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NuVinci^®  Comes to town!

April 2008:

In 2008 Currie Technologies will be introducing the new line-up of NuVinci products.  This new technology promises to increase performance and efficiency of electric bikes and scooters.

For more information and a demonstration video, visit the FallBrook Technologies web site at:

http://www.fallbrooktech.com/NuVinci.asp

Building a Better Business

February 2008:

Restructuring seems a buzz-word these days.  Tightening economic considerations has hit all of us.  An Currie Technologies has had it's share.  As the result of a lawsuit, Currie Technologies has successfully survived the tunnel of a thousand horrors.  Emerging on the other side Currie Technologies has a refined business structure and a renewed determination to maintain it's lead in the electric bike and electric scooter market.  The details of the successful restructuring, and subsequent buy-out by Risk Equity Partners LLC (an investment group based in Los Angeles), is detailed in the press release by Currie Technologies President, Larry Pizzi on February 18, 2008:

SOT Customer Bill Bates a Winner!

Portland International Raceway (PIR) held its first electric powered bicycle races over the Memorial Day weekend.  The event drew moderate crowds, or so I hear, since we had an emergency delivery of Dart Electrics scooters that arrived the day of the races and couldn't be there.  Participants were slated to arrive from all across the country.  While the east coast entries were unable to make it, there were entries from up and down the western U.S. and Canada.

There were several classes of races and the trials were held on Saturday and Sunday, with the actual races on Monday.  Channel 4 news was there, but had problems with their equipment.  They did get some good footage on film, however, and we hope we can get a copy of it sometime down the road.

This was the first such race to be held in Portland, though other places have been doing it for some time.  I've heard of the hub motor races up in Canada for many years.  It is encouraging to see that the U.S. is finally getting the same level of interest in electric competition that has existed in other countries for some time.

The day after the races our customer Bill came by bubbling with pride, to show us his First Place certificate, and tell us about the event.  Top speeds were in excess of 34mph, and the average was somewhere around 31 mph.  Ok, maybe not setting any world records, but the coming together of participants from across the country to show off their "creations" and generally engage in fellowship around their love of electric, made me really sad that I was not there to see it and exchange news and ideas. 

Keep a note on your calendar for next year, and we will too.  Hope to see you there!

New Parks and Recreation Department Rules "Yea" to Electric!

City of Portland One Step Closer to Good!

City of Portland Releases new Electric Friendly Laws for Parks and Recreation! [updated 5/4/2008]

Last year the members of Scoot On This! LLC and a representative from Zap! Scooters met with City Commissioner Sam Adams to discuss ways to make the use of Light Electric Vehicles a more workable transportation solution for the Portland area.  Portland, which for some time has been vocalizing its desire to establish itself as a National leader in Green Technology and Alternative Transportation, sent word to us last week and we are very happy to report that our voices - and those of our environmentally conscious customers - have been heard!

After noting to Commissioner Adams the traffic congestion on both the I-205 freeway and Foster Rd. (as well as most major arteries within the city), and the horrendous under use of the Spring Water Corridor bike trail only two blocks away (and the trail that parallels I-205 as well), we made recommendations that we hoped would encourage greater use of the miles of underutilized bike paths in the city, including raising the speed limit to match federal guidelines (20 MPH [Done!  Bikes 20mph, Scooters 24mph]), and to recognize electrics as a class of light vehicles that were thoughtlessly grouped into the same category as gas powered scooters and bikes; and undeserved grouping considering the clean, quiet, and necessary technology that electrics provide, and should not be treated the same as gas - indeed, it should be promoted and given special consideration!

We are very proud of our city and our state, and today we are happy to say that our City has made a remarkable gesture towards making the use of LEVs a real and practical reality for commuters, shoppers, and the people with mobility issues (financial as well as physical). 

It was not, and is not, a clear path to victory.  When we first followed up on the progress of electric bikes (and Scooters, because in the past, if the scooter did not have peddles, but did have a motor, electric though it may be, the scooter was called a "motorized vehicle" as was banned for lack of peddles!  Idiocy!) in Early 2007, we asked the Parks and Recreation Department, who manages the Bike Trails like the Springwater Corridor, and they quoted park regulations:

A.                 No person shall operate any motorized vehicle or motorized wheeled vehicle or motorized wheeled device in any Park, except on Park roads or in designated vehicle parking areas, or by permit.   The prohibitions of this Section do not apply to authorized service or emergency vehicles or to the following electric mobility devices used by persons who need assistance to be mobile, and used in accordance with all applicable park and traffic rules:

1.  “Electric assisted bicycle” as defined in ORS 801.258;

2.  “Motorized wheelchair,” “Mobility scooter” or “Power chair” defined as an electric powered transportation device for one person in a seated position, with feet resting on floorboards or foot rests, and incapable of exceeding a speed of 20 mph; or

3.  “Human or personal transporter system” defined as a self-balancing, electric-powered transportation device with two wheels, able to turn in place, and designed to transport one person in a standing position, with a top speed of 20 mph.

