ELECTROTEHNICA, ELECTRONICA, AUTOMATICA, 58 (2010), Nr.

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Present stage of the electric scooter development

Mihaela MÂNZICU∗

Abstract

This paper deals with the present stage of the electric scooter development. Starting from some
constructive examples it has resulted that the electric scooter represents an extremely efficient
transportation alternative from the economic and environment protection viewpoints. Also, we
studied the electric scooters from the electric domain viewpoint, the reference model being one of
the most advanced scooter models, the Vectrix scooter, and shows the features of the motor, the
control system and the accumulators for this model.
Keywords: electric scooter, Vectrix, development

are palpable, are part of our everyday life.

1. Introduction The weather is more and more capricious,,
Last years, one noticed on ever more the average temperature is increasing at
development of the electric vehicles, international level, more diseases are
because of the alarming increase of pollution jeopardizing people’s health, as well as many
in the big cities and at international level, as other unpleasant effects of pollution. All of
result of the vehicles equipped with internal them are enough reasons for making any
combustion motors. These vehicles have society having the sense of responsibility to
many development possibilities and in the take all due measures in order to fight
near future, their presence will represent a against them in oder to preserve and to
majority on the roads. Another big advantage improve the environment conditions.
of the electric vehicles, and, at the same However, it is true that, at this moment, an
time, a major disadvantage of the vehicles sudden increase on the subject of the
equipped with internal combustion motors, development and of the selling of the electric
consists of the oil supplies at international vehicles is, very probably, much slowed
level that diminishes more and more, and down by certain persons and corporations for
which will finally lead to a substantial whom, the oil and the automobile industry
increase of the petrol and Diesel oil price. seem to be threatened. But, they are not able
Consequently, the re-orientation towards to stop this development which will become
the goods and passengers transportation by more and more important, as the application
means of the electric vehicles must not be of these electric vehicles becomes pure
regarded as a caprice of the scientists, or of necessity. Shortly, the electric vehicles
the western society, but as a necessity and rejoice at a more special attention and this
priority at international level. For some time, business is significant in the more powerfully
this action must be done because the developed countries, such as the USA and
pollution ceased to reduce the ecologists and the more developed European countries from
scientists’ apocalyptic forecasts, who used to the economic viewpoint (France, Germany,
deal with a phenomenon study, or to be an Italy, Northern Countries, etc.). This is mainly
information accidentally read in newspapers, due to the higher price of these vehicles in
or reviews, or to be an issue that did not comparison with the classic ones, as well as
influenced us, or jeopardize our way of life, to certain policies carried out by the
our present, or even our near future. But governments of these countries, which
things began to change, the devastating encourage the purchasing of the electric
effects of the high level pollution are here, vehicles through various offered facilities, as
the considerable diminution of the duties for
these products.
∗
Mihaela MÂNZICU, Eng. Master Student – Faculty of Among the electric vehicles, the electric
Electrical Engineering, University “Politehnica” of Bucureşti
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scooter represents an important category. noiseless. It is necessary, that the sign “60”
This is a fast and a economic means of should appear on the speedometer, in order
