Having witnessed countless shape-shifting concepts and working prototypes, I always yearn for a set of wheels that is practical in real-life usage and easy enough to transform from one form to the other. To my amazement, an Indian automotive startup has that desire half-fulfilled. Meet the S32 EV that’s an electric scooter transforming into an e-rikshaw and vice versa.
While you won’t be seeing me driving an e-rikshaw in this lifetime atleast, the vehicle seems like a very good option for commercial use. Given the sheer intensity of commute, home delivery and logistics requirements of the nation, this is going to be a successful product. Designed specifically for the Indian subcontinent, the e-scooter can solve a lot of purposes – be it your commute to the supermarket to grab groceries or hauling medium-sized cargo across the city.
The interchangeable body frame is an industry-first innovation and it’s as easy as popping open the front section (fascia) of the rikshaw and sliding out the two-wheeler. This transition takes less than three minutes courtesy of the specially engineered spring-loaded mechanism, turning the three-wheeled e-rickshaw into an electric scooter so fast you’ll be amazed to see it in real time. All this is done at the touch of a button without the need for any tools. The result is a flexible vehicle that can take either of the two shapes depending on the needs.
The transforming vehicle has very little scope for personal usage, it is a great option for commercial use. For instance, a delivery vendor could configure the S32 on the fly depending on the needs of the client without needing to keep two separate vehicles for each usage. Each module has its separate batteries (independently charged) and motors to make them as independent as they can be. On the inside the vehicle is fitted with LED lighting, digital speedometer and switchgear.
When both of them are combined the three-wheeled rickshaw mode is activated – kicking into action the larger 11 kWH battery, generating 6bhp. It’s powerful enough to haul a weight of 500 kg and has a top speed of 50 km/h. When separated, the electric scooter’s 3.5 KWH battery is activated for commuting, having a top speed of 60 km/h thanks to the 4 bhp output.
Hero Motor Corp says the rikshaw module can be bought in either the hauling option with a cargo bed or the passenger configuration with seats at the back. The company has not revealed the pricing or actual release date but they’ve hinted at a probable production timeline of 2025.
Personal mobility devices such as e-scooters, hoverboards, and the like have risen in popularity in recent years. This new breed of transportation is empowering commuters, adventurers, and all sorts of travelers to go the distance with more flexibility, versatility, and style. Electric scooters, in particular, combine the best traits of personal mobility when it comes to freedom of movement and reliability, but it feels that they still fall short of that last leg of the journey that you need to take on foot and force you to leave your precious metal steed behind. Whether it’s for security or convenience, you no longer have to chain down your e-scooter in some exposed parking space, thanks to an ingenious design that lets you fold the vehicle into something you can actually store in your bag.
If you presumed this would be similar to the folding non-electric bikes already in the market, not only are you way off base, you aren’t giving enough room for your imagination to breathe either. After all, most e-scooters already fold their stems down to their decks to save space, but that doesn’t make them any less cumbersome to take with you anywhere. The Arma Scooter’s ground-breaking innovation is more like Transformers, turning a tall, two-wheeled vehicle into a compact box that you can carry like a suitcase or stow away in your bag.
This kind of shape-changing ability solves many of the remaining problems owners have with their regular e-scooters. You no longer have to worry about parking space or security because you can always bring your scooter with you. And those parts of a journey where you’re not allowed to ride on wheels? You can simply fold down the e-scooter and walk. Wherever you go, the Arma Scooter goes with you, whether you’re riding on it or carrying it, and letting you switch between the two in just 30 seconds.
Given its foldable design and lightweight body, weighing only around 10lbs (4.5kg) in its first prototype, you might be concerned that the Arma Scooter won’t take you that far on wheels. It couldn’t be farther from the truth, though, thanks to a range of around 7 miles (11 km) with its 36V battery and 250W motor. The batteries, which charge to full via USB-C in just 2 hours, can be swapped easily so you can keep on riding as long you have juice in those spare packs.
