The high lithium price doesn't have much of an impact on the...

The high lithium price doesn't have much of an impact on the cost of batteries, for example, have a look at this article.

However I do think you (and also olleydog, earlier) make a valid point about the low oil price.

In the United States, the low oil price seems to have adversely impacted electric vehicle sales in 2014 and 15, although interestingly it appears there has been an EV sales rebound over the past 12 months despite the oil price remaining low.

But I wonder if electric scooters and bikes have a sort of 'uber sensitivity' to low energy prices, even more so than electric cars?.

A few years ago, with oil prices up around $100 US dollar a barrel, buying an electric vehicle was a good way to save on fuel costs.

I think two of the more obvious options would have been to: 1.) buy an electric bike/scooter in addition to your internal combustion engine vehicle and use it for short trips, or 2.) or replace your ICE vehicle with an electric car (the more expensive option).

So I suspect a chunk of the electric scooter market was from people who already owned cars but also bought an electric scooter in part to save costs. The problem is when fuel costs fall to rock bottom the economic logic of buying an electric scooter goes out the window, you may as well use the car for all your trips and take advantage of the low oil price.

Another issue for Vmoto is that in countries like China the rise of the middle class has gotten to a point that people in some areas there have started to turn their noses up at electric scooters.

In my opinion Vmoto should be targeting regions in the early stage of economic development such as sub-saharan Africa: the rapid growth in solar in this region bodes well for anyone selling electric scooters or, anything electrical for that matter.