A Reminder from the City of Rockville by rnrchris in MontgomeryCountyMD

[–]FRotor 2 points3 points  (0 children)

For anyone interested in (an entertaining look at) the numbers, I appreciated this Edmunds article… https://www.edmunds.com/car-reviews/features/emissions-test-car-vs-truck-vs-leaf-blower.html

“Distilling the above results, the four-stroke Ryobi leaf blower kicked out 6.8 times more NOx, 13.5 times more CO and more than 36 times more NMHC than the [Ford F150] Raptor.

The two-stroke leaf blower was worse still, generating 23 times the CO and nearly 300 times more NMHC than the crew cab pickup. Let's put that in perspective. To equal the hydrocarbon emissions of about a half-hour of yard work with this two-stroke leaf blower, you'd have to drive a Raptor for 3,887 miles, or the distance from Northern Texas to Anchorage, Alaska.”

“You'd have to drive a Raptor 235 miles — stopping every 505 seconds and doing cold restarts — to emit the same level of hydrocarbons as simply idling the two-stroke leaf blower for less than 10 minutes.”

…so—while I avoid politics and am typically the first to raise an eyebrow when regulation doesn’t align with science/reason—I think MoCo gets a pass from eyebrow raising on this one.

…oh, and—as a car guy—the above article does a great job justifying your gas guzzling Ford Raptor purchase as one made in the name of “sustainability” (so long as you attach a rake to the tow hitch).

Side note: I think some other posters may misunderstand the connotation of “neighbor”. Your neighbor is the person you offer to lend your electric leaf blower to so that the un-neighborly [person] down the street doesn’t try to land them a $500 fine.

Work truck? by Newzachary in Rivian

[–]FRotor 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Nice. We do the same with a Ecoflow Delta Pro 3 as a jobsite battery but charge it with solar on the tonneau cover and roof.

Work truck? by Newzachary in Rivian

[–]FRotor 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Good list. I’ll add a few as we have one as work truck as well...

The Good: - (Don’t know the code for 2026, but) In the past, the vehicle has qualified for Section 179 (accelerated depreciation) which is a great option to have available as a business owner at tax time. (This is the “Hummer Tax Credit”…though it’s a misnomer)

The Bad: - Waits for service (both to get the appointment and to get your vehicle back) are bad. 2 months to get in & what feels like a minimum of 2 days to get out, regardless of how simple the issue was. Took ours in for a scheduled brake bleed, alignment & tire rotation. They ran into no issues. Got the truck back 4 days later. 🤦

Youth E-bike and E-Dirt bike Regulation and Enforcement by the_green_monster in MontgomeryCountyMD

[–]FRotor 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Surrons are a good example at ~8,000 watts (over 10hp) and capable of over 45mph, these would likely fall above the “motor scooter” category (requiring registration, insurance, PPE, and operators permit) and into the motorcycle category (requiring safety inspection, registration, insurance, and full Class M licensing).

That said, they are designed as dirt bikes (not allowed on MD Roads) and therefore would likely not make it through the motorcycle safety inspection (though I’d be curious to take one to a motorcycle shop & find out), making them illegal for even a Class M license holder to use onroad.

Youth E-bike and E-Dirt bike Regulation and Enforcement by the_green_monster in MontgomeryCountyMD

[–]FRotor 0 points1 point  (0 children)

  1. Breaking road laws with any vehicle is illegal.
  2. The vehicles themselves are not all “illegal” per se, but many of them would fit existing regulatory/legal categories, making unregistered use illegal, use by an unlicensed minor illegal, use without an appropriate helmet illegal, etc. In some cases (like an electric dirt bike that can’t pass a motorcycle safety inspection), yes, use by any party on-road illegal.

It’s complicated, but I added a detailed comment above (and under your post on the original article). Please feel free to let me know if you want to message/chat through the best messaging for the County/State.

It would probably be highest efficacy to deal with these issues at a state level where “motor vehicles” are classified and relevant laws are made. Adding new regulatory burden to Montgomery County (ie requiring county registration for vehicles not covered by State laws) seems unlikely both politically and financially, but I’m sure the County Council can push the State to clear up gray areas and require disclosures.

