The Electric UScooter Is as Cool as a Push Scooter Can Be

(upbeat music)

This thing is called a Uscooter.

Basically it's a souped-up electric version

of that Razor scooter you had when you were a kid.

It costs a thousand dollars, but for that thousand dollars,

you get a motor that'll go 18 miles an hour.

That doesn't sound like much, but on this thing,

it feels crazy fast.

It's powered by a battery, but it has a neat regenerative

braking system that charges it

every time you slow down,

which, once you get going on this thing,

you won't do often.

A lot of people are excited about scooters like this.

They think these, along with the bigger Vespa-style ones

from Gogoro and other companies

can either supplement or even replace cars

in big dent cities.

Basically, unlike a bike, this thing can fold up

and go underneath a train seat or in a trunk of a car.

It weighs 24 pounds, so you're still gonna want to carry it

too much but it can go basically anywhere with you.

Unlike, say a hoverboard, a scooter can handle

hills and bumpy roads, it can hop curbs

and it's good at weaving through traffic,

and the company that makes it says it won't catch on fire,

so it's got that going for it, which is nice.

Here's how it works,

the throttle is controlled by your right thumb,

and the brakes with your left.

It's much more fun on an empty road or on a bike lane

where you can really turn it loose.

The only awfully awkward part of the whole experience

is the folding.

You have this little red tongue which you press down

to unlock the hinge,

but you also have to press the handlebars forward,

and the whole thing becomes a two hands and a foot job

and it's just weird.

Other than that, it's a pretty simple smooth ride.

You've got a headlight on here if you need it,

plus this really awful sounding horn

and if all else fails, it's a lot easier to just jump off

than on a bike.

I like this thing.

The idea of turning my long walk to work

into a quick scoot seems pretty great.

But here's the problem, it's really really hard

to look cool on a scooter, and when you ride this thing,

people hate you.

You're always in somebody's way.

I hate scooter people and now I've become one.

I guess all I can hope for now

is that everyone gets one of these

and then we're all scooter people.

And who knows, it could happen.

(upbeat music)