Personal Mobility Vehicle

Shimizu is working on what it says will be the world's smallest electric scooter. The 10-lb Arma scooter folds to the length and width of a piece of printer paper to carry in a messenger bag or work as its own mini-briefcase.

When it comes to electric vehicles, there's definitely a gap between small, simple ebikes and larger, costlier electric cars. The new-and-improved Veemo velomobile is intended to firmly fill that niche – and I recently got to try it out for myself.

Last week, ALI Technologies briefly took to the skies above the Fuji Speedway racetrack for the launch of the slick-looking Xturismo Limited Edition hoverbike, which is now up for order with deliveries expected to follow in the first half of 2022.

One of the most iconic inventions of the 21st century is about to be retired. The Segway PT self-balancing scooter will officially cease production next month. It’ll no doubt leave a lasting legacy – albeit probably not the one the company intended.

Some BMW factory workers can walk up to 12 km (7.5 mi) a day, often lugging parts around with them. The company is exploring a new approach to workplace mobility, developing a Segway-like personal vehicle that lets employees glide across the factory floor.

​At an event in Seoul, Korea, Segway has launched four new products for Asia Pacific markets. They include two new hands-free self-balancing scooters, which appear alongside a Ninebot-branded kids' bike and kickscooter.

With the One S1, Segway appears to be targeting even more niche markets with a single-wheel design that, although self-balancing, the company warns "is not for everyone" and takes some skill to ride.

When we first heard about the WalkCar, there was talk of a Kickstarter campaign slated to begin last October. Although that apparently never materialized, WalkCar manufacturer Cocoa Motors has now announced that it will begin taking preorders directly later this month. ​

​​​Electric mobility scooters are sedate li'l things, designed simply for helping their riders make it down smooth, forgiving sidewalks … right? Well no, not necessarily. Toronto-based Daymak Inc. has just announced the Boomer Beast, a rugged AWD three-wheeler.

Toyota's two-wheeled personal mobility vehicle, the Winglet, is to be trialed on public sidewalks in the Tokyo Waterfront City district Japan's capital city. Unveiled in 2008, the Winglet is similar to the the Segway, with users shifting their bodyweight to control it.

Segway is bringing a little robotics into the mix in an attempt broaden the appeal of its urban vehicles. The Segway Robot builds on the company's approach to self-balancing personal mobility by converting into a robotic helper once you hop off.

Trikke has been designing street-carving three-wheelers for 15 years. Its all-new Freedom adds an affordable electric drive to that mix. The sub-US$1,000 electric vessel relies on Trikke's signature cambering frame to turn motor propulsion into a quick, surfy ride on road and concrete.