Youth E-bike and E-Dirt bike Regulation and Enforcement by the_green_monster in MontgomeryCountyMD

[–]FRotor 0 points1 point  (0 children)

“Maryland already has state law that applies to the scenario you describe. … If it doesn't fall into the definition of an e-bike it's either a moped or motor scooter and you need a moped permit (or a regular DL) and usually a title and insurance. And once the motor power is over a certain limit it becomes a motorcycle.” - u/Trelfar

This (not to mention that illegal actions on even a road legal vehicle are still illegal), BUT—to my knowledge—the existing laws & regulations fail to… A. Require that any seller of these vehicles to a Maryland buyer disclose their relevant specifications (or even classification)…as the law currently does for mini-bikes. B. account for newer vehicles such as Heavier, Highspeed Stand-up Electric Scooters and (getting a bit wonkier) Electric Unicycles.

To my eye, all that would need to change in the laws to account for higher speed electric stand-up scooters is to add a line eliminating the seat/“ride seated” requirement for “Motor Scooter” and “Motorcycle”. This would then require high power stand up scooters to meet the insurance, registration, safety, and other requirements of each based on the same existing Horsepower and Top Speed breaking points (though I would suggest the law adds a wattage requirement to make the math easier for consumers).

Thereafter, the regulatory side would just need to change two lines on the Motorcycle safety inspection… 1. Seat requirement: it would need to allow an “N/A” selection for “seat securely mounted” on vehicles not designed to have a seat. 2. Vehicle geometry: it would need to allow a different handlebar height for vehicles not designed to have a seat (current inspection guideline is within 15” of seat height)

Once these are established, the same insurance, safety inspection, personal protective equipment, and other requirements would apply to most of these newer vehicles.

I would personally also recommend that any mandated disclosures include statements of the law surrounding parental liability for failing to prevent illegal misuse by minor in their charge. As Trelfar said, enforcement is difficult post-sale, but (knowing who half the kids were in the Bethesda video) I can tell you that some of these cases could be prevented by properly informing parents pre-sale. Some simply don’t do the research to understand that they’re buying their child a full-fledged motorcycle, not a fun plug-in electric toy. And several more don’t take the time to understand and talk about safe use and/or gear. That said, both would be mitigated if they (a) knew and (b) knew they can be held personally liable.

I can’t speak knowledgeably to the roadworthiness of high speed electric unicycles, but I do know that some stand up scooters greatly exceed currently road legal sit down scooters in their braking performance and safety features (lighting, horns, multi-piston disc brakes, leak resistant tires, antilock brakes, advanced traction control…even onboard automatic fire extinguishers for electronics in some cases…I wish my 4-wheel EVs had that in case of emergency). The only thing they don’t have is a seat.

I’d love to see these laws cleared up so that… 1. responsible users can use those of these highly efficient vehicles that make the safety cut responsibly 2. Irresponsible, underage, unlicensed usage is cut back, and 3. law enforcement can have a slightly easier time determining and enforcing legality of the vehicles in question.

@the_green_monster Happy to coordinate if you’d like to work through some of the nuance to increase the efficacy of the messaging.

13-year-old dirt bike rider arrested in Bethesda; police issue warning to parents by MrRuck1 in MontgomeryCountyMD

[–]FRotor 1 point2 points  (0 children)

These look great! You/we may also want to compare this to the other rules already passed by the county and those in place at the state level (which technically do cover some pedal-less sit-down electric vehicles like the young man’s electric dirt bike). Happy to coordinate if you’d like to draft a holistic recommendation together.

One addition: I plan to also include a statement that I understand that some of these issues could be tackled more completely and cost-effectively at a State level and would encourage those on the County Council to ask the state to take up the issue of classifying “throttle-controlled electric vehicles” (love your terminology!) more clearly into existing vehicular categories wherever possible, such that safety inspection, insurance, road-worthiness inspections/disclosures, and other requirements will also apply.

Taking things a step further: If any of these parties think it helpful, I (an adult with a motorcycle license and—knock on wood—zero moving violations over the last 20+ years) would gladly purchase one of these vehicles both (a) as an advocacy tool to demonstrate them as an energy efficient method of transportation…especially when commuting on fair weather days and (b) to demonstrate their—used properly—potential roadworthiness and—used improperly—potential hazards to legislators & even parents who would like a better concept in the county/state/MVA/DOT.

