Automotive

Dual-mode transport - the trend accelerates

Dual-mode transport - the trend accelerates
As car ownership grows, congestion grows and parking in city centers becomes more expensive, and a car will increasingly only get you part of the way to your destination in most countries in the world.
As car ownership grows, congestion grows and parking in city centers becomes more expensive, and a car will increasingly only get you part of the way to your destination in most countries in the world.
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BMW's i8 Spyder with two matching BMW three-wheeled electric kick scooters in the rear
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BMW's i8 Spyder with two matching BMW three-wheeled electric kick scooters in the rear
Honda's U3-X is seen as an ideal last-mile transportation device, small enough to reside inside a door
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Honda's U3-X is seen as an ideal last-mile transportation device, small enough to reside inside a door
The Geely McCar 2 is the second "Magic Car" with a built-in secondary transportation device
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The Geely McCar 2 is the second "Magic Car" with a built-in secondary transportation device
General Motors' Flextreme Concept from 2007 carried two Segways in tunnels under the car
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General Motors' Flextreme Concept from 2007 carried two Segways in tunnels under the car
That's Gizmag's Editor-in-chief Noel McKeegan holding the Yikebike - the current benchmark for the smallest and lightest production mobility device. It's a carbon fiber, electric penny farthing that weighs just over 10 kg - it'll take you 10 km at 25 km/h. On the family tree of invention, it is far more closely related to your electric toothbrush than your car. The Yikebike is a stand-out in applying miniaturization to create new and more efficient transportation appliances, but there will be more.
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That's Gizmag's Editor-in-chief Noel McKeegan holding the Yikebike - the current benchmark for the smallest and lightest production mobility device. It's a carbon fiber, electric penny farthing that weighs just over 10 kg - it'll take you 10 km at 25 km/h. On the family tree of invention, it is far more closely related to your electric toothbrush than your car. The Yikebike is a stand-out in applying miniaturization to create new and more efficient transportation appliances, but there will be more.
The Geely McCar 2 is the second "Magic Car" with a built-in secondary transportation device
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The Geely McCar 2 is the second "Magic Car" with a built-in secondary transportation device
The Geely McCar 2 is the second "Magic Car" with a built-in secondary transportation device
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The Geely McCar 2 is the second "Magic Car" with a built-in secondary transportation device
BMW's i8 Spyder with two matching BMW three-wheeled electric kick scooters in the rear
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BMW's i8 Spyder with two matching BMW three-wheeled electric kick scooters in the rear
BMW's i8 Spyder with two matching BMW three-wheeled electric kick scooters in the rear
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BMW's i8 Spyder with two matching BMW three-wheeled electric kick scooters in the rear
BMW's i8 Spyder with two matching BMW three-wheeled electric kick scooters in the rear
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BMW's i8 Spyder with two matching BMW three-wheeled electric kick scooters in the rear
BMW's i8 Spyder with two matching BMW three-wheeled electric kick scooters in the rear
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BMW's i8 Spyder with two matching BMW three-wheeled electric kick scooters in the rear
BMW's i8 Spyder with two matching BMW three-wheeled electric kick scooters in the rear
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BMW's i8 Spyder with two matching BMW three-wheeled electric kick scooters in the rear
BMW's i8 Spyder with two matching BMW three-wheeled electric kick scooters in the rear
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BMW's i8 Spyder with two matching BMW three-wheeled electric kick scooters in the rear
General Motors' Flextreme Concept from 2007 carried two Segways in tunnels under the car
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General Motors' Flextreme Concept from 2007 carried two Segways in tunnels under the car
General Motors' Flextreme Concept from 2007 carried two Segways in tunnels under the car
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General Motors' Flextreme Concept from 2007 carried two Segways in tunnels under the car
General Motors' Flextreme Concept from 2007 carried two Segways in tunnels under the car
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General Motors' Flextreme Concept from 2007 carried two Segways in tunnels under the car
At the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show Honda showed the Honda MotoCompo concept inside another Honda, the Micro Commuter Concept
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At the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show Honda showed the Honda MotoCompo concept inside another Honda, the Micro Commuter Concept
From the 2011Tokyo Motor Show, the motocompo has a removable battery, smartphone docking station and folds down to a stow inside the door of the Micro Commuter Concept.
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From the 2011Tokyo Motor Show, the motocompo has a removable battery, smartphone docking station and folds down to a stow inside the door of the Micro Commuter Concept.
Honda's removable Motocompo battery fits its other EVs and a spare battery can be accomodated inside the other door in its own docking station
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Honda's removable Motocompo battery fits its other EVs and a spare battery can be accomodated inside the other door in its own docking station
The Honda Motocompo concept
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The Honda Motocompo concept
Honda has a lot of experience building mobility devices from the U3-X through walking assist devices through to its experimental robot ASIMO which contributes much understanding-
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Honda has a lot of experience building mobility devices from the U3-X through walking assist devices through to its experimental robot ASIMO which contributes much understanding-
Honda is well placed to offer an array of intelligent mobility assist devices using its three decade development of ASIMO as a basis - that's ASIMO with the U3-X
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Honda is well placed to offer an array of intelligent mobility assist devices using its three decade development of ASIMO as a basis - that's ASIMO with the U3-X
Nissan's segway-style skis keep cropping up - they will certainly surface sooner or later
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Nissan's segway-style skis keep cropping up - they will certainly surface sooner or later
Nissan's segway-style skis keep cropping up - they will certainly surface sooner or later
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Nissan's segway-style skis keep cropping up - they will certainly surface sooner or later
BMW's three-wheeled electric scooter
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BMW's three-wheeled electric scooter
BMW's three-wheeled electric scooter
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BMW's three-wheeled electric scooter
BMW's three-wheeled electric scooter
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BMW's three-wheeled electric scooter
Honda's U3-X is intended to be a very personal device which will personalised in much the same way students make their laptop their own
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Honda's U3-X is intended to be a very personal device which will personalised in much the same way students make their laptop their own
Toyota's promotional staff took every opportunity to ride the Winglet and they were very good at it
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Toyota's promotional staff took every opportunity to ride the Winglet and they were very good at it
Toyota's promotional push for the Winglet has already begun in Japan
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Toyota's promotional push for the Winglet has already begun in Japan
Toyota's promotional push for the Winglet has already begun in Japan
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Toyota's promotional push for the Winglet has already begun in Japan
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There are three versions available of the Toyota Winglet
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There are three versions available of the Toyota Winglet
There are three versions available of the Toyota Winglet
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There are three versions available of the Toyota Winglet
General Motors' Flextreme Concept from 2007 carried two Segways in tunnels under the car
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General Motors' Flextreme Concept from 2007 carried two Segways in tunnels under the car
The Yikebike locked and loaded, wieghs in at just a tad over 10 kg
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The Yikebike locked and loaded, wieghs in at just a tad over 10 kg
The 10 kg Yikebike locked and loaded, wieghs in at just a tad over 10 kg
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The 10 kg Yikebike locked and loaded, wieghs in at just a tad over 10 kg
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Mike Hanlon tries the Yikebike for weight
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Mike Hanlon tries the Yikebike for weight
Nissan's Segway skis
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Nissan's Segway skis
Nissan's Segway skis
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Nissan's Segway skis
Nissan's Segway skis
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Nissan's Segway skis
The BMW i8 Spyder
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The BMW i8 Spyder
The BMW i8 Spyder
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The BMW i8 Spyder
The BMW i8 Spyder
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The BMW i8 Spyder
The BMW i8 Spyder
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The BMW i8 Spyder
The BMW i8 Spyder
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The BMW i8 Spyder
The BMW i8 Spyder from above shows the two three-wheeled kick scooters in their charging cradles
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The BMW i8 Spyder from above shows the two three-wheeled kick scooters in their charging cradles
The BMW i8 Spyder
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The BMW i8 Spyder
The BMW i8 Spyder
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The BMW i8 Spyder
The BMW i8 Spyder
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The BMW i8 Spyder
The BMW i8 Spyder
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The BMW i8 Spyder
The BMW i8 Spyder
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The BMW i8 Spyder
That's the Suzuki Pixy at left and the Suzuki SSC (which stands for Sea Bass Sharing Coach) at right.
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That's the Suzuki Pixy at left and the Suzuki SSC (which stands for Sea Bass Sharing Coach) at right.
The Suzuki Pixy was designed to fit inside other larger conveyances to facilitate travel across different distances
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The Suzuki Pixy was designed to fit inside other larger conveyances to facilitate travel across different distances
The Winglet could be ridden quicklly and gracefully
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The Winglet could be ridden quicklly and gracefully
Noel McKeegan lifts the 10.5 kg Yikebike
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Noel McKeegan lifts the 10.5 kg Yikebike
Toyota's Winglets
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Toyota's Winglets
Toyota's Winglets
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Toyota's Winglets
The General Motors Flextreme Concept contained a pair of Segways ingeniously located to optimize luggage space
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The General Motors Flextreme Concept contained a pair of Segways ingeniously located to optimize luggage space
The General Motors Flextreme Concept contained a pair of Segways
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The General Motors Flextreme Concept contained a pair of Segways
The Yikebike can be carried on public transport easily
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The Yikebike can be carried on public transport easily
The Yikebike can be carried through otherwise forbidden access areas quite easily
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The Yikebike can be carried through otherwise forbidden access areas quite easily
The Honda Motocompo is small enough to slip into the door trim of a car
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The Honda Motocompo is small enough to slip into the door trim of a car
The Honda Micro Commuter Concept shown at Tokyo Motor Show last December, contained a MotoComp as a second mode of transport
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The Honda Micro Commuter Concept shown at Tokyo Motor Show last December, contained a MotoComp as a second mode of transport
Suzuki's Pixy was designed to dock inside other vehicles.
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Suzuki's Pixy was designed to dock inside other vehicles.
Suzuki's Pixy was designed to dock inside other vehicles.
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Suzuki's Pixy was designed to dock inside other vehicles.
Suzuki's Pixy was designed to dock inside other vehicles and offer personal transport when undocked
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Suzuki's Pixy was designed to dock inside other vehicles and offer personal transport when undocked
