2011 Peugeot E-Vivacity Scooter Details Revealed

French manufacturer Peugeot Motorcycles was the first to mass produce an electric scooter, which was presented at the 1996 Cologne Motor Show. The model sold 3,500 units until 2006, when production was stopped. The company revived the idea at the end of 2009, receiving a very positive feedback.

Now, the final form of the concept presented in November 2009, the E-Vivacity scooter, was recently displayed at the 2010 EICMA show, with the French manufacturer revealing further details of the product.

The E-Vivacity is a zero-emissions scooter, 100 percent electric, representing “a revolution in the urban mobility sector,” as Peugeot likes to say, “a fun and handy vehicle, with excellent acceleration performances.”

These statements are backed up by the light weight (115 kg/254 pounds) and reduced dimensions, as well as performance figures such as a 45 km (28 miles) autonomy in urban context, 60 km (27 miles) at a steady pace.

E-Vivacity’s lithium batteries can be fully recharged in 5 hours, by just connecting them to an ordinary domestic electric plug, and are projected to bear at least 1000 complete charge/run-down cycles.

The drive electronics also enable the batteries to be recharged during the deceleration phase by recovering the kinetic energy and offering the option of activating a reverse mode for vehicle maneuvers at a very low speed.

Aside from coming as an eco-sustainable solution, the E-Vivacity scooter is also quite a cheap one too. Thanks to full-electric supply, the energy costs are lower than EUR20 ($28) a year.

The model will complete the Vivacity range in 2011, joining the already available three powerplants, two of which are 4-stroke.