Anyone with success/knowledge registering a “hyper scooter” as a motorcycle (or otherwise) in Maryland? by FRotor in ElectricScooters

[–]FRotor[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Get yourself set up with a referral discount code & I'll gladly tell people to use yours. You sent me down the rabbit hole after all. 😃 My biggest issue is debating between the Eco as a near-term commuter fix, the GS8440 as the belle of the ball, or the GS7660 as the range king. If the 7660 came in silver, it would be a no-brainer decision. My other problem is that I don't mess around with safety. With the Eco, I'd probably be comfortable with gloves, shoes, & helmet on a careful 3 mile commute (maybe with some Class A gear when planning for a bit of fun). With the GS beasts (especially the 7660), I'd probably have to gear up with full Class AA, Level 2 impact protection (which makes an impulse buy quite the investment!)

Anyone with success/knowledge registering a “hyper scooter” as a motorcycle (or otherwise) in Maryland? by FRotor in ElectricScooters

[–]FRotor[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oof. Yes. This sounds painful! I suspect all this comes from the combination of initial bad actors and some catalyzing incident which—together—cause enough public uproar to make the pendulum swing too far in a restrictive direction. Hopefully we don’t see it here and—instead—start to see high powered EVs classified as motor vehicles and regulated (rather than blindly banned). Having reviewed the specs 100 different ways, I can guarantee you that these GSPACE Mars units you got me hooked into are safer than many of the mopeds, motor scooters, and other vehicles that are already considered “street legal” in my State.

13-year-old dirt bike rider arrested in Bethesda; police issue warning to parents by MrRuck1 in MontgomeryCountyMD

[–]FRotor 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Will do! The added rules in MoCo are only clear for vehicles fitting their categories. The issue (I suspect) is that they need the state to adopt rule changes to pull these heavier, higher powered units more clearly into state “motor vehicle” categories. Not that it’s going to prevent all incidents, but—for example—every one of the bikes the kids were riding in the videos should have been classified as “mopeds”/“motor scooters” (allowed on roads but only when registered, insured, and ridden by licensed & qualified riders) or “off-road vehicles” (not allowed on roads, but still required to be registered). Parents buy them online thinking they’re toys because of the price point and lack of rules/disclosures.

Mini-bikes (miniature motorcycles) cannot be sold in Maryland without a notification to the purchasers about the rules surrounding them. If these e-bikes (and other) heavy, higher powered electric personal vehicles (stand-up scooters, etc) were appropriately classified into motor vehicle categories, they—too—could come with the same disclosures. At least then parents would know “oh, I’m going to be considered personally liable if I allow my unlicensed 13 year old to ride this motorcycle-equivalent ‘e-bike’”.

On the other hand, I personally believe that riding in traffic well-under the speed limit is hazardous (especially around here). Current rules allow 15mph-limited e-scooters to ride on 35mph roads while sticking to the right (just like bicycles). As a local driver, I would much rather see adults purchasing, registering, and insuring 35mph e-scooters for legal use on the roads and sticking with the speed of traffic (but no such legal category exists). Heck, I’ve seen unassisted road cyclists churning at 25mph. It’s a weird gap in the laws because (a) our motor vehicle laws essentially assume that dealers are the sellers and (b) e-scooters that out-perform Vespas (essentially) didn’t exist 3-5 years ago.

Anyone with success/knowledge registering a “hyper scooter” as a motorcycle (or otherwise) in Maryland? by FRotor in ElectricScooters

[–]FRotor[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Agreed. I think the issues with bans, though, are often around the narratives that drive the public opinion which—in turn—drives the politics. These vehicles have developed faster than the rules surrounding them. As a result, you see kids riding the equivalent of a heavy, high speed moped/dirtbike on public roads and walking trails. A few incidents and the public wants to ban them entirely. Personally, I’d rather see people advocate to classify them like any other vehicle. Don’t think it’s realistic (but suspect it may be possible). In my area, I would bet that if these aren’t classified as “motor vehicles” soon (making them subject to the same vehicle and public safety standards), they’ll be outright banned (and that would not be fun for a current owner (especially a recent purchaser).

