Suzuki develops electric scooter
The Japanese manufacturer has completed a prototype of an electric scooter named the e-Let’s and has begun studying its operation on public roads in Japan. Suzuki was able to begin the on-road trials after registering the e-Let’s as a moped with the local authorities on 21st September and obtaining a number plate for it. Suzuki plans to use the resulting data in development efforts aimed at creating a production model. The e-Let’s is based on a petrol-engine scooter called the Let’s4 basket.
It has a high-performance in-wheel motor with regenerative braking capability; a lithium-ion battery; and a charging system within a compact, lightweight chassis. It weighs almost the same as the petrol-engine model. Also, it offers the smooth acceleration, nimble performance, low noise, low vibration, and zero-emission environmental performance that characterize electric scooters. The battery is charged from a 100V household outlet. A single charge takes about four hours and gives a range of about 30km (assuming the e-Let’s is ridden at 30km/h on level roads). Trials of the e-Let’s will also be conducted as part of the Hamamatsu Social Experiment Project on Next-Generation Eco-Cars, which brings together companies, educational institutions, and local-government bodies under the leadership of Suzuki’s home city, Hamamatsu.
