Electric one-wheel unicycles and electric skateboards to use with mass transit trips

What if your daily commute is a bus to the local train station, ride the train for an hour, then another bus to the office. Bus's are convenient because someone else is driving, but there are plenty of inefficiencies such as the frequent stops at each bus stop and the risk of missing a bus connection. The total commute might add up to two hours each way. The problem is the bus system, because there are other ways to handle the "last mile" between home or office and the train station. For example, a bicycle usually takes you to the train faster, but then you need to deal with carrying the bicycle on the train. Not all train systems allow bicycles.

What if there were vehicles small enough to be carried onto a train and stashed under the seat? The vehicle might be electric, letting you avoid getting sweaty from riding a bicycle.

Like this?

Before we get into specific vehicles, let's first go over a few basics.

The key point is that electric vehicle technology makes whole new vehicle classes possible. Electric motors and batteries let vehicle designers do more than just taking the basic car shape and swapping an electric motor for the gas motor. We can arrange the parts in whole new ways. An electric unicycle is an example.

Most who try to ride the traditional sort of unicycle give up after falling on their face (sometimes literally), right? But with an electric unicycle you don't have to learn that strange skill of pedaling back and forth to stay upright. Likewise with an electric skateboard, you don't have to learn how to kick to gain motion while staying on top the vehicle.

This sort of vehicle could be used in other ways than just a "last mile" solution for mass transit. It's probably small enough to stash in the trunk of your car, and use it to zip around a shopping mall without having to move the car around from store to store. (Why oh why are modern malls so badly designed??) An apartment dweller could have one of these, instead of a bicycle, with the small size making it more compatible with apartment living, and making it easy to bring up to the apartment (or into the office) for charging.

One obvious question is - won't this just contribute to laziness and flabby muscles? A bicycle you pedal, and thereby get some exercise, but this doesn't involve pedaling. However, holding yourself upright on one of these things requires leg and pelvic muscle strength which should be good for the core muscles.

Electric Unicycles

Airwheel: The unicycle above was made by Airwheel, along with a dozen other vehicles. Most of them are single wheel unicycles like the one shown above, some have dual wheels, and they even have a vehicle which looks like the Segway.

New X3 Upgrade Self Balance Electric Unicycle Scooter One wheel Black 9.8kg: 132 Watt-hours, 350 watts motor, top speed 18 km/hr, range 10+ km.

Carbon-fibre Pattern Airwheel X8 Self-balancing Electric Unicycle Scooter: 170 Watt-hours, top speed 18 km/hr, range 25 km.

Airwheel Self Balancing One Wheel Electric Unicycle Scooter Solves Your Transportation Needs (Black and Red)

Official Selling Airwheel Q3 Electric Scooter,enhanced Two-wheel Stability, Intelligent Self- Balancing, Revolutionary Commuting Aid,strengthened Protection Mechanism, Speed Control, Aviation Aluminum Pedal,265 Lbs Weight Limit (Black130Wh)

Airwheel Self Balancing Two Wheels Electric Scooter: Segway clone. 170 Watt-hours, top speed 18 km/hr, range 60 km.

New Version Airwheel Q5 Dual Wheels More Stable Self Balancing Electric Unicycle Scooter with White Color

Airwheel Unicycle Electric Scooter X3-130-W-White

Airwheel Self-Balancing Electric Unicycle Q1-170WH- Black Red

Dual Wheels Only 10.6kg Airwheel Q1 Self-balancing Electric Unicycle Scooter with New Customized Night Riding Set (White)

Airwheel X6 Self Balance Electric Scooter Black

Review Videos:

• AIRWHEEL X3 INTRODUCTION | How to ride AirWheel
• Which AirWheel is Best for Me?
• Airwheel Q3 Review (electric unicycle like solowheel or IPS or Wheelgo)
• Learning to Ride the Airwheel X8
• Airwheel x3 Challenge a 90 degree Hill
• Airwheel Q5 Review: A transport that redefines Convenience
• Airwheel X8 cruising in Trondheim / Norway

Ninebot and Ninebot US: This company, like Airwheel, has a fairly broad product list. Many regard this one as the best of the electric unicycle companies.