Suzuki's Pixy was designed to dock inside other vehicles.
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Suzuki's Pixy was designed to dock inside other vehicles.
The i8 certainly looks like a sports car of the future, but we suspect it will become one of the first production vehicles for the new brand from BMW.
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The i8 certainly looks like a sports car of the future, but we suspect it will become one of the first production vehicles for the new brand from BMW.
The BMW i8 Spyder Concept
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The BMW i8 Spyder Concept
The BMW i8 Spyder Concept
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The BMW i8 Spyder Concept
Volkswagen introduces the Bik.e, an electric bike that folds to the size of a spare tire.
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Volkswagen introduces the Bik.e, an electric bike that folds to the size of a spare tire.
VW's Bik.e, an electric bike that folds to the size of a spare tire.
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VW's Bik.e, an electric bike that folds to the size of a spare tire.
VW's Bik.e, an electric bike that folds to the size of a spare tire.
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VW's Bik.e, an electric bike that folds to the size of a spare tire.
VW's Bik.e, an electric bike that folds to the size of a spare tire.
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VW's Bik.e, an electric bike that folds to the size of a spare tire.
The Geely McCar is actually related to the Volvo these days
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The Geely McCar is actually related to the Volvo these days
The McCar from Geely.
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The McCar from Geely.
Toyota's Winglet was ridden to great effect in Toyota's booth at the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show
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Toyota's Winglet was ridden to great effect in Toyota's booth at the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show
This chap was a Winglet master - he could do things on the Winglet which made me think of a much greater, sporting potential for the device.
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This chap was a Winglet master - he could do things on the Winglet which made me think of a much greater, sporting potential for the device.
First steps for Mike on the Winglet - "it is much more stable than it looks, and it's done with algorithms, not mass."
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First steps for Mike on the Winglet - "it is much more stable than it looks, and it's done with algorithms, not mass."
I had a close look at one of these machines and it had clearly seen a lot of use, indicating great durability.
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I had a close look at one of these machines and it had clearly seen a lot of use, indicating great durability.
Motorised personal transportation that you can carry in one hand, with superb handling
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Motorised personal transportation that you can carry in one hand, with superb handling
This gal walked on stage carrying the U3-X, clicked out the footrests and seat, and then performed the most fluid, floating, enchanting dance
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This gal walked on stage carrying the U3-X, clicked out the footrests and seat, and then performed the most fluid, floating, enchanting dance
The U3-X has a wheel which rotates in two planes - nothing quite like it exists - this guy performed some wonderful demonstrations of how easily the u3-X can be controlled
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The U3-X has a wheel which rotates in two planes - nothing quite like it exists - this guy performed some wonderful demonstrations of how easily the u3-X can be controlled
Honda's growing array of mobility aids
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Honda's growing array of mobility aids
Honda's growing array of mobility aids
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Honda's growing array of mobility aids
The Streetcarver - my right elbow remembers this beast not so fondly. It was a remarkable device but lacked brakes - with electric four-wheel-drive, this would be a weapon
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The Streetcarver - my right elbow remembers this beast not so fondly. It was a remarkable device but lacked brakes - with electric four-wheel-drive, this would be a weapon
Toyota has experimented with lots of Personal Mobility devices over the years
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Toyota has experimented with lots of Personal Mobility devices over the years
Toyota has experimented with lots of Personal Mobility devices over the years - this was a predecessor to the current iREAL
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Toyota has experimented with lots of Personal Mobility devices over the years - this was a predecessor to the current iREAL
The author tries the Toyota iREAL
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The author tries the Toyota iREAL
The Gocycle is an electric bike that folds into a briefcase - it's one of the cleanest and simplest ways to add a secondary mode of transport to your current vehicle
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The Gocycle is an electric bike that folds into a briefcase - it's one of the cleanest and simplest ways to add a secondary mode of transport to your current vehicle
The Gocycle is an electric bike we've ridden quite a few miles on - it's quick, quiet, fuss-free
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The Gocycle is an electric bike we've ridden quite a few miles on - it's quick, quiet, fuss-free
This is how it all began - the first personal transportation devices were called boneshakers for good reason
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This is how it all began - the first personal transportation devices were called boneshakers for good reason
Personal transport prior to the bicycle chain
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Personal transport prior to the bicycle chain
Personal transport prior to the bicycle chain
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Personal transport prior to the bicycle chain
The Gocycle ready for a car trunk, or perhaps as secondary transport on a boat
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The Gocycle ready for a car trunk, or perhaps as secondary transport on a boat
The Gocycle ready for the suitcase
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The Gocycle ready for the suitcase
The Toyota iREAL is definitely the real deal
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The Toyota iREAL is definitely the real deal
I cannot rate the Toyota iREAL too highly - it's a remarkable device that will seriously enhance the mobility of so many people
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I cannot rate the Toyota iREAL too highly - it's a remarkable device that will seriously enhance the mobility of so many people
The Hands Free Transporter could negotiate a cocktail party with just weight transfer steering it, then accelerate to over 20 km/h in seconds.
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The Hands Free Transporter could negotiate a cocktail party with just weight transfer steering it, then accelerate to over 20 km/h in seconds.
The BMW Streetcarver
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The BMW Streetcarver
The Geely McCar and three wheeler
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The Geely McCar and three wheeler
BMW's Streetcarver was very fast and turned very quickly - it took huge courage to ride it - tamed down and with regenerative brakes and electric power though, it would be very interesting
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BMW's Streetcarver was very fast and turned very quickly - it took huge courage to ride it - tamed down and with regenerative brakes and electric power though, it would be very interesting
The BRP Embrio Concept - a gyroscopically balanced, one-wheeled recreational and commuting vehicle
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The BRP Embrio Concept - a gyroscopically balanced, one-wheeled recreational and commuting vehicle
Geely's McCar being released in Shanghai - that's the three-wheeler it contains
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Geely's McCar being released in Shanghai - that's the three-wheeler it contains
Geely's McCar being released in Shanghai
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Geely's McCar being released in Shanghai
Geely's McCar being released in Shanghai
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Geely's McCar being released in Shanghai
Geely's McCar being released in Shanghai
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Geely's McCar being released in Shanghai
Geely's McCar being released in Shanghai
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Geely's McCar being released in Shanghai
Honda's diminutive U3-X is unique in so many ways - I can't wait to see what the modders and robotics students do with the U3-X. As a base for robotic devices it could be equally unique.
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Honda's diminutive U3-X is unique in so many ways - I can't wait to see what the modders and robotics students do with the U3-X. As a base for robotic devices it could be equally unique.
United Nations figures suggest the Octogenarian age group will be large in number. If history repeats (it seldom doesn't), the newfound numbers will add voice to the group in demanding high calibre mobility assist devices
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United Nations figures suggest the Octogenarian age group will be large in number. If history repeats (it seldom doesn't), the newfound numbers will add voice to the group in demanding high calibre mobility assist devices
The Toyota iREAL is the real deal - part wheeled exoskeleton, part bionic wheelchair, part mini EV sportcar ... and it carves and adapts its wheelbase despending on what you're doing - an awesome machine
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The Toyota iREAL is the real deal - part wheeled exoskeleton, part bionic wheelchair, part mini EV sportcar ... and it carves and adapts its wheelbase despending on what you're doing - an awesome machine
Ford's Flextreme Concept from 2007 had a pair of Segways cunningly secreted under the tailgate
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Ford's Flextreme Concept from 2007 had a pair of Segways cunningly secreted under the tailgate
The Honda Micro Commuter Concept also included a Motocompo as secondary transport
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The Honda Micro Commuter Concept also included a Motocompo as secondary transport
The Yikebike is the current state-of-the-art Transportation Appliance
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The Yikebike is the current state-of-the-art Transportation Appliance
One of Nissan's prototypes - they certainly look interesting
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One of Nissan's prototypes - they certainly look interesting
The Toyota Winglet is being proposed as a modern, more socially acceptable bicycle in space-challenged Japan
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The Toyota Winglet is being proposed as a modern, more socially acceptable bicycle in space-challenged Japan
Toyota has an entire division creating rehabilitiation, mobility and partner robots. The chair at left is yet another of a vast array of mobility options at the disposal of the giant
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Toyota has an entire division creating rehabilitiation, mobility and partner robots. The chair at left is yet another of a vast array of mobility options at the disposal of the giant
Honda's U3-X is a remarkable device largely due to this wheel - a triumph of invention that we expect to see commercilised within the next few years
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Honda's U3-X is a remarkable device largely due to this wheel - a triumph of invention that we expect to see commercilised within the next few years
Another contender as a transportation appliance was the now discontinued Zap Powerski. It was light and fast and you also needed a set of in-line skates or a skateboard - probably not suitable for everyone
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Another contender as a transportation appliance was the now discontinued Zap Powerski. It was light and fast and you also needed a set of in-line skates or a skateboard - probably not suitable for everyone
The Gocycle is the lightest folding EV we have ridden. It might be traditional in the sense of being a bicycle, but there's not much else about it that's traditional
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The Gocycle is the lightest folding EV we have ridden. It might be traditional in the sense of being a bicycle, but there's not much else about it that's traditional
As car ownership grows, congestion grows and parking in city centers becomes more expensive, and a car will increasingly only get you part of the way to your destination in most countries in the world.
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As car ownership grows, congestion grows and parking in city centers becomes more expensive, and a car will increasingly only get you part of the way to your destination in most countries in the world.
The Brompton demonstrates how it folds
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The Brompton demonstrates how it folds
The world of personal transport is changing rapidly and an automotive company offering two desirable forms of transport in one package will have a distinct advantage in the marketplace
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The world of personal transport is changing rapidly and an automotive company offering two desirable forms of transport in one package will have a distinct advantage in the marketplace
The Pon-e Trikke folds up to a manageable, if not quite small package and has a thriving boat marketplace as land transport
