Urban Transport

JAC< foldable electric scooter for urban commuters

JAC< foldable electric scooter for urban commuters
JAC< is a lightweight, foldable electric scooter for short-range urban commuters
JAC< is a lightweight, foldable electric scooter for short-range urban commuters
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A limited edition BLACK JAC< version in matte black finish with the supporter's name engraved is also available
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A limited edition BLACK JAC< version in matte black finish with the supporter's name engraved is also available
JAC< is a new electric scooter design from Amsterdam's LEEV Mobility
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JAC< is a new electric scooter design from Amsterdam's LEEV Mobility
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JAC< can charge via the car's 12V power outlet and bridge the ‘final mile’ from parking place to destination
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JAC< can charge via the car's 12V power outlet and bridge the ‘final mile’ from parking place to destination
Small and compact, Jac< fits in the trunk of a car
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Small and compact, Jac< fits in the trunk of a car
JAC< is a lightweight, foldable electric scooter for short-range urban commuters
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JAC< is a lightweight, foldable electric scooter for short-range urban commuters
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View gallery - 7 images

LEEV Mobility, the Amsterdam-based company responsible for the Mantys electric golf vehicle, has gone from the fairway to the roadway for its second offering. The company's JAC< is an electric scooter that is designed to solve the first and last mile problem faced by urban commuters. A fully functional prototype has been constructed and LEEV has launched a crowdfunding campaign to get the JAC< on the road.

Designed for short-distance commuting, JAC< has a range of 20 km (12.5 miles) and can reach a speed of 24 km/h (15 mph). It weighs less than 20 kg (44 lbs) and folds down to a compact package measuring 40 x 11.8 x 15.7 in (100 x 30 x 40 cm). It features a 350 W hub motor in the rear wheel, a lithium polymer battery and two disc brakes.

JAC< can be charged at home (220V) or from the car (12V), so drivers who need to park their vehicles a few miles from their final destination can get there in quick fashion without breaking a sweat. This could be particularly useful in European cities where local administrations are making it harder for vehicles to circulate in central zones.

LEEV Mobility, which is a spinoff of Amsterdam-based design firm Springtime, won a bronze Spark Product Award for its JAC< design, which features an asymmetrical handlebar that folds down next to the wheels. To create the product, the design company teamed up with electronics developer Betronic solutions, which also has a background in electric mobility development.

For those wondering whether it will be legal to ride JAC< through the streets of their city, the designers say there have been cases when legislation was reviewed in response to the introduction of a new product, as was the case with the Segway. As far as the U.S. is concerned, the company has confirmed that JAC< will be legal in California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Kentucky, Nevada, Texas, Virginia and Washington, with other states expected to follow suit.

The JAC< Kickstarter campaign is aiming to raise US$75,000 and, with 20 days to go at the time of writing, is still over $65,000 short. If the campaign proves successful, JAC< will retail for $1,950. However, backers can save some money by ponying up a $1,500 pledge. A limited edition BLACK JAC< in matte black finish with the supporter's name engraved is also available for a pledge of $2,000. If the campaign is successful, the designers aim to launch the scooter in the second quarter of 2013.

Designer Marcel Schreuder makes his pitch for JAC< in the video below.

Source: LEEV Mobility via KickStarter

View gallery - 7 images
4 comments
4 comments
Michael Crumpton
It is unclear why you would buy this (aside from the fashionable design) rather than an established scooter like any of the Go-Ped models, which offer more power and speed for equal or lesser cost.
Gadgeteer
Ridiculous. The Xootr eX3 electric scooter from over a decade ago was sleeker, faster, had similar range and was half the weight, at half the price of this. And that couldn't make it in the market despite being available at the height of the scooter craze.
Milton
This thing looks way more robust than any of the stand-up scooters I have seen. And it's tires seem to be of a decent size. That 1500 dollar kickstarter price is cheap. This looks like the electric scooter that the A2B was to electric bikes.
unklmurray
Milton , thinks the $1500.00 price is cheap......well there is no way I'm gonna pay that........as soon as I have $399.00, I'm going 2 buy a "ProGo 3000" propane powered scooter,the $1100.00 I save will buy about 775 gallons of propane and at 140 mpg-I get to go....... 108,527miles.....