transportation that represents an excellent that the user knows when the scooter is on
alternative for travel through the crowd of the and ready to go. These features can satisfy
big areas. Another big advantage is any customer, the only obstacle being
represented by the purchasing price which is represented by the very high price, namely
accessible enough and which will decrease $11000. However, customers buy the
more and , as a result of the development of technology of special performances and,
the technology for the component parts hereafter, one expects them to be developed
manufacturing, as well as of a mass and even improved at prices that are more
production of these products, of a larger accessible.
number of sold scooters.
Table1. Some examples of electric scooters
At present, in Romania, these vehicles are
not very much appreciated. For example, in 1. EVTAZ – 20b
Bucharest the overwhelming majority of the Maximum speed: 72 km/h;
population lives in blocks of flats, that makes Maximum autonomy: 70 km;
the parking scooter and its charging battery Braking system: disk brake on the
front and back wheels;
extremely difficult. In exchange, in near Wheel diameter: 42 cm;
future, according to the population’s Batteries: 5 batteries of 12 V;
Battery capacity: 35 Ah, 2100 Wh;
background orientation concerning the Battery lifetime: about 300 cycles;
purchasing of houses, even if they are Weight: 138 kg;
outside the town, and taking into DC motor of 2500 W;
Price: € 1900.
consideration that, in the smaller towns, a
much larger number of people lives in 2. EVTA 168
houses, a significant increase of the electric Maximum speed: 50km/h;
scooter use is possible. Maximum autonomy: 58 km;
Braking system: disk brake on the
Another advantage of the electric vehicles front and back wheels;
is given by their efficiency factor. Thus, an Wheel diameter: 42 cm;
electric vehicle is running with an efficiency Batteries : 4 batteries of 12 V;
Battery capacity: 35 Ah , 1680 WH;
of 46 %, which means that, out of the total of Battery lifetime: about 300 cycles;
the energy stored in the accumulators, 46 % Weight: 127 kg;
DC motor of 1500 W;
are sent to the drive wheels as an useful Price: € 2200.
energy, while, in the case of a vehicle
3. Peugeot Scoot’Elec
equipped with an internal combustion motor,
Maximum speed: 50 km/h;
the efficiency is only 18 % of the total energy Maximum autonomy: 40 km;
stored in the tank. This relatively high Braking system: disk brake on the
efficiency, of 45 %, makes us discover that, front and back wheels;
Wheel diameter: 34 cm;
for 3,500 km covered, it is necessary to Batteries: 3 batteries of 6 V;
spend only €13.5, that means a little more Battery capacity: 100 AK, 1800Wh;
than 1 RON for each hundred kilometres Weight: 115 kg;
DC Motor of 2800 W;
covered, in the case of the electric scooter, Price: € 4200.
as a result of an approximate computation. 4. Vectrix
Maximum speed: 100 km/h;
2. Constructive Examples Maximum autonomy : 90 km;
Wheel diameter: 36 cm front wheel
The electric scooters have lately known a and 33 cm back wheel;
significant development. For example, the Batteries: 125 V;
Battery capacity: 30Ah, 3750 WH;
Maxi-Scooter model, that Vectrix Company Battery lifetime: 80000 km;
recently launched in the USA, have the Weight: 210 kg;
DC Motor: 20 kW;
following characteristics: it accelerates from Price: € 8500.
0 to 80 Km/h in 6.8 seconds and from The scooter is a motorcycle with 2 wheels,
0-50 km/h in 3.5 seconds, and reaches a and the fixed components (such as the motor
speed of 100 km/H. The batteries are based and the tank) placed in the knee area. This
on nickel and can be loaded in 2.5 hours characteristic, together with the fact that the
from an ordinary socket, offering the scooter drivers feet lean upon the floor and not on
autonomy of 110 km, at 40 km/H speed. The special supports, differentiates the scooter
scooter motor drives the back wheel and it is from the motor bike.
