Is this bike similar to a CNG car - too much hassle, too inconvenient, and doesn't save appreciable amount of $$? Well, lets look at the specifications.
| Model | E-MAX 90S | E-MAX 110S |
|---|---|---|
| Battery concept | Silicon | Silicon |
| Maximum Speed | 50 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Battery Capacity | 4 x 12V/40Ah | 4 x 12V/60Ah |
| Distance Range | 45-60 km | 70-90 km |
| Motor (nominal Power) | 4000W 13" high torque maintenance free motor | 4000W 13" high torque maintenance free motor |
| Voltage (maximum) | 48V (53V) | 48V (53V) |
| Output (with Booster) | 45A (80A) | 45A (80A) |
| Charging time | 3-5 hours | 3.5-5 hours |
| Power in kW (with Booster) | 2 (3.2) | 2 (3.2) |
| Weight | Approx. 155 kg | Approx. 195 kg |
| Brakes | Hydraulic floating disc brake | Hydraulic floating disc brake |
| Tires | 130/60 - 13 | 130/60 - 13 |
| Rim | Aluminium | Aluminium |
| Front and rear shock absorber | Oil/gas pressure | Oil/gas pressure |
| Warranty on Battery | 1 year or 10,000 km | 1 year or 10,000 km |
| Retail Price | S$ 6,999 | S$ 7,399 |
Perhaps the most striking thing on this list is the MAXIMUM SPEED of 50km/h which is damn slow for singapore roads. According to Zeco, 50km/h is good enough as "the average Singapore motorist travels a distance of 25 km/h to 27 km/h on city roads."
But is it? To achieve an AVERAGE speed of 25km/h to 27km/h, the motorist have to be achieve a much faster instantaneous speed to make up for all the lost time waiting at traffic lights and accelerating from stop. No one travels at a constant speed of 25km/h in town traffic, it's start-stop all the way to the parking lot. So, a max speed of 50km/h isn't necessarily enough to blend in with the rest of the motorists.
The next thing to notice is the charging time? Yea, it runs entirely on battery. So, you're really screwed if you accidentally run out of juice. Good luck on pushing it - it weights the same as my 1000cc dream bike, the Honda CBR1000R Fireblade. The only difference is that the Fireblade has a maximum power of 133kW compared to the Zeco's puny 3.2kW. I really wonder how long does it take for the zeco to get up to it's maximum speed.
3.5-5hours of charging actually sounds okay if you charge it as soon as you reach your destination so that it is well prepared for the next trip. Another problem is that you'll need a landed property to charge your bike or resort to parking at their "greenlot" charging points far away from your high rise housing.
If all these does not scare you away from it, lets talk about the price. For $7399, it is possible to get a new decent Class 2B bike (200cc and below) while reasonable used bikes can be bought at around $2500. So why should anyone choose the zeco over a normal motorcycle? Again, zeco claims that it is far more cheaper to run it.
"the cost of running a Zeco is just 70 cents for every 100 kilometres; petrol is almost ten times that, at $7 for every 100 kilometres"
They may be right on this point, but they have compared it to a petrol bike of a fuel efficiency equivalent to bigger bikes. Still, the savings are significant compared to petrol bike. Then comes the issue of maintenance. In about a couple of years, the battery will need to be replaced and I'm guessing that the battery costs at least $1000.
at this point of time, the high initial cost of the bike is not very justified. What are you paying for?
If you ask me, I would rather get a good electric bicycle for $1000. At least I won't have to pay for ERP, parking lots and pointless third-party insurance. Best of all, I can beat red lights without the fear of being 'flashed'. Now, if only the zeco is $3000, I would...
