electric scooter

As much as there is to like about the Segway, it’s not the most practical option out there – it’s bulky and expensive. The Orbis Urban Mobility Vehicle, on the other hand, could do a lot to make scooting a smidge more plausible. The Orbis’ polycarboate-and-aluminum body weighs 25 pounds to the Segway’s 105. The scooter rides around 13mph on its one wheel.

Worried about balancing? Don’t be. The Orbis uses gyroscopes to keep itself upright. Its balancing system and motor are lithium-ion-powered.

The Vectrix, a new all-electric motor scooter, is getting some press in the Bay Area, where it's being billed as an environmentally-friendly commuting vehicle. The bike, which plugs into a wall outlet and recharges in two to three hours, has a top speed of 60 miles per hour, and decent range: A Vectrix executive estimates that it will go for 60 miles at about 45 miles per hour.

These all-electric, no-emissions scooter are already a staple in some European cities, but it might take a lower price tag for the Vetrix to catch on here. At $11,000, the bike is far more expensive than similarly-size, gas-powered models. So, while you're saving serious money at the pump - it costs pennies per gallon - that initial price forces you to play catch-up. Still, if a company's going to try to sell people an $11,000 all-electric scooter, San Francisco's probably the place to do it.—Gregory Mone