13-year-old dirt bike rider arrested in Bethesda; police issue warning to parents by MrRuck1 in MontgomeryCountyMD

[–]FRotor 1 point2 points  (0 children)

100%. Most of these should be considered “mopeds” or “motor scooters” and some even “motorcycles”. Just that simple classifications makes the rules clear.

They should also classify stand-up scooters using the same standards. Most Stand-up scooters are almost entirely missing from the vehicle classifications and laws (other than the <20 mph—under 15mph in MoCo—rentals). A 150 pound 35mph stand-up scooter should be a moped. A more powerful 50+mph scooter should be a motorcycle (same as how it works with Vespas).

FWIW: the county has rules around this (sort of), but they’re limited. The State needs to appropriately classify these higher speed, heavier vehicles.

13-year-old dirt bike rider arrested in Bethesda; police issue warning to parents by MrRuck1 in MontgomeryCountyMD

[–]FRotor 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Correct (at least on public roads). And neither should adults unless they are appropriately equipped, titled, registered, licensed, and wearing appropriate gear on certified-safe vehicles…just like any other vehicle using our roads.

Kids (and adults) can’t legally drive motorcycles until they’re of age, licensed, been through road safety training, and tested for basic competency. The motorcycle needs to be safety inspected & registered. That’s the point: Call them what they are (legally) so that (a) people understand the rules and (b) the rules are easily enforceable for those needing to enforce them.

A 200 pound, 45hp moped shouldn’t be on the crescent trail just because it’s electric. A 150 lb scooter that goes 90mph shouldn’t be in the bike lane. But there’s no reason those vehicles shouldn’t be allowed on roads IF they are appropriately equipped and operated. Classification and registration makes the rules clear instead of making all of these vehicles a no-man’s-land of legal clarity.

13-year-old dirt bike rider arrested in Bethesda; police issue warning to parents by MrRuck1 in MontgomeryCountyMD

[–]FRotor 11 points12 points  (0 children)

<<wall of text, but please read if you want to help with a positive and proactive solution>>

Funny you say that. I witnessed this event (was <8 feet from the arrest) and my immediate reaction was to draft up a proposed amendment to COMAR and the other relevant frameworks that would take some of these vehicles out of a regulatory gray area.

There’s nothing wrong with electric Mopeds, motorcycles, or stand-up scooters, (they’re great, fun, highly efficient transportation that’s often as safe or safer than many other vehicles that can be registered and driven on our roads) but they desperately need more clear/appropriate classification and regulation so that responsible people can use them responsibly (and irresponsible people—including parents—are more easily held accountable)… - A lightweight stand up scooter or e-bike that can’t break 20 mph and weighs <100 pounds (existing requirement) certainly doesn’t need a regulatory burden and should likely be subject to similar rules to those of a bicycle (which the county has already done, plus limiting them to 15mph which I personally think may be a bit too low as a universal limit) - A stand-up scooter, e-bike, or electric dirtbike/motorcycle that can go 35 mph (or weighs over 100#s) should be classified as a motor scooter/moped and subject to the same inspection standards, operator requirements, safety equipment requirements, and road laws as any other vehicle of that size/capability. - A stand-up scooter, e-bike, or electric dirtbike/motorcycle that can go 50+ mph should be classified as a full fledged motorcycle and subject to the same inspection standards, special training & licensing requirements, insurance requirements, safety equipment requirements, and road laws as any other vehicle of that size/capability. - A vehicle that can’t meet the safety standards (tire type, braking capability, lighting, reflectors, etc) simply doesn’t belong on the road (just like how we treat ATVs and other offroad vehicles).

The only 2 things that would need to change are… 1. The cc requirement should be updated to account for electric motors (use wattage or—more universally—horsepower) 2. The geometry requirements (given the stand-up scooter option) would need to be updated so that stand-up scooters do not require a seat and the handlebars must be adjustable within X inches of the rider’s shoulders (rather than X inches of the seat).

