WORDS: PETER ELLIOTT
PHOTOS: GEOFF OSBORNE
MODEN VERACRUZ
ELECTRIC SCOOTER
Electric powered vehicles seem to be taking the world by
storm at the moment. Pete Elliott gets to grips with the
Moden Veracruz e-scooter to see what all the fuss is about.
T
his scooter is manufactured by the
Zhongneng Vehicle Group, one of
the largest scooter makers in China,
exporting to over 100 countries, and
which owns a 50% shareholding in Italian
motorcycle brand, Moto Morini. A clever
move.
However this model has so many different
names I lost track.
The Zhongneng test scooter is supposedly
made for PGO, a known brand in NZ, but my
test bike was badged as a ZNEN scooter, and
more confusingly badged up front as the
Moden UK, and then, in the manual, it was
designated the Modern.
But whether that was a typo, or yet another
name, is beyond me. So. For this test I’ve
decided to use the model name, which is only
minimally less confusing… the “Veracruz”.
I know, right? Why it should be named
after a Mexican Gulf Coast region of nine
million souls I have absolutely no idea. To
the southeast of Veracruz is the region of
Tabasco, which is also a hot sauce – maybe
they aimed for that, and missed? Or maybe
it’s just a play on words – perhaps sounding
like Very Cruise to ears from the orient? I
can’t fathom the thinking. But hell, so what!?
It’s catchy, and a little bit mad. So is the bike.
TURN TO THE DARK SIDE
To start with, it looks really good. I love the
styling. The shiny black and chrome iteration
was racy and slick. The seat is contrasting in
soft beige leather-like finish, and it all comes
across as smartly cohesive.
So it’s electric; an area of motorisation that I
still regard with suspicion, fearing the political
rather than the practical as a motivation
force.
However, the Veracruz may just turn me to
the dark side.
It’s a battery powered scooter with a range
of 55-60km and an electric gearbox, of
sorts, but before we get technical I have to
complete nutting off about the quality of
finish and styling on this scooter.
I think perhaps the Moto Morini DNA has
fertilised some of the design inputs, it looks
very Euro in presentation, and every line
and curve follows through. It is pleasing to
the eye and it’s clear the Italians held onto a
strong input in the design, to the point where
you could buy it for looks alone. No, I’m not
kidding.
Top marks there… Zhongneng-ZNEN-PGO-
MODEN-UK-Modern… take a bow!
From the mags up, things are delicious –
shiny, modern, and spoke-like, yet pretty and
solid; another firm yes from me. And finally,
KIWI RIDER 101