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Xiaomi's foldable electric bicycle costs just $460
Xiaomi may not yet have a drone that can carry people, but at least it has an electric bicycle now, and it'll only cost you 2,999 yuan or about $460/£307. The Mi Qicycle is the second product from the Xiaomi-backed startup, iRiding, who released the premium 19,999 yuan (about $3,000/£2045) Qicycle R1 just back in March. This time round, iRiding is able to slap Xiaomi's "Mi" brand on its latest ride to target the mass market. While the Mi Qicycle weighs a total of 14.5kg (almost twice that of the carbon fiber-made R1), it can be folded into half its size for easier storage. It comes with a 3-speed hub plus a 250W motor which offers pedal assist, and that's good for up to 45km (about 28 miles) on a single charge.
Boosted's new electric skateboards go further, ride smoother
Many a short journey has been livened up with one of Boosted's electric skateboards underfoot, but after selling the same line-up for a few years now, it's time to pimp that ride. The second-generation Boosted boards unveiled today keep the same, classic longboard styling and bamboo deck, but are otherwise different beasts. For starters, the boards will now take you a lot further thanks to swappable batteries and an extended-range option that increases average distance from 6-7 miles to 12-14 miles. Bigger 80mm wheels, custom-built trucks and various improvements to the motors and transmission should make those longer trips that much smoother, too.
Make your bike electric with this swap-in tire
Electric bikes have been around for decades but haven't broken out of their niche audience. Instead of building a bicycle around electric power, GeoOrbital is a universal wheel you can swap into your existing bike to power your ride.
Electric rollerblades go offroad with tank treads
Polish inventor Jack Skopinski recently debuted his latest electric people-mover: a set of battery-powered "off-road" rollerblades that handle dirt trails as well as they do city streets. Each boot is outfitted with a 350 W DC motor that propels the rider for up to 12 miles at speeds topping 9 MPH. Rather than proper wheels, these rollerblades sit atop rubber treads enabling riders to scoot across grass, gravel and dirt tracks with ease, if the promotional video (below) is any indication. The entire system is controlled by a wired, hand-held remote.
Watch the fastest-ever electric skateboard run
There's no doubt that electric skateboards can get you around town in a hurry, but they don't hold a candle to this. Mischo Erban recently set a Guinness world record for the fastest speed on an e-skateboard, hitting 59.55MPH on NGV's four-motor NEXTboard as he blazed down a Slovenian runway. Was it dangerous to ride at highway-level speeds? You bet -- as you'll see in the video below, Erban took a tumble that could easily wreck an unprotected rider. Don't try this at home, folks.
No car, no problem: 17 of the slickest electric rides
All kinds of personal-sized, eco-minded rides have been popping up on the market ready to propel us through the streets. Whether it's for a quick commute or a casual cruise, these electric rideables help save time and fossil fuels. Not only do they get you from point A to point B quickly, but they're also fun to ride... and you won't sweat up a storm along the way. But which one is right for you? Below, we take a look at all the bikes, scooters, skateboards and everything else in between to serve up some useful personal transport suggestions. You never know, there might be a pair of RocketSkates in your future.
'Snowboard' through the city streets with LEIF's electric freeboard
Add two inline skate wheels with 360-degree rotatable casters to the base of a skateboard and you've got a Fast and Furious-style drifting device known as a freeboard. Developed in the '90s, these boards are an off-season way to enjoy the smooth carving and extended slides of snowboarding when all you have are city streets. But just like on the slopes, when the hills flatten out, so does a lot of the fun. That's what spurred snowboarder Aaron Aders into action in October 2013. He founded LEIF Technologies with the idea for an electric "snowboard for the streets" that could tackle downhill, flat ground and even uphill terrain with ease. While the technology is still in the prototype phase, the company has its eyes on the future and continues to fine-tune the device at its Brooklyn-based workshop. A Kickstarter campaign is currently underway and the final product is scheduled for a spring 2015 release. We caught up with Aders earlier this week to check out the LEIF in person and take it for a spin.
Solowheel unicycles are now cheaper and lighter, but still hard to tame
I'm not going to lie: Various parts of my body are still in agony as I'm typing up this article. Yesterday, I attended Inventist's Beijing event where it launched four new Solowheel electric unicycles, as well as the two-wheeled Hovertrax. And in case you didn't get my hint, yes, I had the fortune of test riding some of these human transporters afterwards. For those who aren't familiar with the Solowheel, imagine this: it's like a Segway but sans handle and only with one wheel between your legs, so you'd have to work harder to tame the self-balancing mechanism. If you're already a unicyclist then this shouldn't be a problem at all.
