Ann Arbor is a hot spot for tech tinkering.

The Wall Street Journal today mentions a specific Ann Arbor entrepreneurial activity in a story chronicling the trend of American innovators tweaking existing technologies to offering disruptive change.

The story notes that Scio Township-based Current Motor Co. developed its electric scooter technology at A2 Mech Shop, a nonprofit technology incubator. Current Motor will start shipping its electric scooter this month. Prices start at $5,500. WSJ reports:

The American tradition of tinkering -- the spark for inventions from the telephone to the Apple computer -- is making a comeback, boosted by renewed interest in hands-on work amid the economic crisis and falling prices of high-tech tools and materials.

Erik Kauppi, co-founder of Current Motor, told the WSJ:

"There have always been hobbyists, but it was really hard to go from being a hobbyist who built hot rods to becoming a car company. But now, all of a sudden a guy or a couple of guys have a lot more leverage."

Current Motor, profiled by AnnArbor.com in July, joins a long list of companies angling to offer new electric transportation technologies.

“There are certainly manufacturers who are trying to take a swing at successfully marketing electric two-wheelers in the U.S.,” said Ty Van Hooydonk, spokesman for the Motorcycle Industry Council, in July.

Contact AnnArbor.com's Nathan Bomey at (734) 623-2587 or nathanbomey@annarbor.com. You can also follow him on Twitter.