Latest Ninebot One E+ One-wheel Scooter Self-balancing Scooter Unicycle 120w Standard Charger and 320wh High-capacity Battery+training wheel

2015 NEW latest fashionable Ninebot one E+ One-wheel scooter Self-balancing Scooter Unicycle 120W standard charger and 320Wh high-capacity battery with bag and a pair of green shell

With the 1500 Watt motor, these will be zippy. The 320 Watt-hour battery pack supports what they claim to be 22 mile range. A full recharge is about 2 1/2 hours.

Review Videos:

• Ninebot One (UK) - First Ever Hands on and Ride!
• Off Road - Ninebot One (UK) - Real Life Video Test #3
• Ninebot ONE - Stunts and Friends - SpeedyFeet.uk
• Ninebot One - Romania
• Ninebot One E first steps
• Ninebot ONE - How To - APP run through
• Ninebot One-Personal Transportation Robot (台湾电动车独轮俱乐部)

Ninebot also has other products which look like Segway clones. In fact, in April 2015 Ninebot bought Segway for an undisclosed sum.

2014 Model: NINEBOT ELITE i2 Alternative Electric Personal Transporter

In addition to Airwheel and Ninebot, here are several other electric unicycles where each is the single product made by the respective company.

AGDA® 110Wh Super Cool Rechargeable Portable Ultralight Self Balancing Single Wheel Electric Unicycle Scooter with U.S. Charger (Ship from California US) (Black)

Droiee® Self Balance Electric Unicycle Scooter One Wheel(black)

MonoRover R1 132Wh Single wheel Self Balancing Unicycle Electric Scooter with U.S. Charger (Black-Blue)

Muzeli Cool High-tech Smart Self Balancing Wheelbarrow Electric Adult Unicycle Scooter - With Trolley LED Light Driving Range 25km 14 Inch (Black+Orange)

Muzeli X3 Aviation Self Balancing Electric Unicycle Smart Scooter Personal Transoprter Green

TopJoy PinWheel T1 Self Balancing Auto Self Balance Electric Unicycle Wheel Electric Scooter Bicycle,Walking Robot One wheel Yellow

Electric two-wheel self balancing scooter thingies

Earlier I said - electric drive trains allow for new kinds of vehicles. Here's an example that I don't think would be possible with any other kind of drive train technology.

Shareconn Two Wheel Self Balancing Scooter Electric Scooter Personal Transporter-outdoor Sports Kids Adult Transporter with LED Light (White): 500 Watts, 158 Watt-hours pack, 26 lbs

Muzeli Two-wheel Smart Self Balancing Electric Scooter Electric Unicycle Smart Wheels Personal Transporter Intelligent Balance Car- With Safe Speed 12 Km/h Riding +Remote+led Light, Black White Pink Gold Blue Green Color (Black): 158 Watt-hours pack, 2x 300 Watt motors, 22 lbs

MonoRover R2 Electric Unicycle Mini Scooter Two Wheels Self Balancing (Black): 158 Watt-hours, 1000 Watt motor, 22 lbs

Likary Smart Two Wheel Self Balancing Electric Scooter, Safer and Easier to Learn, Only 10Kg (Black): 160 Watt-hours, 26 lbs,

2015 New Mini Smart Self Balancing Electric Unicycle Scooter Balance 2 Wheels Electric Scooter (Black) - DHL Fast Shipping: 158 Watt-hours, 500 Watts,

Electric Skateboards

Here's something that looks normal - skateboards have been around a long time - but with an electric twist.

Boosted Dual+ 2000W Electric Skateboard: This is a top-of-the-line vehicle designed by Stanford students. It has dual motors totaling at 2000 Watts power, a top speed of 20 miles/hr, and a range of 7 miles. The 15 lb weight makes it very carryable.

Yuneec E-GO Electric Skateboard: This has a more sane power level - with a 13 miles/hr top speed, or 8 miles/hr in learning mode. The range is 18 miles, or so.

LUOOV Street Devil 1200 Watt 20 Mph Hill Grade Cruise Control Electric Skateboard: 1200 Watt motor, 20 miles/hr top speed, 18 miles range.