E-motive: e3 or Green motors: e-City (2009-current) : When the petrol station is necessary just to inflate the tyres.

     This scooter is very similar with e-motive, model e3.

     Electric motor: The motor is purely electric, 4 KW, providing 160 Nm of great torque. Rider will visit the petrol station just to check the tyres pressure. At the right handle bar there is a two modes switch, high and low. The performance described addresses to the high mode. The electric motor is completely noiseless.
    Start procedure: The switch is turned to On, nothing can be heard from the scooter, yet if rider rotates fast the right grip, the scooter has enough torque, to… leap forward. The scooter reaches instantly the speed of 20 Km/h, fast the speed of 30 Km/h, adequately the 50 Km/h speed, acceleration is reduced beyond that. Rider’s patience will be required for the speed of 80 Km/h and some time later, the top speed of 88 Km/h will be indicated.

Selecting low mode, acceleration at the initial distance covered is greatly smoothened. Thus it’s a more maneuverable scooter from stop. Also top speed is restricted to indicated 50 Km/h. Otherwise there are not any noticeable differences between the two modes. Thus low mode may be selected at traffic congestion, on low speed filtering or whenever continuous manoeuvring of the bike is required.
The duration of the charge is 3.5 hours and a common house electric socket will be needed. A full charge range is between 100 Km operating at the low mode and 50 Km in the high mode, at top speed.

Performance is not affected by the amount of energy remaining in the battery pack. If remaining energy is getting low, motor operation is automatically switched to the low mode. Thus a 10 Kilometers range is left to the rider to charge the bike. There is a battery level indication at the display.

Riding position: The seat height is average for the category standards, every rider will step a firm foot on the ground. Length is slightly increased, the width is little. The weight of the scooter is average, however center of gravity is low. This results to a light feeling bike for the rider. Riding position is neutral. Rider is placed in and over the bike.

On the road: The dimension for both wheels is 130-60-13. The swollen looking rim of the rear wheel is the electric motor actually. Whenever brakes are applied, the motor is turned off.
Suspension feels soft. On flat high friction tarmac streets, riding quality is good. Turn in to the curve is neutral, stability is good. Generally, feedback to the rider during the curve, is average. Thus there will not be sufficient confidence to explore the limits of handling.

On average roads, road imperfections will be felt, they are not absorbed sufficiently. If there are any imperfections on the road during the curve, suspension operation will not be satisfactory.
Steering lock is average for the bike’s character and town use, that an electric scooter aims to. During filtering the handle bar height is often the same with that of car mirrors. Tyres don’t provide sufficient grip on wet streets.

Disc brakes are used, front and rear. The front will not be locked easily, due to a mechanic system which acts as a decompressor. Its relatively powerful providing adequate feedback, while the rear is strong, providing decent feedback. On high friction streets, some wobble is noticed during powerful braking, thus its rather difficult to gain sufficient feedback for braking limits.

     Comments: Lights are activated by a switch. There are two horn buttons, one for each grip. Under the seat there is storage space larger than an open helmet, e.g. a shopping bag. Rider’s feet floor is not flat. A hook for shopping bags, a side stand, outwards looking tyre valves and a luggage rack are included in the price.
     The increase in petrol prices and environmental concerns, which result in environmental actions, makes electric vehicles a convincing answer to the modern man’s quests. The guarantee for Green Motors is two years, 2000 cycles of battery charge. The 2010 new models are equipped with an LCD display providing detailed information for battery charge and remaining level.
     Practically charge range was found even better than the advertised by the importer. Due to the electric motor there is no really need for servicing for many kilometers of use, while the cost of charge is much smaller than the required by a thermal engine. Estimated cost for charging, 0.36€/100Km.

Handling was evaluated as strictly as with all the other bikes reviewed by www.moto-choice.com, for two reasons. a) It would be unfair for conventional bikes manufacturers, b) In the future, electric vehicles’ sales portion will be increased. Road safety and handling will matter for future riders as well, even if their choices are among electric vehicles only.

     The silence during the ride of an electric bike is nearly the most impressive element of the ride. Rider may hear everything that is happening on the road, except from the bike itself. From the hearing point of view, rider feels like a pedestrian …wearing helmet.
     The quiet city rides make rider more relaxed. However caution is required for one extra reason: Pedestrians combine engine noise with the presence of a vehicle. If they cannot hear anything on a road, they may walk across, even without prior notice, away from a zebra crossing. Eventually caution of an electric bike rider for the pedestrians is more than desirable.

Price: 3990€

+ Great economy in running costs

+ Contribution to environmental protection

- Suspension

- Quality built

- Increased caution to pedestrians is required, as with all electric vehicles

More, specifications, (GR)

Thanks to Green-Motors, Kalirois 74, Athens, Greece, tel. +302110153095 for the bike test.