Electric scooters are everywhere in much of Europe and Asia, but they’ve always remained something of an oddity in the US market. While American riders have recently embraced electric bicycles and, to a measurably smaller extent, electric motorcycles, traditional seated scooters have struggled to gain traction in North America. Now San Francisco-based HMP Bikes is hoping to change that with its new HMP Flash, a high-performance electric scooter designed from the ground up for riders who rack up serious mileage.
Unlike many electric two-wheelers that focus on recreational riding, the Flash was designed with delivery riders in mind. That means an emphasis on practical features like real-world range, fast charging, removable batteries, and durability.
In addition to boasting a highway-capable 75 mph (120 km/h) top speed, perhaps the biggest figure for everyday commuter riders is the 70-mile (112 km) tested range. HMP says that figure comes from real-world riding on San Francisco city streets with a 200 lb (91 kg) rider and an approximately 80/20 split for city/highway riding. The company notably points out that it only publishes tested numbers instead of optimistic laboratory estimates.