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The Pon-e Trikke folds up to a manageable, if not quite small package and has a thriving boat marketplace as land transport
The Pon-e Trikke folds up to a manageable, if not quite small package that has wheels
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The Pon-e Trikke folds up to a manageable, if not quite small package that has wheels
The Pon-e Trikke folds up to a manageable, if not quite small package that has wheels
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The Pon-e Trikke folds up to a manageable, if not quite small package that has wheels
As with traditional bicycle - the Pon-e is somehow familiar from the moment you step aboard - it's intuitive to use
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As with traditional bicycle - the Pon-e is somehow familiar from the moment you step aboard - it's intuitive to use
The Trikke Pon-e in full flight - one thing to note here is the precision offered by the steering
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The Trikke Pon-e in full flight - one thing to note here is the precision offered by the steering
The Trikke Pon-e in full flight - three shots and the rider is able to put the Pon-e on exactly the same spot each time
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The Trikke Pon-e in full flight - three shots and the rider is able to put the Pon-e on exactly the same spot each time
The Trikke Pon-e in full flight is both spectacular and very fast through the turns
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The Trikke Pon-e in full flight is both spectacular and very fast through the turns
Noel McKeegan chats with Trikke about the design of the Pon-e
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Noel McKeegan chats with Trikke about the design of the Pon-e
The Batribike Lite is now discontinued
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The Batribike Lite is now discontinued
The Batribike Lite is now discontinued
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The Batribike Lite is now discontinued
The Batribike Lite is now discontinued
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The Batribike Lite is now discontinued
The Batribike Lite is now discontinued
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The Batribike Lite is now discontinued
The Batribike Lite is now discontinued
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The Batribike Lite is now discontinued
The Batribike Lite is now discontinued
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The Batribike Lite is now discontinued
The Carnielli Bigfish folds to just 101 x 65 x 30 cm , designed and developed in Slovenia and built by Carnielli in Italy. are many remarkable folding bikes
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The Carnielli Bigfish folds to just 101 x 65 x 30 cm , designed and developed in Slovenia and built by Carnielli in Italy. are many remarkable folding bikes
The Pon-e is definitely the most fun of all the transportation options through the turns
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The Pon-e is definitely the most fun of all the transportation options through the turns
We watched at the London Bicycle Show and those who tried the Pon-e all loved it
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We watched at the London Bicycle Show and those who tried the Pon-e all loved it
The Trikke Pon-e is light and robust and folds into a long and narrow unit for transport - it's biggest advantage here, is that the carry bag has wheels, so it's easy and convenient to roll the device.
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The Trikke Pon-e is light and robust and folds into a long and narrow unit for transport - it's biggest advantage here, is that the carry bag has wheels, so it's easy and convenient to roll the device.
The specs of the three available Trikke Pon-e models
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The specs of the three available Trikke Pon-e models
The Birdy fold-up is another favourite for last mile transport. Parent company rad-innovations.com offers a range of ingenious machinery focussed on mobility. The Birdy weighs 10.8 kg and has suspension at both ends.
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The Birdy fold-up is another favourite for last mile transport. Parent company rad-innovations.com offers a range of ingenious machinery focussed on mobility. The Birdy weighs 10.8 kg and has suspension at both ends.
Noel McKeegan on the Trikke Pon-e
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Noel McKeegan on the Trikke Pon-e
Gizmag's Noel McKeegan on the Trikke Pon-e
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Gizmag's Noel McKeegan on the Trikke Pon-e
Gizmag's Noel McKeegan on the Trikke Pon-e
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Gizmag's Noel McKeegan on the Trikke Pon-e
Gizmag's Noel McKeegan on the Trikke Pon-e
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Gizmag's Noel McKeegan on the Trikke Pon-e
Gizmag's Noel McKeegan on the Trikke Pon-e - the combination of carving into a turn and the natural riding stance is compelling
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Gizmag's Noel McKeegan on the Trikke Pon-e - the combination of carving into a turn and the natural riding stance is compelling
Gizmag's Noel McKeegan on the Trikke Pon-e
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Gizmag's Noel McKeegan on the Trikke Pon-e
The Ekso Exoskeleton is the first of many - exoskeletons will help people walk who currently cannot
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The Ekso Exoskeleton is the first of many - exoskeletons will help people walk who currently cannot
exoskeletons will also help healthy people run faster, for longer, with a heavy pack - Ekso is part of the team working on the HULC development prototype with a view to enhancing the capabilities of the American soldier
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exoskeletons will also help healthy people run faster, for longer, with a heavy pack - Ekso is part of the team working on the HULC development prototype with a view to enhancing the capabilities of the American soldier
The man-most-likely in the exoskeleton industry is Professor Sankai, founder of Cyberdyne and creator of HAL - in this case, HAL stands for Hybrid Assistive Limb. The coincidence with the names from "Kubrick/Clarke's 2001 Space Oddyssey" is Sankai's quirky humour. He has vowed his world-leading exoskeletons will never be used to harm other humans (i.e. on the battlefield).
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The man-most-likely in the exoskeleton industry is Professor Sankai, founder of Cyberdyne and creator of HAL - in this case, HAL stands for Hybrid Assistive Limb. The coincidence with the names from "Kubrick/Clarke's 2001 Space Oddyssey" is Sankai's quirky humour. He has vowed his world-leading exoskeletons will never be used to harm other humans (i.e. on the battlefield).
The Ekso skeleton - not quite yet a mobility aid for everyone, but there will be more models, and perfeomance-enhancing exoskeletons are definitely on the agenda
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The Ekso skeleton - not quite yet a mobility aid for everyone, but there will be more models, and perfeomance-enhancing exoskeletons are definitely on the agenda
The EC-Miu three-wheeler (shown above) and PAS-WITH e-bike will appear at the Tokyo Motor Show when it opens tomorrow. The two concepts were designed to highlight the companies’ joint vehicle communications infrastructure, which they say will advance vehicle-to-vehicle telematics, encourage vehicle sharing and bridge the gap between cars and bikes.
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The EC-Miu three-wheeler (shown above) and PAS-WITH e-bike will appear at the Tokyo Motor Show when it opens tomorrow. The two concepts were designed to highlight the companies’ joint vehicle communications infrastructure, which they say will advance vehicle-to-vehicle telematics, encourage vehicle sharing and bridge the gap between cars and bikes.
Yamaha's EC-Miu three-wheeler was shown at the Tokyo Motor Show in December 2011 and also served as part of a Toyota exhibit
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Yamaha's EC-Miu three-wheeler was shown at the Tokyo Motor Show in December 2011 and also served as part of a Toyota exhibit
Yamaha's ECPAS-WITH e-bike was shown at the Tokyo Motor Show in December 2011 and also served as part of a Toyota exhibit
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Yamaha's ECPAS-WITH e-bike was shown at the Tokyo Motor Show in December 2011 and also served as part of a Toyota exhibit
Yamaha's ECPAS-WITH e-bike
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Yamaha's ECPAS-WITH e-bike
Yamaha's EC-Miu three-wheeler
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Yamaha's EC-Miu three-wheeler
Yamaha's EC-Miu three-wheeler
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Yamaha's EC-Miu three-wheeler
Yamaha's Deinonychus prototype of 2005 took full advantage of the greater chassis design freedom afforded by in-wheel motors, with 2WD and inbuilt "Stretch & Shrink" functions in the vertical and horizontal directions
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Yamaha's Deinonychus prototype of 2005 took full advantage of the greater chassis design freedom afforded by in-wheel motors, with 2WD and inbuilt "Stretch & Shrink" functions in the vertical and horizontal directions
Yamaha's Deinonychus prototype of 2005 took full advantage of the greater chassis design freedom afforded by in-wheel motors, with 2WD and inbuilt "Stretch & Shrink" functions in the vertical and horizontal directions
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Yamaha's Deinonychus prototype of 2005 took full advantage of the greater chassis design freedom afforded by in-wheel motors, with 2WD and inbuilt "Stretch & Shrink" functions in the vertical and horizontal directions
Yamaha's Divide was a folding EV it showed five years ago as a concept - it become a far more important vehicle under the current trend
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Yamaha's Divide was a folding EV it showed five years ago as a concept - it become a far more important vehicle under the current trend
Segway's Centaur Concept could easily be adaptable as a second-mode of transport
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Segway's Centaur Concept could easily be adaptable as a second-mode of transport
Segway's Centaur Concept
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Segway's Centaur Concept
Segway's Centaur Concept
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Segway's Centaur Concept
Segway's Centaur Concept
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Segway's Centaur Concept
Segway's Centaur Concept
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Segway's Centaur Concept
Segway's Centaur Concept
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Segway's Centaur Concept
Segway's Centaur Concept
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Segway's Centaur Concept
Th A-bike - the smallest and lightest fold-up bicycle yet produced
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Th A-bike - the smallest and lightest fold-up bicycle yet produced
Zap's Powerski was an electric platform designed for pulling you along - it is now discontinued, but there will be other inventions in this vein
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Zap's Powerski was an electric platform designed for pulling you along - it is now discontinued, but there will be other inventions in this vein
Honda's Walk assist
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Honda's Walk assist
Honda's worker assist
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Honda's worker assist
Honda's worker assist
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Honda's worker assist
Honda's worker assist
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Honda's worker assist
An exoskeleton promises both additional strength and unlimited endurance - tethered models such as this one from Japan's Koba Labs, astonished me with how easily such suits can make easy work of tasks that are beyond my normal physical lmitations
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An exoskeleton promises both additional strength and unlimited endurance - tethered models such as this one from Japan's Koba Labs, astonished me with how easily such suits can make easy work of tasks that are beyond my normal physical lmitations
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Most fold-ups to this point have been pedelecs, but in the quest for a smaller and lighter information appliance, pedals are certain to be left out of some viable designs. In this instance above, the folding electric bike uses both, very cleverly.
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Most fold-ups to this point have been pedelecs, but in the quest for a smaller and lighter information appliance, pedals are certain to be left out of some viable designs. In this instance above, the folding electric bike uses both, very cleverly.
Former F1 designer and the father of the Gocycle, Richard Thorpe. Watch this space for more innovation in the mobility area
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Former F1 designer and the father of the Gocycle, Richard Thorpe. Watch this space for more innovation in the mobility area
The Velo Mini
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The Velo Mini
We're also expecting weight and performance perhaps even approaching that of the Gocycle from Taiwanese Company DK City which showed this (above) Robrady-designed machine recently.
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We're also expecting weight and performance perhaps even approaching that of the Gocycle from Taiwanese Company DK City which showed this (above) Robrady-designed machine recently.
The Airnimal bike trailer is ingenious.
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The Airnimal bike trailer is ingenious.
Gizmag's Noel McKeegan on the Gocycle in London
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Gizmag's Noel McKeegan on the Gocycle in London
View gallery - 185 images