The Arma Scooter is more than just an engineering and design marvel, it’s also a testament to the qualities that made Japanese craftsmanship famed within the automotive industry. The meticulous attention to every detail and the dedication to quality and reliability come together to craft not just an innovative device but also a unique experience that aims to be the epitome of mobile excellence. Whether you’re riding for fun or trying to escape the stress of daily commutes, this mind-blowing foldable e-scooter gives you the freedom to go anywhere with the peace of mind that your traveling companion will always be with you wherever you go.
As businesses are shifting focus from more polluting and space-consuming cargo vans and cars to cargo-hauling bikes for the last-mile approach, there is a huge demand for better options. Tapping on the opportunity, a Vancouver-based startup is designing what it calls the Scootility – precisely a portmanteau of scooter and utility. A reasonable and compact alternative for last-mile delivery; the cargo-hauling Scootility is for now in the prototype stage with production to begin in the next 12 months.
Given its unique design, the Scootility is not another electric bike. In fact, it draws design inspiration from a segway with a column handle for maneuvering it. By virtue, however, it is an electric scooter that allows the rider to stand up and ride while the cargo remains intact in the covered box right in front of the eyes.
In the design then, a lockable cargo box with a standard load-bearing capacity of 140 liters is the biggest takeaway. This weatherproof box becomes even more beneficial for the delivery guy with the swappable feature. The cargo box can be taken off and replaced with a swappable option on the fly minimizing time between pickup and delivery.
The e-scooter with its compact size and narrow footprint in the traffic, can also be used for delivering medication or supplies in affected areas where access to other forms of transport may be hindered. Interestingly, Scootility has full suspension and wheels measuring 16-inches on the front and 13-inches on the back. The smaller wheel size allows more space for a cargo box on this scooter with utility as its basis over a simple mode of commutation.
For the safety of the rider, it’s installed with LED lighting and has a small turning radius, the manufacturer claims. A foldable leg rest of the Scootility can double as a glove compartment, and the long steering column and handle can fold down for easy storage. Powered by a swappable lithium battery offering a 100 km range in the standard variant, the Scootility is easier to ride (no license needed) and more economical (as opposed to cargo e-bikes on the market).
Since Scootility is only raising funding for its utility scooter at the moment, there is no definite word on the retail price. Given its benefits of minimum parking space requirement, swappable cargo box and battery, and substantial drive range, we are sure many businesses already have their eyes out for the Scootility.
The kids of today will be the adults of tomorrow, and the experiences they have will shape their skills and behavior in the world they grow up to inhabit. Keeping this in mind, designer Cindy Kwok of Husky Design created an e-scooter designed to help children get accustomed to learning how to ride both standing as well as sitting-style scooters. Tiny toy electric cars are a dime a dozen, but this electric scooter is more than just a toy… it’s the child’s first proper vehicle with its own accelerator, headlight, horn, and a hybrid design that alternates between sitting and standing positions.
The scooter’s 2-in-1 design makes it a compelling vehicle for kids, giving them both the ‘scooter’ experiences. In the seated mode, the main stem folds downwards and becomes a seat, while the handlebars plug directly into the front fairing above the headlight. To use the scooter in standing mode, detach the handlebars and lift the seat up. Once the seat is fixed in its vertical position, clamp the handlebars on top to give you a standing scooter that’s much more akin to the last-mile e-scooters we see in urban setups today. The three-wheeled ride makes it more of a trike than a scooter, but it helps children maintain their stability without having them learn how to balance the way they would on a bicycle – something reserved for older kids after they grow up.
The e-scooter comes outfitted with a rear-wheel motor that’s activated through a big pedal switch on the back of the e-scooter. A ‘Go’ button on the front of the platform helps control acceleration (letting go brakes the scooter), and the handlebars offer a steer-by-wire functionality, allowing them to be plugged directly in the sitting mode or indirectly in the standing mode. The handlebars also have dedicated buttons to toggle the headlight or sound the e-scooter’s horn, helping children pick up the right on-road practices.
While this e-scooter is currently just a concept, one imagines that its top-speed mustn’t be rather high. Like most toy vehicles, the e-scooter is a slow-steady toy that has real-world features and details that allow the child to learn proper riding techniques and on-road etiquette through playtime.
