Cooperative Living June 2020 - 24

CuttingEdge | by Maria Kanevsky, Contributing Writer
Electric scooters are easy to use and
generally affordable. Some are foldable,
compact and easy to carry and store.
Below, electric motorcycles offer
many benefits when compared with
their gas-powered counterparts.
New Life for
the Old Scooter
Getting from here to there in newfangled ways
en years ago, electric vehicles were
a rare sight. Today, you see them
on roadways all across the country.
Advancements in battery technology
have led to smaller, more efficient
batteries, which has opened the door
to new forms of electric transportation,
or e-transportation. Let's take a look
at some of today's novel modes of
e-transportation.
Electric scooters are a new form
of electric transportation. They're easy
to use and generally affordable. Some
are foldable, compact and easy to carry
and store. Several electric scooter rental
companies offer their services in many
major cities, so you can find a nearby
scooter to use for a limited time. They
can cut minutes and add enjoyment
to a walk down the street or around
the block.
However, electric scooters' small
wheels are only meant to be ridden on
paved surfaces like sidewalks. Electric
scooters' limited range and speed also
make them unsuitable for long-distance
travel.
The electric bicycle is another new
22 | Cooperative Living | June 2020
T
form of electric transportation. These
modern versions of the familiar bicycle
offer the same ease of use while
requiring much less physical exertion.
Travelers can ride longer distances
without being as fatigued. Plus,
they can be parked at bike racks.
Some of these electric forms of
transportation can be used for recreation
in addition to everyday use. For
example, the electric skateboard has
additional power that a normal
skateboard lacks, and the user can
still perform tricks while riding it.
Another example are electric roller
skates which are just as entertaining as
normal roller skates. Users can maintain
fast speeds without the effort. While
these electric modes of transportation
are fun, their faster speeds can also
make them more dangerous, which
makes wearing helmets and knee
pads especially important.
For those looking for more exciting
forms of e-transportation, there is
the electric unicycle, which is a selfbalancing
device. You can speed up
and slow down the device by simply
leaning forwards or backwards. The
electric unicycle is easy to store or carry
around, and because of its large wheel,
it can drive on a variety of terrain like
grass, gravel, curbs and potholes. The
major drawback is that it's relatively
difficult to learn how to ride the electric
unicycle, so be prepared to spend a
few hours just to learn how it works.
For even faster speeds, there is the
electric motorcycle. This mode of
transportation has many benefits when
compared with gas-powered motorcycles,
such as increased performance, less
maintenance and lower fuel costs. While
quieter than their gas counterparts,
electric motorcycles have a limited
range per charge, making them less
appealing for long-distance road trips.
Since these technologies are relatively
new and more complex, price tags for
all of these modes of transportation
will be higher than their conventional
peers. A commuter scooter starts at
a couple hundred dollars, while a
midrange e-motorcycle is likely to
be a couple thousand.
Each mode includes a variety of
features, so it's important to consider
all options. Before purchasing any of
these newer forms of e-transportation,
make sure you do the research to find
the mode of transportation that best
matches your needs. ■
Maria Kanevsky is a program analyst
for the National Rural Electric Cooperative
Association.
co-opliving.com
PHOTO COURTESY OF ZERO MOTORCYCLES
PHOTO COURTESY OF BOOSTED
http://www.co-opliving.com
Cooperative Living June 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Cooperative Living June 2020