One of the many interesting trends evident at Auto China in Beijing last week was the ongoing development of vehicles offering dual modes of transport - cars containing another transportation device of some sort. China is facing all the same pollution and congestion problems as the rest of the world, but on a much greater scale. For Chinese consumers it seems that having a primary vehicle contain a smaller electric "Transportation Appliance" offers a more comprehensive transportation solution.

The transportation gap

As car ownership grows rapidly in China, India, Russia, South America and Asia in general, congestion grows too and parking in city centers becomes prohibitively expensive. Getting from A to B often involves mixing transportation modes, and a car will increasingly only get you part of the way to your destination in many countries in the world - particularly in China where the number of electric two-wheelers on the street is already overwhelming, and the mainstay of China's personal transportation spectrum. Consider this! In 2009 Chinese consumers purchased 13.6 million cars to become the world's largest automobile market. China had a national carpark of electric two-wheelers of 120 million in 2010 and electric scooters have been available for only the last seven or eight years, indicating sales averaging at least 15 million a year during that period.

Toyota's promotional push for the Winglet has already begun in Japan
Toyota's promotional push for the Winglet has already begun in Japan

That means the electric scooter has been the most prolific form of motorized personal transport in China by a fair margin for several years. It's hence not hard to see why Chinese manufacturers might be wanting to create a bridge between two and four-wheeled transport. Because two-wheeled transport is more popular than four-wheeled right now, two-wheelers are cheaper to run and buy, and they're a perfect adjunct to a car, or for want of an apt comparison, the "Mothership."

A larger vehicle, particularly an electric vehicle or hybrid electric vehicle with large capacity battery, can ensure your miniature EV is charged and ready to go when called upon.

China will have 150 million electric bikes on the road by 2015. Interestingly, the numbers suggest that electric bike sales in China are on the wane - the forecasts add 30 million e-bikes over the five years from 2010 to 2015.

I think this grossly underestimates the numbers of electric two-wheelers currently being sold.

Please note - if you live in America, you probably won't have experienced the urgent needs of these countries to solve congestion problems - America's geography is unique and quite different to most countries.

In terms of traffic flow, two wheelers offer a much more fluid and dense traffic flow than cars, and unless radical surgery is performed on Chinese roads, or complete infrastructures such as in General Motors' proposed EN-V mass personal transport concept, Chinese roads will come to rely on the mixing of high proportions of motorcycles and other small EVs to overcome the congestion.

Toyota's promotional push for the Winglet has already begun in Japan
Toyota's promotional push for the Winglet has already begun in Japan

In the future, the number of transportation options most humans use in any given journey is expected to rise - cars will only be part of the solution as new forms of both public and personal transport appear such as the electric scooter, the Segway, Toyota's iREAL, and a host of two-, three- and four-wheelers which fill the gaps between cars and public transport, public transport options increase, and the entire mobility spectrum is used.

I cannot rate the Toyota iREAL too highly - it's a remarkable device that will seriously enhance the mobility of so many people
I cannot rate the Toyota iREAL too highly - it's a remarkable device that will seriously enhance the mobility of so many people

At the same time our cities are becoming congested, our populations are getting older - Japanese companies understand this better than most, as Japan's population is already a decade ahead of the curve, but China recognizes the aging population problem will hit it hard due to its one-child policy of many decades.

Walking is obviously the best policy if you have the time and physical resources, but time can be a powerful motivator if it means spending 15 minutes with the kids at bedtime ... or not.

Time means different things to different people, but if an electric fold-up bike cuts 15 minutes off your journey to the salt mines each day, that's an extra three hours a week to make the most of your life. So the pay-off in time is often very worthwhile for having an extra mode of transport on hand.

That's Gizmag's Editor-in-chief Noel McKeegan holding the Yikebike - the current benchmark for the smallest and lightest production mobility device. It's a carbon fiber, electric penny farthing that weighs just over 10 kg - it'll take you 10 km at 25 km/h. On the family tree of invention, it is far more closely related to your electric toothbrush than your car. The Yikebike is a stand-out in applying miniaturization to create new and more efficient transportation appliances, but there will be more.
That's Gizmag's Editor-in-chief Noel McKeegan holding the Yikebike - the current benchmark for the smallest and lightest production mobility device. It's a carbon fiber, electric penny farthing that weighs just over 10 kg - it'll take you 10 km at 25 km/h. On the family tree of invention, it is far more closely related to your electric toothbrush than your car. The Yikebike is a stand-out in applying miniaturization to create new and more efficient transportation appliances, but there will be more.

On top of that, the world population is aging rapidly. We've been living longer and having less children, and it has finally begun to catch up. And baby boomers in their old age will be just as demanding as they have been at every other point on the life journey.

According to United Nations data, the world population of 80+ year olds will quadruple between now and 2050. By then there will be nearly 379 million octogenarians in the world - enough to speak loudly in demanding its mobility needs be met.

Painless mobility doesn't last forever, but with some clever help from mobility aids and exoskeletons, this might be extended by ten maybe 20 years.

