Came across a German-based company making what look to be pretty cool scooter-style ebikes, using German engineering -- maybe they even ride 'em on the Autobaun . . .

E-Max EV's ebikes come in your choice of 40Ah and 60Ah 48V systems, using LITHIUM batteries, which the company claims gives you a whopping 150KM travel range, and it only takes a mere two-hours to charge the batteries.

Compared to mine -- and what I imagine are most of -- our range limits of 20-40KM travel range and a full working day eight-hours to charge up the lead-acid battery, these bikes jumped out at me.

Has anyone seen any of these here? Are they even legal/available here in Canada? I checked the distributor's list and there aren't any distributors listed for Canada or the U.S -- maybe they aren't legal in North America, or can't handle the climate?

Check 'em out online here: http://www.e-max-scoo... -- I'm curious what everyone here thinks of these bikes.

Thanks Joshua -- interesting. Wonder if it is the same owners, they are listed on the website.

Some of their ebikes do have peddles, and then there are some which are just drawings for bikes I'm guessing they are developing still?

Anyone actually see and/or ride one of these things?

E-Max and Vectrix went tits up April 2009. Filed a Chapter 11.

Even Currie-tech (the folks selling the iZIP) are in Bankruptcy Protection and operate via a Court assigned Management house in California.

I did read somewhere that an attempt was made or is being made to refloat E-Max and Vectrix but in the on-going U.S. Recession there are not a lot of Angel investors to tap into.

E+ the folks who took over the TidalForce E-Bike company that went tits up after losing $180 Milllion USD are also in trouble in the States. Their CEO and Head Designer quit and sales have been pathetic. They are trying to hold on till the USA climbs out of their Recession or Oil hits $200.00 p/b.

E-Bike and E-Scooter sales will go off the charts if Auto Fuel passes $150.00 p/b but the U.S. Recession and the problems with the Euro PIGS like Portugal--Ireland--Greece--Spain = PIGS have kept the price of Oil low. In Europe E-Assist Bikes are popular because of Government taxation on Auto Fuels and they are not subsidizing Oil like Canada and the USA does.

Canada and the USA are Dumping grounds for crappy E-scooters and E-Bikes from China that even the Chinese are too proud to ride on and we're buying these products up like crazy thinking this stuff is first quality. Buying this junk makes it impossible for manufacturers of quality products to survive.

Came across a German-based company making what look to be pretty cool scooter-style ebikes, using German engineering -- maybe they even ride 'em on the Autobaun . . .

E-Max EV's ebikes come in your choice of 40Ah and 60Ah 48V systems, using LITHIUM batteries, which the company claims gives you a whopping 150KM travel range, and it only takes a mere two-hours to charge the batteries.

Compared to mine -- and what I imagine are most of -- our range limits of 20-40KM travel range and a full working day eight-hours to charge up the lead-acid battery, these bikes jumped out at me.

Has anyone seen any of these here? Are they even legal/available here in Canada? I checked the distributor's list and there aren't any distributors listed for Canada or the U.S -- maybe they aren't legal in North America, or can't handle the climate?

Check 'em out online here: http://www.e-max-scoo... -- I'm curious what everyone here thinks of these bikes.

Those are full on licensed scooters from what I can see, out of our class.

Did some digging, quite some interesting stuff here.

First I emailed the company, asking about their 150KM distance range, two-hour charge-time, where the bikes are made, whether they are sold/distributed in North America.

Got back a quick short email, saying that they will be distributed in Canada by National Motorsports and someone from this company will contact me.

Got another short email from someone at National Motorsports, telling me they just got approval by Transport Canada, and are currently looking for distributors. They only have one bike in Canada at the moment, the one they used for approval by the feds.

None of my other questions were answered.

SO, I went to the National Motorsports website: http://nationalmotors... which answered some questions, but raised others.

From the National Motorsports website, looks like the bikes are made in China, but managed and sold through the emax German-based company.

However, National Motorsport website shows that their ebikes have a 4,000 Watt-brushless motor, use a silicone battery, and can travel about 90KM on a single charge. Confusing, as this differs from the emax website's own stats, and even more confusing, as 4,000 watts seems more powerful than Canadian law allows for ebikes.

Check out National Motorsports stats on one of their ebikes here.

Though I like their one-year unlimited warranty -- most scooter-style ebikes sold here come with limited warranties, some parts only covered for six-months.

For that extra power and longer warranty, you'll pay about $5,000 for the bike.

Comments?

Hey Jordan,

I wanted to point out that the eMax is not an ebike. It's an electric motorcycle which falls in a different category. A 4000W motor in Canada is allowed but it has to be licensed and insured. You need a motorcycle license to ride one of these.

Veloteq has a similar product in the works. But it's a hybrid gas/electric bike. Again in Canada you will need a license to ride it. Not sure if it's going to be available in Canada but here's the link http://www.veloteq.co...



