Autokraft joins electric revolution in the East of England
From muscle power to green power – AC Cars launches Autokraft by AC – a new generation of road-worthy, emissions-free electric scooters
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The transformation of the iconic AC Cobra racing car with its huge, gas-guzzling ‘classic’ V8 petrol engine to one now powered by an advanced, equally powerful but totally clean electric motor caused shock waves around the heritage auto sector when the news was announced earlier this year.
Now there’s more shock news. Electric power will appear under the saddle of AC’s first-ever two-wheeler. The ‘Autokraft by AC’ name badge (recreating a form of branding which was a key part of AC’s history dating back to the 1970’s) will be once again a regular sight on the roads of Britain.
Autokraft’s new all-electric scooters are being manufactured at their HQ at the rapidly growing EV cluster at Hethel Engineering Centre, Norfolk. The vision is for the Autokraft to become a sought-after design classic, much like it’s AC Cobra stablemate.
According to Google Trends data, there has been a 376% increase in online searches for e-scooters during the coronavirus lockdown. This is largely driven by a growing appetite for more efficient, environmentally conscious modes of transportation along with a new desire for a more socially distanced alternative to public transport. E-Scooters are freely available to buy in the UK but can currently only be ridden on private land with the permission of the landowner. Since 4 July 2020, UK cities have been able to trial electric scooter hire services & the government says it will monitor safety and keep the year-long scheme – part of a £2 billion plan to invest in greener travel – under review. Recent research by Halfords has revealed over 70 percent of adults would consider using electric scooters for short journeys if they were legalised. All eyes, therefore, are now on Government for a change to UK road traffic legislation, but already the global electric scooter market is expected to reach an estimated $16.4 billion by 2025 with a CAGR of 0.5% to 2.5% from 2020 to 2025.
“Scooter buyers and riders in the UK need to understand where their product is coming from, the proven automotive standards used in its design and manufacture and the heritage behind our famous brand"
Autokraft’s founder and CEO, Alan Lubinsky, believes it is the brand’s heritage in engineering and automotive design that will set the product apart in the UK market. “Our TR560 scooter has a 24-volt lithium-ion battery pack with a built-in charger and its key performance figures are more than a match for other machines in the market.” Top speed for the scooter is 25km/h, estimated range between charges (which take just 4.5 hours from empty) is 50km – and those figures can be further enhanced by selecting an optional higher output battery for just £50.
It’s no accident that the Autokraft electric scooter will be manufacturedred in Hethel, Norfolk. Situated just 10 miles south of the city of Norwich, Hethel is most famous for being home to Lotus Cars, one of the most recognisable luxury brands in the British automotive industry. With a rich history of designing cutting-edge road and racing vehicles, the brand has recently announced the upcoming launch of Britain’s first all-electric hypercar; the Evija. Strategically adjacent to the Lotus HQ and building on this existing expertise in advanced engineering and technology, Hethel Engineering Centre on Hethel Technology Park is home to some of the brightest business brains in the region, with a growing community of start-up and scale-up firms.
The Autokraft TR560 starts at £1,692.00 incl VAT.
Further details, including how to purchase a scooter online, visit: https://www.autokraft.technology/
