Singapore’s New Green Machines
In April, traveling around the city streets of Singapore will become more cost effective, more ‘green’ and a bit more quiet as the new electric scooters will go on the market. The leading maker of the scooters, Zeco , estimates that by the end of 2009, more that seven hundred and fifty will be cruising around the city streets, without a sound. Much like the hybrid cars, the scooters have no gears and thus no vibrations, and thus a reduction in the noise pollution. Just one positive aspect of these vehicles. While the scooters, which top speed is just about 60 mph, will be banned from the expressways during their first year, the Department of Transportation will review that ban next year. So for now, the smaller city streets will be the only place legal for driving the scooters. Which is just fine for those consumers looking for options.
The scooters will need to be charged after every 150 miles traveled, and the charge of the battery takes about two hours. This will end up costing the owners of the vehicles, just around sixty dollars a year. In the United States, most people have trouble making sixty dollars spent at the gas pumps last throughout the week. Aside from the cost, most people in Singapore have become environmentally aware, have been for some time actually. The government provides rebates for those business installing solar panels and water conservation devices, and this is no different. Those purchasing the scooters will receive rebates up to five hundred dollars. Three different companies have jumped in to support, by installing ‘green lot’ sections in their parking lots, equipped with battery chargers that are free to the public for the use of recharging the scooters. The largest of the companies and the first to sign on to provide this is the Swedish based company, Ikea. Two stores in Singapore have already completed their lots and the vehicles are not even for sale yet. Soon, some of the best Singapore hotels, the restaurants and many buildings in the downtown business district will be equipped with such accommodations. Making this not only the ‘green’ thing to do, and the inexpensive mode of travel, but quite convenient as well.
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