We’re experiencing an EV boom. Not only in the car sector but across all automotive categories. Electric VTOLs are making a splash, Lamborghini just unveiled another hybrid car dubbed the Revuelto, and electric scooters are truly picking up pace – not just literally, but also in terms of consumer demand. The YADEA Elite Prime is proof of this, given its exhaustive feature list that makes it a pick for any urban commuter. The Elite Prime comes with a foldable body that can be stashed away in a car boot or even carried onto the subway, and boasts of a top speed of 18.6mph, a range of 40 miles, a 1500W motor (peak power) that lets you climb inclines of up to 30%, an electronic braking system, smart features like automatic parking, cruise control, and remote lock/unlock, and for safety, self-healing tubeless tires that will always keep you moving.
Every part of the Elite Prime seems consciously designed, and its slim frame and design means that the folks at YADEA used every inch of the scooter to their advantage. The e-scooter is ridiculously sleek, and comes with a folding frame that lets you cut its height by a third, making it easy to stow away in your car boot, a corner of your garage, or even under a bed or table. Made from aluminum, the frame gives the Elite Prime its appeal along with its strength and lightweight design. Aluminum also makes it corrosion-resistant, while the Elite Prime’s IPX5 water-resistant build means you can ride your scooter on wet roads and in the rain too. The entire e-scooter weighs 80 lbs, although it supports up to 265 lbs of rider weight. Within the small frame sits an electric motor that outputs a peak power of 1500W, and a 46.8VDC 14.5Ah large-capacity lithium battery that stretches your usage to a pretty commendable 40 miles (thanks in part to the e-scooter’s Energy Recovery System), while also generating enough torque to help climb inclines up to 30° rather comfortably.
Scooter that Rides like an SUV – Commuting is fun & fast with its wide footboard, high ground clearance, and double suspension. Its 800W motor (with 1500W peak output) can reach up to 18.6 mph speeds. The large lithium battery provides a 40-mile range on a single charge.
Better Shocks. Smoother Rides – Front and rear suspension gives you the cushion & confidence to take on urban streets. It uses polymer shock absorbers to reduce rattle and absorb impact better than springs. So it’s always smooth sailing, even as you jump from street to sidewalk.
Power Up Any Hill – The ElitePrime is right at home on steep slopes, maintaining full speed even up 30% inclines.
Give Up your Range Anxiety – One full charge on the ElitePrime can take you a full 40 miles (65km). It uses a 678Wh large-capacity lithium battery to put most round trips in the city within reach.
Tires that Heal Themselves – The ElitePrime’s tires use self-repairing technology to mend themselves after punctures from stones, thorns, or nails.
Stop When it Counts – Dual pivot caliper brakes in the back give you instant stopping power with minimal shake and low noise. And front drum & rear disc brakes help you stop you fast while keeping you balanced.
Light your Way Home – The powerful headlight helps you see the road on dark streets, while showing drivers you’re coming.
Dubbed as the SUV of electric scooters by the makers at YADEA, the Elite Prime can take on a variety of riding styles and terrains. It broadly sports four riding modes, ranging from a pedal-assist mode to a medium-speed mode, sports mode, and an acceleration mode that lets you hit its top speed of 18.6 mph or 30 km/h. Regardless of the mode, single-side polymer shock absorbers within the front and rear suspension systems offer better elasticity toughness and softness, helping smooth out rides on even cobbled pathways, while an advanced electronic braking system gives you precise control over your ride. A motorcycle-level headlight, taillight, and turn signals just help refine the riding experience further, providing visibility and safety in lower-light settings, and a clever Fall Prevention feature helps the Elite Prime stop running if it detects itself leaning/inclining more than 45°. The Elite Prime even comes with 10″ thickened tubeless tires that are self-healing and offer greater safety than conventional tube tires.
That, however, is merely scratching the surface with the Elite Prime, which goes beyond the realm of an e-scooter and treads in smart scooter territory. A smartphone app lets you access features like remote lock-unlock for your scooter, GPS tracking, theft prevention, and even more advanced functions like cruise control and automatic parking. Simultaneously, the Elite Prime comes with its own multifunctional LED dashboard that lets you see stats like speed, riding mode, battery level, head/tail-light status, Bluetooth connectivity, and even a fault-warning to let you know your e-scooter needs a check-up. A single button on the Elite Prime also lets you toggle between modes, while regenerative braking helps boost the Elite Prime’s battery level, giving you more ‘bang for your buck’. When your e-scooter hits critical battery levels, a magnetic charger helps juice the Elite Prime’s batteries, taking it to 100% in 6-8 hours.
