Micro Mobility Systems

Last updated
Micro Mobility Systems
Company type Private
Industry Sporting goods, toys, electric vehicles
Founded1996;28 years ago (1996) [1]
Founder Wim Ouboter [2]
Headquarters
Küsnacht, canton of Zürich [2]
,
Switzerland
Revenue CHF 60 million (financial year 2014) [3]
Number of employees
57 (September 2015) [4]
Website www.micro.ms

Micro Mobility Systems Ltd, known as Micro, is a Swiss company that produces urban vehicles such as kickscooters and the Microlino, a small electric car which was first presented at the Geneva Motor Show in 2016. In the United States, Micro's products are sold under the brand "Micro Kickboard" for trademark reasons. The company holds several patents for its products. [5] [6]

Contents

History

Early history

Wim Ouboter, born in 1960, built a kickscooter out of laziness.[ when? ] He stated that the distance from his apartment to his favourite restaurant was too far to travel by foot and yet too close to use a bicycle. He then invented a two-wheeled scooter for distances that could easily be folded and placed in a backpack. He pitched his idea to Smart, and they were willing to put one Scooter in every single car. Ouboter then tried to find a manufacturer for his innovation but soon realized that Europe was too expensive. In Taiwan, he convinced the factory owner to produce the Scooter; as Smart considered his idea to be good, this helped convince the factory owner. Just before the production could start, Smart failed the moose test, and so the project was put on hold until Smart could resolve the problem. [7]

Formation of Micro Mobility Systems

While waiting for Smart to resolve the problem, Ouboter had another idea for a three-wheeled scooter, called the Kickboard. He teamed up with K2 and presented his idea at the International Sports Fair (ISPO) in Munich in 1998 very successfully. [2] With the earned money, he founded Micro Mobility Systems in 1999 and started producing the two-wheeled Scooter, which was an even bigger success. Because of the excessive demand, he allowed his partner in Taiwan to distribute the Scooter in the United States with the name Razor for a commission. After selling about one million Scooters in 2000, the sales decreased rapidly in 2001. [8] [2]

Later history

In the subsequent years,[ when? ] the company continued inventing new urban mobility products, such as the Mini Micro for children, the Scooter Luggage and the electric eMicro One. In addition, Micro has partnered with other brands; these include Peugeot, Suitsupply and Vibram.[ citation needed ]

The company has also developed the Micro Xtreme for freestyle sports,[ when? ] and works closely with professional athletes like Benjamin Friant. [ citation needed ] After the huge success in 2000 and the rapid downfall in 2001, Micro has grown organically with a gross revenue in 2014 of 60 Million Swiss Francs. [9] With the development of the company, manufacturing capacities shifted to RazorUSA in California. In 2015, Wim Ouboter was nominated as Entrepreneur of the Year by Ernst and Young. [4]

In July 2019, BMW unveiled two new scooters made in collaboration with Micro Mobility Systems. [10]

Products

Microlino

Microlino at Geneva Motor Show 2018 Microlino Red Genf 2018.jpg
Microlino at Geneva Motor Show 2018

The Microlino, legally designated as a four-wheeled quadricycle with a battery-powered electric motor, was first presented in 2016 at the Geneva Car Show; it is based on the design of the Isetta, a 1950s bubble car which was sold over 160,000 times. [11] The two-seat small car is designed for urban mobility with a top speed of 90 kilometres per hour (56 mph) and a maximum range of 120 kilometres (75 mi). It can be charged from a domestic power outlet. The car was expected to be on the market in 2019 with an estimated price of 12,000 Euro, with initial sales limited to Germany and Switzerland. [12] [ needs update ] In July 2018, the firm announced that the Microlino had just passed the final tests for EU homologation. [13]

Microletta

Microletta at Munich Motor Show 2021 Micro Microletta IAA 2021 1X7A0097.jpg
Microletta at Munich Motor Show 2021

The Microletta is an electric three-wheeler also designed for urban mobility purposes. The vehicle is still in its planning stages, and production has not begun. The three-wheel design is intended to increase the security of the vehicle by enhancing the grip on the front axle, which reduces the braking distance and allows for better stability when cornering. [14] The semi-locking system of the tilting mechanism prevents the vehicle from tilting over when standing and makes a foldable stand unnecessary. [15] Due to the three-wheel design and electric system, the Microletta is legally categorized as L5e, which allows driving up to 80 kilometres per hour (50 mph) with a regular driving license. The Microletta will be equipped with two exchangeable batteries to enable charging at home. [16]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Microcar</span> Smallest automobile classification

