ProGo 3000 Propane Scooter Goes Anywhere And Everywhere

ProGo, a Los Angeles based start-up, might have just built the perfect personal mobility/”last mile” commuter vehicle. It’s called the ProGo 3000 scooter, and it weighs a mere 35 lbs, goes up to 20 mph, and has a range of 40 miles on a standard cylinder of propane.

Yes, the ProGo 3000 runs on propane, which means you can safely operate it indoors or other places where gasoline powered vehicles are prohibited.

The ProGo 3000 is pretty neat, I think. Its purpose-built, 25 cc propane engine should be strong enough to whisk you anywhere you want to go around town, and – when it comes time to slow down – there are high-quality disc brakes front and rear. That braking hardware seems more than up to the task of hauling down the scooter’s 275 lbs. carrying capacity, and the handle folds to make it easy to carry or store.

As an added bonus, ProGo claims its new, 3000 model propane-powered scooter is EPA and CARB approved (California Air Resources Board), making it a true, 50 state legal scooter suitable for use indoors, and out.

Sign up now at Kickstarter to get yours for “only” $375, which seems pircey for a kick scooter, but not bad once you consider that “regular” production models will start at $449. There are only a few days left to get yours at the introductory price, then, since the Kickstarter goal of $18,000 has already been met and then some. So far, the campaign has pledges for more than twice that amount. Apparently quite a few people like the idea of an rugged, inexpensive, low emissions scooter. And besides, it is just too cute!

ProGo Propane Powered Scooter

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Source | Images: Gizmag.

Japan Offers $20,000 For Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles

Honda and Toyota, two of Japan’s largest automakers, have wholly embraced hydrogen fuel cell vehicles as the alternative fuel of the future. They aren’t alone either, with the Japanese government doling out a huge $20,000 incentive towards the purchase of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, reports Reuters.

That’s more than double the maximum of $8,500 buyers can get back from the purchase of an all-electric vehicle. However, all of the electric vehicles sold by Japanese automakers are much, much cheaper than the $70,000 Toyota FCV, for example. Even so, this generous incentive brings the cost down to a more palatable $50,000 (ish), though that’s no guarantee that buyers are ready to sign on.

As it stands there are just 12 stations online along Japan’s “hydrogen highway”, though by the end of 2015 the number should be closer to 100. Compare that to an estimated 12,000 EV chargers that Japanese automakers are teaming up to install, and even with this huge incentive, electric vehicles seem to have a huge advantage.

Don’t tell that to Toyota or Hyundai though; both automakers are committing tremendous resources to advance hydrogen, cutting off their EV programs at the knees in a bid to make hydrogen viable. In Japan, heavy incentives will certainly help, but can the same generosity be counted on in the U.S. or Europe?

Source:  Gas 2.