A new electric scooter was apparently displayed at two shows in Europe over the last two weeks. These are electric scooters with hub motors ranging from 2200w to 5000w. The uniqueness is that the frame folds up and they claim that allows the user to carry the scooter into a building or on another vehicle.
Most of their claims look reasonable ... but a couple such as range look suspicious. And of course it doesn't seem feasible to carry a 140lb scooter onto a train as they suggest.
See: XOR Motors aims to offer an extraordinary folding electric scooter for the road
XOR Motors
http://www.xor-motors.com/en/
XO2 urban transformer by XOR motors
http://www.designboom.com/weblog/cat/23/view/8163/xo2-urban-transformer-by-xor-motors.html
Call me deeply skeptical. I have a hard time imagining how a 140 lb scooter could have decent speed or range even without the extra weight incurred by making it foldable. This surely is still in the concept/prototype stage.
"we must be the change we wish to see in the world"
I don't think you carry it. You roll it like a heavy suitcase with wheels and a handle.
I just got home from a long trip with lots of shopping and my stuffed 70 lb suitcase on wheels was no problems through thousands of yards/meters of airports in different countries.
If they could refine this some more, perhaps there is some real merit in this idea..especially in european trains and stations, with good wheelchair access.
A smaller range and lighter weight might work quite well...100 pounds seems viable. If it uses the big, low rolling resistance of the scooter, many adults could pull a that through a train station to the street
Dave,
Your deeply skeptical! (hey you told me to call you that). However, I agree - this is one of the ones still on paper. They're claiming a 4.5kWh LiPo battery pack - so they better have a really safe charger and LVC. LiPo is far more risky than LiFePO4.
However, it is a neat idea. Getting something that could be folded up to be rolled into an apartment building's elevator isn't such a crazy idea... They talk about a removable battery pack on wheels - but don't show it. Removing just the battery for apartment dwellers would be good - and likely more achievable than the whole bike.
John H. Founder of Current Motor Company - opinions on this site belong to me; not to my employer
Remember: " 'lectric for local. diesel for distance" - JTH, Amp Bros || "No Gas.