Vectrix update

Orin O’Neill photo

Vectrix has released sales figures, per listing requirements of the London Stock Exchange, and the news is pretty bad. Autobloggreen (in the blogroll under “Other Stuff”) reports the situation in detail.

In a nutshell, the company has built 2,002 of the MAXI electric scooters, and sold only 123 of them. As you might guess, the company’s bottom line is looking rather bleak at the moment.

I personally liked the Vectrix, but have a serious issue with its $11,000 price tag, especially given its rather limited range.

In light of this news, one might be able to cut a sweet deal with a nervous dealer. Or you could wait for the company to declare bankruptcy—a very likely outcome if they don’t sell a whole lot more of them, quickly—and get a real deal. Maybe.

You’d still have the range issue, though the progress being made in battery technology lately could make that issue moot. The L.A. Times’ Susan Carpenter reported a range of just 45 miles. The manufacturer claims 68, but only if you go no faster than 25 mph. Right, like that’s how everybody rides.

Remember, the PX has a 2-gal. gas tank, and the low-fuel light comes on after 120-130 miles. A battery offering that kind of range would make a good electric scooter (except for the Vectrix, the ones on the market now are, frankly, crap) practical. ABG posts many stories about battery research, and all indications are such batteries are getting close, cost being the biggest stumbling block.

I’m the first to admit I’m not exactly being green by riding a PX 150. But to the greener-than-thou, I say I’ll park it (or only take it out on special occasions) when leaf blowers, weed wackers, gas-fueled lawn mowers and other devices with 2-stroke engines are banned. As I said, I like the Vectrix.

I’d have no trouble at all going up the Counterbalance…

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