United Nations figures suggest the Octogenarian age group will be large in number. If history repeats (it seldom doesn't), the newfound numbers will add voice to the group in demanding high calibre mobility assist devices
United Nations figures suggest the Octogenarian age group will be large in number. If history repeats (it seldom doesn't), the newfound numbers will add voice to the group in demanding high calibre mobility assist devices

We now have the design, manufacturing know-how and materials to make very small, very efficient personal mobility appliances that can increase the unaided mobility of the population well into old age. The biggest issue for first world countries in the introduction of such systems will be liability issues and regulatory approval in the myriad state jurisdictions.

A small electric vehicle inside a car adds considerable amenity and a logical way of mitigating the inevitable urban congestion China will face. China currently has 125 cities with more than a million people. America has nine cities that large. Between now and 2030, China will need to accommodate a further 350 million people in its cities and another hundred cities with more than a million people will be added to the landscape. Clearly, traffic congestion will reach new heights as the world's most populous country grows rich.

Against this background of changing personal transportation needs in China, both Geely and BMW used Auto China to propose cars with inclusive last-mile transport - vehicles offering two modes of transport.

Geely's McCar 2

The Geely McCar and three wheeler
The Geely McCar and three wheeler

Last year at Auto Shanghai, Chinese manufacturer Geely showed the McCar - a purpose-built two-mode transport package of an electric car and three-wheeled EV combo. That's the first McCar below.

The Geely McCar is actually related to the Volvo these days
The Geely McCar is actually related to the Volvo these days

This year the whole package was presented as V 2.0 and is far more refined and production-ready - expect to see the McCar in production probably sooner than later, and the good news is that it also interfaces with a range of other mobility options beyond the three-wheeler, including a wheelchair and fold-up bicycle

The Geely McCar 2 is the second "Magic Car" with a built-in secondary transportation device
The Geely McCar 2 is the second "Magic Car" with a built-in secondary transportation device

It's still a prototype but Geely recognizes that dual-mode transport will eventually become necessary for many people in China and there is growing pent up demand now.

You might already know the name Geely - it owns Volvo and we've written before about its sustained growth and grand aspirations. Zhejiang Geely is a public company controlled by Li Shufu, a young, self-made billionaire who is being heralded by many as China’s Henry Ford.

The Geely McCar 2 is the second "Magic Car" with a built-in secondary transportation device
The Geely McCar 2 is the second "Magic Car" with a built-in secondary transportation device

We can expect some real creativity from this company in its future product offerings, as it has moved swiftly under Li Shufu's bold leadership and at just 48 years of age, he's in a prime position to shape China's transportation system for the next few decades.

The McCar now looks close to production-ready - if it does make manufacture, apart from facilitating the incorporation of a second mode of personal transport into one's lifestyle, it will obviously be a perfect companion vehicle for anyone who is mobility handicapped with its built-in ramp and wheelchair option.

Geely McCar Concept

BMW's i8 Concept Spyder and its two three-wheeled kick scooters

In addition to being the car to first wear BMW's eDrive emblem (the designation eDrive will identify the drive technology for all future electric and plug-in hybrid cars from BMW), the i8 Concept Spyder carries two three-wheeled electric scooters in the back.

BMW's i8 Spyder with two matching BMW three-wheeled electric kick scooters in the rear
BMW's i8 Spyder with two matching BMW three-wheeled electric kick scooters in the rear

The emergence of the important eDrive emblem on a car with a pair of electric kick-scooters in the rear signifies BMW is also well down the road of thinking about two-mode transport.

BMW's i8 Spyder with two matching BMW three-wheeled electric kick scooters in the rear
BMW's i8 Spyder with two matching BMW three-wheeled electric kick scooters in the rear

There's also the exciting prospect that BMW is getting set to release yet another personal transportation device smaller than anything it has previously been known to be working on.

BMW's three-wheeled electric scooter
BMW's three-wheeled electric scooter

Design sketches of the scooters have been released (more in the image gallery for this article) but no details whatsoever have accompanied the images.

It appears the scooters have two wheels at the front, and a single wheel at the rear, and that the handlebar connects to a steering mechanism for the wheels.

BMW's three-wheeled electric scooter
BMW's three-wheeled electric scooter

The sketches show visible carbon fiber weave, so it can reasonably be assumed the emphasis is on extreme light weight, like the car it comes with.

Any thoughts as to what BMW might have in store can be contributed by the comments section.

The Streetcarver - my right elbow remembers this beast not so fondly. It was a remarkable device but lacked brakes - with electric four-wheel-drive, this would be a weapon
The Streetcarver - my right elbow remembers this beast not so fondly. It was a remarkable device but lacked brakes - with electric four-wheel-drive, this would be a weapon

It should be noted that BMW has been working in this area for many years. A decade ago we tried a BMW skateboard dubbed the Streetcarver which was tested by BMW in some markets before being withdrawn. As you'll see from our extensive write-up back then, we were very impressed.

The BMW mechanism offered many advantages over a traditional skateboard's design, but it turned too quickly and went too fast for mere mortals. A Streetcarver with electrically-controlled wheels though, would have electronic brakes by reversing the motors, and as you can see from the image above, it offered incredibly turning ability and could do sustained drifts if you were brave enough.

The BMW Streetcarver
The BMW Streetcarver

The new BMW three-wheeled kickscooter does not use the same mechanism as the Streetcarver, but I'd be surprised if it wasn't very clever, simple, and very easy to use and ride. BMW's long history of producing superb motorcycles and user-friendly performance vehicles demands this be a significant step forward and I suspect it is. BMW does not just drop a few kick scooters into the back of a key concept car without it being part of a much grander plan.

BMW's i8 Spyder with two matching BMW three-wheeled electric kick scooters in the rear
BMW's i8 Spyder with two matching BMW three-wheeled electric kick scooters in the rear

The likelihood that last mile or dual-mode transport will become necessary for many populations at some point in the future, can also be seen in the number of other automotive manufacturers developing similar micro-transportation devices.

The Geely McCar 2 and BMW i8 offer recent examples of a car incorporating secondary transport but there has been a lot of interesting activity over recent years.

General Motors and Segway

General Motors' Flextreme Concept from 2007 carried two Segways in tunnels under the car
General Motors' Flextreme Concept from 2007 carried two Segways in tunnels under the car

The vehicle-in-vehicle concept was explored General Motors in its 2007 Flextreme Concept - this was during the development relationship with Segway which spawned the EN-V concept, and the potential for Segway to play a major role in the evolution of dual-mode transport is obvious.

The General Motors Flextreme Concept contained a pair of Segways ingeniously located to optimize luggage space
The General Motors Flextreme Concept contained a pair of Segways ingeniously located to optimize luggage space

The Segway offers an easy-to-ride, very fast, very safe and agile personal mobility solution - it remains the "Rolls Royce" of personal mobility solutions, and it is small enough so that two can be easily carried in a car, especially if you think about where to put it when the car is being designed.

General Motors' Flextreme Concept from 2007 carried two Segways in tunnels under the car
General Motors' Flextreme Concept from 2007 carried two Segways in tunnels under the car

General Motors' 2007 Flextreme Concept incorporated dual Segways which were carried in tunnels at the lower rear of the vehicle.

The Segway mechanism is used by tertiary institutions and research laboratories all over the world as a basis of myriad custom machines, and I am certain there are some wonderful commuter conveyances yet to emerge from the Segway platform.

The best concept we've seen based on the Segway balancing and propulsion unit is the Centaur.

Segway's Centaur Concept
Segway's Centaur Concept

The Centaur was a lightweight, four-wheel concept vehicle combining Segway's proprietary gyroscope-based dynamic stabilization technology with advanced propulsion and suspension systems, and an intuitive user interface to create a unique four-wheel device that is easily controllable on two or four wheels.

Segway's Centaur Concept
Segway's Centaur Concept

You could wheelstand out of sight the first time you ride it. Unfortunately it didn't see production, but you can see from the lightweight frame, it wouldn't take much to build a lightweight quick-assembly Centaur that resides in the rear of a car in a very compact package.

The Hands Free Transporter could negotiate a cocktail party with just weight transfer steering it, then accelerate to over 20 km/h in seconds.
The Hands Free Transporter could negotiate a cocktail party with just weight transfer steering it, then accelerate to over 20 km/h in seconds.

The Hands Free Transporter is built in Germany and also uses a Segway base. The end result of building what was originally conceived as an all-terrain device to enable film and TV cameramen to pan smoothly, has since evolved into something much more.

Honda's U3-X, MotoCompo, walk-assist and much more

Honda's U3-X is seen as an ideal last-mile transportation device, small enough to reside inside a door
Honda's U3-X is seen as an ideal last-mile transportation device, small enough to reside inside a door

Honda's motorcycle leadership and the company's renowned miniaturization skills has seen it develop several small EV scooter prototypes that have been shown at the last two Tokyo Shows, which all adds up to Honda looking better placed than any manufacturer in preparing for the advent of dual-mode transport.

