Last-mile transport

Yamaha Bicycles has impressive form in the world of ebikes, having launched the world's first electric power-assisted bike back in 1993. Now the company is launching its first Class 3 category ebike in the shape of the Civante.

London's Gocycle has announced an update to last year's GX urban ebike, with riders promised a smoother 10-second fold, cleaner lines, flagship components and an overall weight saving of 10.5 oz compared to its predecessor.

It's been five years in the making, but the Walkcar from Cocoa Motors is finally up for pre-sale in Japan. The portable electric riding platform is kind of like an electric skateboard but with a deck about the size of a 13-inch laptop.

After 18 months of planning, the Future Automated Bus Urban Level Operation System (FABULOS) project is about to roll into five European cities to field test autonomous last-mile shuttles in real-world conditions.

Earlier this year, Segway-Ninebot revealed a bunch of electric mobility products, most notably the S-Pod armchair on wheels. A stylish electric kickscooter was also showcased, and now it has been launched on Kickstarter.

EV4 currently has six electric rides in its catalog, each with an industrial aesthetic that's become something of a company trademark. Now Jack Skopinski has revealed a seventh in the shape of a three-wheeled folding e-scooter called the Gremlin.

Swedish electric moto maker Cake has announced a street legal edition of the Kalk Ink released last month. The Ink SL's head, tail and turn lights can be removed for off-road adventures, and the e-moto can now get up to minimum highway speeds.

Switzerland's Micro Mobility Systems AG has revealed a completely redesigned production version of the Microlino bubble city electric first revealed in Geneva in 2016, together with a moto-scooter concept and some new electric kickscooters.

Prior to its acquisition by Ninebot, Segway was mostly known for its self-balancing people mover that never quite captured the general public's imagination. With the S-Pod, Segway returns to its self-balancing roots with an electric chair-on-wheels.

At first glance the Mantour X from FlowDot looks like many other compact folding e-kickscooters. But when folded, it stays upright on its front wheel as you roll it smoothly along.

In the automotive world, a hypercar describes a performance monster that usually comes with a scary price tag. D-Fly has borrowed and tweaked the term for the release of its Dragonfly electric kickscooter, billed as the world's first hyperscooter.

There are a few modes of transport you can always count on – cars, bikes, buses, trains – that sort of thing. But looking to disrupt these mainstays is a regular assortment of more imaginative options. Here are the wackiest of the 2019 crop.