Econogo Yogo scooter

Electric scooters are nothing new, and on the face of it they’re an environmentally friendly way of getting around. But they’re not much use if you live in an upper storey apartment and don’t fancy dangling extension cables out of the window to recharge it, or the commute to and from work is just that bit further than the battery’s range.

There’s now a solution for UK buyers: The Econogo Yogo. Its makers claim it’s the first production scooter to feature a removable lithium battery, which means users can simply lift it out and take it indoors to recharge.

In standard specification, the Yogo manages 30 mph, although the slightly more powerful ‘S’ version will reach 40 mph. Both have a range of 22 miles, with recharging taking just one hour. That range can easily be doubled, because the Yogo has space on board for a second battery - the rider just needs to remember to flick a switch to transfer between batteries when one is getting low on charge.

Arguably, the environmental benefits of electric scooters like the Yogo are debateable if the electricity is being generated from fossil fuels in the first place.  Then there’s the question of the energy and resources needed to produce those lithium batteries, as well as the issues around end of life disposal or recycling.

However, with petrol now costing around £1.20 per litre (a staggering £5.46 per gallon), the motive to go electric might increasingly become purely economic.

Both versions of the Econogo Yogo are priced at £1,999.