Following on from my recent article on electric scooters, and specifically the Vectrix, I headed off today to The Electric Transport Shop in Camden to see what I could do about a taking a test drive. Unfortunately, I realised when I got there that I need to take the CBT again, so couldn’t yet test a Vectrix. I could, however, follow up on my promise to Sam Clarke of Baroni EV and test drive their new electric scooter, the E-max 110s.

First a few stats on the E-max (taken from their blurb):

  • Max speed: 30 mph (limited so it’s classed as a scooter)
  • Range at 30 mph: 50-62 miles
  • Power: 2.5 (4.5 with boost)
  • Battery: Silicone lead acid
  • Charging time: 5 hours for full charge

The bike has a modern and racy design, and pretty much looks like a typical 50cc scooter. It’s comfortable to sit on and well balanced - certainly lighter than my old Vespa too. It comes with a special charger that you plug in under the seat - slightly less practical than the Vectrix which just has a cable that plugs in directly.

Dials are very simple - enough information, and not too much to go wrong. There’s a standard analogue speedometer in kmh and mph, although it did take me a moment to work out which was which as the kmh is more prominent - fortunately not a bad error to make, though, as at worst you will be going slower than you think! A lcd screen then shows you level of charge and mileage. Other leds indicate if lights are on or if indicators are being used - I did find that the indicator light was very small, and even in a 15 minute test left them on twice - but then I was always forgetting with my Vespa, so nothing new there!

To turn on, you simply turn the key and wait for the welcome message on the lcd screen. I did note that there was no other safety mechanism, and so you can only tell that the bike is on by twisting the throttle. And then you’re off. Slowly but steadily I have to say, but then probably at the same speed as with a 50cc petrol scooter. It should also be mentioned that the model I tested was a little under-powered according to the guy in the shop, but either way, you’re not going to be burning BMWs off the lights like you can with a Vectrix!

You can get a little more power by holding down the ‘boost’ button just by the throttle. This gives you maybe 10 seconds of higher pull - the stats suggest that it just under doubles the power, before things settle down again, although you will use the batter quicker as well. Still, I’m not talking about a racing bike here; the only reason to buy an e-max would be commuting, and most of that - in London at any rate - is at under 30 miles an hour! And I have to say that once you get up to speed it’s a real pleasure. Yes, you have to get used to the lack of sound - it’s so quiet that when my mobile rang I almost fell off the bike - and this has to change your awareness when driving. At one point I was turning right and a lady was crossing the street I was turning into. She did not even look my way as she didn’t hear me coming.

The ride is also very comfortable. I went down a street with a whole squad of sleeping policemen and found I didn’t have to slow that much, and the bike seems to corner like any typical scooter of its size. The brakes were very efficient, and I felt totally in control at all times.

The e-max costs £2,800, and will be available in the UK around April / May time, so far less to invest than the £6,900 cost of a Vectrix, but does it compare favourably? On the positive side I would say that it’s a well-built and easy to use machine, with a very comfortable ride, and, if the production model really will do 60 plus miles at 30 mph on a full charge, then it will actually have a similar or even better range than the Vectrix, which promise 68 miles at 25mph. However the 5 hour charge time compared with 2-3 hours for the Vectrix could become annoying on very busy days.

The biggest killer for me, however, is the power, or lack thereof. Going up a pretty slight hill in Camden, with the wind in my face, I got stuck around 25 mph, and it took me a while just to get there. During my short test drive I did get honked at by one white van man who felt I was just too slow and obstructive for his liking as well. When you compare this with the 0-50 in 6.8 seconds Vectrix, you are on a different playing field, and to me, at any rate, acceleration and power is important to me, so important that, as soon as I have taken my CBT again, I will be back to test one and am likely invest the additional £4,000 odd in what is for me the current leader in this market.

Don’t get me wrong - I really like the e-max, and it is a great solution for people who really are happy to potter around at 30mph and don’t mind waiting a while to get there. What’s more you can go a long way between charges, and it certainly seems a well-built solid and good-looking machine. For me, however, I want an electric scooter that does what petrol ones do, or even more, and this one still doesn’t have the power I am looking for, especially for quite a bit more than you’d pay for a Vespa. Too much more to justify the important green label.

Next week I’m going to go back and test the retro-looking EVT 168, and, as soon as I get my CBT, the Vectrix review will follow.