Microbikes, electric scooters, and all manners of powered vehicles are taking the streets by storm. Rising above the heap is the eccentric 3-wheeled Aphaenogaster scooter, designed as an independent exploration by Vestal designer Neal Ormond.

The rider sits on a padded seat atop the rear assembly and steers the front wheels with a forward and back motion of the control stick. A twist grip activates the proportional throttle, while a hand lever activates the rear disk brake. Agile, fast and portable, this scooter packs a 350 watt motor powered by a 24 volt battery and boasts top speed of 15 mph with a range of 8 miles.

The Aphaenogaster was also an opportunity for Vestal to design a zero-emission vehicle whose main purpose is FUN. While car manufacturers are seeing a gradual shift toward better gas mileage, this is not true in recreational vehicles, such as 4-wheelers, motorcycles, and speedboats. Often these vehicles are responsible for pollution in natural parks and other wilderness areas. The Aphaenogaster represents an improvement in that area, sporting a powerful electric motor instead of relying on dirty and increasingly expensive gasoline.