When it comes to getting around from A to B, engineers are always on the lookout for
the next revolutionary transport concept. From space-age motorbike-hybrids to next-generation
scooters with a need for speed, the future of the personal urban commute is exciting. Let's
take a look at 10 of the most innovative personal urban transport vehicles available right now!
What's the difference between a motorbike and a moped? No one ever brags about owning a moped.
Mopeds traditionally have pedals, yet Blacktea has done away with them completely,
putting this ride firmly in the motorbike category. If you're confused as well,
in Germany, the term moped is often used for all motorized two-wheelers in the 50cc segment.
The sleek, black vintage frame houses a 1.76-kWh battery
with room for a spare in the storage compartment. With a 3kW rated drivetrain,
riders can expect to hit top speeds of 50mph and cover a distance of 43 miles on a single charge.
Armed with full suspension and disc brakes on both the front and rear wheels,
the Blacktea adventure moped is street legal in the EU
and US, with riders only needing a car license to drive on the roads.
When it comes to wheelchairs, you've traditionally only had two options: the large,
stainless-steel-framed hospital wheelchairs and three-wheeled Paralympic speed chairs.
Introducing the Parafree Modular Wheelchair, an innovative take on the classic mobility chair.
Engineered and designed with customization in mind, the Parafree features a special
axle setup that allows the rider to switch the chair's pivot point,
easily converting from "comfort" to "sports" modes. All modifications and adjustments
can be made without screwdrivers, wrenches, or other fiddly tools.
The chair's monocoque frame is made from lightweight carbon fiber composite
and easily stored away when not in use.
Almost everything on the Parafree Modular chair is customizable, from the seat shells, backrests,
additional wheel configurations, feet rests – even novelty horns for those pesky slow walkers!
Suppose you've ever wanted to own a light cycle straight out of the movie Tron.
In that case, the Finnish manufacturer Verge may just have the motorbike for you.
With a bold, hubless rear wheel design and sharp blocky lines over its lightweight aluminum frame,
this sci-fi inspired electric motorcycle packs some surprising power under the hood.
The large battery can be DC charged in about 4 hours, getting riders from 0-62 mph in under 4
seconds, reaching a limited top speed of 112 mph over a range of 186 miles.
Doing away with spokes and chains, the Verge TS' electric motor is integrated
into the rear wheel itself. So, only the tire spins instead of a wheel and tire spinning.
This allows for a regenerative brake system that can recharge the battery while driving
by capturing and converting kinetic energy to an electrical charge.
Once an exclusive transport mode for circus clowns and street buskers,
the humble unicycle has had a dramatic 21st-century reboot. InMotion's V11 is an
electric unicycle with 2.75 inches (70mm) of air-sprung suspension, making it a true off-road vehicle.
The V11 comes with an 18-inch off-road tire, a 2,200 wat EV motor that can reach a top
speed of 31 mph. Packed away in the frame is a 1,500-Wh/84-volt lithium battery that,
despite its unassuming size, can still take riders up to 75 miles on a single charge.
Charging up the battery can take up to 10 hours,
so if you want to look ridiculous on your way to work, you gotta plan ahead.
The V11 looks to be the successor to the Kingsong KS-S18, which, while maintaining
similar top speed capabilities, enjoys a slightly large suspension and distance range,
with the KS-S18 running out of juice after 62 miles.
All scooter riders around the world have one thing in common.
They hate potholes with a passion. This is mostly due to the traditionally rigid frames
that forced riders to feel every bump in the road. One American E-Scooter manufacturer is making
a "Splach" with its latest innovative take on the classic scooter. Featuring front and
rear coiled suspensions, rough roads, and cracked sidewalks become smooth sailing.
The Splach can be folded away or unpacked in as little as 10 seconds,
and its 39-pound aviation aluminum frame can accommodate riders up to 264 pounds.
The on-board, 800W motor can propel riders to a top speed of 28mph over a range of 31-37 miles.
