BLACKPANTHER - I would love to have a serious discussion with you regarding why electric scooters seem to have a much wider role in other countries, in particular China, than in the UK. I think poverty comes into the equation, and after a recent visit (still jet-lagged) I now firmly believe the lower speeds of Chinese cities are an extremely important factor in e-bike success.
The speeds used (around 25 mph max) seem to allow a much more cooperative environment for cyclists and scooters and pedestrians, as well as cars and taxis. These lower speeds also maximise the range of electric vehicles.
I believe also an important obstacle to wider electric use is the commuting distance in the UK, where we seem to accept much longer distances to travel to work. I know my nephew has recently taken a drop in salary of £5k in order to reduce his commute to 20 miles. I'm trying to convince him now to go electric and get his cost down to 20 pence each way.
Maybe if everyone was doing lower speeds then we could all feel safer at 25mph. It would certainly be controversial and I can already hear J Clarkson choking with sarcasm...
The speeds used (around 25 mph max) seem to allow a much more cooperative environment for cyclists and scooters and pedestrians, as well as cars and taxis. These lower speeds also maximise the range of electric vehicles.
I believe also an important obstacle to wider electric use is the commuting distance in the UK, where we seem to accept much longer distances to travel to work. I know my nephew has recently taken a drop in salary of £5k in order to reduce his commute to 20 miles. I'm trying to convince him now to go electric and get his cost down to 20 pence each way.
Maybe if everyone was doing lower speeds then we could all feel safer at 25mph. It would certainly be controversial and I can already hear J Clarkson choking with sarcasm...
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