E-scooter History: Razor and the Rise of the Electric Scooter
Let us look closer at the Razor scooter, the first modern electric scooter in North America.
Swiss businessman Wim Ouboter invented the three-wheeled Kickboar so he could more conveniently visit his favorite sausage shop. He considered the distance too long to travel on foot but too short for his city bike, later called the last mile.
A year later, Ouboter founded Micromobility Systems, which manufactured a two-wheeled mass-produced version of the Kickboar. After the two-wheeler became a national bestseller, Ouboter partnered with overseas distributors to sell the product abroad. Ultimately, Taiwanese manufacturer JD Corp obtained the license to retail the vehicle in North America under the label Razor.
The Razor kick scooter disrupted the global micromobility market, gaining favorability over conventional options, including bikes, rollerblades, and skateboards. Moreover, many parents acknowledged it as safer than skateboards and rollerblades, making it the ideal gift for kids.
JD Corp estimates its US branch has sold 50 million kick scooters and 15 million electric scooters. However, the massive growth in the micromobility industry attracted numerous competitors, with Segway eventually overtaking Razor.
Segway Reignites Interest in PEVs
Growing demand for more convenient urban mobility options and increased government support for micromobility accelerated the development of personal electric vehicles (PEVs). American engineer and inventor Dean Kamen created the self-balancing Segway Human Transporter (HT) in 1999. However, the company did not release it on the market until 2002, after a total investment of around $100 million.
The unique design of the Segway reignited public interest in micromobility, especially amid heightening calls for a lower carbon footprint amid rising climate change concerns. Unfortunately for Segway, consumers were more interested in future innovations.
The company performed sharply below expectations, selling only 23,500 units in its first five years. In 2009, British entrepreneur Jimi Heselden tried to improve the public’s perception of Segway by documenting his usage. Regrettably, Heselden’s efforts backfired when he accidentally rode his Segway off a cliff in 2010, leading to his untimely demise.
Segway was acquired by the Chinese manufacturer Ninebot in 2015, which later discontinued the sale of the Segway HT in 2020.
Conclusion
The electric scooter industry has dramatically grown in recent years, eventually creating the hyperscooter. The hyperscooter transcends the intended specs of the e-scooter, bridging the gap in performance with the gas-powered motorcycle.
The Flash Motors Infinity X premium hyperscooter is the most cutting-edge electric scooter in the market. It touts a top speed of 75 miles per hour and a maximum single-charge range of 70 miles.
