Electric scooters continue to get lighter, faster, and more affordable, with Chinese manufacturers leading the way. Shenzen Sixbats Technology Co., Ltd., a three-year-old newbie to the industry, has fielded one of the coolest iterations in the burgeoning electric power two-wheel (e-PTW) vehicle space this year with its 1K Electric Scooter. The 16.8kg, all-aluminum unit features a powerful rear-drive 350-watt motor and three-gear transmission, which combine to achieve a top speed of 35km/hr.
A 36-volt lithium-ion battery supplies the power to enable a 50km range before recharging. A drilled rear disk supplies the stopping power. The basic frame is triangular, and supports an adjustable leather seat that can accommodate riders from 150cm to 190cm in height, and body weights up to 300kg. The front fork area houses both the battery and a cool array of 40 boxed LEDs that provide a unique signature to the vehicle, especially in times of lowered visibility.
Meanwhile, the all-digital, centralized control panel prominently displays speed, trip length, and battery life, and contains a low-voltage alarm and a USB port for powering portable devices. Another 24 LEDs are packed into the reasonably powerful headlight.
The mechanical backstop performs five unique functions: foot support, parking, dragging, standing and lifting.
Photos alone don't do justice to the machine's appeal. One test drive lets the 1K's raw power come through as it immediately zooms to its top speed and then stops on a dime. The high-performance frame is sturdy and rigid. Battery recharge time is acceptable at about five hours.
"Scooters should be affordable, convenient, and environmentally friendly. We think the 1K helps to redefine that quality," says Sixbats sales manager Susan Liao. The scooter folds at the triple-fork, handlebars and saddle base to a form compact enough to take anywhere.
The global scooter industry is expected to achieve stable and continuous growth during the coming years as several large OEMs enter the market and decreasing battery costs make products more affordable, according to Navigant Research. Most of the world's e-motorcycles and e-scooters are sold in China, but falling demand is pushing manufacturers to look at overseas markets more closely.
Shenzen Sixbats currently exports to 30 countries. It has a suggested a $900 retail price for the 1K Electric Scooter.
