You’ve heard of electric cars and you probably know someone who drives a hybrid (such as a Toyota Prius). At the 2008 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Vectrix showed off its new line of electric bikes.

Vectrix has created an electric bike (or electric scooter) that is 100 percent electric. That means the electric bike produces zero gas and zero emissions. Motorcycle enthusiasts might scoff at an electric bike, but it has a top speed of 62 miles per hour, and this electric bike has been approved for highway use. This electric bike will go from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 6.8 seconds. It takes about two hours to fully charge the electric bike, and on a full battery, the rider has a range between 35 to 55 miles before the next charge.

You can plug a Vectrix electric bike into any normal electric socket. Bob Cleary, a brand strategist for Vectrix, says that over the life of the electric bike, there’s only about a one-cent operational cost. That beats paying $4 for a gallon of gas. The electric bike itself costs $11,000. Vectrix offers this electric bike in four different designer colors: red, green, blue and silver.

A meter on the electric bike’s handlebars tells the rider how much battery life is left. If the rider needs to charge the electric bike on the go, he or she can use the extension cord at the back of the bike to plug into any 110-volt socket.

This electric bike cuts down on more than just air pollution. It’s quieter than your typical motorcycle.

Cleary says, “This is all about the quiet. This is for those individuals who are a lot more eco-conscious, a lot more concerned about the impact that they’re making on their environment.” Vectrix’s electric bike will run for about 10 years or 50,000 miles before the battery needs to be replaced.

August 18, 2008