Taking an E-Ride

By JOSHUA QUITTNER

As someone who is exceptionally lazy and proud of it, I am always on the lookout for things that will make my life even more friction free, which is why the sudden proliferation of all manner of electric bikes and scooters thrills me (in a low-affect, let's-not-unduly-elevate-the-heart-rate kind of way). You've probably heard about the E-Bike, the brainchild of erstwhile Chrysler chairman Lee Iacocca, which went on sale (for $995 and up) at car dealerships in warm-weather states two weeks ago. I'm certain Iacocca is on to something, but even if I lived in a warm-weather state, the thought of going to a car dealership any more than necessary would appall me. And while I love my bicycle--it's easier than walking, especially downhill--and can appreciate how much better it would be if I had a little motorized help, I ask myself, Why bother with pedals at all? No, what this slug needs for his first foray into environmentally correct transportation is an electric scooter.

Fortunately, two are coming out that are worth a look. The Buzz, Huffy Bicycle's first foray into the market, has got just about everything right. You'll be able to buy one for $649 in the next few weeks at various retail stores and online at Huffy's website www.getabuzz.com) My demo came in the mail--a box neatly packed with a collapsed 48-lb. lime-green electric scooter. I groaned, thinking that hours of assembly were required. They weren't. The scooter, which is powered by a 24-volt battery and belt-drive motor, is an ingenious collection of folded-up parts and snap-on components that took me about 15 minutes to put together.

On flat terrain the Buzz can cover 13 miles between charges and can zip along at 15 m.p.h., which feels fast enough when you're so close to the ground. The machine has two safety features that I particularly appreciate. You need a key to start it, which is good when you have so many curious underage testers around. And you need to engage the hand brake before you can activate the throttle, which makes it almost impossible to lurch forward inadvertently. Also, the throttle is variable speed, which makes it useful for slow cruising among pedestrians. Indeed, I could see driving this thing to work at the Time & Life Building and taking it up the elevator and plugging it into an office outlet for a recharge. I could see it, that is, if I lived in New York City instead of 30 miles away. Alas, the woeful state of battery technology makes e-scooters unsuitable as commuter vehicles; it takes them five hours to get fully recharged.

I also test-rode two models from ZAP Power Systems, a Sebastopol, Calif., company that has led the e-scooter and bike industry for years. Its popular Zappy (also $649) is lots of fun to drive, but pound for pound offers less value than the Buzz. The Zappy looks like the skateboard scooters we made as kids. You stand on it (no seat) and start by kicking off. The electric motor cuts in at that point, and you can cruise at 13 m.p.h. for about eight miles. Its throttle, unlike the Buzz's, is not variable, only on/off, which makes the experience more challenging and herky-jerky. In June, ZAP is coming out with a sit-down model (code-named Pappy), which I also tried. It too was loads of fun, but it felt more like a toy. And it did not include a built-in basket. The Buzz did, making it the clear leader in the e-scooter race, for now.

For more on all kinds of e-vehicles, see our website at timedigital.com Questions for Quittner? E-mail him at jquit@well.com