E-Ton Scooters
The E-ton electric scooters are solving a problem in one
of Asia's largest cities. Taiwan, a bustling metropolis of
23 million inhabitants, is having problems with smog brought
about by the industries that use fossil fuels.
Since Taiwan relies mostly on motorcycles as the major form
of transport for its inhabitants, the government aims to reduce
pollution by using electric power for the 10 million scooter
units on the road. A subsidy of sorts has been provided to
interested companies to do research and develop the viable
alternative. JI-EE Industry Co., Ltd, a giant auto parts manufacturer
accepted the challenge and has so far placed a series of models
in the market. The most important model to date is the E-ton
E-power electric scooter.
Characteristics of the E-ton E-power
scooters:
The E-ton E-power is an all-electric twin-wheeled vehicle
cloned after a "Vespa Style" scooter. The electric
powertrain delivers a top speed of 40 mph on a level terrain
and the 26AH battery pack is good for a maximum distance of
34 miles of sustained driving. This typical scooter is heavy
at 243 lbs but is a wonder on the road, it is easy to maneuver
and can cut corners even at top speeds. It has a wheelbase
of 48.6 inches that contributes to its riding stability on
the road.
The rear wheel sits on a torsion spring suspension system
and both wheels have hydraulic shock absorbers to cushion
the impact and provide comfort even on an uneven terrain.
The wheel is a balloon type 3 x 10 inches nylon tubeless tire
that absorbs road beating. And to give precise stopping power
it has a hydraulic brake drum system. Changing gears while
in motion is easy because it is equipped with a CVT automatic
transmission system.
Recharging the E-ton E-power battery pack is simple, just
plug it to a normal house 110 or 220v outlet and full charging
could be attained in four and a half hours. The E-power has
a self-contained charging system so a bulky battery charger
is not necessary especially when covering long distances.
It is equipped with state of the art battery indicator, a
high/low beam headlight, a brake light, signal light, taillight,
a pair of rear view mirrors, horn and a reliable speedometer/odometer.
The only problem is, for the moment it is only available
in one color, red. But, in due time I'm sure more hues will
proliferate the market.
Is this available in the United States?
The answer is definitely yes. The E-ton E-power is exported
not only to the United States, but also practically to all
the major centers in Europe. The E-power has passed all the
major tests of the DOT and all other State regulations. It
is now displayed in select showrooms around the United States
and is backed-up with a reliable service crew and scooter
spare parts.
For those really interested the retail price comes at aound
$2,500.
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