....

E.         No person shall operate an electric mobility device in a park in an unsafe manner or at a speed exceeding 15 mph, or, when pedestrians are present, at a speed exceeding 5 mph, or fail to yield the right-of-way to all pedestrians.

It was unclear if "Park Roads" included bike trails or not, so we wrote to Mark M. Warrington, CPP, Public Safety Manager, Portland Parks & Recreation for further clarification,

"We have worked with the city commissioner Sam Adams to encourage the use of so called "Light Electric Vehicles", or LEVs. This interaction resulted in new regulations to increase (to match Federal levels) the top speed of LEVs to 20 MPH, as a means of encouraging their use as a viable and safe alternative transportation. The new statutes were sent to me by Grumm, Matt [mgrumm@ci.portland.or.us] and I need to follow up on this very important issue: does "park roads" include the bike paths, such as the Springwater Corridor? Who has jurisdiction over these paths? Allowing the LEVs on bike paths are good for many reasons, aging commuters who might be frghtened riding in the on street bike lanes (with good reason), and generally advancing and encouraging the use of these vehicles that go no faster than a person can easily peddle, are used more and more by the older population, and are perfectly quiet - having a clear advantage over gas powered versions of this kind.

Can you please advise me what I can tell my customers and be correct and my advice within the law? So far, I tell people something like this: "It's like vagrancy or loitering laws. If your messing around, it gives officials reason to stop you. If you are being cool and minding your business, you should be fine."

We received a response a few weeks later from Mark (cc'ed to Sam Adams) which said,

Thank you for your inquiry of May 4 regarding the use of electric vehicles on bike/ped paths in parks. Portland City Code 20.12.170 (D) is intended to prohibit motorized vehicles in parks while allowing "persons who need assistance to be mobile" to use certain electric mobility devices.

20.12.170 (D) is not intended to define overall Parks trail and vehicle use policy.

Portland Parks & Recreation will be participating in the Bicycle Master Plan process being initiated by Portland's Office of Transportation. The Bicycle Master Plan will be reviewing a number of topics including policies around use of Parks roads and off street paths. This will be a good forum for considering the community interests related to these facilities and to balance competing objectives. I encourage you to get involved in this process. Here's a link by which you can keep informed of the process and opportunities to participate:

http://www.portlandonline.com/transportation/index.cfm?c=44597

Having said that, let me try to answer at least some of your questions:

1) ... does "park roads" include the bike paths, such as the Springwater Corridor?

Answer: No - Designated bicycle trails and other trails in parks are not considered "Park Roads."

2) Who has jurisdiction over these paths?

Answer: Portland Parks and Recreation under PCC 16.70.560 "Traffic Regulations in Parks"

3) You ask for advice on what to tell your customers.

Answer: Until a revised bicycle and trail use policy is implemented, all I can say to people is to follow existing rules and posted signs in parks.  The only thing new is ...If they "need assistance to be mobile" they can have an electric mobility device allowed by 20.12.170 (D) in a park. 

If you have immediate questions about bicycle and trail use policy or this policy development project, please contact the PP&R Managers leading this:  Janet Bebb, PP&R Planning Division (503-823-6009) or Eileen Argentina, PP&R Services Manager (503-823-5103).

Well, we could feel the turnstile spinning us around, and as the summer got busy, we had to let the subject drop for the time being.  Then, much to our surprise and delight, we were cc'ed on an email from Sam Adams to Mr. Mark Warrington on the 29th of May, which read,

"Mark,

During the recent Council debate on behavior in Parks, I asked for a clarification to ensure that electric-assist bikes would be allow in Parks.  I was told that the amendment had been made (see indent below). Please explain.

