Gizmag has covered several potential solutions to "last-mile transportation" that aim to help people get from, say, the train station to the office, or the bus stop to home. The latest such transportation device to come to our attention is the Movpak: an electric skateboard-like EV that fits into a backpack, and still leaves some room for carrying stuff.
Movpak is the work of a Brazilian startup of the same name, and whether there's a direct influence or not, appears to be an evolution of the same general idea that gave rise to the Olaf, the Micro Luggage, and the Fly.
However, Movpak boasts a significant benefit over the previous efforts in that this skateboard-like device has electric drive and can speed along at up to 15 mph (24 km/h) for up to 9 miles (14 km) before needing a recharge – which itself takes a couple of hours. Movpak measures 60 x 30 cm (24 x 12 in), weighs 7.7 kg (17 lb), and can also be pulled along like a luggage trolley. When in operation, the Movpak is steered like a skateboard (with the backpack sitting to the rear) and acceleration is controlled with a wireless controller that the company is still refining.
The developers granted Gizmag access to non-public video footage that shows the backpack-to-electric skateboard transformation mechanism to be nice and slick. One simply pulls up the backpack with a snap, releasing the board, and it's stowed away by pushing the board back into the bag. There's also enough room left in the backpack for a laptop and some clothes.
Brazilian-born designer Ivo Machado, who co-founded Movpak and helped design the device, told Gizmag that after two years in development, a prototype has been built and Movpak will soon be launched on the crowdfunding website Kickstarter.
Early backers will be given the opportunity to grab a Movpak for US$1,190, while additional backpack covers will be available in several colors and pitched at $160 each. Those interested can sign-up to be informed of the release date and further details by following the source link below.
Source: Movpak