On Design : Form & Function
Go on - imagine a motor scooter . What comes to mind? I'll wager it looks like a classic Vespa or Lambretta. Now - imagine a motorbike . What do you see? It's probably a racing bike, or a police BMW. Go on - try thinking of a moped . Hard isn't it? If you're of a certain age it might be a classic Puch, Tomos or Mobylette. If you're a bit younger, you might be seeing a Yamaha FS1e (the infamous 'Fizzy'). With these images in mind, it's not hard to see why the purveyors of electric two wheelers (not bicycles though) are having a hard time knowing what their machines should look like in order to both attract customers, and not to deter buyers either. Most companies in this market have gone for the 'classic scooter' look - the wannabe Vespa - although I'll make an honorable mention of Govecs for their rendition of the classic Schwalbe design! Some go for the motorcycle / moped vibe - but for an eMoped neither feels right to me. The scooter look...