Door to Door with Your eGo Intact

For those occasions where you need personalized, door-to-door transportation, you don’t feel up to pedaling your way or the weather’s got you down, and your still too smart to hop into a car, perhaps the eGo electric scooter offers the perfect solution.

 

The Somerville, Massachusetts company builds the scooters specifically for around-town errands and commuting. They can only go about 25 miles between charges – but for in-city use, that’s a significant range. An extra battery pack can be combined to add another 20 miles to the range. The scooter models cost from $1400 to $1800 and come configured with rechargeable lead batteries. Down the road, lithium batteries will significantly add to the scooter’s range and charging convenience but, according to Michael Houlihan, operations manager for eGo, they currently would also double the price of the scooter.

 

Although traditional gas motor scooters are inexpensive and gas efficient, many of the two-stroke scooter engines out there are notorious polluters. Powering scooters, typically used for short trips, with electrically is a no-brainer. And it’s these quick jaunts that, when taken by car, are particularly polluting.

 

The eGo comes with a long extension cord to allow for easy charging. A 100% charge takes 6 hours, but an 80% charge between errands only takes 3 hours. They can carry a 250-pound load and have fold-out side baskets, a handlebar mount, and the ability to tow a trailer.

 

There are 2 settings, the battery-saving “Go Far” or “Go Fast.” Speed of course is relative: max speed is about 24mph. Although not allowed on highways, the moderate pace may be the eGo’s real strength – they are allowed to travel in bike lanes in Massachusetts and other states. That’s a true rush hour beater for the urban commuter.

 

The eGo looks like a sensible weapon in the carectomy patient’s arsenal. They’re zero-emissions (other than the environmental cost of producing the vehicle’s electricity), can be parked at bike racks, and have a super-cheap maintenance cost – most of the bike’s components can be repaired at a bike shop.

 

Future plans for eGo include a three-wheeled scooter and a motorcycle chopper-styled scooter for those who want to be green and to get extra ridicule from the Harley riders out there.

 

Via the Boston Globe.