Lynda Hong, Channel NewsAsia 25 Mar 09;
SINGAPORE: The first batch of electric scooters will hit the roads in April. The vehicles will have special "Greenlots" in various public buildings to recharge their batteries.
The Land Transport Authority (LTA) has given the scooters the green light to ply the roads, but they will not be allowed on major expressways just yet. The LTA will review the ban one year down the road.
The scooter's distributor said it has received eight orders for the electric vehicle so far.
With a maximum speed of 50 kilometres per hour, the scooter does not have gears, and this reduces vibration and noise.
It costs only S$60 to charge the scooter every year, making it 85 per cent cheaper than owning a conventional scooter. On top of that, owners will receive a one-time green vehicle rebate of between S$250 and S$500.
The distributor hopes this will make the scooter more appealing to cost-conscious motorists.
Jan Croeni, managing director, Zeco Scooters, said: "It's a small island, but it's a huge market. If we have more electric vehicles here, the awareness here will be raised faster, which means there will be a higher adoption of green vehicles. "
The company expects to sell between 500 and 1,000 green scooters in the next two years.
For now, owners can charge their electric scooters at "Greenlots" found in IKEA Singapore's two stores at Alexandra Road and Tampines.
Two more "Greenlots" will be launched at Republic Polytechnic and INSEAD. More "Greenlots" are expected to be launched in the central business district soon. - CNA/vm
Electric scooters get green light
Maria Almenoar, Straits Times 26 Mar 09;
NON-POLLUTING electric scooters have been given the green light to run on roads in Singapore.
And three organisations have shown their support for this 'green' mode of transport by designating 'Greenlots' for users of these scooters to park, plug in and charge their vehicles for free.
Swedish furniture store Ikea Singapore has converted one lot at each of its outlets in Alexandra Road and Tampines; education institutions Republic Polytechnic and Insead will soon set up theirs.
Mr Jan Croeni, managing director of Zeco Scooters which brings in these vehicles, said he has sold eight machines so far, each costing about $7,000. They will be delivered in the coming week.
They can run for 90km on each full charge, which takes 2-1/2 to five hours.
The top speed: 50kmh.
Mr Croeni said: 'It was a bit of a chicken-and-egg situation: When there is no infrastructure for charging, people are reluctant to buy the scooters. When there are no scooters on the road, organisations are reluctant to set up charging points.'
He is looking into setting up solar-powered charging stations by the end of the year.
Not only are the scooters a cleaner mode of transport, they are more economical to run too. Zeco's model costs 70 cents for every 100km, a steal compared to a petrol scooter, which costs 10 times more - $7 per 100km - to run.
These scooters have to keep off the expressways for now, but the authorities will review the ban in a year.
Going green gets a lift from greenlots for electric vehicles
Business Times 26 Mar 09;
ZECO Scooters and Ikea Singapore yesterday launched Singapore's first 'greenlots' for electric vehicles.
Greenlot is the term for the charging infrastructure needed to operate electric vehicles.
Zeco's scooters, which were launched here in January, can be fully charged in two-and-a-half to five hours.
Ikea will introduce greenlots at its Tampines and Alexandra Road stores. The lots will be designated for electric vehicles only and will have a socket for charging.
This is the first part of a roadmap for the island-wide implementation of greenlots this year.
Zeco is in talks with Republic Polytechnic and Insead to install lots on campus grounds in the coming weeks.
Ikea is working with Zeco to help boost environmental sustainability efforts. Country marketing manager Lars Svensson said: 'We are just trying to facilitate a good initiative. The greenlot installation may be small, but every effort counts.'
Said Jan Croeni, managing director of Zeco Scooters: 'We are confident we will move further now that Ikea Singapore is joining us.
'The most important part is being on the way.'
