Hoverboards and electric scooters come with their own set of advantages and irks that influence the buying decision. While hoverboard is the preferred choice for short jaunts, e-scooters with an average range of 10-40 miles are well suited for extended trips in the city. E-scooters also come with the advantage of better top speeds and performance.
On the hind side, e-scooters are more expensive and less swanky when compared to hoverboards. Someone looking for hands-free freedom of commuting in cities once in a while over short distances is much better off with a hoverboard or a trusted skateboard. What if we could have the best of both worlds? Of course, anything is possible in the concept design realm.
Designer: Eojin Jeon, Sumin Park, Changyu Seo and Geunyeong Do
Craving urban freedom without compromising on style, comfort, or ease of navigating around without having to worry about running out of juice is what this Personal Mobility Device (PMD) aims to target. Dubbed Modi, the vehicle is a mix of a hoverboard and e-scooter, adapting the best features of both to appeal to every kind of city dweller. According to the designers, the motivation behind the design is to address modern-day transportation issues. Even the current league of PMDs has become a “nuisance on the roads due to their heavy weight, large size, and disorderly presence.”
Conventional personal mobility vehicles are heavy and securely parking them at random palaces can be a headache if you are already in the rush of things. Modi aims to get over these problems with a compact and lightweight design that can be easily carried or stored in your backpack when not in use. The PMD comes with retractable footrests for design integrity without compromising the function. These footrests provide stability and comfort while riding, and simply vanish away when not in use.
Although the designers have not detailed in about the working mechanism of the PMD, I assume it reacts to the pressure applied with your feet in either direction. The thing is much more stable than a self-balancing hoverboard that for some reason has never earned my confidence for its operating mechanism. That said, the personal commuter is also going to appeal to people who love skateboards, and always wanted a battery-powered alternative!
