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| Subject: Zero-emission scooter to debut in Japan Sat Oct 31, 2009 6:25 pm | |
| A Japanese zero-emission "hybrid" scooter to be released next year runs 10 times as economically as a petrol engine bike and can be assisted by human pedal power, its maker said.
The Miletto, developed by auto equipment maker PROSTAFF Co Ltd, will make its debut at Y156,900 ($A1,872) in 12 colours, the company said.
"It normally runs with battery power, but on a steep hill the rider would work the pedals to assist," said Ryo Teranishi, a planning official for the company, which is based in the central Japanese city of Ichinomiya.
"It's a zero-emission vehicle in itself but this hybrid of an electric motor and manpower makes it even more environmentally friendly," he told AFP.
With a single charge, which takes between two and four hours, the Miletto can run 35 kilometres on a flat road without pedalling.
That means it can travel three kilometres on one yen (one cent), roughly 10 times as economical as a conventional scooter, the company said.
The company has no specific plans at the moment to sell the scooter abroad.
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