Sam"

Email Text Tom Miller to Matt Grumm12-18-06: 

Mark and I had a good, quick conversation on this. Sam's issue is extremely narrow. He thinks the use of electric-assist bicycles (and just that, i.e. not pocket motorcycles, electric skateboards, etc.) is appropriate to assist primarily the elderly who still want to ride bicycles as a means of mobility but benefit from the electric assist. He simply wants to see code and other regulatory language reflect that this incredibly narrow recommendation. My suggestion to Parks, via Mark, was to amend the language to allow for electric-assist bikes in parks and move on. As a practical matter, I don't see this as a big issue for effective park management. We could spin ourselves crazy with a litany of what-if scenarios however far-fetched but it's not worth the effort. If the Parks Commissioner agrees with Sam that the elderly can benefit under this scenario, let's amend and consider it done.

Cheers,

Tom

Tom Miller - Chief of Staff, Office of City Commissioner Sam Adams

Hurray!  Someone actually taking the time to take up our cause!  Fantastic.

The final leg in the journey to date was a reply from Mark, via Zari Santner, who's further notes to Sam Adams appears at the top,

Sam,

As you can see from Mark Warrington's message to me, below, the language of the PCC20.12.170 was revised, per your expressed interest, to allow for Electric Assist Bicycle in parks to help those who will need assistance in order to be fully mobile on bikes. The draft language was circulated to your staff and, to my knowledge, we received no objections.

In addition, my staff will be participating and collaborating with PDOT staff in the development of a city-wide Bike Master Plan with a goal of developing an overall policy of using park paths and trails for transportation by bikes, both manual and electric assist. I hope this answers your question.

Zari

-----Original Message-----

From: Warrington, Mark

Sent: Thursday, May 31, 2007 1:53 PM

To: Santner, Zari

Cc: Loper, Karen

Subject: FW: Use of Inner City Bike Paths

 

Zari,

Regarding Commissioner Adams' question below.

Re: PCC 20.12.170 - Electric Assist Bicycles

I kept the scope of the above PCC sub-section within the original intent, i.e., to prohibit motorized devices in parks, with accommodation for "persons who need assistance." I did not presume to set overall Parks trail and bicycle use policy with this sub-section.

The original draft of this brought to council on 11-29-06 said:  20.12. 170 (d) "No person shall operate any motorized vehicle or motorized wheeled device in any Park, except on Park roads or in designated vehicle parking areas, or by permit. The prohibitions of this Section do not apply to authorized service or emergency vehicles, or to medical mobility devices used by persons authorized by Oregon law or by the law of any other State to use public disabled parking spaces."

At that Council session, Commissioner Adams asked about electric assist bicycles and suggested we work with his staff resources on this. 

I followed up with Tom Miller, Matt Grumm, and others on this (see e-mail excerpts below...) and drafted an ammended sub-section that I distributed for comments.

On January 11th 2007 we went back to Council with the revised (now adopted) 

PCC 20.12.170(d)(e):

D. No person shall operate any motorized vehicle or motorized wheeled vehicle or motorized wheeled device in any Park, except on Park roads or in designated vehicle parking areas, or by permit. The prohibitions of this Section do not apply to authorized service or emergency vehicles or to the following electric mobility devices used by persons who need assistance to be mobile, and used in accordance with all applicable park and traffic rules:

1. "Electric assisted bicycle" as defined in ORS 801.258;

2. "Motorized wheelchair," "Mobility scooter" or "Power chair" defined as an electric powered transportation device for one person in a seated position, with feet resting on floorboards or foot rests, and incapable of exceeding a speed of 20 mph; or 3. "Human or personal transporter system" defined as a self-balancing, electric-powered transportation device with two wheels, able to turn in place, and designed to transport one person in a standing position, with a top speed of 20 mph.

E. No person shall operate an electric mobility device in a park in an unsafe manner or at a speed exceeding 15 mph, or, when pedestrians are present, at a speed exceeding 5 mph, or fail to yield the right-of-way to all pedestrians.

Please call me if you have questions.

Best, Mark

Mark M. Warrington, CPP

So while no one within the Parks and Recreation Department was willing to go out on a limb, what there were able to focus on was the "aging" element of Sam Adam's request and turn it into an official slant of medical necessity, but in the actual wording (see highlighted above) says "electric mobility devices" which can include bike OR scooter OR whatever the hell kind of cross you might find.  Perfect.  And the wording does NOT state medical necessity, but simply "by persons who need assistance to be mobile" which can (and in our fight to gain bike trail access WILL) include a bunion, aching muscles, depression, you name it. 

