ELV Motors offers a hybrid scooter available now for under $3k

I'm not sure about the ELV Hybrid - at the show last week though ELV had a Veken Hybrid Scooter which has been out for some time now and been getting a lot of press: http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/07/09/veken-makes-hybrid-scooters-for-u-s-market/

I have talked to the folks at Veken and found out they are already on their Second Generation Hybrid for the 49cc gas/electric and have done significant power upgrades - as well as bringing in their higher cc 125cc & 150cc models. I'm really interested in the 150cc model which should be 55-60 mph top speed - but I can see where the 49cc hybrid is great for the commute around town.

About not having to worry about gas... I believe you can run these on just electric and then use gas/hybrid after the battery power weakens. I like this! Don't want to be out and stranded - pushing my scoot back home!  I'm all for the hybrid!

So back in October, the ELV Motors website was little more than a place holder.  But it looks like they've gotten a real site up and running with a tad bit more information on the ELV scooters (it's definitely not an overabundance though...).

I just put their three scooters into the Motorcycle & Scooter category.  So that's the VM300H Hybrid Scooter, the E1600 Electric Scooter, and the G3000SX Electric Scooter.

Also...it looks like the E1600 Electric Scooter is the one that's just shy of $3k (coming in at $2,999) while the G3000SX is $3,499 and the VM300H hybrid is $3,999.

I agree on the Veken.... at $2799 msrp , 7 colors, a cool design, and an established name aroud the world.... Veken sales should be going through the roof!

I did some research... ELV Motors seems to be just a reseller, not a manufacturer. Some research and marketing company or something. Besides the Veken brand which they had at their booth, they had another scooter that I've seen somewhere else with an ELV name on it. Identical with just a name change! I assume they are probably slapping a sticker on another factories product and trying to make a business out of it. I'd be very nervous about them - although I can't tell you how many fly-by-night, under funded companies have folded and left their customers hanging high and dry over the past 12 months, I hear about them all the time. I'm not trying to be negative about anyone's efforts or business practices... just being cautious.  Does anyone reading these blogs own a hybrid yet? I'm researching a lot because we are thinking about getting rid of our second car, and I'm leaning towards the hybrid scoot. The person at Veken scooters said the higher performance 09's will be available soon... I'm anxiously waiting.... Dale  

BTW - they don't seem to have it updated on their site yet - but top speed on the Veken hybrid is apparently 26-28 mph in pure elctric mode now. They said they have upgraded to 48v and a bigger electric motor.... I found this news article in my research 

http://news.moneycentral.msn.com/ticker/article.aspx?Feed=PZ&Date=20081016&ID=9281017&Symbol=US:ABAT

confirming a hugh contract between Veken and ABAT battery. WOW! Five year lithium battery contract for Vekens line....