Smart powers up for escooter launch

Scooter enthusiasts can expect an electric model by 2014, with the arrival of the Smart escooter.

Daimler in May 2012 announced that it would move forward with production of the escooter, which made its debut in concept form at the 2010 Paris Motor Show. Daimler provided no details about the scooter's driving range or top speed. In concept form, Smart envisioned a scooter that could run 62 miles on a single charge and boast a top speed of 30 mph.

An electric powertrain would be a first in the scooter market, but it might not be unique for long. BMW also has an electric scooter in concept form, and Pike Research analyst Dave Hurst tells us that he expects electric scooters to become more popular in the United States, particularly for business fleets and in cities where gasoline prices remain above the national average. 

Smart in 2012 launched its ebike, which is a bicycle that has a rear-wheel-hub motor that can be charged through pedaling. It can propel the bike to reach a speed of 15 mph. Given that bike’s $4,200 price, we expect the escooter to cost around $7,000. 

According to previous Consumers Digest Best Buy designations, small gasoline-powered scooters (50- to 125-cc engines) start at $2,000, while medium scooters (150–300 cc) cost up to $6,000. Maxi scooters (350 cc and up) can cost as much as $10,000.