Bottom Line - When you are out riding on the bike trail on your power-assisted vehicle, BE SURE TO MENTION TO ANYONE WHO MAY QUESTION YOUR OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE ON THE BIKE PATHS YOUR NEED FOR POWER ASSISTANCE.  You are not required to provide any medical statement or proof of any particular condition.  Say only that you need assistance and that should be adiquate under the wording of the law - we are not attorneys, and we are not to be held responcible for any ticket you may get.  BUT armed with the above approved Parks and Recreations own PPC sub-section 20.12.170(d)(e), we feel that any judge who reviews the section, and the intent of the author of the amendments to it (Sam Adams), to promote the use of Light Electric Vehicles as a non-polluting (air or noise) alternative transportation, that any such ticket would be dismissed.

If you feel that clean, quiet electric scooters and bikes should be allowed on Bike Trails and for use in city parks (with zero restrictions, for anyone who wishes to use them), we encourage you to write to Commissioner Adams at samadams@ci.portland.or.us. or to Janet Bebb, PP&R Planning Division (503-823-6009) or Eileen Argentina, PP&R Services Manager (503-823-5103).  Or go to http://www.portlandonline.com/transportation/index.cfm?c=44597

Our respect and admiration goes out to Commissioner Sam Adamss, his assistant Warren Jimenez, and Matt Grumm from the Office of Commissioner Dan Saltzman - Portland Parks and Recreation Liaison, for the efforts they have made to improve, and encourage, the use of Light Electric Vehicles in the Portland area.  The new regulations are now finalized and are expected to be approved by the City Council on Jan 31, 2007, and take effect on February 24th of this year.

Commissioner Adams is shown the new Zap Personal Transportation Scooter by the NW Regional Representative Guy Alderton.

Commissioner Adams tries out the Currie I-Zip CR36.

Lents Resource Fair - Local Event Brings Community Awareness

The third annual Lents Resource Fair was a great gathering of various Lents district resources and the agencies/businesses that provide them.  Scoot On This! LLC received a good response from the community that passed through the fair.  The event, sponsored by the Portland Development Commission (Thanks for the invite Pam!) http://www.pdc.us  , brought together such diverse participants as Acorn http://www.acorn.org , Portland Parks and Recreation Department http://www.portlandonline.com/parks/ , several local  environmental groups, and a few youth development agencies.  Other commercial interests consisted of Washington Mutual Bank http://www.wamu.com/personal/default.asp , Legacy Emanuel Hospital's "Trauma Nurses Talk Tough" outreach http://www.oregon.gov/DHS/news/2004news/2004-1117.shtml (who gave away free bike helmets!) and, of course, Scoot On This! LLC.

We shared resources across our groups as well as educating the attendees of the Fair in our various specialties.  The interest in electric was good, but everyone likes the idea of personal electric transportation (or so-called "Light Electric Vehicles" or LEVs) - but the industry is still not achieving the goals that we all know should be achievable in the current climate (figuratively and literally).

Just as fulfilling was the goodies served by ?? Bakery (totally yummy) and Burgerville www.burgerville.com .  Events and balloons for the kids made for a very well rounded event and a feeling of camaraderie pervaded the atmosphere of the day - that and the smell of hamburgers on the grill - thanks again Burgerville! 

The Portland Police and Fire Departments were also present to answer any questions new-comers to the area might have.  Other new neighbor information was provided by the PDC itself, and a few city agencies offering information on housing in the area, and the City of Portland Office of Transportation was there to present information on the completion of the new Light Rail Construction Project - due to run JUST TWO BLOCKS FROM SCOOT ON THIS!!

The music was local talent, and was utterly entertaining.  The female vocalist was particularly gifted - Vonda Sheppard has got nothing on this young artist!  Beautiful.  I felt like the free concert was by itself a delightful way to spend a Saturday afternoon and well worth the time spent in attendance.

We look forward to next year's 5th Annual Lents Resource Fair!!

Swimmer plans record North Pole swim

Ride for HOPE

March 1, 2007

Seekers of Peace,

Catalysts of HOPE and Bike4Peace are building a network of people devoted to the search for a sustainable lifestyle. Our goal is to connect with a whole nation of people committed to peace who are only a bike ride away. We can use your help passing the word along to encourage participation.

The Catalysts of H.O.P.E. (Healing Our People and Earth) 2007 are readying to embark on our bike Journey across America! We will be traveling through your community soon. We welcome additional riders for any portion of the trip. Some will ride across town, some across state. It's especially nice to be joined by riders who know the local terrain when we're trying to find a specific place or determine the safest route.

