Ego Street Scoota
EGO is a brand that gained popularity quickly in the UK. It’s one of many Chinese electrical scooters but perhaps the success lies in the fact that this isn’t a direct import. Two years went into its development from the original model. Part of this this about meeting European road standards, but European expectations have turned out to be more important. Reliability is the key and while the bike is hardly indestructible, close inspection shows it have a relatively robust build. The low-end price tag makes this scooter one of the cheapest ways to get mobile (it’s possible to compare this with the price of an annual bus ticket, for example) and the electric motor offers in interesting experience - the bike glides rather than chugs and the initial take-up is excellent. Unfortunately, Irish insurers are reluctant to offer a separate scheme but there are some possibilities on the horizon. For the moment, this marks the main obstacle for EGO in Ireland since the running cost of the bike is otherwise negligible.
SDL Electric Vehicles currently have the distributorship. Their operation is still in its infancy but expect to see these in motorbike shops by the spring.
COST
| Purchase
Insurance Tax Energy Cost |
€1,495
€300 €30 €35 |
Price includes VAT
Energy cost assumes medium to heavy use (charging almost every night) Insurance premiums hover around this figure but there’s a disappointing escalation with regard to age. Aon and Quinn-Direct offer the best rates. The former is in the process of considering a special category for these bikes. |
| Total | €1,860 |
SPECS
| Range
Max Speed Charge Time (80%) Charge Time (100%) Battery Life Battery Cost |
60km
50kmph 2 hours 6-8 hours 10,000km €140 |
Acceleration from 0 to 35kmph is quick. 35-50kmph requires a bit longer.
Range depends on terrain but the impact shouldn’t be overstated. One year parts warranty and a guarantee on the battery up to 10,000km (that’s about 2-3 years of moderate use) Batteries are lead-acid and they charge from any plug socket. |
