Scooterson is the weirdest and also coolest electric scooter I’ve ever ridden
I’ve ridden a lot of electric scooters in my time, numbering in the hundreds of different models at this point. And so it takes something special to make it to the top of any of my lists these days. Somehow the Scooterson managed to top TWO of my lists at once, becoming the weirdest to ride but very quickly also the coolest electric scooter I’ve ever tested.
I mean, just look at it!
The Scooterson is unlike any other electric scooter I’ve ever ridden or even merely seen before. It also handles very unlike anything I’ve tried before.
In fact, it took me a solid five minutes of riding before I stopped thinking “this… feels wrong” and started making it feel right.
That really comes down to the super wide tires, which don’t lean into turns like you expect from traditional two-wheeler tires. Instead, that massive flat surface makes the scooter want to track straight and you’ve got to put some serious countersteer into the bars to make it do what you want. Namely, to turn. It’s just a weird quirk of the geometry here.
It’s not something you have to learn though. In fact, you already countersteer on your current bike or scooter, meaning you turn the bars slightly left when you want to go right, and vice versa. Everyone does this without thinking about it, because it’s how two-wheeled leaning vehicles turn.
But you have to actually think about it with the Scooterson since the movement has to be more pronounced with these tires. The scooter is so determined to stay upright and stable that you’ve got to take the lead in the dance, not asking but rather telling it to turn.
Like I said, the first five minutes were strange, but then I quickly got it. From that point, it’s pretty darn fun. The scooter has much more power than anyone really needs when it’s opened up into unlimited mode. But even in the normal driving modes, it’s got attitude when you open the throttle.
To see what it’s like to ride, check out my video below, then keep reading for even more details about the testing experience!
The scooter’s impressive power comes from a 2,000W motor in the rear wheel that is actually rated for 2,600 peak watts. The base model can hit 28 mph (45 km/h), though there’s a higher-performance model that can be unlocked to reach 34 mph (55 km/h).
With options for either an 800 Wh or 1,600 Wh battery, you can get between 28-56 miles (45-90 km) of range on a single charge.
The battery department is also cleverly designed, and I’m happy to see the inclusion of a removable battery. Not all electric scooters have this feature, and in fact most don’t. The few that do win extra points from me since you have the option of charging the battery remotely. The removable battery design also means that one day you can replace the battery without requiring a handful of tools and some swearing from skinned knuckles.
I’ve got to give Scooterson props on the design too. Not only does it have a really eye-catching aesthetic with its swooping frame tubes and flowing lines, not to mention the fancy paint that looks automotive quality, but they also didn’t plaster logos all over it either, meaning those swooping lines continue unbroken around the body and frame.
Comfort is key on the scooter, and so not only is the seat nicely padded with a gel-type material, but the front fork and seat post both feature the same suspension arms to make sure your wrists and your tush get the support they need.
The scooter is also weirdly stable when parked. There’s a kickstand, but to be honest you don’t really need it. The flat tires keep the scooter upright when parked and you have to give it a pretty hard push to get it leaning over far enough to actually tip sideways.
Outside of the hardware design, the Scooterson team showed me that there’s a pretty nicely developed smartphone app as well that also works with the company’s other vehicles.
There’s also an NFC key for easy wireless unlocking that also secures your scooter so you know you’re the only one that can use it, though it’s only available on the more premium model of the scooter.
Now there are a few downsides too. The scooter is heavy as all get out at over 112 pounds (51 kg). You’re not going to be lifting this thing up a flight of stairs by yourself, at least not without some serious preparation and proper body mechanics.
I also don’t know how easy it is to fix a flat tire with such specialized wheels and such a heavy scooter to lift up onto a stand. And of course you better believe that something that looks like a million bucks is at least going to cost a few thousand of them. In this case, the MSRP starts at US $3,200. That is… not cheap.
But then again, you’ve got to pay to play when it comes to unique designs like these. Scooterson was nice enough to offer Electrek‘s readers a $500 discount if using the code ELECTREK, so that helps bring the starting price down to just $2,700.
Some scooters or more bang-for-your-buck offerings, whereas the Scooterson feels like more buck-for-your-bang. But there just aren’t any other electric scooters out there like this one. While I would find a hard time justifying it myself, I can see a certain type of rider jumping at the chance for such a unique scooter.