We will leave Portland OR March 17th, Salem March 18th, Corvallis March 19th and Eugene March 20th riding down the West Coast, then across the continent. The evolutionary caravan will visit towns and communities, facilitating discussions on topics such as sustainable peace, compassionate communication, and non-violence. We will be utilizing principles of Sarvodaya Shramadana pioneered in Sri Lanka, the Common Society Movement, and other models of cooperative community building.

We need your help. Hosts are the true heart of a bicycle trip. This ride simply could not happen without the support of the generous people who open their homes, businesses or churches to the riders. Cyclists are prepared to camp but they really appreciate a warm shower, a lovingly prepared meal, and a soft bed.

Perhaps a vegetarian or vegan pot luck and gathering of friends would be appropriate in your community with discussions afterwards on the implications of our food choices. We are also prepared to offer 2 hour to 2 day workshops and discussion forums when requested. Please see our website for more information about our workshops, our route and when we will be in your community. http:/www.emissariesofhope.org

You can contact Michelle Darr by phone 541-738-0658 or email satygrahi@riseup.net if you'd like to be a part of the "Journey" or would like more information about the journey.

Together we can build a peaceful world.

Weaving the Web of H.O.P.E.

Segway Assessed:

The More there is, the more there is to break down!

When I was a young man, one of the first cars I owned was an Oldsmobile 98.  Wow.  Power EVERYTHING!  The thing was a tank on wheels, believe me.  The Cadillac had nothing over this puppy.  But from this I learned one very important lesson:  Simpler is sometimes better.

The more gizmos and gadgets that something has, well, entropy will take over.  I was always fixing something on the darned thing.  It was a perfect example of over-engineering.  Eventually things were breaking faster than I could fix them and I finally got smart and ditched the thing.

I have used this lesson in our current business and have stayed away from scooters like the Segway for this reason.  We find, that for less money, you can sometimes get a better product, and the Zap line of so-called "chariot" style scooters is one of those. 

The following story speaks volumes about over-engineering and the problems "too much" can cause where a simple design will do the same thing better:

READ THE ARTICLE

Battery Buzz...

This comment was posted on the EAA-PHEV (Electric Auto Association-PHEV) discussion board.
 
  On Fri, 27 Jul 2007 11:59:50 -0600, "Martha Jensen"
  mjensen@...  wrote:
 
  I see you have bought in to the propaganda of the lithium
lobby... ;-)
 
  The fact of the matter is that NiMH and Lithium chemistries both debuted at around the same time (1990) and both are still far from played-out technologies, with advances happening all the time in both chemistries.
 
  While NiMH doesn't have the same 'buzz' that surrounds the promise of Lithium, many of the advances that are being made in Fuel cell technologies also offer improvements for NiMH batteries as well, since both share hydrogen storage materials.
 
  The reason that auto manufacturers are sticking with NiMH batteries (your crack about "older technologies' notwithstanding) is that NiMH is safe, durable and proven. 
 
  I mention "promise of Lithium" because I still have not met a Lithium battery manufacturer who is willing to categorically state that they have solved the inherent problem of capacity fade that gives rise to the calendar life issue for all Lithium batteries (Lithium ion, Lithium Polymer, Lithium metal, Lithium titanate etc). Also, recent studies have shown that while some of the lower-voltage Lithium cells are "safer", there is no really safe lithium battery available. For
example, to ship (any) Lithium batteries via air cargo (at least in
the EU), they need to be placed in a blast container... [SOT Note: This is true, sometimes they will not ship even the Ni-MHs by air freight]
 
  To my knowledge, there is only one company in North America (Toxco in BC) that is able to recycle lithium batteries. This is an unstable, cryogenic process (batteries have to be disassembled in liquid Nitrogen). Most of the 'recycling' of Lithium batteries is done via incineration of the battery - not particularly environmentally friendly... Contrast that with NiMH batteries which are up to 98% recyclable by weight, are reconditionable, or can be sold for their high scrap value.
 
  I'm not trying to bash Lithium batteries unnecessarily. I think that they have uses for which they are particularly well suited, especially applications like cell phones and laptops. I'm just tired of everyone accepting the auto manufacturer's excuse of 'the batteries aren't ready yet" and "only Lithium batteries that may come in the future will enable us to make the vehicles you want" at face value. The fact of the matter is that NiMH batteries have been proving themselves in these applications for at least the past 10 years, and have only gotten better in the interrim, with newer NiMH batteries able to rival Lithium's pack level energy density, and outperform on power density. Why are we waiting? Why are we blindly
  accepting (and parroting) the propaganda and excuses?
 
  I'll step down off the soapbox now...
 
