Electric vehicles offer vehicle designers more freedom to create differently shaped machines that could never have existed before that offer radically new capabilities. The XOR scooters by XOR Motors certainly fit that ideal. These scooters are small, lightweight, and quickly fold up to a small size, allowing the scooter to be carried into buildings or onto other vehicles. The scooters were displayed at two European shows on Nov 10-15 and 18-20.
The design is similar to the typical step-through feet-forward scooter style. The motor is embedded in the rear wheel using hub motor technology.
It’s not clear whether these scooters are yet a finished product line. However the web site only has concept photos and there is no obvious ability to purchase, list of dealers, etc. The removable battery pack appears to be embedded either in the floorboards or in the underseat area. The while scooter folds down (not shown on their website) and they claim it can then be easily carried onto other vehicles like a bus or train, or carried inside a building.
Recharging the scooter should be very flexible without requiring outdoors charging equipment. The charger plugs into regular household circuits. Therefore a very reasonable option appears to be to simply fold the scooter or remove just the battery pack, carrying one inside, and plugging in. Alternatively the scooter’s recharging requirements are modest enough that a simple outdoors-capable electric plug is sufficient without requiring the expensive electric vehicle service equipment (EVSE) of larger electric vehicles.
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The product line comes in three models, the XO2-50 SP (3000 watt motor, 3.4 kwh pack), XO2-50 (2200 watt motor, 2.6 kwh pack) and XO2-125 (5000 watt motor, 4.5 kwh pack). The speed and range varies from 60 km/hr (35 miles/hr) and 70 km (40 miles) to 105 km/hr (65 miles/hr) and 70 km (40 miles). The speed claim is reasonable considering that other 2kw electric scooters get to the 30-35 miles/hr range, but the range claim is optimistic if one can go by the performance of other electric scooters. Of course, just as with any vehicle, range does vary based on the speed the rider pushes the machine.
The 5000w model weighs 183 lbs while the 2200w model weighs 150 lbs (both with battery pack installed). These weights would limit the ability to “easily” carry the scooter onto another vehicle or stow in the trunk of a car. It won’t be impossible but will rely on ones ability to lift stuff. The battery packs are a more modest 45 lbs to 65 lbs and hence more reasonably carried into a building.
It is a powerful concept to be able to fold up a motorcycle and bring it inside. It eliminates the need for on/off-street parking and eliminates the need for outdoor charging outlets. But one obviously must contemplate how to best deal with the actual size and weight.
No word as yet on pricing or availability.
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