Volkswagen has been looking at ways to diversify its business in a fast-changing market where traditional car ownership is expected to dwindle. One area of growth is the personal transporter i.e. bikes and scooters. Hence, the automaker has just unveiled a couple of innovative and rather striking concepts: The Cityskater for last-mile travel, and the Streetmate, a medium-range electric scooter.
Cityskater
The sleeker and lighter Cityskater looks like a conventional scooter, but to ride on it you stand in the opposite direction from what you might think. This leaves you straddling the control rod, with the single wheel at your heels.
Another unusual feature is the double footboard, which enables accurate steering by intuitively shifting your weight from one leg to the other. The Cityskater’s control rod provides the necessary stability and is used to start, accelerate, and brake the transporter. The 200-watt electric motor, located at the rear wheel, can push the Cityskater to speeds of up to 12 mph, and you’ll get a decent 9 miles out of the three-wheeler on a full charge.
You also have the ability to fold up the 33-pound Cityskater to a height of just 33 centimeters, so you can easily hide it out of the way if you ride it from the station to work. Volkswagen says its goal is to obtain approval for use of the Cityskater on cycle paths, suggesting the company is looking to commercialize the machine.
Streetmate
The 143-pound Streetmate packs a more powerful 1,300-watt motor and obviously larger. But it can travel faster at 28 mph, and has a longer range of 21 miles. Volkswagen says the range can be extended by switching to Eco mode, though it doesn’t say by how far.
You can drive the Streetmate sitting down or standing up with the seat folded away, but take note, if the machine ever makes it to market, local laws may mean you’ll require a driver’s license and insurance. You might also have to wear a helmet when riding it.
The Streetmate incorporates a 5.3-inch weather- and waterproof display located in the middle of the handlebars, which shows everything you’d expect: Speed, mileage, battery level, remaining range, and so on.
The display can also be connected to a smartphone to obtain navigation data, while the accompanying app functions as a digital key to start the scooter, and triggers an alarm if an unauthorized individual tries to start it.
“With mobile solutions such as Streetmate and Cityskater, visitors and residents in cities around the world will soon be able to leave their cars at home, opting instead for smaller zero-emission vehicles to get around,” Volkswagen said in a release. “Innovative vehicle concepts like these scooters have the potential to bring about a permanent change in future mobility habits.”
