- Title: Folding scooter looks to bridge last mile
- Date: 23rd November 2016
- Summary: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (NOVEMBER 22, 2016) (REUTERS) MAN TAKING URB-E ELECTRIC SCOOTER OUT OF CAR TRUNK AND RIDING IT AWAY VARIOUS OF URB-E IN CITY TRAFFIC (SOUNDBITE) (English) EVAN SAUNDERS, HEAD OF SALES AND MARKETING OF URBAN ELECTRIC, SAYING: "We see it all. Many of our owners can't deal with parking at subway stops anymore. It's not even about saving money trying to get to the subway stop. It's actually about finding parking for their car. So we bridge that first mile and that in that regard, the last mile. Once they get into the city, perhaps they arrive into downtown Los Angeles or into Park Street in Boston or they get off the BART in San Francisco and they need to actually get to the next location. Our product really solves that problem." VARIOUS OF URB-E IN CITY TRAFFIC (SOUNDBITE) (English) EVAN SAUNDERS, HEAD OF SALES AND MARKETING OF URBAN ELECTRIC SAYING: "But a bigger issue we're trying to tackle is the micro mile problem. We find many people in city centers it's not about the first or last mile it's about all those short little trips that are happening inside a city. People don't want to take a ride shares. Walking is very far. Many people in suits don't want to ride a bicycle because it ends up sweating. So we really needed our solution to tackle all those issues and solve that micro mile problem that so many urbanites really face." WIDE SHOT OF URBAN ELECTRIC BOOTH AT LA AUTO SHOW VARIOUS OF URB-ES ON DISPLAY ALUMINUM FRAME ON DISPLAY URB-E BEING FOLDED UP (SOUNDBITE) (English) EVAN SAUNDERS, HEAD OF SALES AND MARKETING OF URBAN ELECTRIC ON THE URB-E FOLDING MECHANISM, SAYING: "The folding mechanism, it's not electric. It is all encased in a patented design that we have there that makes it so easy for the user just to lift up on the seat and fold it up together one second. And then fortunately we've used materials such as 6061 aircraft grade aluminum carbon fiber to make it the lightest foldable electric vehicle in the world."
- Embargoed: 8th December 2016 00:27
- Keywords: scooter Urban Electric URB-E folding electric city commute last mile
- Location: LOS ANGELES AND PASADENA, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES
- City: LOS ANGELES AND PASADENA, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES
- Country: USA
- Topics: Information Technologies / Computer Sciences,Science
- Reuters ID: LVA00159IY89N
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: City living means that sometimes things can be so close... but yet so far.
One Los Angeles based company is looking to change that with an innovative, folding electric bike that promises to bridge the last mile between driving and walking.
"Many of our owners can't deal with parking at subway stops anymore," said Evan Saunders, head of marketing at Urban Electric, one of the many companies looking to make a name for itself at this year's LA Auto Show.
"It's not even about saving money trying to get to the subway stop. It's actually about finding parking for their car. So we bridge that first mile in that regard. The last mile, once they actually get into the city, perhaps they arrive into downtown Los Angeles or into Park Street in Boston or they get off the Bart in San Francisco and they need to actually get to the next location. Our product really solves that problem."
Called the URB-E, the bike is the design dream in part of a former lead engineer at Porsche, offering a simple, minimalist and clean look that is both light and practical for city use.
Developed and hand built in Pasadena, California, the scooter employs carbon fiber and aircraft-grade aluminum throughout its frame to help keep its weight at just 35 pounds and folds away in seconds.
"The folding mechanism, it's not electric," said Saunders. "It is all encased in a patented design that we have there that makes it so easy for the user just to lift up on the seat and fold it up together one second. And then fortunately we've used materials such as 6061 aircraft grade aluminum carbon fiber to make it the lightest foldable electric vehicle in the world."
At the heart of the URB-E is a brushless electric motor, which reduces friction, powered by a 36v lithium-ion battery that sends the scooter up to 15 MPH. A single four-hour charge gives users a range of 20 miles.
"The lithium ion battery super power is our own URB-E branded battery with a really advanced battery management system. So you can even leave it on and the battery won't charge down and you're good to get a full 20 miles out of that charge. The motor is encased it's a brushless motor -- inside the front wheel, actually. So there's really nothing that can get in there. There's nothing really to break on it," said Saunders.
Other features include a USB dock to keep you connected and charged, a horn, a basket and a coffee cup holder, along with a multitude of colors to allow riders to fully make their URB-Es their own.
Prices start at $1,499, but URB-E says the smiles are free.
"It's hard not to smile when you're riding the URB-E around. It's like riding a lounge chair. It's really easy. It's very comfortable. You're so low to the ground. It's a very safe feeling. So, yes get to commute to and have fun in the process," Saunders said. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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