Mobility is changing every day and is a vast playground for innovation. We talk about Personal Motorized Mobility Devices (PMDDs) or New Individual Electric Vehicles (NVEI) that have already entered the mainstream, but every day, new and unusual vehicles are appearing to amaze, surprise and perhaps seduce new users. The era of the all-car is well and truly over to give way to an original form of mobility, designed to meet the travel needs of everyone. Here’s a closer look at some of the innovations that have caught our attention.
The ONO electric cargo bike for deliveries
Production of the electric cargo bike used for parcel delivery began in the spring of 2020. ONO Motion’s CEO, implemented this product because he realized that three-quarters of the traffic jams in the city center during peak hours are caused by commercial traffic. The goal of this cargo bike is to make cities more pleasant by cycling the first and last kilometers of parcel deliveries (off-road and off-carrier) to urban bases and micro depots.
The electrically assisted bicycle has a 250-watt motor and can travel up to 25km/h, supporting a load of 300kg. Thanks to its speed, the driver chooses whether he wants to be on the road or on the bike paths. The autonomy of the bike is 80 kilometers with a battery change possible in a few seconds according to its users. The vehicles have up to 2 cubic meters of storage space for packages. They also have a ramp to mount the parcels effortlessly.
The driver is installed in a cabin where he is protected from the weather as well as from external road hazards. In Berlin, ONO is teaming up with Hermes and Liefery to create new electric cargo bikes with two engines and a load volume greater than two cubic meters. The aim is to increase the supply and meet more needs.
By 2025, ONO’s fleet will consist of 14,000 vehicles. This brand wants to respond as well as possible to the challenges of mobility and new urban transport.
Onewheel, the skateboard has only one wheel
The Onewheel is a board with only one central wheel, all electric. More precisely, it is a wooden board, a smooth rubber go-kart wheel of 25 cm in the center with a metal structure that protects the whole. It is a product inspired by board sports such as skateboarding, surfing and snowboarding that goes up to 30 km/h with a weight of 11 kg.
There are two models of Onewheel, the first has a range of 25 km for a recharge of almost 2 hours. The smaller model has a range of 10 km for 30 minutes of recharging. The offer is rather interesting, the only problem on the table is its price. Indeed, the Onewheel has been patented and only one retailer offers it for sale. The Onewheel is a NVEI, New Individual Electric Vehicles, at the price of 1620 € for the cheapest version.
Yikebike, bike without handlebars and pedals
The Yikebike is a new kind of “bike”. It consists of two wheels, of different sizes. It is foldable and electric. This bike is similar to a bicycle at the base but it only looks like a bicycle by the position of the wheels. Indeed, on the Yikebike, it is not necessary to pedal because it is totally electric. Moreover the “handlebars”, which are rather two handles, are on each side of the saddle to be able to steer.
Characteristically, this bike can be folded in 20 seconds, weighs between 11 and 14 kg and has a 20-inch wheel at the front and an 8-inch wheel at the rear. There are currently two models for this bike. The classic one weighs 14 kg and is sold for 2600 €. The second one is lighter because it is made out of carbon. It weighs 11 kg and costs 3800 €.
Hovershoes, the shoes of tomorrow
You probably know the hoverboard, this board with two wheels that moves back and forth according to your body? Hovershoes is a mix of rollerblades and hoverboard on each foot. More precisely, it’s a board under each foot with an electric wheel, each foot is independent.
These “under-shoes” can go up to 10 km/h, which is high when you think your feet are separated. Technically, Hovershoes weigh 5 kg and measure 9 cm in diameter. After a recharge of 1h30, they have a range of 8 kilometers. Hovershoes are available from 150 to 500 €. You won’t come across many Hovershoes in the streets. They are mainly used in skate parks for more sensations.
Orbitwheels, the wheel around the foot
Orbitwheels are a circle around each foot with a small platform to put it on. Quite difficult to handle at first, Orbitwheels have a bar that can be added between the two feet for more stability. Orbitwheels are 25 cm in diameter and weigh 2 kg. You will find the first pairs around 50€. For the most expensive pairs you can expect to pay up to 100€, which is still very reasonable for a NVEI.
Small and very light, Orbitwheels are easy to transport every day. However, they are intended for people who like to ride and practice figures because they require a certain technique.
WalkCar, the skateboard in the image of the MacBook
The WalkCar is a mix between an electric skateboard and the MacBook created by Apple. Indeed, it is composed of 4 wheels and a board the size of a computer.
It is used in the opposite way of a hoverboard, you only have to move forward to slow down and lean back to accelerate. In terms of characteristics, this vehicle climbs up to 16 km/h, weighs 2.8 kg, fits in a handbag (33 cm long) and can support up to 120 kg. The WalkCar is autonomous for 1 hour after a 30-minute recharge. However, this NVEI costs $1,200; it is important to think about its usefulness before paying such a sum. The objective of the manufacturer was to create a NVEI that is easy to use and transport every day.
Ryno bike, the one-wheeled scooter
The Ryno bike looks like the front of a scooter, the seat, the handlebars but with only one wheel. There is only one seat on this scooter, but it is possible to add bags to bring back groceries. This vehicle runs up to 16 km/h, it has two batteries for 16 kilometers of autonomy for a recharge from 4h30 to 6h. Technically, the tire measures 63 cm in diameter with a weight of 72.5 kg. The Ryno bike is a product designed by hand in the United States for which there is only one driver. Therefore, it costs about 4 000 €.
The list of unusual vehicles on the market is still long and continues to grow with innovations from all over the world. There are several questions surrounding these vehicles: Will they be safe enough? Do they meet the standards of the vehicles put on the market? Will they find their audience in the market for soft and electric mobility? These are all challenges for these companies that are pushing innovation to revolutionize mobility, and we can’t wait to see some of them adopted in the daily lives of city dwellers.