Vectrix
Encyclopedia
Vectrix is an electric vehicle
company based in Middletown, Rhode Island
, United States, with research and development facilities in New Bedford, Massachusetts
. Its vehicles are assembled in Wrocław, Poland.
, and is the first commercially available high performance electric scooter.
It is capable of over 60 mph (97 km/h) and 50 mph (80 km/h) is reached in a little under 7 seconds, with maximum torque
available from 0 rpm, a characteristic of electric motor
s. It has under 250 parts, compared with 2,500 for a conventionally powered scooter, and has a range of up to 65 miles (105 km) at 25 mph (40 km/h).
In the United Kingdom, Italy, the Netherlands and Slovenia, the Vectrix is exempt from paying road tax
.
The Vectrix scooter uses NiMH batteries with a manufacturer-claimed life of 10 years and 1,500 recharges.
The 125 volt battery pack has a capacity of 3.7 kW·h and can be recharged to 80% in two hours from a standard domestic power socket. The battery can also be partially recharged through regenerative braking
.
Replacement cost of the battery is estimated to be around $3,000, almost one third of the cost of the bike.
Vectrix announced that it was planning and testing Lithium Ion battery packs based on lithium iron phosphate battery
technology, in an agreement with GP Batteries International Limited
of Hong Kong.
In Fall of 2008. Vectrix announced that it would be expanding its product line with two lower-priced bikes: The VX-1E would arrive March 2009 and the VX-2 would arrive in June 2009. Both bikes were shown at NY International Motorcycle Show in Jan 2009 and also at Birmingham Motor Show, but never entered production due to the company ceasing trading.
Vectrix showed a 125 mph (201.2 km/h) superbike concept vehicle at the 2007 Milan motorcycle show, to be produced if 500 deposits were received.
In 2008, Vectrix announced a 3-wheeled version of the Vectrix Maxi scooter.
announced in December 2007 that it will be testing vehicles from Vectrix with the goal of replacing its current gasoline-powered scooters.
The Government of Canada purchased in August 2008 a vehicle from Vectrix with the goal of testing and evaluating a fully electric compliant open motorcycle's energy consumption, range, and additional road testing parameters. This environmental initiative is part of Transport Canada’s ecoTECHNOLOGY for Vehicles (eTV) program.
battery group allowing the company to relaunch.
Electric vehicle
An electric vehicle , also referred to as an electric drive vehicle, uses one or more electric motors or traction motors for propulsion...
company based in Middletown, Rhode Island
Middletown, Rhode Island
Middletown is a town in Newport County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 16,150 at the 2010 census. It lies to the south of Portsmouth and to the north of Newport on Aquidneck Island, hence the name "Middletown."-Geography:...
, United States, with research and development facilities in New Bedford, Massachusetts
New Bedford, Massachusetts
New Bedford is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States, located south of Boston, southeast of Providence, Rhode Island, and about east of Fall River. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 95,072, making it the sixth-largest city in Massachusetts...
. Its vehicles are assembled in Wrocław, Poland.
Scooters
The Vectrix is a maxi-size scooterScooter (motorcycle)
A scooter is a motorcycle with step-through frame and a platform for the operator's feet. Elements of scooter design have been present in some of the earliest motorcycles, and motorcycles identifiable as scooters have been made from 1914 or earlier...
, and is the first commercially available high performance electric scooter.
It is capable of over 60 mph (97 km/h) and 50 mph (80 km/h) is reached in a little under 7 seconds, with maximum torque
Torque
Torque, moment or moment of force , is the tendency of a force to rotate an object about an axis, fulcrum, or pivot. Just as a force is a push or a pull, a torque can be thought of as a twist....
available from 0 rpm, a characteristic of electric motor
Electric motor
An electric motor converts electrical energy into mechanical energy.Most electric motors operate through the interaction of magnetic fields and current-carrying conductors to generate force...
s. It has under 250 parts, compared with 2,500 for a conventionally powered scooter, and has a range of up to 65 miles (105 km) at 25 mph (40 km/h).
In the United Kingdom, Italy, the Netherlands and Slovenia, the Vectrix is exempt from paying road tax
Road tax
Road tax, known by various names around the world, is a tax which has to be paid on a motor vehicle before using it on a public road.-Australia:...
.