 ELECTROTEHNICA, ELECTRONICA, AUTOMATICA, 58 (2010), Nr. 3 93
When choosing the traction motor for the performances at a low cost. It moves the
electric scooter, one has to take into account scooter back wheel through a planetary gear.
several characteristics: torque density, Key Features
3-phase, permanent magnets,
inverter sizes, and range of extended speeds Type
brushless, 12-pole, 16-slot
influenced by the vehicle dynamics and Peak Power 20 kW – 3000 rpm
system architecture, power efficiency, safety, Peak Torque 65 Nm
Continuous Torque 22 Nm
reliability, cooling and motor price. Among Maximum RPM 6000 rpm
the characteristics mentioned above, the
speed range and economic efficiency are
those which depend on the vehicle dynamics
and system architecture, therefore when
choosing the electric traction motor, a special
attention must be paid to these two
characteristics. The speed range, significant
Figure 1. The motor used for the Vectrix scooter
for the acceleration performances of a model drive and the key features.
vehicle, represents a design criterion usually
established by the users. However, in real b) The Vectrix scooter model control
time, the vehicle operates, very seldom, in system
extreme conditions (i.e. high speed and The electronic control system represents
acceleration). Consequently, the energy the brain scooter, thus it performs a
efficiency becomes important. The energy relationship among the accumulators block
consumption is given by the efficiency of and the motor. For the Vectrix scooter model,
using the energy throughout the whole the electronic control system was designed
system. In order to ensure a better torque, and developed by the company researchers
the determination of the outline should and it was manufactured by Parker Hannifin
coincide with most frequently operative s Compumotor Division. It carries out the
areas. Together with the adequate force- reduction of the cost, sizes and scooter
speed profile, it is also essential to use the weight by integrating the scooter electronic
very efficient traction motor. An efficient control system in the motor control system.
motor, at a certain operation point, may not Feature Benefit
Digital Signal Processor
be efficient in other points. The attraction (DSP) develops Pulse
motor must have a reasonable efficiency Accurate Motor control
Width Modulation
between the speed torque. However, it is (PWM)
RS-232 Serial Comm Permits troubleshooting &
difficult to develop a highly efficient motor for Port diagnostics
the whole speed torque. Thus, we suggest Fold Back
Provides thermal protection of
the efficiency optimization within the most components
Software control of Optimizes system
frequently used areas. We call that the phase angle advance performance
efficiency energy, as the efficiency is also Design flexibility permits
dependent on time. variety of products at little
Software
additional cost plus security
So, the electric scooter represents an features (PIN Code)
extremely efficient transportation alternative
from the economic and environment
protection viewpoints. It can be successfully
used in the crowd of the big cities, helping
with the traffic fluidization.
Figure 2. The Vectrix scooter model control system
3. Vectrix Model
a) The motor used for the Vectrix scooter c) The Vectrix scooter model
model drive accumulators
The motor used for the Vectrix scooter The Vectrix scooter model runs with a
model drive is a synchronous one, of high battery packet NIMH-Nickel, a Metal Hydride
technology, brushless permanent magnet able to ensure a voltage of 125 V and a
motor, designed and manufactured by Parker current of 30 Ah. The battery packet has a
Hannifin s Divisione SBC, in Milan, Italy. 3.7 kW/h capacity and it was designed to
The motor has a reduced weight, and it is withstand a number of 1,700 loading and
designed for being able to ensure optional unloading cycles. If we consider that the
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scooter will be used, on the average, over a of the maintenance expenses.