-Vic

Hey Jordan,

I wanted to point out that the eMax is not an ebike. It's an electric motorcycle which falls in a different category. A 4000W motor in Canada is allowed but it has to be licensed and insured. You need a motorcycle license to ride one of these.

Veloteq has a similar product in the works. But it's a hybrid gas/electric bike. Again in Canada you will need a license to ride it. Not sure if it's going to be available in Canada but here's the link http://www.veloteq.co...



-Vic

Hi Vic,

Actually, this model is an ebike -- not a motorcycle, from my understanding, their top speed is only 45KM. Most electric motorcycles can do well over 100KM.

Hey Jordan,

I was a little pressed for time so I didn't explain properly, sorry. Anything that can travel faster than 32KpH is considered LSM (Limited Speed Motorcycle) even if it just goes 45KpH. So this eMax vehicle doesn't qualify as an ebike. Although it does look nice. It would also need to be equipped with pedals which it doesn't have.

I completely understand the confusion here. Ebikes and LSM Scooters look so similar. But they are treated as very different machines. On the bright side the eMax can actually get up a hill !

Here's some key points from the MTO website. Hope this clears things up a bit.

The full text is here http://www.mto.gov.on...

1. What is a power-assisted bicycle (“e-bike”)?

For use in the Province of Ontario, a power-assisted bicycle, or e-bike, is a bicycle that:

* Has a maximum weight of 120 kg (includes the weight of bike and battery);
* Has wheels with a diameter of at least 350 mm and width of at least 35 mm; and
* Meets the federal definition of a power-assisted bicycle:
o has steering handlebars and is equipped with pedals,
o is designed to travel on not more than three wheels in contact with the ground,
o is capable of being propelled by muscular power,
o has one or more electric motors that have, singly or in combination, the following characteristics:
+ it has a total continuous power output rating, measured at the shaft of each motor, of 500 W or less,
+ if it is engaged by the use of muscular power, power assistance immediately ceases when the muscular power ceases,
+ if it is engaged by the use of an accelerator controller, power assistance immediately ceases when the brakes are applied, and
+ it is incapable of providing further assistance when the bicycle attains a speed of 32 km/h on level ground,
o bears a label that is permanently affixed by the manufacturer and appears in a conspicuous location stating, in both official languages, that the vehicle is a power-assisted bicycle as defined federally, and
o has one of the following safety features,
+ an enabling mechanism to turn the electric motor on and off that is separate from the accelerator controller and fitted in such a manner that it is operable by the driver, or
+ a mechanism that prevents the motor from being engaged before the bicycle attains 3 km/hr.

7. Am I allowed to modify my e-bike so it can go faster than 32 km/h?

No. Modifying your e-bike for the purposes of increasing its speed beyond 32 km/h will no longer qualify it as an e-bike. Motor-assisted bicycle (moped) and/or limited-speed motorcycle (LSM) requirements such as licensing, registration and insurance may then apply.

16. How can I visually tell the difference between a scooter-style e-bike and an LSM?

E-bikes may resemble conventional bicycles, or resemble scooters and limited-speed motorcycles. However some key visual differences do exist:

* Unlike LSMs, the definition of an e-bike requires that it be equipped with pedals.
* LSMs are required to be registered and plated whereas e-bikes are neither required to be registered or fitted with a licence plate.
* E-bikes are required to bear a label that is permanently affixed by the manufacturer and appears in a conspicuous location stating, in both official languages, that the vehicle is a power-assisted bicycle as defined federally.
* The easiest way to identify if your vehicle is a limited-speed motorcycle is by the label. The label is usually fastened to the steering column or under the seat. Look beside "type of vehicle" and it will say LSM/MVL. All newer models of LSMs and mopeds have a label for ease of identification.
o If the vehicle was manufactured on, or after, September 1, 1988, it must have affixed a compliance label required under the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Act (Canada) that identifies the motor vehicle as a limited-speed motorcycle.
o If the vehicle was manufactured before September 1, 1988 and does not have a label, you will be able to identify it as a limited-speed motorcycle by the following:
+ Electric or gas powered
+ Maximum speed of 70 km/h
+ Automatic transmission
+ Has a "step through" vehicle design
+ Maximum engine displacement of 50 cubic centimetres or less.

Hopefully that cleared things up. Although the best person to ask about electric LSMs on our board here is Eric Simpson. He rides an electric LSM. He has an EVT 168. Here's a link to the specs for his bike http://evtcanada.ca/e...

-Vic

Good comments by all. However if one wants to bring higher speed electric scooters into the country it will require special import certificates which will add to the cost of the vehicle. When I mentioed this to my brother he said "Do you have $20.000 to invest?" ie the cost to the consumer will be reflected in the price, making the average price about $3,000. I am not sure how many people want to shell out this kind of money for an electric motorcycle.

Here is an example of a Legal E-Scooter being sold in Toronto. Notice the Speed and Motor in the specs = 45 KM/h and 1,200 Watts

Kinda shoots holes in the belief you're Restricted to 32 KM/h and 500 Watts don't it!!!!!

http://www.mobilityun...