This gal walked on stage carrying the U3-X, clicked out the footrests and seat, and then performed the most fluid, floating, enchanting dance
This gal walked on stage carrying the U3-X, clicked out the footrests and seat, and then performed the most fluid, floating, enchanting dance

Honda is now promoting its U3-X electric monowheel in Europe, indicating that it is assessing the market for launch, and it has been promoting the experimental vehicle in many other realms too.

Testing of the vehicle in Japan is well underway in pilot projects and it would seem commercialization of the U3-X is inevitable. It is a masterpiece of engineering with its amazing two-direction wheel, and at just 10 kg, and with measurements of 24 inches by 12 inches by 6 inches, it is one of the lightest and smallest motorized personal transportation devices ever conceived.

Honda's growing array of mobility aids
Honda's growing array of mobility aids

The U3-X was first shown at the Tokyo Motor Show in 2009 and was also spied lodged in the door of the EV-N electric vehicle on show that year.

A prime example of just how far R&D has advanced personal transport in such a short time, is the Embrio, a self-balancing Unicycle concept shown by Bombardier (now BRP) in 2003.

The BRP Embrio Concept - a gyroscopically balanced, one-wheeled recreational and commuting vehicle
The BRP Embrio Concept - a gyroscopically balanced, one-wheeled recreational and commuting vehicle

The design study anticipated what type of personal transport we might be using in the year 2025. The Embrio concept was developed by BRP using technologies it expected to achieve mass market viability in the ensuing 22 years and I remember writing the story, and thinking how much it sounded like science fiction.

Though Honda’s U3-X is still experimental, only runs for an hour, isn’t as fast as the Embrio and is not hydrogen fuel cell powered, it is already in prototype form and weighs just 10 kg, rather than the 164 kg weight BRP expected of the Embrio in 2025.

Honda's growing array of mobility aids
Honda's growing array of mobility aids

Nine years later, Honda’s U3-X is one sixteenth of the weight of the Embrio envisioned for 2025 – and 2025 is still more than a decade away.

Honda has more mobility solutions than just the U3-X however, as its mobility products include the walk-assist and worker-assist devices, and more recently at the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show it showed the Honda MotoCompo concept - another fold-up electric scooter.

The Honda Micro Commuter Concept also included a Motocompo as secondary transport
The Honda Micro Commuter Concept also included a Motocompo as secondary transport

So what? Well the Motocompo name has a history at Honda. It marketed a tiny two-stroke 50cc fold up scooter as a trunk bike for sub-compact cars thirty years ago. Honda knows this market well already.

Nissan's "segway skis"

One of Nissan's prototypes - they certainly look interesting
One of Nissan's prototypes - they certainly look interesting

Very little information has leaked about these devices which have been developed with Nissan's assistance through AIST.

The device has been seen in several different guises, one with the two footboards joined, and others where they have been separate, like skis.

Each balances on two wheels with a ski-pole-like handlebar to help the user maintain balance while in motion and a motor to drive the device at around 5 km/h (3 mph).

When joined together tilt sensors inside the footboards detect the user’s shift in weight to turn. Sensors can also detect nearby obstacles allowing the possibility of the device being used to carry luggage that follows its owner around.

Suzuki's 2007 Pixy + SSC Concept

That's the Suzuki Pixy at left and the Suzuki SSC (which stands for Sea Bass Sharing Coach) at right.
That's the Suzuki Pixy at left and the Suzuki SSC (which stands for Sea Bass Sharing Coach) at right.

Suzuki addressed the same issue in a slightly different manner with its 2007 Tokyo Show concepts of the single person Pixy, which could mix easily with pedestrians and then be joined in an SSC (the larger structure). It was never going to fly, but you can see the company attempting to find solutions for some of the problems looming ahead for society.

Toyota's Winglet

There are three versions available of the Toyota Winglet
There are three versions available of the Toyota Winglet

The world's largest automotive manufacturer has seen this problem coming for more than a decade, which is why it purchased the rights to a self-balancing technology from Sony eleven years ago, with the project eventually yielding the Winglet - a Segway-like device that weighs just 10 kg.

The Winglet comes in three forms - one with handlebars, one with knee-controls, and one you control with the lower legs. Most importantly, the Winglet is ridiculously easy to use.

I tried it back in 2009 and simply stepped on and rode it with not a hitch. It isn't as stable as a Segway for obvious reasons (it weighs less than one fifth), but the controlling software was obviously extremely good and I had no trouble confidently riding it through a congested space full of people within seconds of stepping aboard for the first time.

Toyota has an entire division creating rehabilitiation, mobility and partner robots. The chair at left is yet another of a vast array of mobility options at the disposal of the giant
Toyota has an entire division creating rehabilitiation, mobility and partner robots. The chair at left is yet another of a vast array of mobility options at the disposal of the giant

Public Affairs staff in this situation have a tough gig. I was one of the first journalists they let near the device and they were really concerned I was going to bend it or maybe even break a leg and reduce tens of millions of R&D to zero inside a few seconds.

My "minder" saw her corporate career flash before her eyes when I started riding it backwards, but she needn't have worried because the Winglet responded exactly as I thought it would and simply did my bidding.

Motorised personal transportation that you can carry in one hand, with superb handling
Motorised personal transportation that you can carry in one hand, with superb handling

Even a brief taste the Winglet left a big impression. It was very compelling in that it offers much of the grace and fluid movement not dissimilar to ice-skating, but with complete control. Once the modders get their hands on a Winglet ...

The Toyota Winglet is being proposed as a modern, more socially acceptable bicycle in space-challenged Japan
The Toyota Winglet is being proposed as a modern, more socially acceptable bicycle in space-challenged Japan

The Winglet is quick enough by walking standards to offer a nimble and fast machine for anyone standing aboard - adventurous adults and kids will love the knee and feet controlled versions but it's not a machine for the mobility handicapped, or confidence handicapped.

You can see from the imagery that the promotion of the Winglet has already begun in Japan and I expect to see the Winglet on the market as a stand-alone device within a few years.

The Winglet is hellishly impressive - it weighs almost nothing, responds to logical body English and covers one aspect of dual-mode transport for Toyota. It won't cover the whole spectrum of user needs though, and for that Toyota has a vast research network and a whole division producing partner robots which will also be responsible for the Winglet.

I had a close look at one of these machines and it had clearly seen a lot of use, indicating great durability.
I had a close look at one of these machines and it had clearly seen a lot of use, indicating great durability.

Toyota and the Yamaha connection

Toyota has a close relationship with motorcycle manufacturer Yamaha, which is also known to be working on a number of such micro devices, and my bet is that Yamaha's solutions will not only fold, but fold themselves.Yamaha has shown a number of concepts over the last few years which would make ideal candidates as last-mile-transport enablers.

Yamaha's Deinonychus prototype of 2005 took full advantage of the greater chassis design freedom afforded by in-wheel motors, with 2WD and inbuilt "Stretch & Shrink" functions in the vertical and horizontal directions
Yamaha's Deinonychus prototype of 2005 took full advantage of the greater chassis design freedom afforded by in-wheel motors, with 2WD and inbuilt "Stretch & Shrink" functions in the vertical and horizontal directions

The first was the company's Deinonychus prototype of 2005 which took full advantage of the greater chassis design freedom afforded by in-wheel motors, with 2WD and inbuilt "Stretch & Shrink" functions in the vertical and horizontal directions. The aim was to be able to build a motorcycle which could adapt on the fly to different conditions.

Yamaha's Divide was a folding EV it showed five years ago as a concept - it become a far more important vehicle under the current trend
Yamaha's Divide was a folding EV it showed five years ago as a concept - it become a far more important vehicle under the current trend

The following Tokyo Show, Yamaha took the adjustability concept a step further and the Divide Concept it showed in 2007 was an EV which folds at the press of a button to a rollable but far more compact shape for storage and transport.

The concept was to create a self-folding "metal art commuter" which could be transformed into a compact, easy-to-push shape and that could stand proudly as an "art object" in any room. At the time, Yamaha was attempting to overcome the premise that a an electric motorcycle, being odorless, needed a place in the parking lot.

Yamaha recently showed a number of very clever electric-assist bicycles for both itself, Toyota and Lexus - when the time comes for Yamaha to deliver in this area, I expect to see some very innovative micro devices.

Volkswagen bik.e

VW's Bik.e, an electric bike that folds to the size of a spare tire.
VW's Bik.e, an electric bike that folds to the size of a spare tire.

Volkswagen's answer to adding a second mode of transport to its vehicles appears to be the bik.e, which was shown in Beijing the last time Auto China was held in 2010.

Volkswagen's bik.e is a micro mobility concept created from an ingenious folding electric bike with a range of 20 kilometers (12.5 miles), and a fully-folded footprint identical to that of a car spare tire.

VW's Bik.e, an electric bike that folds to the size of a spare tire.
VW's Bik.e, an electric bike that folds to the size of a spare tire.

At 20 kg, the bik.e is small enough to be added to most vehicles without any noticeable penalty in performance. Indeed, at 20 kg, it's just a tad too heavy to be carried.