The Elite Prime follows YADEA’s history of being a global leader in developing and manufacturing electric two-wheel vehicles including electric motorcycles, electric mopeds, electric bicycles, and electric kick scooters. The e-scooter is the culmination of years of R&D, along with YADEA having sold products to 60 million users in over 90 countries. The e-scooter boasts an under $700 price tag, providing a more powerful motor and delivering a higher range than other e-scooters in its price bracket. The Elite Prime begins shipping in May, and its companion smartphone app is compatible with both iOS and Android devices.
If you ever find yourself in front of a Mantis Shrimp, don’t even bother thinking about picking a fight. Turn around, make a run/swim for it, and count your blessings that you didn’t face the wrath of a Mantis Shrimp’s punch. With an arm-jab that’s the most powerful in the entire animal kingdom (relative to size), the Mantis Shrimp’s punch accelerates faster than a bullet leaving a gun’s barrel. It’s so deathly that it can cleanly crack through a crab’s shell and sometimes even aquarium glass panels. Although the Mantis e-bike isn’t as fast as its animal counterpart’s punches, it’s best not underestimated. The small e-bike’s designed with a lean, rear-heavy frame like the Mantis Shrimp (or even the Mantis for that matter), and an electric drivetrain that delivers power to a rear-wheel motor.
Termed a MiniBike, the Mantis is a compact little two-wheeler that seats one and lets its rider easily and rapidly cover distances over urban commutes. It has a unique, horizontal frame with a seat and handlebars at the same level, and a detachable, replaceable battery pack right underneath the seat.
The Mantis’ design language seems to borrow from most visual directions seen with the explosion of EVs. It’s unusual to look at, but not unsettling. There’s beauty in its design, with that edgy, low-poly form that still has rounded edges to differentiate it from the aggressive forms of EVs inspired by the Cybertruck.
The Mantis’ design challenges the visual template of what electric two-wheelers look like with proportions and silhouettes that look unique. Keen-eyed viewers will see a few similarities between the Mantis and Artem Smirnov’s PUNCH e-bike, although the latter’s definitely a lot more avant-garde. The Mantis, on the other hand, treads a fine balance between being futuristic and somewhat traditional. Unlike the PUNCH, I’m happy to point out that the Mantis at least has a seat… made from cushioned leather, no less.
The bike sports a dashboard between the handlebars, along with a charging port located where you’d normally see a fuel inlet. Right below the charging port are also two USB-A ports that let you draw power from the Mantis’ battery pack, allowing you to charge your phone and another device while on the go.
While the design of the Mantis e-bike is undoubtedly impressive, its performance and battery life are equally noteworthy. The bike’s powerful electric motor provides riders with smooth and responsive acceleration, making it ideal for zipping through city streets. The efficient battery system ensures that riders can travel long distances on a single charge, making the Mantis a practical and eco-friendly alternative to traditional gasoline-powered vehicles. The battery sports a detachable design too, letting you swap it out when you don’t have the time for a recharge.
Graz-based automotive design motorheads at Vagabund Moto like BMW bikes as their preferred choice as the starting point. The custom BMW R nineT and custom BMW R100R created by them gravitated enough attention from designers over at BMW Motorrad.
As a result, the custom shop’s efforts over these years finally culminated in a collaboration with the dedicated motorcycle brand of BMW, for a multifunctional two-wheeler based on the BMW CE 4 electric scooter.
What we see here is a multifunctional and stylish e-scooter for urban mobility keeping in mind the individual needs of users. Dubbed BMW CE 04 Vagabund Moto Concept, the fully electric scooter combines refreshing design, functional elements, and peppy color schemes to attract young riders who crave a sporty aesthetic in their electric scooters. There’s plenty of storage space to cater to every users needs, and for surfers, there’s a dedicated surfboard with an integrated transport system.