Microcar is a term often used for the smallest size of cars, with three or four wheels and often an engine smaller than 700 cc (43 cu in). Specific types of microcars include bubble cars, cycle cars, invacar, quadricycles and voiturettes. Microcars are often covered by separate regulations to normal cars, having relaxed requirements for registration and licensing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Isetta</span> Motor vehicle

The Isetta is an Italian-designed microcar built under license in a number of different countries, including Argentina, Spain, Belgium, France, Brazil, Germany, and the United Kingdom. Because of its egg shape and bubble-like windows, it became known as a bubble car, a name also given to other similar vehicles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Razor (scooter)</span> Model of scooter

The Razor Scooter is a compact folding scooter developed by Micro Mobility Systems and manufactured by JD Corporation. Over 5 million units were sold in the six months following the launch of the first Razor scooter in 2000, and it was named as Spring/Summer Toy of the Year that same year. The first electric Razor scooter was released in 2003. Today, the Razor is manufactured by RazorUSA, based in Cerritos, California, in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Iso (automobile)</span> Italian automobile manufacturer

ISO Rivolta is an Italian car and motorbike manufacturer active in the motor vehicle sector since 1938. Over the years, the company has taken various names, including Isothermos, Iso Autoveicoli Spa in 1952, Iso Rivolta in 1962, Iso Motors in 1973 and, in 2017, a return to ISO Rivolta.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kick scooter</span> Human-powered land vehicle

A kick scooter is a human-powered street vehicle with a handlebar, deck, and wheels propelled by a rider pushing off the ground with their leg. Today the most common scooters are made of aluminum, titanium, and steel. Some kick scooters made for younger children have 3 to 4 wheels and are made of plastic and do not fold. High-performance kickbikes are also made. A company that had once made the Razor Scooters revitalized the design in the mid-nineties and early two-thousands. Three-wheel models where the frame forks into two decks are known as Y scooters or trikkes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mobility scooter</span> Mobility aid

A mobility scooter is an electric personal transporter used as mobility aid for people with physical impairment, mostly auxiliary to a powered wheelchair but configured like a motorscooter. When motorized they function as micromobility devices and are commonly referred to as a powered vehicle/scooter, or electric scooter. Non-motorized mobility scooters are less common, but are intended for the estimated 60% of wheelchair users who have at least some use of their legs. Whilst leg issues are commonly assumed to be the reason for using scooters, the vehicles are used by those with a wide range of conditions from spinal injuries to neurological disorders.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Motorized scooter</span> Powered stand-up scooter

A motorized scooter is a stand-up scooter powered by either a small internal combustion engine or electric hub motor in its front and/or rear wheel. Classified as a form of micro-mobility, they are generally designed with a large center deck on which the rider stands. The first motorized scooter was manufactured by Autoped in 1915.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Freestyle scootering</span> Sport discipline

Freestyle scootering is an extreme sport that involves using kick scooters to perform freestyle tricks. This is done mainly in skateparks but also in urban environments on obstacles such as stairs, hand rails and curbs. Freestyle scootering gained popularity following the Razor craze in the early 2000s after the invention of the foldable aluminium scooter by Micro Mobility Systems in 1999. Since then the construction of pro scooters have progressed immensely, making it a big business with many brands solely focusing on creating trick scooters worldwide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Police transport</span> Transportation used by police

Police transport refers to any form of transportation used by police in their duties. These primarily include methods for patrol and prisoner transport.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CityCar</span> Concept automobile

The CityCar or MIT CityCar is an urban all-electric concept car designed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Media Lab. The project was conceived by William J. Mitchell and his Smart Cities Research Group. It is now led by Kent Larson, Director of the Changing Places Research Group at the Media Lab. The project came into reality in 2003 under the support of General Motors. Time magazine choose the CityCar to be one of the "Best Inventions of 2007".

The RoboScooter is a foldable electric scooter developed by William J. Mitchell of the Smart Cities program at the MIT Media Lab. The vehicle was designed in conjunction with Taiwan's SYM Motors and the Industrial Technology Research Institute.

