Mobility

A type of medicine commonly used to treat everything from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease to depression has now been linked to accelerating the loss of mobility in older age. These anticholinergic drugs have already been linked to dementia.

The self-driving ID. Buzz is a fully autonomous van created and engineered by Volkswagen’s mobility-focused sub-brand, MOIA. Unlike retrofitted cars, the ID. Buzz has been built from the ground up specifically for mobility services.

The Utility Personal Transporter may do for EVs what smartphones did for gadgets – combining multiple types in one device. What's more, recent announcements suggest that people may soon start seeing the thing in actual use, in three countries.

A Singapore startup recently launched an e-mobility concept that looks like an unhappy marriage between an office chair and a mobility scooter. The Strutt ev1 sports a sensor array and smart algorithms that feed into a built-in drive-assist system.

A new soft harness system out of the Technical University of Munich works like a pair of shorts to reduce the exertion needed to walk or jog by up to 18%. The system is easy to put on and take off and holds promise for helping anyone get more mobile.

Carnegie Mellon spinoff Shift Robotics has launched a lighter, quieter version of its strap-on powered wheels first introduced as a Kickstarter in 2022. Like the originals, the Moonwalkers Aero are designed to give users a powered boost as they walk.

Seattle's Rad Power Bikes is hoping to tempt new riders to its ebike stable with the launch of the RadKick step-through – a Class 2 cargo-ready commuter with chain drive for $1,200 or clean and quiet belt drive for just 200 bucks more.

A new set of 'powered pants' can boost your leg strength as much as 40%, or make you feel around 30 lb (14 kg) lighter, according to Google X Labs spinout Skip. This 'mountain goat' exoskeleton aims to eliminate physical barriers to outdoor hiking.

Finding that many ebike riders prefer to throttle through commutes and urban adventures, LA-based startup Owlet opted to ditch the pedals altogether for its upcoming One model – a high-torque angular beast with attitude.

Moto-inspired ebikes are a popular choice among adventurous types looking for something a little different than the average commuter. Budget bike maker Engwe has updated its M20 model "to enhance performance, comfort and safety."

CyCrown is looking to get more folks riding with a low-step fat-tire ebike rolling a 1-kW motor for Class 3 riding in the city plus a 60-mile battery for heading into the wild. But perhaps the most attractive feature is the relatively low ticket price.

Electric micro-cars make a lot of sense for quietly and cleanly navigating packed inner-city environs. As do ebikes or velomobiles. A French startup has combined all three for the Karbikes pedal-assist quadricycle.