Chinese E-Scooter Company InMotion To Offer Micromobility At Maximum Speed

Well, this sounds either scary or cool—traveling at freeway speeds, on a scooter. Chinese e-scooter company InMotion is nearing launch of just such a powerful two-wheeler called the RS, what it describes as an “ultra-high performance e-scooter.”

“It’s high-performance for racing sports, with a maximum speed of 68 mph, a typical range of 75 miles, hill climbing capability of 50%, and IPX6 water resistance,” said InMotion CEO Bob Yan in interview conducted via email.

The RS is also a bit of a chameleon courtesy of what Yan declares as the world’s first transforming system with four angle settings for the swing arms for both front and rear wheels to adjust ground clearance for different purposes.

Other key attributes of the InMotion RS are:

· 72V 40AH Lithium battery pack with a smart BMS system for monitoring the status of the cells

· Rebound adjustable hydraulic suspensions for comfort

· 160mm full-hydraulic disc brakes and regenerative electronic brakes for safety

· Four touring lights and four reflectors for visibility on the road

· Accelerate from zero to 30 mph in 3.5 seconds

The thought of speeding along on a stand-up e-scooter at almost 70 miles per hour may sound both exciting and dangerous, but Yan says the RS contains certain engineering and design features created to minimize the danger and maximize safety.

“The RS’s unique geometrical design and built-in steering damping system make it exceptionally stable at high speeds, providing riders with a safer and more enjoyable riding experience without speed wobbles,” Yan explained.

The InMotion RS comes as the global e-scooter market is in the midst of what’s expected to be a long, steady growth period.

In 2022, global e-scooter sales reached $33.18 billion and is projected to register a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.9% from 2023 to 2030, according to a report by Grand View Research.

“The increasing demand for fuel-efficient vehicles, coupled with growing concerns over Greenhouse Gas (GHG) and carbon emissions, is anticipated to drive the adoption of electric scooters (e-scooters) during the forecast period,” the report said. “Stringent emission norms by the government agencies, such as emission standards for GHG emissions by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and BS-VI in India and China, are driving the market for e-scooters.”

While InMotion’s Bob Yan says the high-powered RS e-scooter is aimed at those who either have a passion for racing or have participated in the sport in cars or motorcycles, he hopes its pollution-free powertrain will win further consideration.

“The RS is expected to change the mindset of scooters being just for kids and generate positive awareness of electric micromobility, encouraging individuals to embrace environmentally-friendly modes of transportation,” said Yan.

The RS is in a pre-launch phase right now and will be available in July through the InMotion website and offline dealers following a Kickstarter campaign that began Monday with the goal of raising $500,000.

The two-wheeled thrills of the InMotion RS don’t come cheap at $4,599.

That’s not deterring folks from getting in line. While it’s still too early to place an order, Yan says 11,000 “subscribers” have expressed interest in buying one.