Their system, which can be installed into scooters & motorcycles at the factory, will allow new electric scooters to take advantage of GPS and Internet-based technologies to create “the world’s first intelligent, connected electric scooter.”

According to the company’s press release:
Saturna’s wireless communications and computing platform comprises four parts, beginning with three onboard components:

1.  Vehicle Digital Dashboard – the most visible part of the platform
features a rugged, high luminescence, seven-inch, colour touchscreen,
designed for safe and efficient rider interaction;
2.  Vehicle Onboard Processor – with Android(TM)-based OS, 3G network
connectivity, and optional Bluetooth(TM) and Wi-Fi(TM) for use with
smartphones and a variety of mobile devices;
3.  Vehicle Monitoring and Controlling Hardware – that integrates fully with
battery systems, motor controllers and other peripherals; and
4.  Saturna’s Management System – the industry’s first end-to-end, web-
based, GPS location-based services system specifically designed for two-
wheel electric vehicles.
The Digital Dashboard provides vital information to the e-scooter or e-motorcycle rider. This begins with full instrumentation on the go, with at-a-glance power use and range/charging information that effectively addresses range and charging anxiety. Once stopped, riders can then access detailed power management information, as well as real-time mapping, navigation, messaging, social networking, and a variety of consumer and commercial applications.

All of the information available on the Digital Dashboard, and more, can also be accessed on any web-enabled device. So away from the vehicle, a rider can instantly see their vehicle’s power reserves, plan a route, or chat with other scooter riders a block away, or across the country. The system’s features can also protect scooter and motorcycle owners against theft.

Saturna's Digital Dashboard

At EICMA Saturna will demonstrate the system with Vmoto Europe, Saturna’s development partner, using  a Vmoto e-max 120L-D delivery scooter [see the e-max 120s-d here]

The system is geared towards providing more efficiency at a reduced cost for commercial use by couriers [can we have our scooter pizza delivery, now?], law enforcement, and government fleets such as the postal service. While this may be a hard sell in the U.S. where only a few police forces use gas-powered scooters, now, this should be a welcome product in cities in Europe where commercial scooters and high fuel prices are common.

I have heard that one major roadblock to using scooters for delivery in the U.S. has been securing commercial insurance. Hopefully this can be remedied as major cities such as New York, San Francisco, and Chicago could benefit from eco-friendly, high-tech delivery options.

Diagram of Saturna's Management System

According to Saturna, “assembly line ready product is scheduled for mid 2012 and talks are currently underway with several manufacturers.”

Check out this video which makes it look like a cool idea.

What do you think of the system? Will it find users in the U.S.?

No where do they mention the words “scooter” or “Ape” but us discerning [read: obsessed] scooterists can tell a classic three-wheeled scooter anywhere! The $24.95 price is steep, but I am a sucker for handmade Polish glass scooter ornaments! Get yours before they sell out.

If you have a 50cc membership you should have already received your materials.

If you are a 250cc or 650cc member who has not given us your t-shirt size, you should have received a packet with materials except for the t-shirt and zipper pull. Please notify us of your t-shirt size via the instructions in the letter.

If you are a 250cc or 650cc member who has provided your t-shirt size, we are expecting the first batch of shirts this week and will send out the packets once the shirts arrive.

We have had some difficulties sourcing the zipper pulls, but hope to have them by the end of the year.

Once we receive a significant amount of t-shirt sizes, we will place a second order for shirts and send them out.

It has been a long process, but resolution is coming. Thanks for your support and understanding!

I consolidated many of the France photos that I took on my iPhone onto a quick .mac page. Check them out here. The higher-quality images that I took with my Olympus will appear in the magazine and a Flikr album that I will put together.

Scooter Kitty Ornament from Indonesia: measures 3.5 x 3.5 in, and is made of hand painted wood. Super cute! $10

The purchase of these items helps fund programs in the areas where they are made.

20% off entire site (except bikes) 11/26-11/29. Code: BFPAUL20 at checkout. Shop Now!
Some tasty items:

 

Read it here.