And for those who enjoy the occasional sunset scoot,
the Splach comes with LED lighting to brighten your path and warn pedestrians to make way.
Is it a scooter? Is it a bicycle?
No! It's the Super Glide 4.0, the latest in "fat tire" electric hybrid bikes
from the Californian manufacturer "Ride The Glide." With both a scooter-style standing
tray and bike seat, riders can choose the most comfortable configuration for them.
Mounted in front of the rear wheel is a robust, 750W brushless geared hub drive powered by a
pair of 48V 20Ah lithium-ion batteries. With the motor engaged, riders can hit speeds of 27 mph
with a range of 37–100 miles. The fat tires offer better suspension than standard tires,
with riders less aware of bumps and potholes while riding.
This isn't the first foray into fat-wheel electric vehicles for Ride the Glide. They've
also got a traditional-style e-scooter design with their trademark fat wheels for maximum comfort.
You won't get the same range out of the Wide Wheel Pro; however,
the 48V 15Ah batteries run out of juice after about 25 miles.
Have you ever been out bike riding when you hear the unmistakable hiss of a flat tire? If you don't
have a puncture repair kit or a C02 canister on hand to fix the tire, your fun afternoon of
cycling can quickly turn into a nightmare. In France, engineers set out to solve this
common headache by filling the frame of their latest design innovation
with compressed air. Who needs to bring an extra air pump when it comes with the bike?
It sounds crazy, and we didn't believe it till we saw it for ourselves, but the
CHOKA bike doubles as a compressed air tank with one "frame-full" of air. It's allegedly
enough to completely inflate 27.5 x 2.80 tires to 22 PSI or two 700 x 45C tires to 60 PSI.
If this concept sounds over-the-top, maybe set your sights a little simpler. The RideAir is
a re-usable, bike-mounted compressed air pump that you refill at the gas station,
allowing you to go from flat to fat in a matter of seconds!
If you're feeling the need for speed,
we're about to show you the world's fastest production hyper scooter ever made.
The RE90 racing scooter is built upon the RION modular platform. This engineering
system allows you to upgrade core components depending on the performance you desire.
The base model features a carbon fiber body, sub aluminum arms, and PMT slick racing tires.
Powered by a 96.6v lithium battery that can put out 30Ah from super high-capacity fuel
cells – the RE90's dual controllers shoot out 400 amps each per phase.
All this power translates to a blistering top speed of 100 mph
and a range of 60 miles on a single charge. E-scooters are getting faster and slicker.
There's even a competition to begin in 2021 named the eSkootr Championship that's headed
by Formula One driver Alex Wurz, Formula E driver Lucas Di Grassi and A1GP driver Khalil Beschir.
Just when you thought we were done with confusing-yet-exciting moped-motorcycle-scooter
hybrids, Juiced offers their latest design to the growing world of personal electric transport.
The biggest complaint of e-bike riders is battery capacity. You can't go on long rides without
planning a mid-trip charge or bringing additional batteries for the ride. Listed and developed by
Juiced, the HyperScrambler 2 features, not one but two 52-volt, 19.2-Ah batteries.
All this power allows for top speeds of 30 mph over distances up to 100 miles.
For a sneak-peak into the future, our #1 pick for innovative, electric personal
transport is the HyperTEK electric motorbike from South Africa's Blackstone Tek (BST).
BST was traditionally famous for carbon-fiber technology. After teaming up with the engineer
behind the Ducati Supermono, the end result is simply breathtaking.
The BST-HyperTek claims that it's DHX Hawk water-cooled PMS electric motor can put out
80 kW (107 hp) and 120 Nm of instant torque.
This equates to a 186-mile range on a single charge of the battery,
which can reportedly be charged in under 30 minutes from DC power!
But the clincher that has most e-bike enthusiasts excited
is the helmet. BST has integrated a Heads Up Display into the helmet visor,
allowing real-time monitoring of battery, speed, and even rear-view capabilities!