  Martha Jensen
  <mailto:mjensen@...  mjensen at nilar.com

Battery Makers Recharge Their Lineups

AP Hi Tech

Dec 22, 1:33 PM (ET) By EMILY FREDRIX

Now, major battery makers are recharging their offerings with new models that promise to hold their power longer and don't have to be plugged in for hours before the first use.

Wright, who's been trying out Rayovac's new batteries, is impressed. In the month since he snapped them into his camera, he hasn't had to recharge them once.

"It's nice being able to just pop them in there," said Wright, an Athens, Ga. home remodeler who says he's been using his camera frequently.

Madison-based Rayovac, the nation's third-biggest battery maker, is broadly launching its revamped rechargeables in a few weeks. The batteries, which are fully powered out of the box, are now only available at Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (WMT) locations with a suggested retail price of $8.99 for a four pack of AA or AAA batteries. Chargers cost $9.99 to $19.99.

The time spent recharging is a major complaint, said Sean Martin, a division vice president at Rayovac, a unit of Atlanta-based Spectrum Brands Inc.

"It's the inconvenience of 'I have to charge them before I can use them and then every time I go back to use them they discharge their power,'" Martin said.

The new Rayovac batteries, called Hybrids, not only ship fully charged but also can hold that power for about nine months when they're not used.

They're made of the same elements as standard nickel-metal hydride rechargeables, but the nickel-metal alloy is treated with a chemical process that allows the batteries to hold their juice longer, the company said.

Hybrids will completely replace Rayovac's other rechargeables after the first of the year.

Electronics company Sanyo has a similar nickel-metal hydride rechargeable called the Eneloop on sale at Circuit City, Ritz Camera and other chains, said David Isola, a Sanyo senior product manager.

He said the company has sold 10 million worldwide in the 10 months they've been on sale. The batteries, which also are fully charged out of the box, can hold their power for up to two years when they're not being used, Sanyo said.

Both No. 1 Duracell and Energizer, the No. 2 battery seller, have shortened the time it takes to charge their products to as little as 15 minutes with a $25 charger.

"There is a lot of behind-the-scenes science to have the most efficient charge rate and complete this in the most efficient time period," said Tony Mazzola, product technical support manager for Energizer. "... People like to get things done quickly and not necessarily wait over night."

Duracell also has a new nickel-metal hydride charger with a lighted display that shows the progress for each battery. The Power Gauge Charger also allows people to charge gadgets via a built-in USB port.

Rechargeables currently make up less than 5 percent of all battery sales. Still, they're considered among the fastest-growing segments. All the major brands figure rechargeable revenues are growing at least 20 percent a year.

As high-drain gadgets - like digital cameras - become more popular, rechargeable batteries sales will increase, battery makers say. Duracell said it expects more than 80 percent of households to have digital cameras by 2008, up from about 50 percent today.

But rechargeables aren't ideal for all devices, said Edgar Dworsky, a former Massachusetts assistant attorney general and founder of the consumer education Web site consumerworld.org

Traditional alkaline batteries, for instance, tend to keep their power longer when not in use. It makes sense, he said, to use them in flashlights that are stashed away for blackouts. Rechargeables, however, are a good choice for frequently used gadgets like cameras, he said.

Beth Theve, a mother of three in Ohio, has yet to buy a rechargeable battery mainly because of the initial cost - sometimes more than $30 for batteries and chargers. She figures she spends about $25 a month on batteries for Gameboys, electric toothbrushes, digital cameras and remotes.

She knows she'd eventually save money with a rechargeable but can't make the initial investment.

"I've got three kids and I'm a stay-at-home mom so whatever is cheapest is what I go with," Theve said.

Companies also are marketing lithium-ion batteries as ideal for people who may not want to spend as much for rechargeables but want a battery that lasts longer than standard alkalines.

Consumers are putting more thought into their battery decisions as dozens of gadgets in their homes need them for power, said Russ Reynolds, chief executive of Batteries Plus, a chain of 270 stores based in Hartland, Wis.

"When you start rattling off everything that takes a battery - from a garage door opener to security systems to fire alarms - it adds up pretty quick," he said.

---

On the Net:

Rayovac: rayovac.com

Duracell: duracell.com

Energizer: energizer.com

Home  Scooters  E-Bikes  Bikes  Parts  Accessories  Specials  Why Electric  About Us  Laws  Delivery/Shipping  Tips/Care  Privacy  Contact Us  Links - products and prices are subject to change.  No changes will be made to your order without your consent.  In the event we are out of stock on a given item, you will be notified either by email or phone to discuss substitutions.  Conflicts of price changes not yet reflected on the web will be resolved with every effort in our customers favor - however, it is not unreasonable to expect cost changes incurred in the procurement of our stock to be passed to the consumer in either direction.