I started out as a yearning wannabe scooterists in high school with my parent’s explicitly banning me from owning or riding a scooter. After college I spent time on the back of Paul Lamoreaux’s blue P200 attending rallies where not many people socialized with those they didn’t already know. Once I got my first holiday bonus from my first big girl job I bought my own P200 and rode the streets alone until I heard about a bar where local scooterists congregated. I walked in and offered to buy a drink for anyone on a scooter to celebrate finally getting my full license. From there I made friends and began attending more rallies, learning more about scooters as I went along. At that time I had no interest in the underpowered or “ugly” new scooters that were available. The Italjet Velocifero was interesting but not enough for me to buy one. The first time I rode an ET2 I was creeped out by how different it was.

09.19: Greve in Chianti and San Gimignano regions

Ouch, jetlagged big time – really, three hours of sleep – um, yeah, coffee.

Where am I? The Villa Il Palagio  is a restored estate of a Florentine noble family, the Altoviti – huge amount of history here – I sincerely began reading through the 19 page booklet, which provides info on the history, pool, game room, etc., but it is 2am.  My overall impression is that despite the modernized, swanky facility, location is key; it feels removed from locals. Having a centralized hub (our routes will petal from this center) and a short shuttle ride from the train station is fantastic – less time packing and unpacking,  faster to get on the road to see the sights, provides transportation options when the weather is really bad – love this.

Ok, so breakfast, I learned that as part of the Italian food rituals drinking cappuccino is reserved for the morning.  Afternoon coffee selections are different, such as espresso.  Man, the coffee here is so good!

Group meeting was held at 8:30am. Ursula, our tour guide, is outstanding – her knowledge of the area, leadership skills, and language –plus she is really a remarkable history buff – high marks to Edelweiss Bike Travel for choosing quality people. Looking for something to read… Ursula’s pick of the day “Agony and Ecstasy”.

In the meeting we covered historical highlights from the Estrucians to Berlisconi. My favorite was the bit about city infrastructure… the 4^th century – the Romans had runners, who carried messages between towns;  the streets came together in Y formations to facilitate runners coming and going from these central communication spots.  Trade routes followed and today’s city infrastructure.

Surging with caffeine, it was time to get scooting. I turned the key in the Vespa  GTS300 ignition. The weather has been finicky, toying with the idea of rain and then offering dramatic, blue skies with enormous cumulous clouds. Passionate… So anyway, off to Greve in Chianti and San Gimignano – the group packing rain gear, just in case.

Locals with Santo Stefano church in background

The trip route is breath-taking.  Juice laden grapes, hang heavy on the vine – deep purples – single row olive trees guard the vineyard borders. The hillside rolls along as we twist and wind with it. We are on Italian time – a pace to take it all in, but allowing for sightseeing time and stops for food. There is the option to split from the group and explore in pairs; the group jokes around, enjoying the camaraderie, I think. Sounds like some have sought out hometown rallies and like-mind folk, but difficulty with distance and logistics.

Tim & Julia at a scenic photo-opp.

Lunch at the restaurant, Pestello in Chianti, what unique dishes- Franchesco, our waiter, just kept bringing out plate after plate of food: cantaloupe slices with thin strips of proscuitto, well-oiled bruschetta with mounds of chopped tomato, caprese with sheared balls of mozzarella and tomato wedges, truffle noodles, and boar meat sauce on noodles that reminded me of udon noodle texture.

The ride home was a wet one. Ursula tried her best, altering the route to keep us clear of thunder clouds, but lightning, um. Luckily, this happened late in the day. We had enough riding time to adjust to the scooters and to riding together in a group. Ursula made clear choices to lead the group home, stopping at a gas station just in case to make sure everyone was covered for the distance. Despite the rush hour traffic leapfrogging around us; key – we moved along as a group at a safe pace, matching road conditions and riding with the group ability, regardless. We’re on Italian time, no?

So far, the Italians we’ve run into have been gracious, helpful, despite our lack of language skills. We get it wrong, but they politely compensate and help to make the trip pleasant.

Do not enter. Nope, nope, bad things could happen.