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Gogoro puts its hot-swappable batteries in two new speedy scooters
The Taiwanese company Gogoro is known for its electric scooters with hot-swappable batteries, which makes it easy to change them out in less than six seconds. Today, the company introduced two new electric scooter models: the Gogoro 2 Delight and the Gogoro S2.
Scoot adds a bike-sharing service as it expands to Barcelona
Scoot is getting into bicycles. The company known in San Francisco for its red electric scooters populated by riders with lightning bolt-emblazoned black helmets is adding bikes to its lineup. But not in San Francisco. Instead, the company is opening its first international location in Barcelona where it'll drop 1,000 electric bikes and 500 scooters on the streets of the Spanish city.
San Francisco temporarily removes electric scooters for permit process
San Francisco is about to end its electric scooter scourge... for a while. The city's Municipal Transportation Agency has posted its permit application for companies wanting to operate e-scooters under a one-year pilot program and accompanying law, signalling that the two-wheelers need to leave the streets until services obtain permits. The firms have until June 4th to remove their scooters without facing impounding and fines (up to $100 per scooter), and have to submit their permit applications by June 7th. No more than five companies will operate at the same time during the pilot period.
Lyft may be getting into the electric scooter game
Lyft seems to be eyeing a move into the electric scooter craze -- the company is considering applying for a permit to run a service in San Francisco, The Information reported, and it's in the early stages of working on prototypes. Some companies like Bird, Lime and Spin already have scooters on the city's streets, but a established brand like Lyft making inroads could change the market drastically, opening the gateway for more big names.
Boosted Boards founders launch a scooter-sharing service in DC
A new electric scooter-sharing service called Skip has launched in Washington DC, promising sturdier and safer boards than its competitors'. It was formed by the founder of Boosted Boards, which is known for making electric skateboards. Shareable electric scooters quickly became the scourge of San Francisco after a handful of companies introduced their services a few months ago. Since they don't have dedicated docks like bike-sharing services do, people tend to leave them everywhere, blocking people's way and making it difficult for wheelchair-users to get past them. Users also tend to ride them on the sidewalk, even though local laws say they need to be driven on the bike lane or on the road, since they feel pretty unstable. Some of them tend to run out of batteries much too quickly, as well.
San Francisco proposes rules to fight its electric scooter epidemic
San Francisco officials have been promising rules to curb the invasion of electric scooters, and now we have an idea of what those rules could be. The Municipal Transportation Agency has proposed a two-year permitting test program that would limit the city to five e-scooter permits, and no more than 500 scooters for each permit. In other words, there would be no more than 2,500 scooters in San Francisco at any one time -- a blessing to residents who are practically tripping over the two-wheelers. Companies would have to abide by guidelines to keep those permits, too.
BMW’s C Evolution squeezes EV technology into a scooter
While new companies like Zero and Gogoro are establishing themselves as first-rate two-wheeled vehicle builders, the Hondas and Yamahas of the world have taken a more cautious approach to the market. BMW, on the other hand, launched its own electric scooter way back in 2014. Sadly it was only available in Europe -- until now. It's finally in the US, and I took it for a spin in America's parking lot (i.e., Los Angeles).
Vespa’s first electric scooter will arrive in 2018
Last year, Vespa announced that it was working on an electric scooter and today it has released some specs and an approximate availability date. The Vespa Elettrica is a silent, fully electric scooter with acceleration capabilities in line with those of traditional scooters, according to Vespa. It has a 62-mile range and can be fully charged in just four hours through a normal wall-mounted electrical outlet. The battery will reportedly last around 10 years, but will drop to 80 percent capacity after 1,000 charge cycles or so. The Elettrica comes in a chrome grey color, but buyers can choose between seven color options for the decorative trim.
Gogoro's solar-powered scooter battery charging station is here
Electric scooter-maker Gogoro's latest battery-charging location is its cleanest yet. As usual, riders pull up, swap out their depleted batteries (two per vehicle), and drive off with fully-charged ones. The only difference is the new GoStation is the first to run on solar power.
An electric scooter is the perfect vehicle for quick jaunts
We have a plethora of options for getting around in an urban area. Buses, taxis, Uber, monorails, light rail and dirigibles (well, probably not the last one) make travel in big cities easier. But for those looking for a bit more freedom and fun, there are motorized two-wheeled options: motorcycles and scooters. While electric motorcycles are still a bit pricey (but exciting to ride), scooters that need to be plugged in instead of gassed up are appearing on the streets in larger numbers. So how useful are these battery-powered bikes? I decided to test the $3,000 Mahindra Genze 2.0 in Las Vegas during CES earlier this month to see if I would miss hitting the pump.
