New electric scooter company bo Mobility has unveiled its Tesla and VanMoof-inspired flagship electric scooter, designed by former Formula 1 engineers. its rigid curved frame and steering technology that can make it one of the best electric scooters ever.
Oscar Morgan, CEO and co-founder of bo Mobility, said in a talk at the Micromobility Industries electric scooter forum: “Tesla and VanMoof made [electric cars and electric bikes] highly desirable, making them safer, more functional and, most importantly, making these products socially acceptable”. His plan is to be to electric scooters what Tesla is to electric cars: a premium, elegant brand that everyone wants.
“Our training is automotive. Williams Formula 1, advanced engineering and Jaguar-Land Rover for design. We started with this revolutionary and unique new chassis architecture – we call it Monocurve. It moves stress through the vehicle to the ends of the frame, and that allows us to adjust stiffness and strength.”
Plus, there’s a convenient space at the bottom of the Monocurve chassis that works with a “lock and load” hook that can pop out of the frame, allowing you to carry your groceries without wobbling. Organized!
The team also pioneered a new Safesteer technology, a new “safety paradigm” that reduces the smallest size of wheels (only 10”, with a width of 2.75”) and offers all the comfort and safety of driving your bike from push average.
A steel loop allows you to D-Lock the scooter into any bike lock station securely. Understandably, we’d be a little nervous to do so, as the scooter isn’t cheap, but it does have GPS anti-theft technology.
In terms of specs, the bo scooter has a range of 50km and a potential top speed of 35mph, although local restrictions apply. The entire unit weighs 18kgs, comparatively quite light thanks to its space-age-looking aluminum frame. The scooter costs £1,995 in the UK or £69 a month (opens in new tab)and will begin shipping in June 2023. While there is no pricing in the US or Australia yet, bo has confirmed to that there are plans afoot to launch the scooter internationally.
Analysis: Could it be the “Tesla for Electric Scooters”?
It looks cool, there’s no doubt about it: there’s something about the Monocurve rigid frame that reminds us of the Hydrow rowing machine, a similar premium device full of innovations in an obsolete genre. It’s full of cool little tricks, including the pop-out hook, which is one of those little gadgets that’s sure to provoke some good “oohs” and “aahs”, and the 50km range per charge is impressive. We can’t wait to assemble it.
However, we can identify some problems in bo’s quest for world domination. For one, as good as the Monocurve frame looks, it doesn’t bend, so it won’t be the easiest thing to carry around. On the other hand, e-scooter legislation as it stands is that private models are still illegal to ride on public land in many countries, including the UK.
While these laws are changing to accommodate the emerging dominance of e-scooters and initiatives like ride-sharing schemes in cities, riding around anywhere in public can get you a fine, depending on where you live. It’s a sexy machine so clearly designed for showing off in the city, and the bo are clearly anticipating e-scooter laws relaxing in the months and years to come.
However, it’s a big gamble, and it would be a shame to spend two grand on such a cool machine, only to find that not only can you not mount it outside your house, but it also won’t bend, so you can’t even put it on. it in your car to transport it anywhere else. If the laws change, this won’t be the last time you’ll hear the name bo. If things remain as they are, however, you might want to consider the best e-bikes.
