Electric Avenue Urban Transportation's e-scooter looks to change how we commute
/Electric Avenue Urban Transportation wants to make people’s commutes a little more convenient and a lot more fun by introducing them to the electric scooter — or e-scooter for short.
Based out of Oakville, Ont., co-owners Phil Panetta and Diana Pissarouk provide, as in the name, urban transportation in the form of premium, environmentally friendly e-scooters, sold through their online store.
“The development of smart cities is creating a demand for alternative modes of transportation as commuters look for innovative, convenient and environmentally friendly solutions. We decided to start the company about a year ago after purchasing two e-scooters for ourselves for personal use,” said co-owner Phil Panetta. “We just realized there’s a market here in the GTA that could help people out with the mobility aspect of things and reduce some cars on the road.”
“Getting more cars off the road is certainly a part of it,” said co-owner Diana Pissarouk. “We’re both really big on helping the environment, so even for ourselves getting a full car off the road, or a portion of your trip off the road helps.”
The e-scooters themselves offer a speedy and enjoyable ride. They precisely maneuver through urban terrain and are easy to use, requiring only a meager amount of time to get comfortable with — these were some takeaways from my personal experience riding multiple models during a demonstration with Electric Avenue.
“They all have lithium ion batteries which are high quality and very similar to what you find in most electric cars like Teslas and Toyotas, and they’re compact,” Panetta said. “We have five units and fit them all in a MINI Countryman. That’s how much space they take up.”
Other key features, according to Electric Avenue’s website, of the INOKIM and iMAX brand e-scooters that they stock include:
1. Ability to reach traveling speeds from 25 km/h to 30 km/h depending on rider’s weight, gradient, terrain and wind resistance.
2. Efficient charging that requires between 5 - 6 hours (from flat) to achieve a full charge which allows for a traveling distance of 20 - 40 km.
3. Sustainable and sleek construction, manufactured in one location with no aftermarket parts, allowing for easy repairs or replacement parts.
Additionally, their e-scooters come with rear disc brakes, front and rear lights, and are foldable in under 10 seconds for safe, functional commuting and convenient storage. They are listed in the price range of $989 to $2,000 depending on brand and model.
Certain models even come equipped with anti-theft protection and speed safety locks that allow riders to adjust reasonable speed limits.
Looking ahead, Electric Avenue plans to begin attending trade shows to double down on their exposure, start offering financing options online and possibly consider a brick and mortar store. They’re predicting that it’s only a matter of time before electric transportation options become a popular mode of transportation here like in California, and scooter-sharing companies like Bird swoop in — and they want to get ahead of the curve.
“We’re not against [scooter-sharing businesses] at all. We think it’s great, the more the merrier, the more on the road the better,” Panetta said. “But we think owning your own [electric scooter] is the better solution. It’s easy to store in your car and or garage, giving you easy access to utilize it as part of your commute.”
“But the summer of the e-scooter is coming for sure,” Pissarouk said.
However, until such a time comes, Electric Avenue is a leader in Canada’s largely untapped personal electric scooter industry.
For more information on Electric Avenue Urban Transportation check out the following links:
Website: https://www.electricavenueut.com
Facebook: ElectricAvenueUT
Instagram: electricavenueut