Xiaomi’s Mi Electric Scooter has a 250W motor that propels the it to a top speed of 15.5mph with a maximum range of 18.6-miles, all for $399 shipped, today only, originally $495.87. At just 26.9-pounds, its portable folding design makes it easy for storage at home or to be hand-carried when necessary. The sturdy frame is made from aerospace-grade aluminum to ensure durability. Red taillights flash when braking to warn other pedestrians and vehicles on the road. Product page. Read more for another video review and additional information.
Dutch national carrier KLM Royal Dutch Airlines has teamed up with TU Delft to fund a futuristic V-shaped, fuel-efficient airplane design known as the Flying-V. It’s aimed to improve the sustainability of air travel by incorporating the passenger cabin, fuel tanks and cargo hold into the wings. The aircraft is claimed to use 20% less fuel than the Airbus A350-900 while carrying a similar number of passengers — the Flying-V seats 314, while the Airbus A350 seats between 300-350. Read more for a video and additional information.
Alaka’i Technologies Skai is unlike any other drone taxi that you may have seen before, as it uses light hydrogen fuel cells to run its rotors, which provides a range of 400 miles and the capacity to carry 1,000 pounds in passengers or freight. Early models would be flown by an on-board pilot using a pair of joysticks, but the technology does exist for it to eventually fly remotely and / or autonomously. Read more for a video and additional information.
California-based Rungu has just unveiled a pedal-assist version of its three-wheeled Juggernaut ‘Fat Bike’, which comes equipped with large, soft tires – two in front – making it perfect for traversing rough terrain. This bike is powered by a 1,000-watt Bafang M610 mid-drive unit and boasts both throttle and pedal-assist modes, mated to a down-tube-mounted 52v/15ah battery pack, good for 85km in pedal-assist mode, or 29km when using the throttle. Power is sent to the 26 x 4.8-inch tires via a Shimano Deore 10-speed 11-36t drivetrain, while Tektro 180-mm hydraulic disc brakes offer maximum stopping power. Read more for a first ride video, additional pictures and information.
Automotive designer Denni5 Cheng wanted to combine a city car and futuristic pod into a single vehicle, thus the Mobility R3 Shanghai Joy Concept 2035 was born. It only has room for one passenger, but can be used in two configurations: for normal driving, the passenger can relax in a lounge chair-like seat; the second mode shortens the R3 and raises the cabin into a more upright position, making it easier to park in tight spots. Read more for additional pictures and information.
Priced at a hefty $336K, the EHang 216 passenger drone is now ready for production, as it successfully completed its first driverless test flight above the pitch at Vienna’s Generali Arena. Practical uses for this air taxi include short-haul services for passengers, industrial equipment and urgent medical deliveries. It can seat up to two adults with a maximum weight capacity of 750 pounds and can fly up to 90 mph for ‘almost half an hour’. Read more for another video and additional information.
Just in case you haven’t seen Gravity Industries’ now patented Jet Suit, the company has just released a new video showing three of them zipping around a lake course, giving us a preview of what the future racing series could be like. Want one of these jet suits to play around with yourself? It’ll set you back £340,000, or $452,000 USD at the current exchange rate. The suit consists of five small kerosene-fueled turbine engines — two worn on each arm and one on the back – that produces more than 1,000 horsepower. Read more for a video of a jet suit landing on multiple helicopters.
Photo credit: Justin Hirvi | Bonzu / MUJI via Design Boom
Japanese retail company MUJI partnered with Finnish technology company Sensible 4 to create “GACHA,” an autonomous shuttle bus that can operate in all weather conditions. It’s set to launch in Finland later this spring, starting in the city of Espoo with the eventual goal of expanding to Helsinki, Vantaa, and other large cities later by the end of 2019. Read more for a video, additional pictures and information.
When it comes to automobile accidents, emergency vehicles can not always easily reach the actual site, whether it be due to traffic or other unforeseen circumstances. Median AMB aims to solve that issue with a monorail-like design that slides right down a road’s median / center divider. Once it reaches the collision, a sliding door opens where response teams can aid those in need. Read more for another picture and additional information.
Bicycle startup VanMoof was losing quite a bit of money on its $3,000 bikes that were being damaged during transit, so they decided to start shipping them in fake TV boxes. “We asked ourselves, what do Americans really love? What would prompt couriers to be delicate with a parcel? That’s when we thought of a flat screen TV, because our box is the same size and shape as that of a really huge TV,” said Taco Carlier, VanMoof’s co-founder to CNNMoney. Read more for a video, additional pictures and information.