Here's something a little bit different that we have put on our wish-list. The Vectrix Maxi Scooter is battery powered with power claimed to be 20kw and torque of 65Nm. Top speed is claimed at 100kmh.
The Vectrix company started in America some 13 years ago. Here, the Australian NRMA tests the Vectrix Maxi electric scooter.
Pricing
Pricing is AUD$14,990 plus on-road costs.
Standard features
There is a reasonably sized under-seat storage bin and a lockable glove/sunglasses compartment on the left hand side of the front fairing. Brakes are Brembo calipers with disc brakes front and rear.
Accessories
Options available at the time of writing are a top box valued at around $500.
Comfort
The rider's seat pad and backrest built into the front of the rear seat is quite comfortable and supportive whilst riding. The bars are placed well and the switches for indicators, high-beam and horn easy to use. Dual footrest positions further enhance the comfort factor. Pillion comfort is excellent with a large seat and pad-and-grab rails to help a passenger feel secure.
Ergonomics
Instruments are well placed, with a red, backlit, analogue speedometer in the middle which also houses the trip computer. LCD displays show battery life on the right and expected kilometres in the battery and time of day on the left. Both LCD displays are backlit by a funky blue light and provide a clear view whilst riding. On top of the three displays sit the warning lights for indicator flash, which was quite hard to see during daylight hours; high beam lights; side stand down and battery fail. Diamond shaped mirrors limit some rearward view.
Luggage space
A 40 litre storage box is located beneath the rear seat. It will fit a full face helmet with a tight squeeze, whereas an open face helmet has no problems and leaves room for other small items. The very handy 6 litre glove/sunglasses compartment located in the front fairing is large enough to accommodate a one litre carton of milk, wallet, keys and a mobile phone.
Build quality & finish
Mostly Italian parts further enhance the European feel to the bike. Sculptured plastic front cowls blend with the rest of the body to give a chunky look. Overall the fairing offers good protection in most weather. My test was conducted with occasional light rain falling and only a couple of drops hit my helmet visor and shoulders.
Paintwork is good with no defects found. The headlight offers good projection, whilst the rear brake light is an LED. However the centre tunnel cover was of concern with some marks to the plastic slightly evident on our test bike. The finish on the swingarm and rear shocks may dull if not regularly cleaned.
Security
The Maxi has lockable steering via the key and a starting procedure that requires a certain technique, which provide a sense of security.
Fuel
As the bike is electric the fuel used is simply any household electricity outlet. An 80 per cent charge is achieved within two hours. Battery life is claimed to be 10 years or 100,000km. Running costs are claimed at 2 cents per kilometre. Claims of up to 90km out of the batteries were not seen during my tests.
For my first ride I didn't use any regenerative braking, used full accelerator from standstill and got a total of 45km from the battery. On my second ride I used a lot of regenerative braking, which increases battery life, used half accelerator from standstill and got 66km from the battery. I would therefore suggest that if you planned to ride further than 55km per day, you recharge the battery.
| Recharging | |
| Recharge time | 2 hours |
| Recommended voltage | 240V electricity |
Performance
Power is claimed to be 20kw and torque of 65Nm which provides seamless and smooth power from take off with the torque really pulling from the 30km/h mark. This makes for a swift manoeuvring bike in and out of traffic and makes for an enjoyable ride in the conditions for which the bike is designed. Top speed is claimed at 100kmh at which the Maxi stops accelerating and maintains that speed.
Ride
Turn on the ignition and there is no noise; only the dash comes to life. Hold the rear brake and flick the front brake to illuminate the 'Go' symbol and you are ready to ride. Turn the accelerator and straight away you notice the lack of noise. It is an eerie feeling, but I soon adapted to it. As the speed reaches around 30km/h, a small electric whine can be heard but is hardly noticeable. Whilst sitting at traffic lights there is no noise.The Maxi has a multi function accelerator which provides regenerative braking and a slow speed reverse. The regenerative braking acts by twisting the accelerator forward which slows the bike to reduce braking distance and assists in recharging the battery. The only downside to this is if the need arises for quick application of the front brake you have to twist back the accelerator and squeeze the brake which in turn increases braking distance slightly whilst no braking is applied.
The reverse function is operated in the same way, but will only come on if at a complete stop. It is very handy to assist manoeurving in tight spots and parking.
Having only a side stand and no centre stand may restrict some parking options in tight places.
Handling
Overall handling is good with the bike quite easy to manoeuvre and comfortable to use on its Pirelli tyres. The rear suspension gave good grip and felt stable. The twin rear shocks can be adjusted for damping if carrying a pillion or for personal adjustments. The front suspension felt okay on smooth roads, but was upset on rough roads and gave a lack of feel mid-corner. An adjustable front suspension would improve this area.
Braking
With Brembo calipers as standard you would expect braking performance to be at a high level. However I was disappointed with the front brake which gave limited feel and low performance. The rear brake on the other hand was very good with loads of feel and power available. The only thing on offer to compensate for the front brake is the regenerative braking. However applying the rear brake and using the regenerative braking could result in a locked rear wheel so this feature should be used with care.
Summary
A large amount of research and development went into the design and manufacture of the electric Vectrix Maxi scooter to make it a viable mode of transport. Its aim is city riding while reducing its impact on the environment. In fact, it is claimed the only mode of transport with less emissions than the Vectrix Maxi is a push bike, although you have to take into account that the electricity used in NSW is mostly generated from coal, even if the emissions are located away from city areas...If you wish to reduce your local environmental impact, want low maintenance costs, travel around 55km per day and can justify the high purchase price, this could be the perfect city or close range scooter for you.
Always remember when riding, wear an approved helmet and quality riding gear, enjoy yourself and ride safely.
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