Newly revived British firm Hesketh Motorcycles has joined forces with New Vetrix to launch a zero emissions scooter.
The Hesketh HZE-Vectrix scooter has been designed for the commuter
market, and will reach a top speed of 60mph with a range of 50 miles
between charges.
It goes from 0-50 in 6.8 seconds and is powered by a 125v battery, which takes 2.5 hours to charge.
Until the launch of this bike, Hesketh (HMC) was best know for
producing a small number of machines in the 1980s including the V1000,
Vampire and Volcano.
But when HMC was taken over by Charles Hesketh earlier this year, he
stated his intention to move away from its petrol-powered heritage to
provide a British branded electric bike.
Vectrix is the perfect bedfellow. It has been making electric machines since May 2006.
Charles Hesketh, Director of HMC, said. "This is a brand new chapter
in the life of what we know as the world's first high performance, zero
emission, production motorbike.
"We spent a considerable amount both financially and energetically
searching for a zero emission two-wheeled vehicle worthy of the Hesketh
brand, and the Vectrix VX-1 meets all our requirements."
The HZE-Vectrix will be marketed as a premium product for the
commuter market with two new models expected during the course of 2010.
HMC is to offer a new contract to the current network of Vectrix
dealers which will include continued support for all Vectrix bikes sold
in the last two years.
bluesbiker In: Birmingham in th
Posts: 2510
Karma:
i was thinking more abomination. I had something fireblade shaped in my head till i saw that. cant wait to see them pitch up at bassets pole pulling wheelies. At least the gearbox might work on these ones.
I'm guessing this'll be based on the Vectrix scooter, that's been at the shows for a couple of years.
"The HZE-Vectrix will be marketed as a premium product for the commuter "
Wish them well, but didn't Vectrix go bump, trying to sell expensive, electric scooters ?
£6795?!?!?
Yep Rob, Vectrix went bankrupt in September but it's assets were bought for $5m by 'New Vectrix'...
You will have to have a HUGE eco-conscious to pay £7k for a scooter that looks the same as a £700 Korean import....
There are much cheaper (under £1k) electric scooters than that - was looking at them a couple of months ago for my girlfriend.
According to Vectrix.com it's an NiMH, but at that price it's almost irrelevant.
You can buy, and run, a petrol scooter for thousands less than that, which kind of defeats the object of a cheap commuter.
Can't see what other reason you'd have for buying one, generating electricity is not exactly green.
While it has to be good that folk are looking at alternative technologies, it has to be realistic.
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