Razor USA LLC, better known as Razor, is an American designer and manufacturer of manual and electric scooters, bicycles, and personal transporters. The company was founded in Cerritos, California in 2000 by Carlton Calvin and the JD Corporation. Razor also owns the RipStik, Sole Skate, and Pocket Pros brands.

Superpedestrian Inc., is a transportation robotics company based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, that developed electrified and AI technologies for micro mobility vehicles. The company ran the LINK e-scooter sharing program, which was active in 57 cities across the US and Europe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scooter-sharing system</span> Service for short-term scooter rentals

A scooter-sharing system is a shared transport service in which electric motorized scooters are made available to use for short-term rentals. E-scooters are typically "dockless", meaning that they do not have a fixed home location and are dropped off and picked up from certain locations in the service area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Micromobility</span> Modes of transport involving very light vehicles

Micromobility refers to a range of small, lightweight vehicles operating at speeds typically below 25 km/h (15 mph) and driven by users personally. Micromobility devices include bicycles, e-bikes, electric scooters, electric skateboards, shared bicycle fleets, and electric pedal assisted (pedelec) bicycles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Askoll</span> Italian electric vehicle manufacturer

Askoll EVA S.p.A. is an Italian manufacturer of two-wheeled electric vehicles for urban mobility. The Dueville based company produces e-bikes, electric scooters, components and kits. Askoll EVA is a subsidiary of Askoll Group, an Italian corporation specialized in manufacturing electric motors and drain pumps for washing machines, heating systems and other domestic appliances.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Microlino</span> Battery electric microcar

The Microlino is an all-electric, lightweight, four-wheeled quadricycle, marketed by Micro Mobility Systems, designed for urban mobility. With styling closely inspired by the Isetta, a bubble car from the 1950s, it features a front-opening door and externally mounted headlights. The Microlino has two seats, a trunk, a folding sunroof and can be charged with either a household or a type 2 plug.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">BMW CE 04</span> Type of motorcycle

The BMW CE 04 is an electric scooter produced by BMW Motorrad.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">City Transformer</span> Israeli electric vehicle automaker

City Transformer is an Israeli electric vehicle company. The company was founded in 2014 by Asaf Formoza and Udi Meridor. It is headquartered in Tel Aviv, Israel.

References

  1. ↑ Holder, Sarah (September 26, 2018). "The Man Behind the Scooter Revolution". Bloomberg.com. Retrieved July 31, 2019.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Simonian, Haig (December 22, 2010). "Scooter pioneer that survived to ride again". Financial Times . Retrieved July 31, 2019.
  3. ↑ "Einen Moment bitte, die Ausgabe wird geladen".
  4. 1 2 "EY Entrepreneur Of The Year™ 2015: Finalisten stehen fest". www.ey.com (in German). Archived from the original on 2016-07-26.
  5. ↑ About Us, Kickboard USA, 2011-06-10
  6. ↑ "Advantages of mobility scooters". 24 October 2018. Monday, 22 April 2019
  7. ↑ "Verlagsgruppe Handelszeitung". www.schweizerversicherung.ch. Retrieved 2016-04-13.
  8. ↑ "RZ-Online: Der Tretroller ist den Kinderschuhen entwachsen". archiv.rhein-zeitung.de. Retrieved 2016-04-13.
  9. ↑ "Die Rückkehr der Knutschkugel". www.sonntagszeitung.ch. Retrieved 2016-04-13.
  10. ↑ Spears (July 14, 2019). "BMW's sports performance and electric mobility enhanced for cycling". Designboom . Retrieved July 31, 2019.
  11. ↑ Maronese, Nick (March 29, 2016). "BMW Isetta to see new life as Microlino electric microcar". CTV News . Retrieved July 31, 2019.
  12. ↑ Davies, Alex (March 28, 2016). "Steve Urkel's Isetta Finds Second Life as a Teensy Electric Car". WIRED . Retrieved July 31, 2019.
  13. ↑ Paukert, Chris (July 20, 2018). "The adorable Microlino EV looks poised to hit European roads soon". CNET . Retrieved July 31, 2019.
  14. ↑ Thomas Ricker (2020-03-04). "Smile, the new Microlino and Microletta electrics are here". The Verge .
  15. ↑ "Microletta". microlino-car.com. Retrieved 2021-03-18.
  16. ↑ "Microletta Concept: "Vereint Modernität mit Retro-Charme"". Elektroauto-News.net (in German). 2020-03-05.
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