Urban Transport

Electric Ion SmartScooter claimed to go the distance

Electric Ion SmartScooter claimed to go the distance
The Ion SmartScooter is claimed to travel up to 17 miles (27 km) on a single charge, and at speeds of up to 15 mph (24 km/h)
The Ion SmartScooter is claimed to travel up to 17 miles (27 km) on a single charge, and at speeds of up to 15 mph (24 km/h)
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The SmartScooter is claimed to be able to move the average adult for a distance of up to 17 miles (27 km)
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The SmartScooter is claimed to be able to move the average adult for a distance of up to 17 miles (27 km)
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)
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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)
The Ion SmartScooter is claimed to travel up to 17 miles (27 km) on a single charge, and at speeds of up to 15 mph (24 km/h)
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The Ion SmartScooter is claimed to travel up to 17 miles (27 km) on a single charge, and at speeds of up to 15 mph (24 km/h)
The SmartScooter has a convenient kickstand to keep it upright when stationary
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The SmartScooter has a convenient kickstand to keep it upright when stationary
The creators are offering the Ion SmartScooter to those who pre-order on KickStarter for US$399
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The creators are offering the Ion SmartScooter to those who pre-order on KickStarter for US$399
The makers claim that the battery can be fully-charged from empty in just over three hours
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The makers claim that the battery can be fully-charged from empty in just over three hours
The SmartScooter can be carried onto a bus or a train
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The SmartScooter can be carried onto a bus or a train
The SmartScooter can be carried onto a bus or a train
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The SmartScooter can be carried onto a bus or a train
The Ion SmartScooter is easily foldable and weighs just 26 lb (17 kg)
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The Ion SmartScooter is easily foldable and weighs just 26 lb (17 kg)
The batteries are claimed to last for more than 1,000 cycles or nearly five years of daily use
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The batteries are claimed to last for more than 1,000 cycles or nearly five years of daily use
The SmartScooter has a 6061-T6 aircraft-grade aluminum frame
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The SmartScooter has a 6061-T6 aircraft-grade aluminum frame
The Ion SmartScooter has 8-inch tires with a honeycomb interior structure guaranteed never to go flat
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The Ion SmartScooter has 8-inch tires with a honeycomb interior structure guaranteed never to go flat
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The Ion SmartScooter has a USB port to charge a phone
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The Ion SmartScooter has a USB port to charge a phone
The Ion SmartScooter has a USB port to charge a phone
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The Ion SmartScooter has a USB port to charge a phone
The controls are a simple affair with a twist-grip accelerator to make it go, and a twist-grip brake to make it stop
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The controls are a simple affair with a twist-grip accelerator to make it go, and a twist-grip brake to make it stop
A 36 V Samsung Lithium-ion battery drives the SmartScooter's in-wheel electric hub motor
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A 36 V Samsung Lithium-ion battery drives the SmartScooter's in-wheel electric hub motor
The SmartScooter has an anti-lock brake contained in the hub motor
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The SmartScooter has an anti-lock brake contained in the hub motor
The SmartScooter has a 250 W brushless electric hub motor
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The SmartScooter has a 250 W brushless electric hub motor
The SmartScooter can be folded up to a size of 8 x 16 x 36 (20 x 40 x 91 cm)
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The SmartScooter can be folded up to a size of 8 x 16 x 36 (20 x 40 x 91 cm)
The Ion SmartScooter is easily foldable
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The Ion SmartScooter is easily foldable
The handlebar also doubles as a stand to hold the SmartScooter upright when stored
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The handlebar also doubles as a stand to hold the SmartScooter upright when stored
The SmartScooter has a handlebar-mounted red-yellow-green battery indicator
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The SmartScooter has a handlebar-mounted red-yellow-green battery indicator
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View gallery - 25 images

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.

The SmartScooter has a handlebar-mounted red-yellow-green battery indicator
The SmartScooter has a handlebar-mounted red-yellow-green battery indicator

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

View gallery - 25 images
5 comments
5 comments
Grunchy
15 mph on a scooter -> speed wobble -> crash. I like the idea, but you can already buy any kind of Razor electric scooter you want.
thk
Specs are pretty much the standard with others.
Kie
UK law is so retarded that if you ride one of these on the road or pavement then you are breaking the law.
In the UK they are classified as mopeds but they do not meet the legal requirements for mopeds and so are illegal.
You must have insurance to ride one of these in the UK, but you can not obtain that insurance.
If a child rides one of these, they can be docked points from their driving license... that of course they don't have, but rest assured those points will be deducted once they get a license!!!
http://www.atob.org.uk/legal-issues/are-electric-micro-scooters-legal/
Environmentally friendly option? Not legal (UK).
martinkopplow
Oh yeah, once again. If it were legal to go as fast as 24km/h on a thing that has no seat, the roads would already be crowded with these. They do not match the real world conditions, where everything faster than 6km/h must have a seat, and everything faster than 15km/h a license plate and a helmet. Slight variations from country to country might apply. Believe me, I work in the business, and have a few designs in the drawer just in case the legistaltion should one day be updated.
Until then, you can ride them on private property only.
zevulon
eco rico is already selling and on market for 1000