According to Paul Brauchart, founder and managing director Vagabund Moto, the vision behind the creation is to focus on the function while keeping overall looks in mind. As he very passionately puts it forward, the overall design draws synergy between “functionality and aesthetics” to suit a wide variety of uses in daily life. The color scheme highlighted by beige and dark green on the contrasting black and white colors has been spot on by the two camps.
There’s a smiley face emoji on the front wheel hub and the glass on the indicator lights. Interestingly, with the surfboard loaded on the scooter, it looks like a part of the two-wheeler when viewed from the side profile. According to BMW, the peculiar addition is a “metaphor for a sustainable urban lifestyle.”
Apart from these changes to the standard CE 04, the e-scooter has virtually the same technical specifications. The electric motor churns out 31 KW (42 hp) maximum output to hurl it to a respectable top speed of 50 mph in just 2.6 seconds. BMW CE 04 Vagabund Moto Concept should get around 130 km of range on a single full charge. The charging time of 65 minutes to juice up the electric battery from 0% to 80 percent, and the time can be brought down significantly with the optional fast charger.
The creation for now is a pure concept meant for design and aesthetic inspirations in BMW Motorrad’s future creations. Whether or not a production version of the BMW CE 04 Vagabund Moto Concept will make it through is unclear now.
Electric scooters or e-scooters are no longer oddities on roads these days. They offer efficient, economical, and environment-friendlier ways to get from point A to point B, especially if you’re traveling by your lonesome self. Most e-scooters nowadays tend to look a lot like each other, almost as if they’ve already exhausted all the design possibilities for this personal mobility device. There are a few outliers, of course, but most e-scooters tend to just focus on improving this or that technical feature that improves the e-scooter’s efficiency. Power and beauty don’t have to be mutually exclusive, though, and this electric scooter brings a refreshing new design that takes inspiration not just from the looks of a skateboard but also from the feel of riding on one.
The basic design of an e-scooter is pretty much standard by now, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t any wiggle room to offer a refreshing take like this bold newcomer. In opposition to the large and bulky e-scooters that litter the market, the Skate-X is espousing minimalism to create not only a pleasing visual aesthetic but also a lean form that helps keep the vehicle light. For example, it uses a simple yet effective three-pole frame to securely hold the skateboard deck instead of the typical hefty platforms you’d find on other electric scooters.
Yes, there is a genuine, seven-ply skateboard deck that brings a unique character to this e-scooter. The extra-wide and concave-shaped platform not only offers a better foothold but also creates a look and feel that you won’t find on any other e-scooter. Given how smooth and swift you’ll be riding on the Skate-X, you might even begin to think you’re actually riding a skateboard instead.
25% Grade Climbing – Cruise up hills up to 25° steep with a powerful 500W motor.
All Terrain – Extra large 9” tires (10” air-filled tires for Pro) give a cushy smooth ride on hard terrain.
That skateboard soul is thanks to the e-scooter’s astounding 500W motor that makes short work of steep inclines up to 25 degrees. 9-inch tires (or 10-inch air-filled wheels for the Pro model) lets your roll on the road or off-road with ease. The 360Wh battery lets the Skate-X reach that sweet 20-mile range, taking the experience beyond skateboards and regular e-scooters. And with a top speed of 22mph, you’ll be breezing through streets and roads in comfort and style.
Quick Fold & Carry – Patented push-button folding system for quick subway rides.
You might argue that, aside from the skateboard deck, some of these features can be found in a few premium e-scooters. The keyword here, however, is “premium,” which often carries a price tag to match. That means that it’s a luxury that only a few people will be able to afford, a far cry from how the skateboard brought swift and fun riding to the masses. Fortunately, the Skate-X isn’t your typical premium e-scooter in that regard, either.
For only $499 (or $799 for a Pro model) during this Super Early Bird period, you can get a dashing e-scooter that lets you swiftly dash on roads and hills without breaking a sweat, all while looking cool. With the Skate-X, you can experience the power of a premium e-scooter in a striking design for under $1,000, an affordable luxury that everyone can enjoy.
