Modern Vespa

Plant based scooter body. I continue to be fascinated by electric scooters.
Not for thrills at 34MPH. Not very handsome either, but maybe perfect for small town errands.

A little clunky looking but a cool concept...

That is really rather cool. I didn't like the look at first, but it sort of grows on you. Sort or nerdy cool. But I LOVE the fact that is is made of flax. I would love to see more innovations like that.

(Just watching the made for TNT movie "The Water Engine" by David Mamet" when I looked on MV... Hmmmm )

George Washington Carver is a childhood hero. His plant based innovations and ideas were pure genius. I wanna hemp scooter. But flax is cool, and also a nice fabric.

Like!

Looks like a computer graphic of a scooter brought to life.

I actually really like that design.

+1 It reminds me of a soapbox derby car, only a scooter. If that makes any sense. It's also also a nice balance of modern and classic richness.

Dude man! I REALLY like it. To bad there isn't a price on it yet, just rental going by the article. So I assume it would be quite pricey for a 35MPH scoot.....

Agreed. It's a nice simple shape that fits the materials used. It's nice to see the use if volume, because plastic does that well, as opposed to metal which can do sheet shaped well.

+1 Nice design.

I like that the wind shield extends below the knee, becoming a combined wind and leg shield. The rear mud fender is cool, too.

Just the Flax ma'am.

Now THAT is a scooter in desperate need of decals

What I don't get is when they try to prove an 'advanced technology' why they have to put it in some futuristic, clunky design. If you want to prove a step of technology is viable, use it on something that's already acceptable (ie a current classic design), gain it's acceptance and then move it forward. That's what would make it marketable. If you try to leap everything at once the marketability becomes very narrow to those that want new technology AND whacked out/look at me styling.


I also think this could be uglier, but let's prove the flax thing is viable and lets prove the electric thing is economic. All at once leaves it expensive and leaves me out.

Just don't park it in a field - the cows will eat it.

And floor mats

Was gonna say the same.

Then again, I think the C3 isn't bad. And I don't dislike all of Honda's designs...

35 to 98 cents per mile at 300-1000KM/month

I really like the C3. It reminds me of the Cushman I wanted so badly in 1965. For me, a classic American style. I rode a Yamaha Zuma 125 and thought it a nice ride and very utilitarian look. I think I just like scooters. The only ones I find no affinity with are the Vespa wannabes. Found a Velocifero yesterday down the block, awful color but another scooter to like.

Good standpoint. I agree with this. A lot.

What makes the design not work for me is the juxtaposition of a modern-looking body with a vintage-looking handlebar setup. They just don't go together.

Other than that, it's OK.

The flax thing is a bogus point for sales or gee whiz factor. The earliest commercial plastic, phenolics or Bakelite, were and are still commonly reinforced with linen. It is used in knife handles and lots of places where the layered effect is attractive. Glass fiber would be a better reinforcement, but I guess "Flax!" is more...something.

This is like the great "bamboo bed sheets" rip off. They are sold as being made from environmentally beneficial and renewable bamboo. You have this image of beating the little silky fibers out of the great bamboo stalks and being woven into fabric. Wrong! They chemically extract the cellulose from the bamboo into a syrupy liquid and spin that into a synthetic thread called,wait for it!...Rayon. Look up "Viscose rayon" in Google. Any cellulose could be used, old paper, giant redwoods, Starbucks cups. And the sheets are just slick creepy sticky synthetic.

In some cases hemp fiber is spun into thread and woven into fabric, and it is an interesting and attractive material. But it can also be converted to rayon.

least theres no zorst to heat things up n set it on fire

So that thing is good looking but a Fuoco is ugly?

Yes.

How durable would the body be? I am curious about how it would stand up to the environmental elements long term and daily wear and tear?

The design grows on you a little bit. It's funky and different. Not so sure about functionality for daily use as it doesn't look to have storage options.

How about body panels made from bamboo? Some varieties grow crazy fast and seems pretty durable. You could literally grow your replacement panels!

[quote="TheO.Z."] Oh now your just being weird

I like it. My only issue with electric vehicles where I am at is we are spread out. I would be afraid to ride it in fear I might not make it back home on the short mileage life.

And.....what if it rains. won't it just melt being made of a grain like that.

ahh, I just thought, this could be a survival unit too. Your battery gives out 50 miles from home you are stranded along the road. You can nibble on a fender while waiting for help.

Remember Euell Gibbons? He would eat it for sure.

However with the really bad shot at humor tonight. I really think its pretty cool. Simplistic and stylish. I love seeing more and more of this kind of stuff getting out there.