New Electric Bike | Green Energy News

September 5, 2004 – Vol.9 No.24

NEW ELECTRIC BIKE.

There’s a line companies cross when they go from being purely a technology development company to a company offering products to the wholesale or retail markets.

Crossing the line is more than a step, it’s a leap, and it’s not a finish line. When they cross they have to keep on running. Once a company begins taking money for its product - putting products in the hands of consumers - success or failure depends on whether the product will deliver as promised.

Whistler Investments has crossed the line from developer to marketer. The company is now offering a battery electric two-wheeled, street-worthy scooter for sale via the Internet.

According to the company, the E-Cobra Urban vehicle offers a 60 mile range (up to 120 miles with additional lithium battery packs) and speeds up to 60 miles per hour. Recharge time is about 2 hours.

There’s no independent verification, such as a road test, of the performance of this vehicle.

The list price? Almost $6000. A high price when compared with other similar scooters which can be found for half that amount, often much less. But the high price might reflect the cost of Cobra’s lithium batteries. Those additional battery packs for the extended range are nearly $1000 each. The standard equipment battery is likely to cost as much. The lithium battery is to add performance to the scooter. Less expensive scooters have lead acid battery packs, and less range and stated performance as well.

This company deserves credit however. It has crossed the line. From now on it’s sink or swim. Whistler’s three subsidiaries are R-Electric Car, Global Electric and Solium Power. Visit the Whistler Internet store at http://www.shop.whistlerinvestments.com/ .