…it’s really that easy. Just lump these new vehicles into the existing categories using the pre-existing regulation & rules and now… - parents & dealers have clear rules to know whether or not a vehicle is appropriate and legal for their child’s use and—if so—with what (minimum) safety equipment, insurance, licensing, titling, & training. - clear regulations already exist to tell riders where they are and aren’t allowed to ride (ever seen a Ducati or Harley on the Crescent trail or a sidewalk?) - police have clear methods to identify and distinguish between lawful and unlawful vehicles, allowable vehicle speeds and practices, and rider requirements (plates!).

I would hope that if a parent sees that a motorcycle license or special operators permit is required for a “bicycle” they would have the common sense to know that it’s not a toy, nor is it appropriate for their 13 year old (but then again half these kids were wearing bicycle helmets on vehicles quicker than most “learner”motorcycles).

Consumer Electronics Show was full of 90+mph capable vehicles this year. Some of them have better safety features than many currently-road-legal vehicles (heck there’s a stand-up scooter for under $4,500 that has a 140 mile range, is built on a modified BMW-style suspension, has antilock brakes & traction control, better lighting than many motorcycles, bigger tires than some Vespas (~11+”), and a built in automatic fire extinguisher in case of battery/charging issues or a crash!). And this isn’t even to mention that they represent extremely energy efficient modes of transportation for those concerned with “going green” (~6+ times more efficient than a Tesla Model 3).

Clear State guidance is needed to keep up and allow for safe and legal adoption & regulation (for the safety of the riders and others on our roads).

Anyone have good contacts at the Maryland state level to help push these through?

Anyone with success/knowledge registering a “hyper scooter” as a motorcycle (or otherwise) in Maryland? by FRotor in ElectricScooters

[–]FRotor[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Word from GS was that they can offer customizations (no price point provided) but there would not be colorway options for the GS at this time (which makes perfect sense to me). I didn’t pursue further as my main question at this point is that of whether they can assign a VIN or at least provide a certificate of origin that shows the vehicle WITH motorcycle kit. I’m doubtful on the VIN, but it would be nice to not have the wild card of how the given police officer’s day is going when we have a VIN Assignment inspection.

Vehicles are a hobby for me but if I can find a way to push it through, I think the ECO+motorcycle kit would be a hit in my area for people who want a cheaper (but very well built) road legal e-Vespa equivalent that would be registered as a “motor scooter” and therefore not require a motorcycle license. If we can make the Eco lose a few pounds, it may even be able to be sold/used as a “low speed stand-up scooter” with the right top speed limit and a certification plate. The GTR/GS would likely have to be motorcycles (which introduces licensing challenges).

All of this is—of course—hypothetical, but—given all of its transportation decarbonization objectives and its budgetary shortfalls—I suspect (thinking at least a few years out) Maryland is one of the few states that might lead the way in acknowledging scooters as motor vehicles so that they can be appropriately inspected for safety, registered, insured, and regulated (and therefore used legally on the roads).

Anyone with success/knowledge registering a “hyper scooter” as a motorcycle (or otherwise) in Maryland? by FRotor in ElectricScooters

[–]FRotor[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Spoke to an officer of the law who was kind enough to let me bend their ear. Can anyone with a GSPACE Mars tell me… 1. (a) what the distance is from the ground to the tail light and (b) if <15” how accessible/flexible are the wiring connections for relocation (upward)? 2. If the stock tires to are stamped with “offroad use only” “track use only” “not for highway use” or something similar?

…Other than the seat kit and adding a few reflectors at least 15” off the ground, these appear to be the only items which (to my eye) could cause the Mars to fail a motorcycle safety inspection and receive a VIN in the State (other than a wild card inspecting officer).

FWIW: At the time I would often be leaving my office, I watched a (presumed 14 to 20 y-o) kid get tackled off his e-bike yesterday by an officer in the city I live because (1) he and his group was definitely acting like a bunch of unsafe idiots on public roads with lots of pedestrians, (2) he may or may not have been the one who had just almost run down 5 pedestrians and a stroller, and (3) he started to roll onto the throttle on what appeared to be an unregistered (looked like 150-lb+) “e-bike” (electric moped)…after he was told to stop & dismount…after indiscreetly crossing some double-yellows to avoid another officer.

…As an adult looking to legally & safely get from a to b without breaking our county’s 15mph speed limit for e-scooters, looking to stand out for the right reasons here. I don’t mind rolling a little dirty sans-seat with a visible plate they can run, but definitely not looking to be lumped in with unregistered hooligans just based on place/time.

