The world of electric scooters->ke2256 is gaining popularity in all corners of the world. Just this year, we’ve been introduced to the likes of the go-go-gadget Govecs GiGi Concept and the carry-it-with-you-anywhere Coolpeds’ Briefcase Electric Scooter. Recently, another one of this variety is turning heads. It’s called the ATX 8080, a Honda Ruckus-lookalike that’s coming to us by way of Austin Electric Powersports.

The ATX 8080 is everything you’d expect from a naked electric scooter. The stripped-down design is a departure from the traditionally enclosed scooter configuration. It’s a fresh take to the popular commuter and should turn a lot of heads anywhere it goes.

More than just its unique design, Austin Electric Powersports also gave the 8080 enough juice to push into the realm of small-displacement bikes. It’s still not in that classification, but with promises of a 50-mph top speed and 50-mile range, it might as well be.

Even the 8080’s powertrain system isn’t what you typically find in a scooter, let alone one of the electric persuasion. This part of the commuter is credited to KLD Energy’s “oneDrive” system, described as a low-voltage, high-frequency, hub motor that can produce as much as 147.5 pound-feet of torque, allowing it to cover 0-to-25 mph in 3.2 seconds, and 0-to-50 mph in 9.4.

The oneDrive system works in conjunction with Samsung-sourced battery cells that can cover as much as 56,000 miles of riding. Charging time only takes two hours for the battery to recharge up to 80 percent, although if you want to have it fully charged, you’re going to have to wait at least four hours for that.

The 8080 seems to cover a lot of bases as far as what we want from an electric scooter. But liking it and having it are two entirely different things. If we want to accomplish the latter, we’re going to have to help out the company’s Kickstarter campaign, which is asking for $5,250 for a single unit. If you feel the need to have two at your disposal, you’re going to have to shell out $10,000 for that.

Why it matters

There’s a prevalent sense in the industry that the future of the motorcycle industry is electric. In a lot of ways, that probably applies more to scooters because these machines aren’t as complex and sophisticated as their motorcycle counterparts.

We’ve even seen a lot of companies pay more attention to this shift in perception, whether its upstart firms like Austin Electric Powersports or established entities like BMW.

The electric scooter market is going to be a lot bigger in the near future than what it is right now. That much I’m certain of.

On that end, it’s nice to see a company like Austin Electric Powersports get a jump on the proceedings of sorts. It’s not the most well-funded firm in the business, hence the need to go to Kickstarter to help fund its project. But there’s also something to be said for a company who has dedicated itself time and resources into developing a product like the 8080 with the purpose of not only making money out of it, but to also promote the electric scooter market in its own muscular, bare-boned way.

I sincerely hope that the company reaches its $100,000 target so it can proceed with the development and production of the 8080. As per my last visit to its Kickstarter page, it’s already received a little over $40,000 in pledges with 15 days to go.

I’d also like to invite everyone to throw their support behind this endeavor. Who knows, you might even win some interesting rewards, including a three-day pass to a 2016 Moto GP event and/or a weekend pass to the Austin City Limits Music Festival.

Those are pretty sweet deals to support a sweet project.