distance of 160-240 km/week, the batteries The tariffs used by the insurance agents
will be loaded 2-3 times a week, and the are lower than those that are used with the
battery lifetime will be between 10-15 years. classic scooter. Facilities offered by the
It is expected that partial loadings, which will governments of the countries in which the
occur over this period, should not influence scooter is used (for example, in Italy the
the battery lifetime. government returns up to € 1400 from the
Key Features scooter purchasing price), a 90 % reduction
Battery Type Nickel Metal Hydride
(NiMH) of the fuel price, 70 % of the maintenance
Rated Battery Voltage 125V /30 Ah price, up to 50 % of the insurance price and
Rated Battery Capacity 3.7 kW-h a lower price for the various charges applied
Recharge Requirements 110V-220V, 50/60Hz
to the vehicles owners.
Charger 1.5 kW on board battery
charger This scooter model ensures very high
Recharge Time (80% 2 hours performances, is able to comply with the
charge) requirements of a very wide range of
Battery Discharge Cycles 1,700
(80% charge) possible users. It consists of only
250 components, in comparison with the
2500 components included in the structure of
a classic scooter. Hence, the much higher
reliability and the much lower maintenance
price of the scooter. The scooter maximum
speed is 100 km/h, electronically limited to
preserve the energy stored into the batteries.
It has autonomy of about 100 km, which is
Figure 3. Accumulators of the Vectrix scooter model more than enough for using the scooter in
city for avoiding the crowd. The batteries
ensure a voltage of 125 V, and have a
4. Conclusions capacity of 3.7 KWh, having a 10 years or
The present paper has studied the electric 80000 km estimated lifetime. It is driven by a
scooters from the electric domain viewpoint, synchronous permanent magnet motor and,
the reference model being the Vectrix through the recuperative braking, which is
scooter, one of the most advanced scooter possible on both, the forward and backward
models, from the technological and running, the scooter autonomy increase up to
performance viewpoints, which, at present, is 12 %. The purchasing price is € 8,500 and
under serial production. that is considered very high, and it is
The Vectrix scooter model got into serial possible to decrease, becoming much more
production in 2007, being designed to accessible to the great majority of the
exceed the performance level of a petrol- population, together the technology
supplied scooter of 250-400 cm in almost all development, with a larger number of sold
fields, as follows: items and with the occurrence of some
− it has a price lower up to 25 % in four models that can compete with the scooter.
years of using; The present trend at the international level
− it is cheaper during the running (electric is that the polluting vehicles should be
al power is much cheaper than the fuel replaced by the hybrid or, even electric ones,
price); within the transportations. This trend also
− it is ecologic (zero emissions); appears as a necessity, as one has
− it is noiseless; calculated that, within the context in which oil
− it has a better acceleration (up to 30 % and natural gas supply will maintain the
faster from 0-50 km/h in comparison same prominent increase, the natural
with a petrol-supplied scooter of reserves, which can be exploited with profit
250 cm); bringing, to king into account the existing
− it is easy to drive, the changing over technology at the moment, will disappear
being not necessary; almost completely until 2020.
− it has a better manoeuvrability, The occurrence of the scooter in the
because of the lower centre of gravity; urban transportation happened ever since
− it is much cheaper from the viewpoint the period following the World War II. The
 ELECTROTEHNICA, ELECTRONICA, AUTOMATICA, 58 (2010), Nr. 3 95
maintenance low price, as well as the ability The electric scooter have a series of
in driving the scooter mattered much in a advantages compared to the classic ones,,
crowded town. The use of the scooter was a namely:
very good solution. Over this period, due to − the drastic reduction of the chemical
the development of the power electronics and phonic pollution;
and the bringing in of new legislation − the possibility of using some
regarding pollution, the great vehicle builders sophisticated drive systems offered by
focused their attention on the electric motor the new trends and achievements in
vehicle monitoring. The solution of the motor the field of electric drives;
implementation in the vehicle drive diagram − the possibility of easily developing the
was chosen after one had found that the auto-blocking braking systems, by
motor complied with the majority of the using the electric braking; at the same
necessary requirements: time, there is the possibility of obtaining
− the size /weight /speed ratio imposed it, an important energy saving by using
before the other types of motors; the recuperative braking.
− it has a simple construction; The main obstacles to a more prominent
− it runs well under hard working development of the electric scooter
conditions; production are:
− it is possible to adjust speed in a very − the energy and the power density of
wide range. the classic electric accumulators is
The electronic converter must ensure the lower than that of the fuels, that leads
of the drive motor with a variable voltage, to a more reduced autonomy of the
adequate for the required speed. In case of electric scooters compared to the
the ac voltage regulator, in function of the classic ones;
number of the dials in which the operation − the development of some efficient
must be ensured, one can choose an systems for the battery loading is
operation of high frequency semiconductors. necessary;
The field effect transistor (MOSFET) has − the initial investment is much bigger
proved to be the most advantageous: than that necessary for the acquisition
− it is voltage controlled; of a classic scooter model.
− the control diagram is of low power;
− high commutation frequency; References
− small commutation losses; [1] http://www.vectrix.com
− do not have secondary breakdown. [2] BUCURENCIU S., Vehicule electrice
The Ni-Cd accumulators have the neconvenţionale, Bucureşti: Editura ICPE,
following advantages: 1994;
− they have a very large number of [3] CRĂCIUNESCU A., Automobile electrice și
loading unloading cycles; hibride. Probleme actuale, Workshop Pitești,
− they have a very good behaviour to low
2002;
[4] GHIŢĂ N., ILINA D.A., SLAIHER S., Vehicule
temperatures;
ecologice de capacitate mică, Advanced
− they offer the possibility of rapid
Topix Electric Engineering, UPB, 2002;
loading (there can be obtained loadings [5] SLAIHER S., Sisteme de acţionare, reglaj și
with currents up to 10 In); frânare pentru vehicule ecologice, Workshop
− their power remains relatively constant Piteşti, 2002.
after a partial discharge.