Ocean Point has history in the making in longtime seasonal resident Ted Fuller’s Cruzer Scooter. He calls the scooter “America’s scooter company.” The small electric equivalent of a 50cc motored scooter came to Fuller in a vision in 2013. He said everything will be electric in the mid-21st century, but there is almost nothing on the market today for small electric scooters.

“General Motors said last week that they were committing to be all electric by 2030. Biden's saying cars are going to be all electric by 2035 or something like that. So, the timing's perfect and I can do it quicker, better, faster than the competition.” Fuller said there were several hurdles over the five years it took. Since there are no mathematical equations to show a 50cc equivalent electric scooter, the biggest task was to model a prototype that could go from 0 to 30 miles per hour in five seconds and run 80 miles on a battery, twice the miles of Vespa’s and Honda’s equivalents, he said.

Fuller’s first step was taking his idea to University of New Hampshire College of Engineering and Physical Sciences for graduate students to design a prototype for their practicum. Then, Fuller brought the concept to UNH College of Business and Economics for students to do a market analysis.

“You go in and present what you've got and you have these guys build your prototype – what kind of shocks you need and all that stuff, marketing … The students get their course requirements out of it and I got a better understanding because I've never been in the scooter business.”

The prototype that came out of the classroom was the first of four before Fuller produced the E2000. Fuller said the E2000 will sell for around $4,000 compared to the Vespa electric scooter which he said costs $7,300.

The scooter is made in China to Fuller’s specifications: 2000W motor mounted on 12-inch rear wheel, front disk brakes, two 72V30Ah lithium ion batteries with wall outlet recharging capability, Bluetooth and FM radio with speakers, LED headlights and brake lights and a design with longer seating and more leg room than the average moped. Fuller said he would like to bring the manufacturing and assembly to the U.S.

“I wanted to try and get it made in the U.S. but it was impossible … In volume, the frame cost about $100. In China, it's $25. And it goes on: Tires are half the price, lights, batteries … The maintenance on this is a tenth of what it is on gas because there's no carburetor, no pump, no gas tank. It’s just a motor.”

Cruzer Scooter has a few markets in mind: millenials commuting to work in the city, college students and faculty in the cities and small town, tourist-driven areas like the Boothbay region. Fuller said he has picked 24 cities near big campuses that he wants to market his scooters to.

“Austin, Texas as an example: they've got a huge tech environment, young people who can afford it and there is the University of Texas with 60,000 students … And here? To drive downtown and get a pizza, you can't park, traffic's terrible. You kidding? With a little scooter I can go downtown or pick up my laundry or park at Ocean Point and go down to watch the water.”