The Ion SmartScooter is a stand-up electric scooter prototype that is lightweight, foldable and compact, with its creators claiming it can carry an average adult for distances of up to 17 miles (27 km) on a single charge. Sporting a 250 W brushless electric hub motor, the SmartScooter is also claimed to be able to travel at speeds of up to 15 mph (24 km/h), yet fold up small enough to carry on a bus or train.
The electric hub motor features an anti-lock brake and is powered by a 36 V Samsung lithium-ion battery, while the scooter's frame is made of 6061-T6 aircraft-grade aluminum. The creators guarantee the 8-inch tires will never go flat thanks to a honeycomb interior structure, while a USB port in on board to charge a phone or other mobile devices.
The controls are a simple affair with a twist-grip accelerator to make it go, and a twist-grip brake to bring it to a stop. A handlebar-mounted red-yellow-green battery indicator lets riders keep an eye on remaining battery life. The makers also claim that the battery can be fully-charged from empty via a standard wall outlet in just over three hours, and that the batteries will last for more than 1,000 cycles or nearly five years of daily use.
Weighing in at 26 lb (12 kg) including the battery, the Ion SmartScooter can be folded up to a size of 8 x 16 x 36 in (20 x 40 x 91 cm) in a few seconds to allow it to be carried onto a bus or train, or to be easily stored. When folded, the handlebar also doubles as a stand to hold the SmartScooter upright when stored, and it has a convenient kickstand to keep it upright when stationary.
Perhaps not quite as compact when folded as the MyWay, but a little more so than the Jac electric scooter, the trade-off with the SmartScooter is – if the performance figures prove correct – that it is significantly faster than both of these in terms of top speed.
With the added benefits of water resistant twist controls for acceleration and braking, replete with internal cable routing to keep it out of harm’s way, the Ion SmartScooter maintains a sleek, uncluttered look as well.
"The Ion SmartScooter is a personal electric vehicle that people can use to reduce their carbon footprint and car expenses," said Robert McCormick, a partner in Probity Cell LLC, the company behind the SmartScooter. "The SmartScooter can travel cleanly and quietly 500 miles (805 km) for about $1 worth of electricity."
Set to be launched on Kickstarter on September 20th, the team aims to raise enough funds to make the move from functioning prototypes to production-ready models. To this end, the creators are offering the Ion SmartScooter to those who pre-order for US$399. If all goes to plan and the SmartScooter reaches production around the quoted time of Spring 2015 in the US, the retail price is aimed to be around $550.
The short video below shows the Ion SmartScooter in action.
Source: Ion Scooter