The Vectrix scooter uses NiMH batteries with a manufacturer-claimed life of 10 years and 1,500 recharges.
The 125 volt battery pack has a capacity of 3.7 kW·h and can be recharged to 80% in two hours from a standard domestic power socket. The battery can also be partially recharged through regenerative braking
Regenerative brake
A regenerative brake is an energy recovery mechanism which slows a vehicle or object down by converting its kinetic energy into another form, which can be either used immediately or stored until needed...
.
Replacement cost of the battery is estimated to be around $3,000, almost one third of the cost of the bike.
Vectrix announced that it was planning and testing Lithium Ion battery packs based on lithium iron phosphate battery
Lithium iron phosphate battery
The lithium iron phosphate battery, also called LFP battery, is a type of rechargeable battery, specifically a lithium-ion battery, which uses LiFePO4 as a cathode material.-History:...
technology, in an agreement with GP Batteries International Limited
Gold Peak
-Over View:Gold Peak Industries Limited is an Asian battery manufacturer established in 1964 and based in Hong Kong. They are also involved in the domestic appliance cabling business via purchasing 16% of the stock value Chengdu based Ling Xu Cabling Corp in 2001.-Gold Peak Industries Limited...
of Hong Kong.
In Fall of 2008. Vectrix announced that it would be expanding its product line with two lower-priced bikes: The VX-1E would arrive March 2009 and the VX-2 would arrive in June 2009. Both bikes were shown at NY International Motorcycle Show in Jan 2009 and also at Birmingham Motor Show, but never entered production due to the company ceasing trading.
Specifications
| Vectrix | |
|---|---|
| Maximum Speed | 68 mph (109 km/h) (with latest firmware) |
| Acceleration (0-50 mph) | 6.8 seconds |
| Acceleration (0-31 mph) | 3.6 seconds |
| Range* | 68 miles (109 km) |
| * Range is based on a constant speed of 25 mph (40 km/h) and does not reflect real world riding. | |
Concept vehicles
In 2008, Vectrix announced a 3-wheeled version of the Vectrix Maxi scooter.
Testing by prospective users
The New York City Police DepartmentNew York City Police Department
The New York City Police Department , established in 1845, is currently the largest municipal police force in the United States, with primary responsibilities in law enforcement and investigation within the five boroughs of New York City...
announced in December 2007 that it will be testing vehicles from Vectrix with the goal of replacing its current gasoline-powered scooters.
The Government of Canada purchased in August 2008 a vehicle from Vectrix with the goal of testing and evaluating a fully electric compliant open motorcycle's energy consumption, range, and additional road testing parameters. This environmental initiative is part of Transport Canada’s ecoTECHNOLOGY for Vehicles (eTV) program.
Bankruptcy
In July 2009 Vectrix Corporation laid off all but essential staff, this followed several months of announcements of financial problems. Analysis of corporate financial results showed the company had huge expenses for each bike sold which were larger than the income earned. On September 28, 2009 the company announced chapter 11 a bankruptcy filing in Delaware and that likelihood of a New Vectrix will buy the assets of Vectrix to recapitalize a new company. In late 2009 its assets were sold to Gold PeakGold Peak
-Over View:Gold Peak Industries Limited is an Asian battery manufacturer established in 1964 and based in Hong Kong. They are also involved in the domestic appliance cabling business via purchasing 16% of the stock value Chengdu based Ling Xu Cabling Corp in 2001.-Gold Peak Industries Limited...
battery group allowing the company to relaunch.
New Vectrix
For much of 2010 the company rehired old and new staff and began supporting old owners with issues again. As 2011 rolled around Vectrix introduced the VX-2 and the VX-1 Li/Li+ into the product line showing at some shows and updated on their website. The VX-1 Li is the same as the original bike but using lithium batteries of 30-amp hour capacity, for similar range and performance in a lighter bike. The Li+ has a 42-amp hour capacity giving greater range. The VX-2 is designed as a smaller, lighter and less expensive version of the original bike for those who don't need freeway speeds or the weight of the original. Though it has similar range to the original its top speed is less than half, but so is the price.External links
- Vectrix US Official website (Adobe FlashAdobe FlashAdobe Flash is a multimedia platform used to add animation, video, and interactivity to web pages. Flash is frequently used for advertisements, games and flash animations for broadcast...
)