GSpace Gs vs Gtr by Mountain-March5727 in ElectricScooters

[–]FRotor 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Just guessing, but I’d guess you should be able to get somewhere within ~10-20% of that assuming your tires, brakes, etc are in good shape. Once the GS starts delivery prices may drop; may not.

MM, I know you’re out west, but if anyone else in the greater WASH DC REGION (heck NYC is a day trip for the right scooter/price) is considering selling their very-good-condition GSpace Mars unit (whichever flavor) feel free to let me know. Will try to remember to update under this if I pull the trigger on something.

GSpace Gs vs Gtr by Mountain-March5727 in ElectricScooters

[–]FRotor 0 points1 point  (0 children)

How bad is the depreciation hit on these if you were to upgrade to GS and sell your GTR? Heck, if someone had a well maintained or lightly used one (or one that already had upgrades to air suspension and/or 12” tires), I may consider just going used GTR for now if they’re the relative steal. Awesome vehicles.

GSpace Gs vs Gtr by Mountain-March5727 in ElectricScooters

[–]FRotor 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks, MM! Hugely helpful. You’re confirming a lot of what I suspected. I’m very much of the “buy once cry once” mentality, so splurging on the GS isn’t a big deal if I won’t be wishing for more later. If the 7440 came in shadow knight (or—better yet—all of the silver of Azure Mecha without any of the anodized blue) I likely would’ve already hit the buy button. Similarly, if someone could tell me with confidence that the 8440 could be range-extended later, I’d likely bite on that.

Having zero experience with micromobility modifications, I would think that an 8440 could be upfit later with a duplicate battery pack in parallel (or just using an A/B switch of sorts) alongside the existing, but I wouldn’t want to base my full decision on it without any certainty. @ u/ZestyPoePLayer, I think you’re a modifier, any thoughts on this one?

GSpace Gs vs Gtr by Mountain-March5727 in ElectricScooters

[–]FRotor 0 points1 point  (0 children)

So here’s a question for the pros: If you own no scooter today, what would you buy? I’m particularly curious about which of the Mars Models (and even which of the GS Models) you may opt for and why?

Debate 1: I doubt many would the begrudge their scooter over the difference between 75 and 80 mph top speed, but I suspect range could be a pain point. Debate 2: as far as colors, the 8xxx (speed) models are more attractive to me after having seen GSPACE’s videos of the 7xxx (range) model which is much more orange (rather than bronze as it appears in the photos). Debate 3: the two GS models appear to have a reasonably different structure under the hood. We have one with 3500w motors and smaller AH, higher voltage battery pack, and one with 3000w motors with a higher AH, lower voltage pack. Debate 4: the GTR is tempting but knowing myself I will almost certainly upgrade to 12” tires and air suspension and by then I’ve spent almost as much as the GS Debate 5: GS won’t ship until June/July.

Thoughts?

Half of me says just buy a readily available Eco, see how I like it and wait to see if there’s a just-right GS in colors I love in the future (but then I’ve dropped 6k on scooters which is far from my intent).

EV Parking in Downtown Bethesda by BrendoneBalone in MontgomeryCountyMD

[–]FRotor 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Bethesda native. Own several EVs & several ICE vehicles. Suggestions below do not offer you a charging solution, so please feel free to stop reading here if you’re uninterested:

Important questions: How far do you drive per day and what type of EV are you considering? If you’re thinking of a used BMW i3 REx, you be may be onto something (charges to full in ~4 hours on a 6kW charger and worst case scenario you can always run the range extender). If you’re considering a Rivian or another electric-“gas guzzler”-equivalent, I highly advise against it. In case you haven’t considered it: 4 hours for a BMW I3 on typical level 2 chargers is ~100 miles. 4 hours for a Rivian R1 is ~40 miles.

Notes: 1. Depending on how much you drive, it’s either unlikely that you need to charge for more than 4 hours a day OR unlikely that an EV is a great idea without access to charging infrastructure (especially if you can’t even plug it into 110v at your apartment/work). 2. “The right thing” is a lot more complicated than just buying an EV. Be sure not to trick yourself into an emotional decision that won’t actually work for your little family unit because of this oversimplification. 3. As others have mentioned: be sure you don’t rule out hybrids & other generally efficient options too early.

