NIU, China’s popular and affordable electric mopeds maker, showed off its first-ever electric kick scooter that the company announced will be available starting this summer in China, Europe, and the U.S.
Pro and Sport are the two variants this kick-scooter will come in. In the US, the Sport version will have a top speed of 17.4 mph, while the Pro scooter will have a top speed of 19.8mph. In Europe, a regulated top speed of 25 km/h (15.5 mph) will be provided to both variants. The Sport will have a range of 25 miles (40 km) on a single 5.5-hour charge, while the Pro will have a range of 31 miles (50 km) on a single 7.5-hour charge.
For the drivetrain, according to The Verge, “NIU is offering a 350W motor and 486Wh lithium-ion battery pack for the Pro kick scooter, while the Sport will be powered by a 300W motor and 365Wh battery pack.” Both scooters come with regenerative braking, are foldable, water-resistant, and come with app connectivity via Bluetooth. The scooters weigh between 40.7-44 lb (18.5-20 kg) and are rated for up to 220 lb (100 kg) riders.
While the device may sound like any other typical electric scooter at first, you cannot ignore the technology that is hidden under the hood. According to Electrek, “The scooters feature Smart Unlocking, offer rider statistics via the included app, include Bluetooth connectivity, and can receive over-the-air (OTA) updates.”
The Chinese makers will begin an online pre-sale for the scooters in June 2021, with delivery in Europe and the US in July 2021. The scooters will start at $599 in the US and €599 in Europe.
In August, retail stores in Europe and North America will receive their scooters to be sold off from there.
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As NIU CEO Dr. Yan Li explained:
“Part of our vision is to redefine urban mobility, and adding kick scooters to our lineup is our commitment to our customers and fans around the world to provide them with affordable mobility solutions that they can be proud of owning and also rely on for their daily commute. We believe we have created the most comfortable electric kick scooter riding experience for under $1,000, and of course, we wanted to provide a superior ride performance, too.”
