Easy-Glider drags you along while keeping it green

Rollerblading always seems like so much fun when we see people zipping through the Park, but the whole self-propulsion thing kind of turns of off, which is why we've been waiting for a device like the Easy-Glider. Basically an electric motor attached to a wheel attached to a handlebar, the Swiss-made Easy-Glider Deluxe propels whatever its towing with 380 watts of eco-friendly power, and even recharges itself while cruising downhill (probably not fully). The less-athletic among us can decide to forgo the 'blades or skateboard altogether and step up to what we'll call the "touring package," which attaches a small wheeled footbridge to your ride. Prices range from a steep $1,025 for the Standard without footbridge to an even steeper $1,315 for the Deluxe with, not to mention the hefty shipping charge you'll have to pay to import one from Switzerland.

[Via Gadget Review]

[dana @ Feb 4th 2006 9:38AM]

Makes more sense than a Segway

[Mark @ Feb 4th 2006 9:47AM]

Worth it at any price. Just look at the envious stares of the bystanders.

[Kip HT @ Feb 4th 2006 9:53AM]

Wow.

This is really very similar to the Segway.

This site explains the theory well: http://tinyurl.com/dahxg

[Gomer @ Feb 4th 2006 11:37AM]

Blue, you're my boy!

(RIP Patrick Cranshaw)

[finefine @ Feb 4th 2006 11:44AM]

Here's a link to some decent photos of this thing:

http://www.swissroller.ch/swissroller%20galerie.htm

[earthling @ Feb 4th 2006 1:16PM]

The problem with this thing is that there is no weight on the front wheel so it will have minimal traction in many cases. Flat sidewalks around the park square will be fine but throw in a hill, a fine layer of dust or heavan forbid a wet cement surface and all 380 watts will go into spinning the wheel happily while you stand there looking the fool or even headed backwards (unless they put one way bearings in the sled).

the reason that front wheel drive cars work BTW (in case you were thinking about that) is because you have the weight of the engine out front and the total weight distribution of the car tends to be forward biased, but as any front wheel driver can tell you, the wheels will spin way easier under heavy acceleration or cornering than a rear wheel drive car as the cars weight shifts to the back wheels (or more correctly, away from the front wheels).

[Alien @ Feb 25th 2008 10:35AM]

You're an idiot. There's nothing worse than a psudeo-intellectual critiquing things of which they have little or no knowledge. In your post you even had to question the validity of your own statements because you couldn't be sure of the hardware components installed. However, the most offensive part of your epic fail, is that you are so arrogant that you believe you have to explain front wheel drive, yeah, everybody understands front wheel drive dipsht. Please don't post on anymore message boards, anywhere.

[soopergooman @ Feb 4th 2006 1:21PM]

Like hell I'd pay for that, I'm just gonna build myself a better one. one that ya can sit on!!!!!

[Matt E. @ Feb 5th 2006 2:03AM]

#7
I think you should call it, "The Big Wheel". :P

[Alan @ Feb 5th 2006 2:26AM]

Great idea, but I think they are going to have a hard time selling them at that price! Over $1000 seems very pricy to me...

[tdungan @ Feb 5th 2006 7:15AM]

This thing's been out for over a year and had sold more than 2000 units before it even entered production. Though it may not be popular in the states, it's certainly popular in parts of Europe where people are looking for a serious alternative to the typical gas-guzzling vehicle. 22kg is light enough to carry but heavy enough to give acceptable traction.
Soopergooman - if it looks anything like the Bombardier Embrio Concept (www.forbes.com/lifestyle/2003/11/04/cx_dl_1104vow.html), I'd buy one.

[Sam @ Feb 5th 2006 2:46PM]

So why are they using homeless people in their photos?

[Peter @ Feb 6th 2006 1:44PM]

hahah thats exactly what I was thinking ^

[Jahn Binay @ Feb 25th 2006 8:57AM]

If you want to know where to buy it, I found it. You can buy it at this address for about 1250 $ : http://www.probotics.ch/product_info.php?currency=USD&products_id=88&language=en

The shop is a Robot shop: Probotics, http://www.probotics.ch

[elan @ Nov 21st 2006 11:34PM]

how can i get one? [e-mail] thanks

[Cornel @ Dec 12th 2006 10:08AM]

Hi
I am from Switzerland how dis baby is born. And I have one!!

In a few day's ther is coming a new serie. This serie ist much cheaper!

Look at: www.easy-glider.com !