Zip around Taiwan on the faster Gogoro S electric scooter
Gogoro's battery-powered scooter left us rather impressed after our test ride in Taiwan back in 2015, and the startup has since sold over 14,000 units locally plus rolled out 240 GoStations nationwide for customers to quickly swap batteries -- as opposed to having their electric scooters plugged in for hours. To keep the momentum going, today the company announced the Gogoro S, a high-performance model equipped with the new 7.2 kW G1-S motor which pushes the scooter from zero to 50 km/h or 31 MPH in just 3.7 seconds -- a notable improvement from the 4.2 seconds with the original 6.4 kW G1 motor, which is already quite quick. But for the sake of safety, the top speed is still capped at 95 km/h or 59 MPH.
Gogoro brings on-demand scooter rentals to Berlin
Taiwan-based electric scooter company Gogoro is expanding its reach and business model. Today it announced a partnership with Coup (a subsidiary of automotive-parts supplier Bosch) to bring 200 on-demand rental scooters to Berlin.
Yamaha outs lightweight PES1 electric motorcycle concept ahead of Tokyo Motor Show
A few days before the start of the Tokyo Motor Show, Yamaha rolled out a number of two-wheeled concepts of both the electric- and gasoline-powered kind. First, the PES1 is a 200-pound (!) road bike that touts a middle-mounted battery pack, brushless DC motor and is sure to weigh in at less than a number of its riders. It also has the ability to go from fully automatic to manual transmission with the flip of a toggle switch. This is a concept, of course, so there's no indication of range or how much the slim down will impact those Sunday rides. The outfit also unveiled the PED1: the off-road sibling of the PES1 with similar internals. So similar in fact that Yahama says that you'll be able to swap batteries between the two should you opt for both the on-road and dirt-bound versions (if and when they are ever available). For the scooter enthusiasts, there's also the EVINO in all its classically aesthetic glory. Here, a lithium-ion battery powers the electric version of the Vino from underneath the seat alongside the motor which are both in plain view for showing off those green sensibilities. Naturally, there's no word on pricing just yet, but you can rest assured that we're keeping an eye out for more on this trio. For a look at the PED1 and EVINO, jump down past the break.
Japan's Terra Motors to introduce electric scooter with iPhone connection
The Apple Maps fiasco excepted, we have it pretty good where location-based services are concerned. But in areas like South East Asia, that's not entirely the case. Which is why Japan-based Terra Motors is prepping to launch the A4000i, an electric scooter that also features an iPhone connector (compatible with the 3GS and up) for big data collection. The company's positioning the A4000i as a means of gathering location data -- useful for mapping -- as well as mileage and battery performance (a lithium cell rated for 50,000km) for that region of the world. There's no word on exactly when Terra plans to launch this scooter overseas, but when it eventually does, expect to see the A4000i retail for around ¥450,000 (about $4,500 USD).
Czech electric scooter company covers 706 miles in 24-hours, claims world record
A "racing" team for the Czech electric scooter company Akumoto, with the assistance of the energy conglomerate ČEZ , is claiming the world record for longest distance traveled by such a vehicle in 24-hours -- 706.1 miles. Over the course of the 1,136.3 kilometer trip, the slightly modified scooter used a grand total of 40.8 kWh of electricity, which costs a measly 190 Czech Korunas (about $10.35). Akumoto already has a network of charging stations across the Eastern European country, but there was no stopping to juice up. Instead pre-charged batteries were swapped in when the "tank" was empty. We just hope that there were several drivers taking turns at the handlebars -- spending a full rotation of the Earth with your rear planted on a souped-up Vespa doesn't sound particularly comfortable.
