Urban Transport

Dutch electric scooter tempts US riders with modular batteries, zippy sprint and lots of storage

Dutch electric scooter tempts US riders with modular batteries, zippy sprint and lots of storage
Etergo's AppScooter made its US debut at CES 2019 in Las Vegas
Etergo's AppScooter made its US debut at CES 2019 in Las Vegas
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The AppScooter is due for release in Europe in the second half of 2019, with color options including yellow and blue
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The AppScooter is due for release in Europe in the second half of 2019, with color options including yellow and blue
The AppScooter features a brushless motor belt drive system for a sprint to 28 mph in just 3.9 seconds
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The AppScooter features a brushless motor belt drive system for a sprint to 28 mph in just 3.9 seconds
Storage capacity under the seat of the AppScooter is reported to be 2.2 cubic feet
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Storage capacity under the seat of the AppScooter is reported to be 2.2 cubic feet
The AppScooter has generous storage under the seat, so you can leave the carrier bags in the store
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The AppScooter has generous storage under the seat, so you can leave the carrier bags in the store
The AppScooter's battery system is modular in nature, with each removable module offering up to 50 miles of range per charge. Three modules can be installed simultaneously
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The AppScooter's battery system is modular in nature, with each removable module offering up to 50 miles of range per charge. Three modules can be installed simultaneously
Each curvy battery module can be pulled out of the AppScooter's chassis for charging at the office or in the home
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Each curvy battery module can be pulled out of the AppScooter's chassis for charging at the office or in the home
the AppScooter has telescopic front fork suspension and a horizontally-mounted shock at the back
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the AppScooter has telescopic front fork suspension and a horizontally-mounted shock at the back
The AppScooter rides on 12 inch aluminum wheels, features hydraulic disc braking and offers up to 150 miles of range per charge
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The AppScooter rides on 12 inch aluminum wheels, features hydraulic disc braking and offers up to 150 miles of range per charge
Etergo's AppScooter made its US debut at CES 2019 in Las Vegas
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Etergo's AppScooter made its US debut at CES 2019 in Las Vegas
The AppScooter's 2.2 cubic feet of storage space should be enough for two helmets
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The AppScooter's 2.2 cubic feet of storage space should be enough for two helmets
An AppScooter rider can setup navigation, launch apps, or stream music from a Bluetooth-paired smartphone using a combination of touchscreen tapping and controls on the handlebar
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An AppScooter rider can setup navigation, launch apps, or stream music from a Bluetooth-paired smartphone using a combination of touchscreen tapping and controls on the handlebar
The AppScooter benefits from front and rear suspension, hydraulic disc braking and integrated lighting front and back
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The AppScooter benefits from front and rear suspension, hydraulic disc braking and integrated lighting front and back
Turn indicators have been integrated into the AppScooter's handlebars
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Turn indicators have been integrated into the AppScooter's handlebars
The AppScooter has a curb weight of 163 lb, wheelbase of 52.9 inches and a seat height of 31.5 inches
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The AppScooter has a curb weight of 163 lb, wheelbase of 52.9 inches and a seat height of 31.5 inches
Various color options are available for the AppScooter, including red (shown), black, blue and yellow
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Various color options are available for the AppScooter, including red (shown), black, blue and yellow
View gallery - 15 images

Amsterdam's Etergo crossed the pond last week with an electric scooter that's described as a "Tesla on two wheels." The AppScooter made its US debut at CES 2019 in Las Vegas, promising to roll farther, sprint faster and carry more than other electric scooters on the market.

"This is not your run-of-the-mill scooter," said Etergo's Bart Jacobsz Rosier. "AppScooter is a world-class electric scooter that is not only green and intuitively safer but also better in every way – from its sleek design and longer driving range to its bigger storage space and faster, more efficient drivetrain. We believe our longer drive range and bigger storage capacity make AppScooter uniquely suited for the US market. People fall in love with the sophisticated design and feel safer with AppScooter, which happens to be electric. It's a win for both consumers and the environment."

The company is promising up to 150 miles (240 km) per charge of its removable curvy battery packs. Etergo's battery solution is modular in nature, with each 7.5 kg (16.5 lb) module offering up to 50 miles of scooting per charge. And the brushless motor belt drive system will zip the AppScooter from standstill to 28 mph (45 km/h) in 3.9 seconds.

Storage capacity under the seat of the AppScooter is reported to be 2.2 cubic feet
Storage capacity under the seat of the AppScooter is reported to be 2.2 cubic feet

The connected electric scooter has a curb weight of 74 kg (163 lb), wheelbase of 1,345 mm (52.9 in) and a seat height of 800 mm (31.5 in). Popping up that two-person seat allows access to the battery modules and the generous 2.2 cubic feet (60 liters) of storage space.

The slick-looking ride gets its name from the app-like user interface available on the 7 inch touchscreen display, with riders able to setup navigation, launch apps, or stream music from a Bluetooth-paired smartphone using a combination of touchscreen tapping and controls on the handlebar. There's a self diagnostic system built in, and an app will flash alerts onscreen as and when issues are detected.

An AppScooter rider can setup navigation, launch apps, or stream music from a Bluetooth-paired smartphone using a combination of touchscreen tapping and controls on the handlebar
An AppScooter rider can setup navigation, launch apps, or stream music from a Bluetooth-paired smartphone using a combination of touchscreen tapping and controls on the handlebar

Elsewhere the electric scooter has telescopic front fork suspension, a horizontally-mounted shock at the back, hydraulic disc braking, 12 inch aluminum alloy wheels and integrated lighting front and rear.

The AppScooter was launched last year in The Netherlands and is currently up for pre-order in Europe with deliveries expected to start in the second half of 2019. But Etergo was at CES testing the waters for a US release in 2020 with a price tag of around US$3,800.

Source: Etergo

View gallery - 15 images
6 comments
6 comments
f8lee
It will be interesting to see if these get any traction (no pun intended) in the US.
Motorcycle sales are down, and it seems baby boomers are the last generation interested in riding on two wheels. Generations X and iGen are evidently happy enough with VR games or the crap at Dave & Busters (and might think that game has any relation to really riding).
That said, I wish them well; perhaps this is the entry level two wheeled motorized contrivance that will bring younger people into the fold.
Doodah
So...the design is incredibly boring? Looks like a giant piece of lego designed by someone that wanted to make sure their product looked roughly like every other crap scooter that buzzes around?
RobertEhresman
Wow. At 28 mph top speed these will be a huge hit in Key West! And almost no where else in the US....
JimFox
Nice job- long range, zero emissions & low speed safety. Just the ticket for getting to the office in grid-locked city traffic.
YouAre
Very well designed machine. I doubt it'll sell like hot cakes, but there must be a niche for it. Good job
warren52nz
That acceleration is about the same as my Honda PCX150, 150cc scooter. That is 0-60kph in 5.0. I wonder what its top speed is. Mine's 110 kph.