From Unu, la dolce vita minus the petrol fumes (BBC)
Ken Wysocky
The late fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent once expressed something that Porsche 911 owners have known for decades: while fashions fade, great style is eternal. The makers of the new Unu electric scooter apparently would agree.
Many electric scooter makers – IKOO, ZEV, BMW and Yamaha among them – strive for a rakish, futuristic mien. But with its soft, sensual curves, the Unu evokes iconic Vespa and Lambretta models, something that would feel more at home in Fellini’s La Dolce Vita than in Transformers: Age of Extinction.
Not that the emissions-free scooter doesn’t have technology chops. It features a two-kilowatt electric motor, mounted in the rear-wheel hub and powered by a rechargeable lithium-ion battery. Top speed is limited to 28mph, obviating the need for a driver’s license in most countries, and the bike delivers maximum estimated range of 31 miles. There is a slot available for an optional second battery, which doubles the Unu’s range.
For scoot enthusiasts who want a little more oomph while flashing their eco street cred, Unu, based in Munich, Germany, also offers two more powerful motors.
Protected by a brushed aluminium casing, the portable battery – which weighs 17.5lbs and comes with a strap for easy transport to an outlet for charging – can fully recharge in a 230v electric outlet in five hours. And a kinetic-energy recovery system (KERS), based on the same technology used in Formula 1 racecars, transfers energy back to the battery every time a rider applies the brakes. Want to know if the battery is running low? Pressing a status button gives the answer.
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more: http://www.bbc.com/autos/story/20140814-la-dolce-vita-electrified
