| General > General Technical Chat |
| superfast (too fast?) electric scooters |
| << < (15/16) > >> |
| langwadt:
https://youtube.com/shorts/PuYkPzFBUE0 |
| Zero999:
Regarding the average speed of cyclists: it's not just how fast one can comfortably go, but also how safe it is and stopping and starting through busy traffic. For example, my average speed might be 25kmph, over 10km or so, but that will include slowing down for pedestrians and stopping to wait for traffic. It's probably closer to 30kmph, when I'm at a steady pace, on a clear road. |
| langwadt:
--- Quote from: tom66 on May 02, 2023, 10:10:24 pm ---A friend of mine pointed me to a website selling scooters with an output power (peak) of 8400W and a top speed of about 60 mph. That particular scooter weighed 50kg. With a 100kg rider, say, it has a total mass of 150kg, and a power-to-weight ratio of 56W per kg. What else has a power to weight ratio in the same range? The VW Golf 1.5 TSI (2022) with fuel and driver weighs about 1400kg and has an output power of 96kW peak. That's about 68W per kg. So this scooter has nearly the same power to weight ratio as a VW Golf, a vehicle for which you need insurance and a proper licence adminstered by a test facility to operate. Obviously, the collision damage risk for the Golf is far worse; I'm not doubting that. But I've also little doubt that 30+ mph of 150kg scooter and rider hitting a pedestrian will also be fatal. These vehicles are going to be used; the "cat is out of the bag". It is up to the government to find appropriate regulations for them. That will almost certainly include insurance, and possibly a basic competency test. They'd better figure it out sooner, rather than later. --- End quote --- where in the world would such a scooter not be illegal to drive on public roads? |
| Zero999:
--- Quote from: langwadt on May 03, 2023, 12:16:06 pm --- --- Quote from: tom66 on May 02, 2023, 10:10:24 pm ---A friend of mine pointed me to a website selling scooters with an output power (peak) of 8400W and a top speed of about 60 mph. That particular scooter weighed 50kg. With a 100kg rider, say, it has a total mass of 150kg, and a power-to-weight ratio of 56W per kg. What else has a power to weight ratio in the same range? The VW Golf 1.5 TSI (2022) with fuel and driver weighs about 1400kg and has an output power of 96kW peak. That's about 68W per kg. So this scooter has nearly the same power to weight ratio as a VW Golf, a vehicle for which you need insurance and a proper licence adminstered by a test facility to operate. Obviously, the collision damage risk for the Golf is far worse; I'm not doubting that. But I've also little doubt that 30+ mph of 150kg scooter and rider hitting a pedestrian will also be fatal. These vehicles are going to be used; the "cat is out of the bag". It is up to the government to find appropriate regulations for them. That will almost certainly include insurance, and possibly a basic competency test. They'd better figure it out sooner, rather than later. --- End quote --- where in the world would such a scooter not be illegal to drive on public roads? --- End quote --- If the tyres and brakes were good enough to pass and MoT (the UK road safety check), it was taxed and the driver insured, then it would be perfectly legal to ride in the UK. Another thing to note about power to weight ratio is an electric motor has most of the torque at lower speeds, whist an internal combustion engine has its peak at high speeds, so a scooter with that specification would beat most cars off the lights, even though it would be left behind on the motorway. |
| langwadt:
--- Quote from: Zero999 on May 03, 2023, 04:51:25 pm --- --- Quote from: langwadt on May 03, 2023, 12:16:06 pm --- --- Quote from: tom66 on May 02, 2023, 10:10:24 pm ---A friend of mine pointed me to a website selling scooters with an output power (peak) of 8400W and a top speed of about 60 mph. That particular scooter weighed 50kg. With a 100kg rider, say, it has a total mass of 150kg, and a power-to-weight ratio of 56W per kg. What else has a power to weight ratio in the same range? The VW Golf 1.5 TSI (2022) with fuel and driver weighs about 1400kg and has an output power of 96kW peak. That's about 68W per kg. So this scooter has nearly the same power to weight ratio as a VW Golf, a vehicle for which you need insurance and a proper licence adminstered by a test facility to operate. Obviously, the collision damage risk for the Golf is far worse; I'm not doubting that. But I've also little doubt that 30+ mph of 150kg scooter and rider hitting a pedestrian will also be fatal. These vehicles are going to be used; the "cat is out of the bag". It is up to the government to find appropriate regulations for them. That will almost certainly include insurance, and possibly a basic competency test. They'd better figure it out sooner, rather than later. --- End quote --- where in the world would such a scooter not be illegal to drive on public roads? --- End quote --- If the tyres and brakes were good enough to pass and MoT (the UK road safety check), it was taxed and the driver insured, then it would be perfectly legal to ride in the UK. Another thing to note about power to weight ratio is an electric motor has most of the torque at lower speeds, whist an internal combustion engine has its peak at high speeds, so a scooter with that specification would beat most cars off the lights, even though it would be left behind on the motorway. --- End quote --- but then it would be classified and registered as a motorcycle or similar, no? |
| Navigation |
| Message Index |
| Next page |
| Previous page |