50cc scooters: more impressive than one might think

By Des Campbell. Mar. 31, 2015. The best gas-saver hybrid car I found in researching the topic is the Honda Insight, which averages 53 mpg. That’s great, but it’s no 132 mpg – which is what the four-stroke Yamaha Zuma gets, possibly the most popular scooter in the U.S.

I grant you that power and speed are not a 50cc scooter’s forte, but they can do more than you’d think. Last week I took my friend’s Zuma for a spin. Like a Russian bear on a tricycle I fit my six-foot-five, 250 pound frame on the scooter and it pulled me up a long, steep hill at 25 mph – the average speed limit in most towns. I zoomed back down the hill full throttle and grinning.

Consider that the average U.S. car drives 12,000 miles per year and uses nearly 500 gallons of gas—giving off over 10,000 pounds of emissions every year, according to EPA. At the same annual mileage, a scooter can cut the number of gallons of gas used down to 90 and significantly reduce the amount of emissions. Electric scooters give off zero, no, nada, emissions. Some of these scooters can go an impressive 80 miles before needing recharging. (Stay away from two-stroke engines. While more powerful, they emit much more pollution.)

I understand that these scooters have limitations. Top speed is 40 miles per hour, freeway access is denied, and winter riding is more difficult in the Gorge. But there are other upsides besides gas mileage. No motorcycle endorsement is needed, and in Washington no insurance is required. Insurance fees are minimal in Oregon.

Saving the environment is a process in which we need to take whatever steps we can. While a scooter may not be your only mode of transportation, it would make a good second vehicle. Run your errands with it; give your car a break.

I plan on buying one myself. They are fun, easy on the wallet, and keep emissions down. When my wife asks me why I think we need one, I’ll answer, “Just doing my part to save the environment honey. Just doing my part.”