Modern Vespa

When I initiated this thread almost exactly 3 years ago, I started by saying that new electric 2-wheelers seem to pop up faster than mushrooms after rain.

Well, that may have been a bit of exaggeration then , but for sure is true now!
All main 2-wheeler manufacturers are either far with the production models or at least toying around with concepts, most doing both.

New companies around electric 2-wheelers popping up, some also already dying away, all the time.

This vid is about the newcomers. Gives also a good overview on what is 'easily' achievable nowadays. With the first truly fast chargers emerging, these toys are becoming more serious all the time.

Is it me but apart from the V Twin look a like, all the other " distinctive" designs all look the same ?

They also don't look very secure on the road. Too little power, too little range , too much of a gamble and too niche.

Brave I'll admit but it all feels a Shark Tank to me.

In all honestly, I thought they all looked pretty ugly... I mean, they look like, the parts don't belong together, like a kid just got given a box of Legos and told to build something.. There is truth but no logic...

And yes, the specs are not really what would you expect from vehicles of that size...

I still don't get it... I haven't seen a single place where to charge a vehicle on the road yet... Then again I'm in a seventh world country state...

Yeah, honking big rear hub motors too. ugh.

Except the kiwi one. That's cool. Of course.

First some questions before I buy one -

Can I ride further than a gas powered one ? No

Can I buy another one in 3 years time ? Don't know

Will it be more reliable than my Royal Enfleld ? Probably not.

Will you still be in business next year ? Same answer.

Are electric motorcycles sales going to die we realise we're being sold a Hipster based novelty ?
See above.

I am sure glad that those who came before us had the foresight to move the needle forward.

Had they had the attitude shown by several on this thread, we would still be riding horses.

The electric bikes are still in their infancy, but soon a better battery will appear, plus a charging infrastructure will be built.

The bikes will go as far on a charge as a current bike on a tank of fuel, and be recharged in a similar time as it takes to fill up a tank.

Everything will be electric in another 25 years.

Or maybe something completely different.

Bill

I'm all for moving forward, however none of the above are improvements on the comparative internal combustion alternatives.

Battery power, range and flexibility just cannot compare with ICE right now so why would you take the gamble and be stuck with a mill stone when something more efficient comes along next year ?

Yes It's a great vehicle* to give others the impression that you care about the future of the environment but when you're actually increasing the amount of carbon emissions to manufacture the batteries the first place you're being a hypocrite if you think your saving the planet.

Remember what happened to Diesel. It was the next best thing until someone discovered that it wasn't.

Take the time to watch the video again. With one exception they look like they have been built by the same people in the same shed so so much for innovation.

Question -

What's prevented anyone in here buying one already ?

I never buy new bikes, and the used market is very tight.
Otherwise I'd consider it for the main reason most bikes are sold:
Fun.

When I asked our local Vespa dealer for a test ride on the 45mph Elettrica he said he would never have one on the showroom floor, shook his fist toward Italy and that was the end of it.

That's pretty much when I stopped looking at it.

That and availability in Michigan.

If Gogoro were available where I am I would have one.

LINK

I would rather have a personal charger at home, though.

The ebike/escooter fad is catching on even here in Grand Rapids. I see the lime bikes and scooters scattered all over. I think Bird is here as well.

That doesn't really inspire confidence in getting rid of my horses...

When I bought my Supertech 2 years ago to replace my 2009 GTS the Vespa Elettrica was the only alternative and definitely would have been a step backwards for me as i ride in three country frequently.

I do believe in the second half of this decade there will be an interesting possibly worthwhile electric GTS

I think that the only attractive alternative that's out there right now ( for me ) is this.

It has the power of a 125cc and costs around £23,000 depending on which power pack you have.

I'll say that again - It's £23,000

I've also heard enough predictions of the future enough to know that you shouldn't listen to any predictions of the future.

"Missing the forest for the trees" is, I think, the appropriate metaphor here. There's a lot happening in the electric moto space right now. None of the bikes may appeal to you, and that's fine. But that's also not the point. The point is that a new genre has appeared, a lot of parties are trying to figure out the best way to use the existing technology, and a bunch of other parties are trying to figure out how to push the technology forward.

That in itself is the exciting part.

But go on, be a boor. It's what we all expect of you at this point.

That's so sweet of you but it's bore not boor.

Thank you regardless Jess but that's the problem isn't it - stand up, question the narrative and you'll make yourself very unpopular, even if there's a chance you may well be right.

Fold, act grateful and the juggernaut just runs over you.

Actually I think boor is the word he was looking for.

Luckily it wasn't supposed to go fast, otherwise it would appear someone missed a session on aerodynamic design during their studies.

It is probably no worse than most naked motorcycles.

It's the funnel design of the radiator at the front which wouldn't fair well at higher speeds. Methinks anyway.

I think that it's so narrow it's not going to have any affect.

I'm still interested in the Čezeta 506. I dig the classic styling blended with an electric powertrain.

They've been around for a few years and have thus far been limited to series production. Not available in the US yet, but I hope they continue to grow their volume and distribution.

No thanks!
Electricity made with dirty energy elsewhere.
No such thing a zero emissions.
Everything made has used fossil fuels or created harmful gases along the way.
I will be dead before the Vegans with their super processed food take over!

How can you post on this forum without evil electricity?
BTW, vegans eat plants.

Yes. It was quite deliberate. And I'm not wrong.

This is so wrong it's not even worth arguing with you about it.

If you want to question the narrative, you could at least come up with some novel thoughts instead of the same bullshit talking points that were recycled from "independent thinkers" a decade ago when we were debating electric cars.

Saying stupid shit is not "questioning the narrative". And branding yourself some kind of rebel iconoclast for saying stupid shit makes you a boor, with two ohs.

Any super processed vegan food is aimed squarely at the meat-eaters who seem to need simulacrums of 'meat'. Most actual vegans find the smell and texture of these rather repellent - as it seems you do too.

Vegans merely bypass the middle-man.

Done

https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/cars/article-10161697/Volvo-says-electric-car-making-emissions-70-HIGHER-petrol.html

Volvo are pretty stupid aren't they ?

"can take up to 9 YEARS of driving before they become greener"

Since most cars are driven for more than 9 years ... Do i have to spell it out?

Almost as stupid as people who repost articles with sensational headlines without actually reading the articles or evaluating the claims therein.

With a "global electricity mix", e.g. all the countries still heavily reliant on coal.

Yes but most cars are around 87% recyclable and electric cars aren't.

https://www.tesla.com/support/sustainability-recycling

https://www.wired.com/story/cars-going-electric-what-happens-used-batteries/amp

Well hasn't this thread taken a very different turn in such a short time.

I'm just getting my WIRED subscription sorted out

I have to admit that your Tesla recycling link beats my Hands Up Volvo Emissions article.

At least one of them is optimistic.

The article about Volvo *is* optimistic unless you believe no one drives a car for more than a few years before destroying it

It's essentially playing on the train tracks. Remember, the third rail is electrified.