drop and cheaper production methods and competition to be developed. I hope the same thing happens for Vectrix, and for the electric two-wheel industry in general.

J.B.

Special Thanks to:

Jeff Morrill Managing Director, Marketing Vectrix Corporation 11 Touro Street Newport , RI 02840 USA  Office:401.848.9993 Email:jmorrill@vectrixusa.com www.vectrixusa.com