SOT Supplier goes Bio (degradable) (degradable)!

In a welcome release, we learned that one of our two main suppliers of Accessories and Parts has furthered its goal of reducing its carbon footprint.  In an article sent to dealers, the company stated that they have,

"recently switched from conventional plastic bags to biodegradable bags for use in shipments to dealers. Lubes and other liquid contents that could potentially leak during transit are now packed in the new material.

Manufactured by ECM BioFilms, the bags blend petroleum-based plastic resins with bioactive compounds. When exposed to heat and moisture in a landfill or compost pile, the plastic swells into a humus-like compound that is broken into non-toxic particles by microorganisms. Unlike corn-based biodegradable plastics, which require plenty of air and sunlight to decompose, the ECM bags decay even when buried deep in the airless recesses of a landfill. However, the manufacturer notes the bags break-up more quickly when exposed directly to the elements via composting or open landfill.".

Going one step further, they also requested that they, "urges dealers to reuse these bags as often as possible before disposal. For more information about biodegradable bags visit EMC BioFilms. "

It's sometimes the little steps that make the biggest impact.  Have you learned to take some little steps?  Try our Links page for some sample links to sites that can help educate yourself and your family about ways to make a difference.

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Invest in the Future:
Become a Member of Scoot On This! LLC

Scoot On This! LLC is accepting new members (Shareholder/Partner).  We are a company that is rapidly growing and, while not publicly traded on the open market, yet, we are a group of member owned and operated individuals who find the cooperative structuring of an LLC to be a brilliant middle ground between corporate and a privately held business - no to mention the tax benifits. 

If you would like to be involved in  this exciting new market, by contributing your skills and/or financial interests*, please contact us or CLICK HERE for more information.  Membership Makes the Difference!  *Oregon and Washington residence only at this time, member contribution amounts are limited to those allowed by state and federal laws, but will be opened up at such a time as SOT files for public trading of shares (called "units" in an LLC).  All investments contain some element of risk, consult with your legal or accounting person to make sure you understand all the potentials.

Seeking local investors and or Member/Managers! 

Portland's oldest all electric Light Electric Vehicles dealership is If you have the abilities to manage a fast growing market in Light Electric Vehicles KEEP READING!

In a Nutshell: 

Although the business has grown and established itself as Portland's oldest all electric shop, health issues with its primary share-holders and managers has lead us to seek additional Members in order to keep the company going and growing.

Out of the Shell:

The company has grown beyond our physical and emotional capabilities.  Like a child that requires a community, our company needs a family that can share in its care and development. 

If you can offer managerial skills, electrical and/or mechanical abilities, cash, or simply care enough about a greener, quieter, smarter way of getting around, and have the time or cash to contribute, please contact us for additional membership (partnership) possibilities.

Served on a Platter: 

There are currently a total of 5 Members, with Jon and Tim being the major shareholders. 

Everyone believes that electric is indeed the future, and that "light" electric is by far the most efficient for most duties, but no one has been willing or able to put it where their mouth is, as we have.  Are you ready to do something positive?  Do you recognize that the time is right?  The more the Members, the more we can do.

Please contact Tim at timr@scootonthis.com to make your inquires, and be sure to use the subject line "Membership in Scoot On This! LLC" so you don't get spammed out.

Dessert: 

All Members, Active or Passive, receives the ability to purchase any item that Scoot On This! LLC sells at cost (including shipping) plus 25%.  Sliding scale for larger ticket items.

Share of the profits at year end!  The more you help the company as a Member (partner), the more you make in dividends at year end!  Whoo Hoo!

What follows is a letter of resignation written by John Brady Kiesling, a member of Bush's Foreign Service Corps and Political Counselor to the American embassy in Greece. Kiesling has been a diplomat for twenty years, a civil servant to four Presidents. The letter below, delivered to Secretary of State Colin Powell, is quite possibly the most eloquent statement of dissent thus far put forth regarding the issue of Iraq.

February 27, 2003 U.S. Diplomat's Letter of Resignation
 
The following is the text of John Brady Kiesling's letter of resignation to Secretary of State Colin L. Powell. Mr. Kiesling is a career diplomat who has served in United States embassies from Tel Aviv to Casablanca to Yerevan.