How to add a second-mode of transport to your car

The Brompton demonstrates how it folds
The Brompton demonstrates how it folds

More bicycles than cars are sold each year. The bicycle is also man's most prolific transportation device of all time as it has always outsold the car.

So, for the greatest flexibility and ease-of-use, a fold-up bicycle makes the most sense as the second mode on hand, and if you're up to the task physically, the cheapest option for adding a second mode of transport other than walking is most likely the fold-up bicycle.

There are many fine designs for fold-up bicycles on the market, with the cheapest costing just a few hundred dollars, through to superb high-end models from Brompton, Moulton and Dahon that will tip the scales at under 10 kg.

Th A-bike - the smallest and lightest fold-up bicycle yet produced
Th A-bike - the smallest and lightest fold-up bicycle yet produced

The US$300 A-Bike is the lightest and smallest folding pushbike we're aware of at just 5.5 kg (12 lbs) and it folds to a 26” x 12” x 6” (66 x 30 x 15 cm) package, making it so small you can almost throw when in the boot as insurance against a long walk.

In 2006, we wrote that the A-bike was "the first viable foldable bike for those who wish to mix modes of transport and we see it as invaluable for yachts and motorhomes and campers where a simple vehicle for short-distances is a boon but storage space is limited."

The A-Bike adjusts to fit all rider sizes, and there's a compatible high capacity lighting system available that doesn’t compromise the folding. It should be pointed out that the compromise in choosing the lightest, most compact fold-up available is that you get pneumatic tires as your sole form of suspension. Smooth roads and short distances are probably the limit of this device.

A similar device to the A-bike is the Strida, which has been targeting boat shows promoting the Strida as compact stowable land transport for yachts.

The Airnimal bike trailer is ingenious.
The Airnimal bike trailer is ingenious.

There are more than 130 folding bike manufacturers and all of them produce bicycles designed as supplementary transport – designed to be carried in a vehicle for last mile transport, or on a train, plane, boat or bus as ground transport on arrival. Accordingly, most come with their own carry bag, but a prototype concept from Airnimal promises a new level of functionality. The concept involves the hard carry case doubling as a bike trailer with a significant carrying capacity.

Motorized transport comes in two forms - conventional and unconventional. We'll deal with the conventional first.

Fold-up Electric bikes

The fold-up EV bicycle is the most logical option for fast second-mode transport as it can be supplemented by the rider's power and most people know how to ride a bicycle to begin with.There are two types of electric bike - those with pedals and those without. If you suffer from even the slightest trace of range anxiety, go for the pedals - they ensure you never have to push your bike home, help keep you fit and having pedals will ensure you get the most out of your finite electricity supply.

Most fold-ups to this point have been pedelecs, but in the quest for a smaller and lighter information appliance, pedals are certain to be left out of some viable designs. In this instance above, the folding electric bike uses both, very cleverly.
Most fold-ups to this point have been pedelecs, but in the quest for a smaller and lighter information appliance, pedals are certain to be left out of some viable designs. In this instance above, the folding electric bike uses both, very cleverly.

Most fold-ups to this point have been pedelecs, but in the quest for a smaller and lighter information appliance, pedals are certain to be left out of some viable designs. In this instance above, the folding electric bike uses both, very cleverly.

Karbon Kinetics' Gocycle

Former F1 designer and the father of the Gocycle, Richard Thorpe. Watch this space for more innovation in the mobility area
Former F1 designer and the father of the Gocycle, Richard Thorpe. Watch this space for more innovation in the mobility area

The Gocycle G2 weighs in at just 32.8 pounds (14.9 kg) thanks to an injection-moulded magnesium frame.

The G2 uses a 250 watt electric motor with in-house controller that gives it speeds of up to 15.5 mph (25 kph) in pedelec mode or 20 mph (32 kph) in empower mode.

Gizmag's Noel McKeegan on the Gocycle in London
Gizmag's Noel McKeegan on the Gocycle in London

The G2's in-frame 11Ah/22V battery can deliver 40 miles (64km) in pedelec mode or 20 miles (32km) in empower mode, with a recharge time of 3.5 hours and it's side-mounted, interchangeable Pitstop Wheels are designed to minimize the pain of a flat tire repair. It has an integrated anti-theft device and ... at 14.5 kg, the Gocycle is one of the lightest forms of motorized transport to enter production ... and it folds up ever so small to fit inside its own polycarbonate suitcase.

The G2 is the current best-of-breed two-wheeled conventional Transportation Appliance, courtesy of its advanced design and materials technology, performance, range and weight but there will be more and soon and the margin isn't great between the best and the closest contenders.

The Velo Mini
The Velo Mini

The Velomini, f'rinstance is another contender in this area, with a 180 watt brushless hub motor, a 12 mph (19 km/h) top speed and when it’s not being used it folds into a carrying case. All up, it weighs just 14 kg. the Gocycle costs a lot more, but you can see where the money went.

We're also expecting weight and performance perhaps even approaching that of the Gocycle from Taiwanese Company DK City which showed this (above) Robrady-designed machine recently.
We're also expecting weight and performance perhaps even approaching that of the Gocycle from Taiwanese Company DK City which showed this (above) Robrady-designed machine recently.

We're also expecting weight and performance approaching that of the Gocycle from Taiwanese Company DK City which showed this Robrady-designed machine (above) recently.

The Batribike Lite is now discontinued
The Batribike Lite is now discontinued

During our research for this story, Editor-in-chief Noel McKeegan recalled the Batribike Lite which he spotted at the London Bicycle Show in 2009. It had a top speed of 12 mph (20 km/h), a range of 12-15 miles (20-24 km) and weighed in at 9.5 kg ready to roll at GBP375 (US$600).

Whatsmore, it folded to 110 x 54.5 x 24 cm (43 x 21.5 x 9.5 inches). Sadly, the model has been dropped from the range, but we expect there will be more fold-up two-wheeled EVs that dip under the 10 kg mark.

There are many innovations in this area, with trade-offs in weight or space sometimes offering significant gains in other areas.

One example of this with a foldable theme is the XOR foldable electric scooter. In this instance, performance is the benefit - for carrying a bit of extra weight and using a slightly larger footprint, you get significantly greater speed and range. Here's a thorough look at the XOR.

Another trade-off of the same ilk, is the TidalForce M-750 x2.0, which is based around the commercially available (and ingenious) Montague Paratrooper folding bike but has a top speed of over 30 mph and range on a single charge is 25 - 28 miles.

Yet another variation on the theme is the Voltitude - a folding pedal-electric assist scooter which can fold or unfold in one second, and rolls alongside you in lifts, airports and offices.

Trikke's Pon-e

The Trikke Pon-e appears as a contender in the non-conventional Transportation Appliances, by virtue of a unique riding position and its remarkably low weight of just 17 kg. The lightest of the Pon-e range has a limited range of just 10 miles and a top speed of 13 mph, but the slightly heavier 20.5 kg Pon-e 48V has a top speed of 16 mph and a range of 24 miles (38 km) which makes it viable for a lot of things.

Gizmag's Noel McKeegan on the Trikke Pon-e
Gizmag's Noel McKeegan on the Trikke Pon-e

Indeed, the first of those things is a suitability for heavy duty work with policemen or council workers aboard. The Pon-e could quite possibly be made much lighter, but you could never accuse the company of producing a non-robust product.

The Pon-e's big point-of-difference is actually that it is so easy to ride - and sooooo much fun that you will actually want to ride it, because it's an electric carving three-wheeler, and just look at what you can do when you have a bit of confidence.

The Trikke Pon-e in full flight - one thing to note here is the precision offered by the steering
The Trikke Pon-e in full flight - one thing to note here is the precision offered by the steering

I rode it and couldn't get the smile off my face. Noel McKeegan rode it and the first thing he said when getting off was, "that's good fun."

The Trikke Pon-e but is obviously very long in comparison to most fold-up electric conveyances, so it won't be suitable for every task, but it will be absolutely ideal for many.

The Pon-e can also be ridden without the electric motor - indeed, it was originally sold that way. By producing a swaying motion, you propel the Pon-e forward at a rate seemingly on a par with a bicycle up to 15 km/h (9.3 mph). The motion also gives a more total body workout than a bicycle.

The Yikebike

We have recently begun referring to a new class of vehicle - the Transportation appliance is roughly defined as a lightweight (10 - 15 kg) EV which folds for carrying and storage. The Honda U3-X and Toyota Winglet look likely to be released at some point, but they're not in production just yet.

The Gocycle is the best of the fold-up bikes, the Velomini the lightest, and in the non-convenional area, there is still only one transportation appliance at market - the Yikebike.

The 10 kg Yikebike locked and loaded, wieghs in at just a tad over 10 kg
The 10 kg Yikebike locked and loaded, wieghs in at just a tad over 10 kg

The Yikebike is a miniature, carbon fiber electric penny farthing capable of 25km/h (15 mph) and a range of 10 km (6.2 miles) - it weighs just 11.5 kg, and folds down to a size quite similar to that of a car's spare tire.

