Hero Electric Optima

Electrovaya Inc. (TSX:EFL) today announced further cooperation with Hero Electric, India’s leading producer of two-wheeled electric vehicles. Hero’s electric scooters, powered by Electrovaya’s Lithium Ion SuperPolymer batteries, will be showcased at the Toronto International Spring Motorcycle Show on April 9^th and 10^th. A trusted brand name with over 300 sales and service outlets across India, Hero Electric has been developing and testing its products in Europe and North America for the past two years. The Company has developed two electric scooter products uniquely suited for the North American market, the Zion and Optima Plus.

Hero Electric plans to start selling electric scooters fitted with Electrovaya’s lithium ion batteries in the Canadian market in the third quarter of 2011. “Initially the scooters will be marketed in the GTA and very soon thereafter the distribution network will be expanded to most of the critical markets in Canada.” said Sohinder Gill, CEO of Hero Electric.

Access the full press release here.

The post Hero Electric to enter North American Market first appeared on scootcats.

The French motorcycle and auto manufacturer Peugeot’s electric scooter e-vivacity is expected to hit stores in Europe this summer. Filling up the battery costs only $0.35. With a 100% electric charge, this scoot can make 37 miles at a speed of 28mph.

It is not the first time Peugeot is manufacturing electric scooters. In fact, the company was the first to mass produce electric scooters. The company launched the Scoot’Elec electric scooters in 1996,  which sold 3500 units until the production was stopped ten years later in 2006.

The Scoot’Elec was powered by a DC motor fed by three Saft nickel-cadmium batteries. The new e-vivacity is equipped with two Saft lithium-ion batteries, which take up less than half the space and weigh less than half as much as their predecessors. The new batteries enable accelerations from standstill equal to those of many 125cc models despite being a 50cc equivalent model.

To recharge the batteries, the cable lodged under the seat needs to be connected to a domestic plug or an urban charge port. A complete recharge requires between five and eight hours depending on whether the vehicle is equipped with one or two chargers; if with two, then 80% of the full charge can be obtained in just three hours. Partial charges do not affect the batteries’ useful life.

e-vivacity

The new e-vivacity comes with 35L storage space, which means it can accommodate one full face helmet under the seat and one half face helmet in the front storage compartment.

We have not heard of any news about plans for Peugeot hitting the US stores.

The post French electric to be available this Summer first appeared on scootcats.