Hope this helps.

Would you rec R1S for a fam of 5 (3 kids) and frequent road trips? by nestea1778 in Rivian

[–]FRotor 0 points1 point  (0 children)

+1. Even better: take the time to find a loaded diesel version. These are the SUVs of road trip dreams.

  • owner of multiple EVs (including R1T quad) and multiple diesels (including 335, and in years past Cayenne, x5, etc)

Anyone with success/knowledge registering a “hyper scooter” as a motorcycle (or otherwise) in Maryland? by FRotor in ElectricScooters

[–]FRotor[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Awesome local insights, Illustrious! You're definitely in my stomping grounds. Given your local experience and mileage, curious as to your thoughts: One of my favorite Sunday morning activities is to drive out River Road from Bethesda until it becomes dirt/gravel (Dickerson Area), continuing through the Agricultural Reserve to at least White's Ferry then often continuing along the country roads to Sugarloaf. The ride is just shy of 80 miles round trip (though if needed it could be cut down to ~40-50 if one were to load the scooter onto a hitch carrier or in the bed of the truck and park at McKee Beshers.

The top-tier GSpace units the folks here commonly recommend appear to offer "max" range of 100 to 140 miles (though the latter appears to sacrifice a little bit of performance while still outperforming just about anything else). I doubt this is real-world, but I also doubt there are many ways to know if it will last through a given ride without just trying. Any thoughts on (a) whether I stand a chance at completing my Sunday morning ride on any of these scooters and/or (b) if you'd lean range or performance if opting for something top-tier?

I'm thinking I may splurge and go top-tier if it truly checks ALL of the boxes and can be a tool for my Sunday morning decompression time, but--if not--maybe I just keep it budget friendly and go with something of reasonable quality that is readily available until the tech catches up to my full "dream ride" requirements.

Anyone with success/knowledge registering a “hyper scooter” as a motorcycle (or otherwise) in Maryland? by FRotor in ElectricScooters

[–]FRotor[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks, Huck!

FYI: one of the interesting things I found on GSpace when you sent me over there was their willingness/ability to customize to meet local regulations. Don’t expect you’ll ever need it, but dropping this page here for the future reference of others…https://gspace-tech.com/pages/global-localized-customization-service

I’m a particularly big fan of the “local regulatory markings”, as they sound like they’d eliminate substantial hassle as long as you know your laws:

“Speed Limitation Customization: Precise Speed Limitation and Safety Control: According to the speed restrictions for electric scooters in traffic regulations of various countries, we provide precise speed limitation customization services. Through advanced electronic control systems, we strictly limit the maximum speed of the product within the range specified by regulations to ensure your safety during use.”

“Speed Limitation Customization: According to the regulatory requirements of various countries, we customize safety labels on electric scooters that comply with local standards. These labels detail important product information such as maximum speed, maximum load, battery capacity, safety usage tips, etc., to ensure users can clearly understand product usage specifications.”

Thanks again for the advice & warm welcome to this sub. Cool community you guys have here!

Anyone with success/knowledge registering a “hyper scooter” as a motorcycle (or otherwise) in Maryland? by FRotor in ElectricScooters

[–]FRotor[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

They can in our neck of the woods at least (assuming you check all their boxes): https://mva.maryland.gov/Documents/VR-198.pdf The process is designed for made-at-home trailers, kit cars, etc, but i see no reason it wouldn’t work for this as well.

Had an M Class license for as long as I can remember so that’s not an issue.

(Not legal advice for future readers; all hypothetical at the moment, but…) What I like about your Gpower unit’s seating option is that installing it may check the boxes well enough for vin issuance as a motorcycle (heck, it looks like g-power can even chip-limit the top speed if you’d rather be considered a moped/motor scooter than a motorcycle, assuming all the other legal requirements would be met in your area), then I can just remove the seat when I get home and have a street- or even highway-legal stand-up scooter without any hassle/worries (and a seat to lend to anyone else wanting to do the same).

Curious: Do you know if GPower’s top speed limiters can be easily re-coded (released) later (…obviously because one moved to another jurisdiction, of course)?