Dear Mr. Secretary:

I am writing you to submit my resignation from the Foreign Service of the United States and from my position as Political Counselor in U.S. Embassy Athens, effective March 7. I do so with a heavy heart. The baggage of my upbringing included a felt obligation to give something back to my country. Service as a U.S. diplomat was a dream job. I was paid to understand foreign languages and cultures, to seek out diplomats, politicians, scholars and journalists, and to persuade them that U.S. interests and theirs fundamentally coincided. My faith in my country and its values was the most powerful weapon in my diplomatic arsenal.

It is inevitable that during twenty years with the State Department I would become more sophisticated and cynical about the narrow and selfish bureaucratic motives that sometimes shaped our policies. Human nature is what it is, and I was rewarded and promoted for understanding human nature. But until this Administration it had been possible to believe that by upholding the policies of my president I was also upholding the interests of the American people and the world. I believe it no longer.

The policies we are now asked to advance are incompatible not only with American values but also with American interests. Our fervent pursuit of war with Iraq is driving us to squander the international legitimacy that has been America's most potent weapon of both offense and defense since the days of Woodrow Wilson. We have begun to dismantle the largest and most effective web of international relationships the world has ever known. Our current course will bring instability and danger, not security.

The sacrifice of global interests to domestic politics and to bureaucratic self-interest is nothing new, and it is certainly not a uniquely American problem. Still, we have not seen such systematic distortion of intelligence, such systematic manipulation of American opinion, since the war in Vietnam. The September 11 tragedy left us stronger than before, rallying around us a vast international coalition to cooperate for the first time in a systematic way against the threat of terrorism. But rather than take credit for those successes and build on them, this Administration has chosen to make terrorism a domestic political tool, enlisting a scattered and largely defeated Al Qaeda as its bureaucratic ally. We spread disproportionate terror and confusion in the public mind, arbitrarily linking the unrelated problems of terrorism and Iraq. The result, and perhaps the motive, is to justify a vast misallocation of shrinking public wealth to the military and to weaken the safeguards that protect American citizens from the heavy hand of government. September 11 did not do as much damage to the fabric of American society as we seem determined to so to ourselves. Is the Russia of the late Romanovs really our model, a selfish, superstitious empire thrashing toward self-destruction in the name of a doomed status quo?

We should ask ourselves why we have failed to persuade more of the world that a war with Iraq is necessary. We have over the past two years done too much to assert to our world partners that narrow and mercenary U.S. interests override the cherished values of our partners. Even where our aims were not in question, our consistency is at issue. The model of Afghanistan is little comfort to allies wondering on what basis we plan to rebuild the Middle East, and in whose image and interests. Have we indeed become blind, as Russia is blind in Chechnya, as Israel is blind in the Occupied Territories, to our own advice, that overwhelming military power is not the answer to terrorism? After the shambles of post-war Iraq joins the shambles in Grozny and Ramallah, it will be a brave foreigner who forms ranks with Micronesia to follow where we lead.

We have a coalition still, a good one. The loyalty of many of our friends is impressive, a tribute to American moral capital built up over a century. But our closest allies are persuaded less that war is justified than that it would be perilous to allow the U.S. to drift into complete solipsism. Loyalty should be reciprocal. Why does our President condone the swaggering and contemptuous approach to our friends and allies this Administration is fostering, including among its most senior officials. Has "oderint dum metuant" really become our motto?

I urge you to listen to America's friends around the world. Even here in Greece, purported hotbed of European anti-Americanism, we have more and closer friends than the American newspaper reader can possibly imagine. Even when they complain about American arrogance, Greeks know that the world is a difficult and dangerous place, and they want a strong international system, with the U.S. and EU in close partnership. When our friends are afraid of us rather than for us, it is time to worry. And now they are afraid. Who will tell them convincingly that the United States is as it was, a beacon of liberty, security, and justice for the planet?

Mr. Secretary, I have enormous respect for your character and ability. You have preserved more international credibility for us than our policy deserves, and salvaged something positive from the excesses of an ideological and self-serving Administration. But your loyalty to the President goes too far. We are straining beyond its limits an international system we built with such toil and treasure, a web of laws, treaties, organizations, and shared values that sets limits on our foes far more effectively than it ever constrained America's ability to defend its interests.

I am resigning because I have tried and failed to reconcile my conscience with my ability to represent the current U.S. Administration. I have confidence that our democratic process is ultimately self-correcting, and hope that in a small way I can contribute from outside to shaping policies that better serve the security and prosperity of the American people and the world we share.

Copyright 2003 The New York Times Company