Salon de Paris – Sweet ‘Elec: trendy scoots! –

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Sweet ‘Elec: trendy scoots !

Salon de Paris - Sweet 'Elec: trendy scoots! -

All-electric urban travel: dream or reality? Sweet’Elec, a young French company importing and distributing electric scooters, has chosen to believe in it and offers to test its range at the Mondial du deux-Roues. Contact ….

Founded at the end of 2006 by three partners, the Sweet’Elec company is the fruit of an observation made in China: "despite dramatic CO2 emissions, the country is quite simply a laboratory of green transport", explain the founders.

In town and in the countryside, the electric two-wheeler is omnipresent and efficient. Therefore, the challenge is launched: why not develop this economical (one euro of electricity = 200 km of range!) And ecological alternative in France ?

A citizens’ initiative which fits perfectly into the logic of this 2007 edition of the Mondial du deux-Roues: not a single manufacturer has failed to stress the environmental aspect of its new products and its desire to go further in the reduction of pollutant discharges !

A leitmotif put forward by David Douillet himself as sponsor of the Ecotechnique Village of the show: "unlike the automobile, we are behind in all matters relating to ecology and sustainable development. We are poorly educated on this. (…) It may be a change from the attitude of the biker who will set off now", confides to us the judo champion, who like Sweet ‘Elec wants to put an end to received ideas !

Because the company wants to give itself the means to demonstrate the advantages of electric power to the most resistant among us: thus, it has engaged two scooters of the range (a Sweet City and a Sweet Racer) to a demonstration of ascent of electric vehicle passes.

Results? 23 km covered on a slope ranging from 5 to 10%, for a total difference in height of 1,540 m. All with energy 20 times cheaper than gasoline and 40 times less polluting for greenhouse gases.

These scooters assembled in China range from 800 to 2500 watts. Designed for urban use, they have a range of 50 to 70 km and performance comparable to the best 50 cc on the market..

For the moment, only three models are presented: the Sweet’City (classic), the Sweet ‘Racer (sporty) and the Sweet’ Beauty whose elegant lines can recall the school of Italian design..

Available at prices ranging from 1500 to 1800 euros, hardly more expensive than a conventional thermal, these scooters are equipped with lead silicone batteries which present "the benefit of performance and reduced cost", explains Philippe Rascle, head of communication.

The main disadvantage, however, remains the weight and recycling of lead, a dangerous product … As an alternative, a Lithium battery would weigh 40 kg less and last longer: but in return, it would multiply the purchase price by two…

"Efficient, silent and eco-friendly" scoots? Site could not pass up the opportunity to try what we are presented with "as the ideal engine"…

In appearance, the two scooters do not differ much from a "traditional" machine: only the electronic controller present on the side betrays the electric motor. The carrying capacity is not encumbered by the batteries thanks to judicious space management. Thus, an integral and an anti-theft device will find their place under the saddle and a top case on the luggage rack will allow you to ride green with all its gear. !

Once in the saddle, we find a "standard" riding position: the perceived quality of plastics is not exceptional, but it is the price to pay to rationalize costs..

Contact: the fuel gauge is replaced by a charge indicator and the usual starter switch is converted back into a horn. Left thumb or right thumb, so you can make yourself heard on the periphery and other congested streets.

Because the first observation is indeed the silence of operation: impossible to know if the machine is ready to go or not! The only solution: turn the "gas" handle! The 110 kg (City) and 116 kg (Racer) are then felt. The thrust is straightforward, but with 30 to 35 kg more than a scooter with a combustion engine, the inertia is greater.

The throttle has a significant downtime on the City, which feels like it works with a switch! Failure "recurrent"in this range according to Fabrice Cozette, the sales manager.

But apart from that, the scooter is maneuverable and reassuring, even if a little heavy braking on the Racer will highlight a poor quality damping: the front trembles in a not very reassuring way but maintains its course..

These few flaws of youth, mainly due to the economic Chinese sub-processing but not very qualitative, could not mask the real smoothness of operation of the machine. The silence is relaxing and brings the concept of "two-wheelers = direct contact with the elements" back to life. And the acceleration that can be measured down to the micro hair (except on the City) contributes to the ambient comfort.

Back on the stand, the manager of Sweet’Elec explains that he intends to get more involved in the design of scooters and in particular to try to involve European manufacturers in order to finalize the products and offer them a more rigorous design quality. than Chinese assemblages.

Soon, the company will present its first 125 cc equivalent scooter, of which only the chassis would be assembled in China: eventually, Sweet’Elec wishes to develop its vision of two-wheeled travel in France but 100% made in Europe. !

Still skeptical? Go try them in Hall 1, at the end of aisle B, and give your impressions on Site. Nothing could be simpler, go to our stand: the Mondial Cyber-cafe !

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