PEUGEOT’S new e-Vivacity may not be the first electric scooter but it is the first one to be launched seriously by a major manufacturer.
A little electric scepticism is understandable but this little scooter has the power to quickly change your mind.
The e-Vivacity is almost identical to the existing petrol-powered 50cc Vivacity but it costs an extra £2,100.
Aimed squarely at the commuter market, it has a range of 40 miles on a single charge, so should only need charging once or twice a week for the average user.
It’ll cost around 56p to charge, cheaper if you take advantage of off-peak electricity deals, or free if you charge it at work. It costs around 80% less to run than a moped, so that initial purchase price can be clawed back every time you don’t have to fill it up; the more you use it the more you save.
To ride it, simply turn the key and watch the informative and stylish colour digital screen spring in to life; it counts down the range (60km fully charged) and shows battery condition, speed, time, trip and temperature. Then select from the four power modes, twist the throttle and you’re off.
The scooter pulls away smoothly and accelerates quickly up to around 20mph (thanks to the 3kw motor and 14nm of torque on tap), then it steadily gets up to its restricted 30mph top speed.
The e-Vivacity handles, stops and turns very well and has plenty of power to climb hills. It also has a low centre of gravity, is well balanced, has a good turning circle and instant power on tap, which means it’s an ideal machine for tackling the rush-hour traffic.
If you’re looking to save some cash on fuel, have a regular journey of less than 20 miles each way and don’t mind spending a bit more on the initial cost of a vehicle, the e-Vivacity could be a worthwhile alternative to a conventional moped or your second car.
The scooter has four drive modes: pedestrian (6kmh), eco (25kmh), standard (45kmh) and reverse (8kmh), which comes in surprisingly handy when backing out of parking bays. The rest of the controls are as you’d expect on a scooter, with the only difference being the start button which, when pressed, gives out a subtle 70 decibel warning sound to alert pedestrians to your silent presence. It’s amazing when you ride an electric scooter just how many pedestrians rely on sound alone when crossing the road.
Peugeot has used as many French names as possible to supply components for the scooter. It uses two 1kw lithium-ion batteries produced by market leader, SAFT. They come with a four year, 40,000km warranty and are designed to last for 10 years. The batteries also come equipped with a battery management system to protect them as they charge. To keep the weight low down they’re positioned towards the front of the engine bay and under the floorboards, which leaves the scooter feeling stable and as light as a 125cc scooter. It means the under-seat storage area is still useable and can accommodate a full-face helmet; it also houses the two-metre spiral charging cable which plugs into a conventional socket. Charging takes between five and eight hours.
The motor is an air-cooled, brushless, synchronous motor with permanent magnets and a fixed-ratio transmission with belt drive. Engine speed is optimised at all times and the motor is maintenance free. It is also very quiet so there’s no annoying whine. The motor also includes a regeneration feature which puts some power back into the batteries during braking.
Model: Peugeot e-Vivacity
Price: £3,799
Colours: White, blue
Motor: Air cooled, brushless, synchronous electric motor
Batteries: 2 x 1kw lithium-ion with on-board charger
Max power: 3kw
Range: 60km at 45kmh
Brakes: 200mm front disc, rear 100mm drum
Tyres: 120/70-12
Suspension: Front hydraulic fork, rear shock