Mobility

One thing that many "smart" machines can do is move about autonomously. Designing that functionality from scratch can be challenging, though, which is where Hyundai's Plug & Drive (PnD) modular platform is intended to come in.

The Robotics Lab at Hyundai has developed a funky electric small mobility platform called the Mobile Eccentric Droid that features four independently steered wheels for high maneuverability and can even keep the low, flat base level on inclines.

E-scooter maker Silence has pulled the cover off a new electric nanocar called the S04 at EICMA in Milan, Italy. Coming to Europe next year, the vehicle will be available in two versions – one of which only requires a moped license to drive it.

As we discovered at CES 2016, gliding between press conferences on an expansive show site is much less tiring than walking. Toyota seems to think so too, announcing the Japanese release of a three-wheeled stand-up e-mobility scoot called the C+walkT.

Oakland-based electric mobility firm Unagi has teamed up with acclaimed industrial designer Yves Behar for a smooth-looking, full-suspension e-kickscoot with AI smarts that warn riders of possible collisions with people or objects.

Back in 2018, Los Angeles-based startup Eli Electric Vehicles announced an electric microcar called the Zero for relatively short, low-speed jaunts around town. Now the Neighborhood Electric Vehicle has entered an initial production run.

Cake's all-new Makka, the "ultimate convenience machine," has gotten even more convenient in a collaboration with Polestar. The two companies team on a zero-emissions commuter tandem, a Makka that mounts on back of a Polestar 2 and charges on the ride.

Shared e-mobility company Bird has followed the launch of its first ebike back in June with a model consumers can actually buy. The new Bird Bike will be available as step-through and a step-over variants, and will be available in the US this fall.

Veteran Italian motorcycle maker MV Agusta has announced that it's breaking into the electric mobility space, and is starting with a pair of ebikes dubbed the Amo RC and Amo RR – to be followed later by some e-kickscooters.

Shared electric micromobility company Bird currently operates fleets of e-scooters in more than 250 cities across the world, and is now rolling out another option for city commuters – its first ebike, the Bird Bike.

While some companies are racing to build and certify eVTOL air taxis, others want own the customer relationship. UK company Halo has announced an order of 200 eVTOLs from Embraer spin-off company Eve, to enter service in 2026 in the UK and US.

One of the most iconic inventions of the 21st century is about to be retired. The Segway PT self-balancing scooter will officially cease production next month. It’ll no doubt leave a lasting legacy – albeit probably not the one the company intended.