קורקינט ממונע - סקירת דגמים

1921
Around 1920 there was both in Europe and the USA a short-lived interest in motorised scooters. Scooters were light, cheap to run and simple to use; it was thought that they might attract new ( female) urban customers, that would not so easily choose for a conventional motorcycle as means of transport. The ABC (All British Cycle) is one of the very first scooters and probably the best of the first generation of machines. It was designed by the prolific and inventive Granville Bradshaw and uses a 60mm by 40mm overhead exhaust valve single- cylinder engine driving the 16” wheel by chain. Later models - such as this one is- have a full OHV configuration. The tubular frame is light and made a very manageable machine with a speed range of up to 20 mph. “ One push with the left foot on the ground starts the engine and the machine” stated the brochure. Unlike some machines of the period it is fitted with a seat and was used quite prominently on the roads of the period. This example is an older restoration.

Electric scooters
In 1996, Peugeot launched the Scoot'Elec, the first electric moped. It is powered by a 2.8 kW (4 hp) DC motor fed by an 18V, 100Ah battery made of 3 Saft nickel-cadmium "monoblocs". A lot of body panels and suspension parts come from Peugeot's entry-level gas scooter, the Zenith. However, the frame is different, built around a "double cradle", and holding the batteries low between and behind the driver's feet. Under the seat are the electronic controller, onboard charger and a curly charging cable with a standard plug. The fast on-board charger (1,400 Watt) uses a 230V power supply. The batteries charge from empty to 95% full in two hours, with 3 more hours to equalize.