Three Electric Scooters: From Functional to Fast and Fancy

Scooters are by far the most popular vehicles in the world and the next generation of scooters includes a vast selection of electric options. Electric scooters run the gamut from the functional city vehicles to those capable of reaching highway speeds.

Israeli-native Amir Ziad has invented an inexpensive and innovative personal transportation vehicle called muvE. This highly portable ultra lightweight scooter can be folded into a trolley, making it an optimal vehicle for urban transport.

Electric Bikes: 11 Climate Friendly e-Bikes

Due to their low price points and minimal operating costs, electric bikes are an increasingly popular way to travel. All around the world, we are seeing growing consumer interest in low carbon hybrids and emissions free electric bikes. Many of these bikes are being designed and built in the US to meet increasing domestic demand.

Some studies have shown that a family can save as much as $2,500 per year by using bikes as a primary source of transportation.

According to Pike Research, sales of electric bikes grew to 158,000 units in 2013 and they are expected to keep growing. A wide range of electronic bikes are providing consumers with a wide selection to choose from. Here are 9 options:

Floating Electric Car

There are a diverse range of electric vehicles from the mundane to the wildly esoteric. Some of the more exotic electric craft can actually navigate on the water. There is an electric car that actually floats on the water in the case of an emergency. Built by Japanese venture campany FOMM the vehicle is called the Concept One.

Hideo Tsurumaki, the president of FOMM says the car was constructed in response to the devastating Japanese tsunami of 2011. He invented the car because his hometown is prone to tsunamis.

3 Electric Tricycles: Raht Racer, Adventure Vehicle, Kylad-e (Videos)

Summary of 18 Electric Trike Vehicles

An electric tricycle has all of the advantages of a two wheeled bike with the extra stability provided by a third wheel. Many electric trikes can be propelled with the motor or through pedal power or a combination of both. Unlike four wheeled electric golf carts many of electric trikes have virtually no restrictions in terms of where they can be ridden. Most of these trikes can travel at least 30 miles on a single charge. Many of them come with an abundance of bells and whistles including things like turn signals, speedometer and a suspension system. Some cruise at typical bicycle speeds while others are capable of driving at highway speeds. Despite their functionality they can be hard to find.

Innovative Self-Balancing Electric Vehicles

There are some very novel electric vehicles being developed some of which are incorporating some creative innovations. Two examples of such innovative technologies are Toyota's i-Road and the Future Motion's Onewheel both of which use gyros to be self-balancing.

The Toyota i-Road is a cross between a car and a motorcycle. What makes this two seater vehicle truly innovative is the way it leans into corners.

Electric, Air, Water and Thorium Vehicles

Fossil fuel powered vehicles are a leading source of global warming causing emissions. If we are curtail climate change we must find alternatives to gas power cars. Gas consumption has remained flat due to improved vehicle fuel economy. The prospects for electric and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles look good, however, these are not the only alternatives to the combustion engine. There are some lesser known emissions free alternative vehicles that run on everything from air to radioactive thorium.

Highly Efficient Three wheeled Tadpole Designed Vehicles

When we think about cars we automatically think about four wheels, but that is not necessarily the best configuration. To start with four wheels have more drag and are therefore less efficient than three wheels. When it comes to three wheeled vehicles there are two basic designs Delta and Tadpole. Delta has one wheel in front, two in back and Tadpole has two wheels in front and one in back.

The Tadpole design offers better dynamic stability, meaning it reacts more safely and predictably under various driving conditions than the Delta design. The Tadpole also offers better breaking. Because the front wheels do the most the breaking and considering the Tadpole's two wheels in the front are better than the Delta's one. Although it may appear counter-intuitive the Tadpole's teardrop shape is also a more aerodynamic design than the Delta. Despite the relative simplicity of the Delta's steering and suspension the the Tadpole is the better overall design. A Tadpole's rear mounted engine and batteries provide for more stability than if all the weight was in the front as with a Delta design.

Exotic Electric Marine Vehicles

While everyone knows about the electric vehicles the Chevy Volt and the Nissan Leaf  (fuel economy of 93 mpg and 99 mpg respectively) the real growth market in electric vehicles will be in marine vehicles. According to IDtechex, the sales of electric and hybrid marine vehicles are expected to rise from 73,000 in 2013 to 118,000 in 2024. This represents sales that will skyrocket from $2.6 billion to $7.3 billion.

The growth of electric and hybrid marine vehicles includes commercial applications like tugboats, oil slick collectors, tourist boats, military craft, research vessels and autonomous underwater vehicles.