Futuristically enough, there are now several one-wheeled self-balancing scooters in various stages of production. That said, not all of them are available for purchase just yet, so the announcement of a new one – which may beat its competitors to the marketplace – is still something to take note of. In the case of the electric Uno Bolt, it also features what is claimed to be "the quickest responding gyroscope to be put into a one-wheel machine."
Not to be confused with the Uno reconfigurable motorcycle, the Uno Bolt is actually more similar to the Rhyno one-wheeler.
Its 1,000-watt motor is powered by a removable 60-volt/4.4-Ah lithium battery, that can be fully recharged in 45 minutes. One charge takes the rider approximately 25 miles (40 km) at a top speed of 22 mph (35 km/h).
The vehicle weighs in at 45 lb (20 kg), and can carry a maximum payload of 280 lb (127 kg). Riders just lean forward to move ahead, lean back to slow down, and pull the brake lever to stop – that lever is also used to go in reverse.
Some of the scooter's other features include dual tail lights and a 1,000-lumen headlight, an electric horn, a built-in parking stand (the thing that extends out from the back of the seat), gripped footrests that can be folded in for storage, and an 18 by 10-inch tire that can reportedly handle light off-road duty.
If you're interested in getting a Uno Bolt of your own, it's currently the subject of a Kickstarter campaign. A pledge of US$999 will get you one, when and if they reach production. The estimated retail price is $1,499.
The scooter can be seen in action, in the video below.
Sources: Uno Bolt, Kickstarter
It reminds me of the one on the movie The Lorax (not the animated short one but the full movie length animated version). It's wheel was round but that could be a future version of the one above?