S-Walker Electric Transporter hands-on (video)
In an IFA galaxy far far away lives the China Pavilion. And on the far side of the outer ring of the China Pavilion, buried amongst a plethora of steamers, curling irons, and television mounts, you may stumble upon the S-Walker -- though you're just as likely to miss it. And what might an S-Walker be? Well, if we're being precise, it's a "Speed-Walker, Sky-Walker, whatever," according to its German booth master. Luke would be proud. Lesser beings may recognize it as a KIRF Segway, designed in Germany and handmade in China, just a mere ten days ago. Its biggest strength lies in price -- the thing is expected to retail for €2,500 (about $3,550) sometime in the middle of next year. We suppose this yet-to-be-released electric transporter is here to serve warehouse workers, couriers, and the millions of college students who every day dream of zooming across campus atop a pair of motorized wheels, but simply couldn't justify spending an entire semester's tuition on a Segway. We spent a few minutes riding the world's first (and only) functional S-Walker around the rather deserted International Hall, and while very much still a prototype, the battery powered contraption felt peppy enough and responded accurately to commands, moving forward as we leaned to the front, and backing up as we shifted weight to the rear. You control direction using a small handlebar-mounted joystick, rather than by leaning from side-to-side as you would on a Segway. The designers capped speed at 10 kilometers per hour for the IFA demo, but production models will be boosted to 30 km/h, and it's theoretically capable of reaching 100 km/h (but that'll likely require some potentially-illegal hacking on your part). Roll on past the break to see the S-Walker in action. And may the force be with you.%Gallery-132596%
Geely McCar comes with an electric scooter or wheelchair in the back
This is the Geely McCar: an ultra compact, two-door car that still manages to tuck an electric scooter in the back. Geely, the Chinese company that now owns Volvo, is hoping you'll use it for everything from golfing to navigating urban sprawl to traversing the Mall of America parking lot. The car itself comes in two versions: an all-electric one with a 12kWh battery that claims up to 93 miles on a charge, and a hybrid iteration that promises up to 31 miles on just electric power and 373 on a mix of gas and electricity. The scooter, meanwhile, can last up to 18 miles -- and be swapped out for a wheelchair for people with disabilities. Since debuting at the Shanghai Auto Show, there's been no word on whether the McCar will ship stateside -- or how much McDonald's loathes that name. Update: The headline and body of this story have been updated to better reflect the car and scooter's potential to serve people with disabilities.
Suzuki Burgman fuel-cell scooter approved for EU public consumption
Battery power gets a lot of publicity these days, what with YikeBike and Yogo EVs tooling around. However, that doesn't mean other kinds of ecofriendly propulsion, like fuel cells, won't be part of our transportational future. Suzuki, for one, is betting on hydrogen power -- its Burgman Fuel Cell Scooter just became the first fuel cell vehicle to receive Whole Vehicle Type Approval (WVTA) from the UK's Department of Transport. Having the WVTA stamp of approval means that the scooter meets EU performance standards and can be sold in Europe -- setting it free to frolic hither and yon on the cobblestone streets of the old country. No word on plans to bring it to the US, but a boy can dream, can't he? PR's after the break.
Fremont Motors shows off Fido electric scooter prototype
Most scooters are generally a bit offbeat in appearance, but Seattle's Fremont Motors has truly gone the extra mile with its new, all-electric Fido prototype. That eye-catching design also incorporates a good bit of practicality, however, including wheels that are the same size and can be easily removed, a battery beneath the floorboard that can also be easily replaced (and charged indoors), and even a removable storage case under the seat that can be worn as a backpack. In terms of performance, you can expect to get a range of up to 35 miles on a charge, and hit a top speed of 45 mph. Of course, it is still just a prototype, but Fremont Motors is planning a "limited" in the third quarter of next year, with the scooter expected to run $5,000. Head on past the break for a look at the (stationary) scooter on video. [Image: orinoneill / Flickr]
Inhabitat's Week in Green: fly like a bird, bend batteries in half, and spray clothing from a can
Each week our friends at Inhabitat recap the week's most interesting green developments and clean tech news for us -- it's the Week in Green. This week saw several amazing feats of aeronautics as we showcased the world's first continuous flight of a human-powered ornithopter and the sun-powered Solar Impulse plane embarked upon an incredible voyage across Switzerland. We also watched transportation take off as BMW unveiled a zippy new electric scooter, Sanitov launched a GPS enabled cargo tricycle in London, and this week's Green Overdrive show took us off-roading on a souped-up e-bike! Renewable energy tech also energized the globe as several countries in Central America launched plans to tap volcanoes for power and China developed the world's first directly solar-powered air conditioning unit. Energy storage also got a big boost as Stanford researchers unveiled a new type of bendable battery made out of paper - just the thing to power the flexible e-readers of the future. In other news, this week we brought you exclusive coverage of the greatest green designs from this year's London Design Festival and we showcased the latest in wearable tech - instant spray-on clothing in a can! Finally, we tackled an issue that has plagued tech junkies forever - those impossible-to-open clamshell plastic packages.