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Always in tune with innovation, Japan is getting ready to launch the Miletto, a hybrid scooter driven by a battery and also fitted with pedals to help on hills. It will come onto the local market in 2010
With its eye-catching look, flashy colours and, in particular, its need for little energy, this new-generation Solex has a great chance of winning over Japanese city dwellers. The Miletto can run 22 miles on flat ground without resorting to its pedals, which means that it will cost 1 yen (about £0.006) per 1.9 miles, or ten times less than a normal scooter, states its manufacturer, Prostaff.
"It normally runs with battery power, but on a steep hill the rider would work the pedals to assist" explains Ryo Teranishi, an official from the company based in the city of Ichinomiya (in central Japan).
"It's a zero-emission vehicle in itself but this hybrid of an electric motor and manpower makes it even more environmentally friendly.” The battery takes between 2 and 4 hours to fully charge. The Miletto is offered in 12 colours, with a price tag of 156,900 yen (around £1,044). At the moment, the manufacturer has no plans to export this environmentally-friendly two-wheel model.
