Rhode Island-based Vetrix has done more than its fair share in pioneering electric scooters of the sort that don’t evoke snickers, having brought out the first commercially-available, high-performance model in 2006. Since then, the company has been tweaking its flagship product in hopes of eventually making the phrase “electric scooter” synonymous with “sweet-ass hog I bought from my brother-in-law” in terms of things that are acceptable to mention at a rural family reunion. The 2009 VX-1, for instance, boasts a top speed of 62 MPH, a range somewhere between 35 and 55 miles, and a rate of acceleration that’s comparable to what you’d get from a typical 400cc gas bike. Even so, it’s an electric through and through; the VX does what it does for about a penny a mile, plugs into a standard electric outlet, and makes use of less than 250 parts as compared to the more than 2,000 parts employed by its typical gas-powered counterparts.
If the VX-1′s $11,000 suggested retail price is a bit more than you’re looking to spend, check out the VX-1E, a more affordable version that skimps a bit on performance in favor of an $8,500 price tag. And if that’s still too much, you might consider taking a glance at the VX-2, which goes for a bit over $5,000 while still retaining enough range and speed for day-to-day urban cruising.
