Video: http://ignitephoenix.blip.tv/file/1460079/ Event: Ignite Phoenix 2 Event Date: October 29th, 2008 Encourage people to adopt the paradigm shift of commuting to work via electric scooter. They cost less to run than a 500 mpg car, and (taking powerplant emissions into account) pollute less than a 275 mpg car.

1. The Problem
๏ Our dependence on oil results in problems
such as:
- Air pollution
- Adverse health effects
- Climate change
http://www.thedailygreen.com/weird-weather/weather-categories/pollution-pictures/614

2. The Problems Mount
๏ Additionally, import 2/3rds
of our oil today
- Far more than in the 1970’s - even more
vulnerable to shortages now
- U.S.A. imports 13.15 million barrels per day*
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:No_gas_1974.gif
(*source: www.cia.gov; 2004 data)

3. The Problems Stupefy
๏ At $65/barrel*, that’s $312 billion
transferred overseas every year!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:The_Scream.jpg
(*As of late October 2008; source: www.oil-price.net)

4. One Solution
๏ Reduce personal oil consumption
- How to maintain individual mobility if walking or
bicycling isn’t appealing?
- Get an inexpensive alt-fuel vehicle
http://www.teslamotors.com/design/gallery-body.php

5. What To Get?
๏ A vehicle that could handle:
- A 10 mile round-trip commute on surface
streets
- Some small local errands
?
www.fueleconomy.gov & www.chevrolet.com

6. Research Alternative Fuels
๏ Dept. of Energy alternative fuels webpage
- http://www.eere.energy.gov/afdc
- Lists the pros & cons of various alternative fuels
- Even has a “store locator” to find locations near
one’s home that sell each type of fuel

7. What I Decided On
๏ An electric scooter
- The fuel source - a 110 Volt outlet - was already
in my home.
- Depending on price, range = 10-55 miles, and
speed = 15-62 mph
http://www.evtamerica.com/168.htm
http://www.electric-scooters-galore.com/esg419.html http://www.vectrix.com/experience/interact
(other options viewable at: www.evfinder.com)

8. What I Got
๏ I selected an EVT-168
๏ Sufficient range (~35 miles) and speed
(~30 mph) for anyone with similar needs
๏ Lockable trunk
๏ Classic Vespa styling!
Personal photo

9. Advantage - Low Cost
๏ Purchase price: under $2,500*
- Obviously, search internet for best price!
(as of late October 2008 on www.electricmotorsport.com)
http://www.google.com/

10. Advantage - Low Cost (continued)
๏ Very economical
- Electricity cost is around 0.6 cents per mile
- That’s $1.20 per month to commute 200 miles!
http://www.wikimedia.org

11. Advantage - Low Cost (continued)
๏ Very economical
- For comparison, at $3/gallon, a 20 mpg car
costs 15 cents per mile, or $30 to go 200 miles
- Savings of nearly $29 per month vs. driving
http://www.wikimedia.org

12. Advantage - Low Cost (continued)
๏ Very economical
- If using the scooter’s full 35 mile range every
weekday, that’s 700 miles per month at a cost
of $4.20 compared to $105 for the car
- Savings of nearly $101 per month vs. driving
(scooter could pay for itself in just over 2 years)
http://www.wikimedia.org

13. Advantage - Low Cost (continued)
๏ Very economical
- In mpg terms, the electric scooter’s “fuel
economy” is equivalent to 500 mpg!
($1.20 divided by $30 = 1/25th
the cost of gas car
 25 times 20 mpg = 500 mpg)

14. Advantage - Low Cost (continued)
๏ Cheap to insure and register
- Insurance is less than $100 per year
- Registration is less than $10 per year

15. Advantage - Low Cost (continued)
๏ Low Maintenance
- No oil changes, timing belts, head gaskets,
water pumps, or any other expensive service as
on a combustion engine.
http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/12h/www.edmunds.com/media/ownership/service/conergarage.vs.dealership/cornergarage.2.500.jpg

16. Advantage - Low Noise
๏ Nearly silent operation
- Won’t wake the neighbors or frighten children
http://www.photographyblog.com/images/photo_of_the_week/17230907/could%2520hear%2520a%2520pin%2520drop.jpg

17. Advantage - Low Pollution
๏ Power plants are cleaner than cars!
- Taking power plant emissions into account, the
scooter is cleaner per mile than a 275 mpg car*
http://www.slocounty.ca.gov/OES/NPPInfo.htm
(based on data from www.eia.doe.gov)

18. Advantage - Easy to Ride
๏ Far less intimidating than a motorcycle
- People with no motorcycling experience have
no trouble riding the scooter
http://www.hollywood-diecast.com/road%20warrior%20pic.jpg

19. Conclusion
๏ Being Green Saves Green
- Be a Scooter-Rebel With A Cause and you’ll:
- Save money
- Help save the environment
- Help break our oil addiction

20. Acknowledgments
๏ Tomas Carrillo
- For encouraging me to submit a presentation
for Ignite Phoenix and suggesting the name
๏ Anup Sekhar
- For granting me author privileges on
www.rantlust.com, where my blog post
“Breaking the Addiction?” (upon which this
presentation is based) first appeared in Nov.
2006