A Lean, Green, Sexy Machine: Vectrix Unveils
Its 60+ Mph Electric Scooter
Delivering over 200 mpg and a range of 60+ miles, this sporty
scooter proves that eco-friendly vehicles can be practical, economical,
and fun!
With an anticipated
sticker price of around $7 k, the Vectrix electric Maxi Scooter is not exactly cheap,
but the sleek little two-seater delivers good value by offering practical,
economical (around 17 mile/kW-hr, or 228 equivalent mpg¹),
Earth-friendly transportation while packing an extremely high fun factor.
Scheduled for full production in mid-2006, Vectrix is counting on its sexy
looks, sparkling performance and low operating costs to overcome the market
barriers that have plagued electric vehicles (EVs) in the past.
Despite their much better equivalent mpg performance in short haul applications, EVs have had a tough time competing with their gas-powered brethren for a variety of technical and economic reasons. Between the high cost of any battery technology, other than inefficient lead-acid systems, and the difficulty with competing against the extreme maturity of the manufacturing system that produces gasoline-based drive systems, most electric vehicles I've seen to date have tended to be high-priced, short-ranged, anemic performers that are about as attractive to the average consumer as an Earth Shoe. But when it hits the market in mid-2006 the Vectrix may signal a change in that equation.
Boasting a range of up to 66 miles², a top speed of 62 mph, and the equivalent performance of "maxi class" of 250 cc - 400 cc machines, the Vectrix scooter could make an excellent commuter or second vehicle for 3-season operation. While a scooter is not the ideal vehicle for everyone, it's well-suited for many missions in cities, on campuses, and even in some suburban environments. Vectrix also feels it's a good way to introduce much of the technology that can eventually be adapted to high-performance electric cars at a fraction of the tooling costs for a four-wheeled vehicle. The smaller chassis, drivetrain, and battery pack (the most expensive component in the scooter) also enable them to sell the scooter at something closer to an affordable price point. They are betting that there will be enough customers who find the sub $0.01/mile fuel cost and negligible maintenance costs attractive enough to bootstrap production volumes to tens of thousands per year. This, in turn, should help nudge the price of the batteries and other high-value comonents along the downward curve towards the commodity status enjoyed by auto and consumer electronics manufacturers.
A conversation
with Peter Hughes, VP Engineering at Vectrix, reveals some of the design
magic behind the scooter's sparkling performance, and some of the strategies
that they hope to use to escape the chicken-and-egg syndrome that has kept
EV makers playing in the margins until now. Much of the machine's performance
comes from the fact that Vectrix chose to go with a ground-up design, starting
with a clean sheet rather than most other e-cycles which retrofit gas burner
frames with batteries and a new drivetrain. .The beefy cast aluminum frame
was designed to carry 190 lb of NiMH batteries (delivering 3.7 kW-hr) in
a position that gives the bike a low center of gravity and great handling
characteristics (see Fig. 2).
While Vectrix also took a clean sheet approach
to its drivetrain design they used a careful combination of industry-proven
technologies and innovative features. The integrated motor/gearbox assembly
resides in the rear wheel with no or belt chain drive. The unit's direct
drive brushless dc motor is DSP-controlled using an advanced PWM scheme
that optimizes performance and efficiency (see Fig. 3). The controller is also responsible for handling
the regenerative braking function which converts the motor into a generator
that can be used to recharge the battery while supplying braking action.
The regenerative braking is controlled by a bi-directional throttle that
can be rolled forward past the "off" position to invoke a proportional
braking effect while adding 12% - 15% to the bike's range. Vectrix's 2-way
throttle even allows a limited reverse function, enough to let a rider back
the 435-lb vehicle out of tight spots.
The scooter uses four TI processors, plus a host of other digital, analog, and power electronics. Most of the electronics reside in the motor controller and its interface control module, a box that takes inputs from the throttle and other controls and translates them into electrical signals. The two units are tied together across an automotive-style CANBus. Another set of high-power electronics resides in the scooter's onboard charging system that can top up the batteries in 2.5 hours while providing extensive thermal and electrical fault protection.
Putting all these subsystems together under an attractive skin yields a stylish two-wheel workhorse that offers enough range and performance to provide a real alternative to gas-burners -- at least in short-haul situations. The vehicle's utility could even be further extended with the planned hybrid fuel cell model they've tentatively scheduled for introduction 18 months after the all-electric model's roll-out. The hybrid model will feature a ?-size battery supplemented by a 500 W fuel cell that will likely run on ethanol and several other renewable fuels. While the fuel cell won't be big enough to run the bike at normal speeds³, it will let the smaller battery pack deliver at least the current range, and allow the cycle to recharge itself without plugging in.
If you've never heard of Vectrix before, you're not alone. They are currently in the middle of tooling up for high-volume production (anticipated for mid 2006) and not really making their presence widely known yet. In fact, I only discovered their existence because one of Vectrix's prototypes on display at a recent TI consumer electronics symposium. The vehicle I saw at the show was one of four hand-built prototypes that exist today, but it's very close in its appearance and overall design to the 50 units scheduled to roll off the pilot production line this winter. The body panels were hand-laid fiberglass, but nearly identical to the polymer ones that will be used on the production machines.
While the cramped confines of the conference hall did not allow for a test drive (something I hope to correct some time soon), a test fit on the 2-place saddle indicated that the riding position, controls and fittings were logically placed with attention to comfort and utility. About my only suggestion would be to offer optional saddle bags and a cargo box to allow the scooter to carry enough groceries and packages to make it a real hauler for putting to the store or corporate fleet use.
I don't expect Vectrix to turn the world on its ear, but it could be one of the first EVs to garner enough sales to start chipping away at the volume/price curve. This, and the ever-rising price of fossil fuels may help change the economics of EVs, something that could help stimulate new sales for the semiconductor makers whose chips will power them.
Footnotes
¹ Equivalent mpg numbers for electrics are calculated using the conversion ratio of 33.6 kW-hr per gallon of gasoline. Using this figure and a 60-mile range on its 3.7 kW-hr batteries the Vectrix achieves a whopping 545 equivalent mpg. But, to be fair, we will assume that the generation, transmission and conversion losses involved with delivering the electricity used to charge the batteries are around 60%. But even with only 40% of the original energy reaching it, the Vectrix yields an equivalent 217.9 mpg. This means that at $0.10 per kW-hr your "fuel" costs will range between $0.006 and a penny per mile (depending on your driving habits).
² Like gasoline vehicles an EV's range is dependent on many factors, including average speed, driving style, and the terrain it operates on. Like most EV manufacturers Vectrix derived its cycle's maximum range of 66 miles by running it at a steady speed of 25 mph with no stop-and-go cycles. They say that under realistic conditions a commuter running at 25 - 35 mph could expect a 50-mile range. Hot-rodding or running the cycle at its top speed of 62 mph could yield a range as short as 30 miles. But, oh boy, what a ride it would be!
³ Vectrix expects that its first hybrid cycles will have a 500 W-hr fuel cell to keep the cost somewhat affordable. Intended mostly as a means to allow the bike to self-charge when an electrical outlet is not available, the bike will probably be able to support a "limp home" mode even with flat batteries.