Earlier this year in Geneva, Volkswagen revealed it's new micro mobility scooters, powered by lithium batteries. The Streetmate is an e-scooter that can be driven while sitting or standing; and Cityskater is a three wheeled scooter, being billed as the “last mile surfer” because you can put it in a car boot and use it to do the last distance to the station or the office.
The Streetmate, which has a top speed of 45 km/h, is driven comfortably in a sitting position. Depending on vehicle registration regulations there is also a function that enables the seat to be folded away, allowing the electric scooter to instead be driven in a standing position.The concept scooter is light (65 kg) and also has a particularly low centre of gravity, as the lithium-ion battery is integrated into the floor structure. The battery has a rated capacity of 1.3 kWh. It can be fully recharged in two hours and 15 minutes at a charging station with a charging power of 500 watts. Alternatively, the battery can be removed and then recharged at home or at the office.
The Streetmate can travel up to 35 km on a fully charged battery, which gives it an optimal range for urban driving, also in larger cities.
Two front wheels and one rear wheel. The Cityskater was designed for last-mile travel – for example from a parking space or bus or train stop to the final destination. The Cityskater moves on three wheels (two in front,one at the back) with electric power (from the rear wheel) through a city. Unlike a conventional skateboard or scooter, the Cityskater has a footboard with a front wheel for each leg.This makes the steering similar to skiing or riding a Segway. The little Cityskater has a top speed of up to 20 km/h and a 15 km range.The idea of this concept is that its light weight of 11.9 kilos means that it can be taken on public transport or in a car for the last stretch of the rider’s journey. CitySkater has a lithium-ion battery that can be charged using a conventional household socket.
This lightweight 850 mm long Cityskater, has a height of 1,170 mm when folded out and can support up to 120 kg. It has a hill-climbing capacity of 10 per cent. It also comes with front and rear lights, a horn and a disc brake at the back. When folded up, the Cityskater is only 330 mm high, which means it can fit alongside an office desk. Volkswagen says the Cityskater is under evaluation for homologation and the goal is to obtain approval for use on cycle paths. The bad news is that Volkswagen have made no mention of whether they would go into full production. If they do, they'd likely be limited to the European markets.