The Yikebike is the current state-of-the-art Transportation Appliance
The Yikebike is the current state-of-the-art Transportation Appliance

Yikebike might well become one of the standard suppliers of last mile transport for automotive manufacturers in the future, as nearly all of the other devices suitable for compact easy stowing are proprietary to the respective manufacturer, and it seems an inevitable trend.

Exoskeletons coming

The Ekso Exoskeleton is the first of many - exoskeletons will help people walk who currently cannot
The Ekso Exoskeleton is the first of many - exoskeletons will help people walk who currently cannot

The release the Ekso exoskeleton earlier this year marked a significant point in the commercialization of exoskeletons and don't be surprised to see exoskeletons quickly become yet another significant mobility aid being used in the automobile.

exoskeletons will also help healthy people run faster, for longer, with a heavy pack - Ekso is part of the team working on the HULC development prototype with a view to enhancing the capabilities of the American soldier
exoskeletons will also help healthy people run faster, for longer, with a heavy pack - Ekso is part of the team working on the HULC development prototype with a view to enhancing the capabilities of the American soldier

Dozens of mobility assistance exoskeletons are under development in Japan, Korea, Isreal, America and a host of others - even New Zealand has a strong contender in the international field contending for a foothold in a massive new industry. Most of the initial wave of exoskeletons are aimed at the mobility challenged, the paralyzed and the elederly, but another wave of exoskeletons will follow which will also help healthy people run faster, for longer, with a heavy pack - and Ekso is part of the team working on the HULC development prototype with a view to enhancing the capabilities of the American soldier. Development budgets do not come bigger than those provided by American military R&D.; Ekso might be the first to bring an exoskeleton to market, but the list of companies with products in the final testing phase is long and notably includes two auto makers - Toyota and Honda.

Honda's worker assist
Honda's worker assist

Honda's worker assist and walk assist products are among the most mature of all products in this area and they have been under testing for a long time. Toyota has a whole division working on partner and rehabilitation robots. These devices will play a role, and we'll explore the whole exoskeleton area in a full article in the coming weeks.

For now, whipping your exoskeleton out of the trunk for a leisurely but quick 20 mile run across town is still a pipedream - but I'm confident we'll see this happen in the medium term future - certainly within a decade.

An exoskeleton promises both additional strength and unlimited endurance - tethered models such as this one from Japan's Koba Labs, astonished me with how easily such suits can make easy work of tasks that are beyond my normal physical lmitations
An exoskeleton promises both additional strength and unlimited endurance - tethered models such as this one from Japan's Koba Labs, astonished me with how easily such suits can make easy work of tasks that are beyond my normal physical lmitations

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19 comments
19 comments
Alien
Last mile (or more likely last two or three mile) transport vehicles need to fulfil many criteria. They must be small and lightweight. Who wants to lug a 15 kg personal transport into and out of a car every trip?
Also because cars may well be banned from city centres, the ‘mothership’ vehicle must be able to carry at least two such devices and even that leaves unanswered the question of how to transport a couple of kids on a weekend shopping expedition or even a trip to a museum.
But it will not be enough merely to carry the two (or maybe more) personal transport vehicles, the ‘mothership’ must also be able to carry shopping and then...hey what about holiday luggage? Distant city centres where folk go for weekend breaks or even longer holidays probably also will ban cars, so the personal transport will have to go on holiday too.
Now having become accustomed to going everywhere on wheels, there will be many people whose walking faculty gradually diminishes, whether through ageing or lack of practice, so these personal transport vehicles will need to be used just about everywhere.
Next come the problem of safety. Already there have been instances of injuries caused to pedestrians by mobility scooters - and of course these things are being driven in pedestrian areas by people without licences or insurance. It seems inevitable that accidents will increase in proportion to the numbers of such vehicles in use. This will become an issue for traffic authorities and it seems likely that speeds will have to be restricted by the manufacturers so ‘breaking the speed limit’ will simply not be possible. (Although one could imagine an underground movement of ‘tuning shops’ that might produce illegally modified versions!)
Knowing just how much damage can be caused by contact with an ordinary pedal powered bike ridden at 12mph, a limit of perhaps 5mph might be set. So it might take 12 minutes to go from the out of town car park into the city centre. That’s OK if it’s not raining...and then how does one carry home the shopping? So it follows that these vehicles should be capable of being driven ‘hands free’ – and urban planners might need to start thinking about sheltered ‘travelways’.
While it would be impossible to require users to hold a licence, some kind of third party insurance cover would also seem necessary, unless the speed is seriously restricted. And given the certain fact that even if insurance were compulsory, far too many (illegally) uninsured users would create an unacceptable hazard to the public at large. And finally a note to those health and safety conscious souls. No, we are not all going to ride these ‘vehicles’ wearing crash helmets. Despite these seemingly rather boring limitations, the future certainly does seem to lie in ‘last mile’ (maybe more) personal transport solutions and the sooner they arrive, the better but an awful lot of thought will need to go into how they are designed and used.
Charles Bosse
Please note: If you live in London (like the author presumably does), you should know that the population densities in the UK are in line with those in the very large cities in the US, and that the US has a population density reasonably consistent with the average world population, unlike Canada or Russia (or Iceland). We even have a greater Population density than Brazil, or Argentina which puts us on the higher end of the pack for countries with land area over 2.5 Million km^2.
Calson
Europe and China and Japan have long been multi-modal. Their governments have been building the necessary infrastructure for the past 60 years. In the USA our elected government officials (politicians) have basically privatized the nations transportation system so we have now maximizes profits for the oil, auto, tire, concrete, and real estate businesses and their owners and upper management but is nearly impossible to convert to a multimodal environment.
We have no intrastate high speed trains, few cities with light rail and none with enough points connected for use by all of the inhabitants, no protected and dedicated facilities for bicyclists and motorscooters and very hostile environments for pedestrians and anyone who uses what passes for public transportation in the US - our diesel powered buses. In many parts of the US there is no legal way to get from one city to another by bicycle and often no safe or legal way for children to walk or bicycle to school or their parents to get to markets to do their shopping.
Stop focusing on transport devices. What we need is a system. What value did personal computers have before they could be networked? How much more valuable did they become when they could be used for more than crunching numbers in an electronic spreadsheet? While the pre-network era of personal computers is where we now stand in the USA with regard to mixed mode transportation by people - it has existed for decades for freight which has a high priority than people in our capitalistic anything for a profit regardless of the costs to others culture.
Rich Mansfield
Excellent article and thought-provoking comments; thanks to all. I would add that autonomous cars will be here within a decade (Cadillac apparently leading the pack in 2013), and that the same autonomy will probably be applicable to smaller, more agile vehicles. Think of robots criss-crossing warehouses. Some small, covered, solar-powered, taxi-like autonomous vehicles might do the job, and if they were sequestered away from pedestrian walkways, do it more efficiently and quietly than our present streets.
Guy Dauncey
I find all this tremendously exciting. It's not as if these new personal transport devices are "instead" of other means of transport. They are part of an entire new transport revolution, which will see far more emphasis on walking, cycling, public transport and carsharing, with less need for personal vehicle ownership.
Mike, are you able to present a webinar on this to an audience in British Columbia, Canada?
Adrian Akau
These devices can be useful but there may be a few problems with the philosophy behind them. First of all, people need to walk to get some exercise. Secondly, if a person goes shopping, the small transport device might be stolen if not anchored down solidly. Third, the user of some of these devices might neet protective gear in case of a fall. Fourth, the maintenence factor has not been addressed.
Grant-53
A folding e-bike is the most likely device at present to integrate car and public traffic. With fairings for drag reduction and rider protection a bike can travel up to 30 mph. These can carry children and cargo safely then fit on trains, buses or car racks. A bike can be used leg braces or exo skeleton devices. In-line bike trailers could fit in the same racks as regular bikes. Pedestrians and Segway style devices will likely have to be separated in many cases due to speed differential. Store aisle need to be wide enough to allow wheel chairs.
rdinning
It's amazing how many of these second mode transports require the operator to stand up. People in the aging group often can't do that for very long - like five minutes at a time.
I'm 68 with bad back and hips, my wife is 63 with a bad hip. Neither of us can stand long enough to use any of those devices like the Segway that requires the operator to be on his or her feet for the length of the trip.
I do ride a motorcycle, though my wife can't.
Slowburn
So after I find a place to park my car I have to find a place to stash a scooter or bike. I'll wait for a self driving car that drops me off at the door and parks itself and comes to pick me up when I call.
Marius Gruita
I'm thinking of a device like this since 3 years ago. Something light, which can go in bus, train or subway. Without disturbing people around, and without killing my arms when I carry it around. I was thinking of charging stations on the buses, in the office, at home> I thought a lot about it. unfortunately, people I talk to were not very keen looking at this, so I couldn't start a project. I'm sure soon someone will think of it, and I will lose the start, but that's it, when you have people with horse glasses around. :( If it is anyone interested, just let me know and I'll share it.
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