Urban Transport

Orca seated e-scooter says goodbye to daily top-ups

Orca seated e-scooter says goodbye to daily top-ups
Up to 60 km per charge, a top speed of 33 km/h, weather-resistant design and built-in anti-theft alarm: The Orca Mark I folding electric scooter
Up to 60 km per charge, a top speed of 33 km/h, weather-resistant design and built-in anti-theft alarm: The Orca Mark I folding electric scooter
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The Orca Mark I electric scooter can roll for up to 60 km between charges
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The Orca Mark I electric scooter can roll for up to 60 km between charges
Up to 60 km per charge, a top speed of 33 km/h, weather-resistant design and built-in anti-theft alarm: The Orca Mark I folding electric scooter
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Up to 60 km per charge, a top speed of 33 km/h, weather-resistant design and built-in anti-theft alarm: The Orca Mark I folding electric scooter
To the front of the Orca Mark I you'll find fork suspension, integrated lighting and disc braking
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To the front of the Orca Mark I you'll find fork suspension, integrated lighting and disc braking
The Orca Mark I has suspension under the seat, a rear shock and more suspension to the front to help smooth out the inevitable urban bumps you'll encounter on your commute
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The Orca Mark I has suspension under the seat, a rear shock and more suspension to the front to help smooth out the inevitable urban bumps you'll encounter on your commute
The Orca Mark I's handlebar is home to an LCD display, USB charging port, speed mode selection, and light/horn control
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The Orca Mark I's handlebar is home to an LCD display, USB charging port, speed mode selection, and light/horn control
The Orca Mark I features a USB charging port in the handlebar to top up your smartphone while out and about
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The Orca Mark I features a USB charging port in the handlebar to top up your smartphone while out and about
The Orca Mark I is IP54 weather-resistant
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The Orca Mark I is IP54 weather-resistant
The Orca Mark I rolls on chunky 12-inch tires
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The Orca Mark I rolls on chunky 12-inch tires
The Orca Mark I has a 48 V/350 W brushless electric motor and 15.6 Ah battery
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The Orca Mark I has a 48 V/350 W brushless electric motor and 15.6 Ah battery
Disc braking to the front of the Orca Mark I
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Disc braking to the front of the Orca Mark I
Only the handlebar stem folds down, so your trunk will still need to be at least 45 inches wide and 30 inches tall
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Only the handlebar stem folds down, so your trunk will still need to be at least 45 inches wide and 30 inches tall
Springs under the seat and a rear shock should help smooth out the bumps while riding the Orca Mark I
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Springs under the seat and a rear shock should help smooth out the bumps while riding the Orca Mark I
Disc braking to the rear of the Orca Mark I
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Disc braking to the rear of the Orca Mark I
The Orca Mark I has a top speed of 21 mph and a range of 37 miles between charges
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The Orca Mark I has a top speed of 21 mph and a range of 37 miles between charges
The Orca Mark I only folds down at the handlebar stem
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The Orca Mark I only folds down at the handlebar stem
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Last mile electric transport solutions come in many shapes and sizes – from single-wheeled rollers and skateboards to portable electric two-wheelers and kickscooters. Voro Motors has a good selection of the latter in its catalog and has now launched a seated e-scooter called the Orca Mark I on Kickstarter.

Voro reckons that the Orca Mark I will roll for up to 60 km (37 miles) per 3-4 hour charge of its 15.6 Ah battery, meaning that riders are probably not going to be slaves to daily top-ups. This is not a pedal-assist machine though, so if that battery does run dry mid-trip, you'll need to get off and walk the rest of the way while pushing your Orca along.

The Orca Mark I is IP54 weather-resistant
The Orca Mark I is IP54 weather-resistant

Top speed is 33 km/h (21 mph) thanks for a 48 V/350 W brushless motor, and the e-scooter should be able to handle hill gradients of up to 30 degrees. The rider can select three speed modes on the handlebar, which is also home to an electronic horn, an LCD panel for displaying trip info, a USB charging port and a button to switch on the front and rear lights integrated into the IP54 weather-resistant aircraft-grade aluminum alloy frame.

There are spings under the seat, a rear shock and suspension to the front to help smooth out the inevitable urban bumps you'll encounter on your commute, though the Orca does ride on chunky 12-inch tires that will absorb some of the judder. Disc braking front and back provide stopping power and the e-scooter can accommodate loads of 140 kg (over 300 lb).

A remote key fob locks and unlocks the Orca, and if anyone tries to make off with your ride, there's an integrated anti-theft alarm to discourage such things.

Only the handlebar stem folds down, so your trunk will still need to be at least 45 inches wide and 30 inches tall
Only the handlebar stem folds down, so your trunk will still need to be at least 45 inches wide and 30 inches tall

To be fair, the Orca Mark I only folds down at the handlebar stem, so your car trunk will still to be more than 114 cm (45 in) wide and 76 cm (30 in) high to comfortably stow the e-scooter between trips.

Voro Motors has launched its Orca Mark I project on Kickstarter to raise production funds. Pledges start at US$999 and, if all goes to plan, shipping is estimated to start in January 2019. The video below has more.

Sources: Voro Motors, Kickstarter

ORCA Mark I - Most Convenient and Powerful Electric Vehicle

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1 comment
1 comment
Leonard Foster Jr
10 Grand sorry you can get a real E Motorcycle for less or two serious E bikes