I cruised down the block at 30mph, enjoying the wind on my face and the unique thrill of piloting an electric vehicle.  My chariot of choice wasn’t a car or a golf cart, but a scooter.

Scooters aren’t the first vehicles to leap to mind when thinking of battery-powered transport; after all a Vespa’s pretty fuel-efficient as it is.  Still, burning no gas at all is better than getting 100mpg, and so we decided to check out the all-new EM60-A09 scooter available from Las Vegas-based Xtreme Green Products.  This fully electric, plug-in two-wheeler has a range of about 75 miles and will charge in about an hour.   This makes it perfect for short commutes and suburban errands, all without burning a drop of gasoline.

The EM60-A09′s light weight makes it a handy alternative for RV living as well.  It will fit on most ramp-style carriers, and is small enough to be stowed in the bed of a pickup truck if need be.

This is a young and energetic company; Xtreme Green Products initially designed a proprietary battery management system for electric vehicles, with the intention of installing it in personal watercraft.  When the market for Jet-Skis began to dry up (no pun intended) with the economic recession, Xtreme Green realized that its electric propulsion system could be applied to two-wheeled transportation as well.  The company also produces the “Sentinel,” a purpose-built three-wheeled electric vehicle designed for police and security company use.

In the Xtreme Green scooter, this system is applied to a 3500-watt, 60-volt hub motor whose lithium-ion battery pack is good for over 2000 charges, which translates to daily use for at least seven years.

About forty percent of the 310-pound curb weight is batteries, and the 60-volt lithium ion cells are mounted low in the chassis, keeping the center of gravity down near the ground where it should be.  As a result, the Xtreme Green scooter is very stable and confident.   It has no trouble keeping up with traffic on surface streets thanks to a top speed of around 50 miles per hour.  Like many electric vehicles, the scoot has a single-speed transmission, but Xtreme Green equips the scooter with a three-position throttle switch that limits engine power.  This makes it more efficient when high speed is not called for.   For riders who need more capability, the Scooter has a bigger brother, the EM72-A09 X-Rider, whose more powerful 4000-watt, 72-volt motor and 65-mph speed qualify it as a full-blown motorcycle.

This is a new market segment, but the Xtreme Green EM60-A09′s looks aren’t particularly revolutionary.  The Xtreme Green Motor Scooter is a gas-powered design that has been adapted for full-electric power.  It’s not a conversion; the scooters are built in China as electric vehicles.
Front and rear-wheel disc brakes are standard, and include a regenerative function that trickle-charges the battery when they’re applied.  It’s similar to the regenerative braking systems found on most hybrid and many electric cars.  There’s a small storage bin under the seat, where the gas tank would be on an internal combustion-powered scooter, and Xtreme Green plans to offer a range of luggage racks and cargo boxes to increase the EM60-A09 versatility.

If you’ve got a short commute or are in need of economical auxiliary transportation, the Xtreme Green scooter will fill the bill nicely.  Pricing starts at $6999 for the EM60-A09, and the X-Rider is $8495.  Want more details?  Check out the company’s website at http://www.xgpinc.com/.

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