Malta’s streets may not be ideal and drivers not the most respectful but negotiating both on electric scooters that have just hit the road is the way forward, according to the importer.

Despite the short distances, flat terrain, mild weather and traffic congestion, scooters have never really taken off on the island. But environment-friendly considerations could be the boost they need: the running costs of the Yogo, the world’s first lithium ion battery-operated scooter, have been calculated at 17c for a 30-kilometre range as opposed to €1.12 for a 50cc scooter and €2.80 for a diesel 1.6l car.

Eco Solutions managing director Sinan Vural believes at least 60 per cent of vehicles in Malta will be electric by 2020 and that this generation will witness the change in transport from petrol to battery.

And although recharging infrastructure does not yet exist on Maltese roads, the beauty of the electrical scooter is that its two batteries can be easily removed from under the seat and carried like a briefcase to the office or home for a new injection of energy from a socket at a desk.

“If you live in a flat, without a garage, you do not need to pass a wire outdoors from a window,” Mr Vural points out.

One hour later – considered to be fast charging – it is ready to zoom off and a battery can take its driver a distance of 32 kilometres, practically from one end of Malta to the other.

Once a battery runs out, the switch to the second is easy and happens with the flick of a button near the glove compartment.

But it is not just the battery operation; it is also about the type. These are the long-life, eco-friendly lithium ion version, used in mobile phones, without spewing poisonous chemicals.

Conscious about the state of the environment, the telecommunications engineer started experimenting with simple solutions in his home as a hobby, building his own wind turbine for his Lija house. But he got so passionate about it he switched jobs and entered a new line of business that looks for ecological solutions that are also economic.

Mr Vural has reduced emissions at home and uses an array of gadgets that help cut down his consumption from the average 35 units to 10.

Referring to the country’s targets to cut emissions, improve efficiency and produce energy from renewable sources in the next decade, Mr Vural believes the Malta Intelligent Energy Management Agency’s energy-saving tips, listed in a leaflet recently distributed by post, were a good attempt. But the first thing to do before trying to save energy is to calculate usage. “You need to compare with the baseline to make sensible progress,” he insists, listing devices that can give an accurate reading of spending and cut down stand-by electricity wastage.

The Yogo has not compromised on design but definitely reduced its number of parts. Having no fuel tank and oil filters, ignition and starter means it is also easier to maintain, Mr Vural says.

The problem is the cost, which he considers another barrier for customers and believes more incentives should be introduced.

“People would rather buy a normal second-hand car, with all its comforts, for €2,600,” he believes. “In Italy, everyone has a scooter and in Malta everyone has a car – and more than one!”

The most expensive part is the battery and the technology needs more mileage to get cheaper, more reliable and be able to store more energy, he says.

Yet, Mr Vural is confident the culture is changing and the 2011 Budget was “promising” and a step in the right direction for eco-friendly transport.

The Yogo cannot be compared to another scooter because, although it looks like one, it is a completely different animal, particularly in terms of power.

It is the number plate on the back – in his case ECO 101 – that earns the driver more respect on the roads, according to Mr Vural.

“Cars behind me do not try to squeeze and pester me even though I cannot go beyond 50kph (due to the pre-programmed software control) and they may be in a hurry.”

Hardly a sound emanates as he silently drives out of a parking space he found easily at midday in Valletta. As he darts through the traffic, it is he who frightens cars that never heard him coming.