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Environment
Rivian (RIVN) to open a UK office that will focus on AI and autonomous driving technology
American EV automaker Rivian is expanding across the pond into the UK, hoping to tap into the region’s talent pool in artificial intelligence engineering.
Rivian is a growing American EV brand with expanding office footprints as much as its lineup of unique electric trucks and SUVs. The company is currently headquartered in Palo Alto, California, with its main production facility located in Normal, Illinois alongside plans for a second production footprint about 40 minutes outside of Atlanta, Georgia.
Other US locations currently include offices in Irvine and Carson, CA, Wittmann, AZ, and Plymouth, MI. Outside of the US, Rivian operates out of offices in Vancouver, BC, Canada, Amsterdam, Netherlands, and Belgrade, Serbia.
This morning, Rivian announced its latest international office in London, UK, which will become an AI-centric development hub.
Rivian to open AI Hub in the UK
According to a release from Rivian early this morning, it sees the UK as rapidly becoming a world leader in artificial intelligence engineering, and is looking to tap into that talent pool with the new international office.
While Rivian’s current Autonomy Platform enables drivers to utilize hands-free, eyes-on highway driving, the American automaker intends to continue to evolve such tech to offer greater levels of autonomous capabilities.
Rivian shared that its second-generation EVs were designed with an “AI-centric approach.” As its Gen2 vehicle fleet continues to develop and grow, the automaker has been collecting more and more data to help accelerate the improvements to ADAS technology. Per the company:
Rivian believes the combined strength of its perception platform and in-vehicle data infrastructure will enable it to build a Large Driving Model, unlocking unparalleled understanding of complex driving scenarios and accelerating the path to safer, more capable autonomous features.
Rivian said the future work done at its new UK AI hub will enable its EVs to improve in the future via over-the-air (OTA) updates. Details remain light, but Rivian shared plans to host an “AI and Autonomy Day” later this year and promised to share more about its product and technology roadmap.
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Waev, the company best known for its iconic GEM electric low-speed vehicles (LSVs), just unveiled a brand new lineup of commercial electric carts and LSVs. And this time, they’re not messing around when it comes to utility. Dubbed the Fusion line, these new lithium-ion-powered vehicles include mashups plucked from the worlds of golf carts, street-legal shuttles, and jobsite pickup trucks.
The Fusion lineup includes six different models: three designed for people-moving and three built for utility work. But all six still seem to be aimed squarely at commercial, municipal, and industrial fleets.
Whether that’s running security at a stadium, shuttling guests at a resort, or hauling equipment around a worksite, there looks to be something in the Fusion family that probably fits the bill.
On the people-moving side, Waev is offering 4, 6, and 8-passenger models, all of which feature a flip-up rear seat that converts into a cargo deck, a near ubiquitous feature among modern golf carts and LSVs with rear-facing benches that helps them pull double duty as a light utility vehicle. The feature gives them added flexibility for things like maintenance staff, hospitality transport, or even large campus tours, letting them carry a large number of passengers, yet still be capable of stacking boxes or equipment in the rear.
The utility versions look a bit different with more muted matte black bodywork, plus come with electrically-actuated hydraulic dump beds, 2-inch ball hitches, and even orange seat belts for jobsite visibility. It’s harder to forget to put on the seatbelt when it’s blindingly orange.
And yes, the Fusion Utility Long Bed basically looks like a pickup truck built on a golf cart chassis, which I find equal parts strange and endearing. But then again, I’m the guy who infamously kicked off the great American mini-truck trend a few years ago when my hilarious little tiny-truck went viral, so maybe I’m a bit biased when it comes to fun little utility vehicles.
All Fusion models are available in both “cart” and “LSV” configurations. The carts are speed-limited to 19 mph (30.5 km/h) and come with serial numbers, making them street-legal only in limited areas that have passed local ordinances permitting golf carts to use public roads.
The LSV versions get full VINs, meet federal low-speed vehicle safety standards (meaning over a dozen regulations on manufacturing standards and safety equipment), and can be driven up to 25 mph (40 km/h) on public roads where LSVs are permitted by state law.
Waev is sticking with lithium-ion power here, specifically a 105Ah Marxon pack that’s both heated and insulated for cold-weather use. That’s a big step up from the old-school lead-acid setups still found in some fleet carts (and, if we’re being honest, still offered on some of Waev’s other vehicles).
The company claims to offer automotive-grade manufacturing processes and reliability on its vehicles, along with Bluetooth diagnostics and a smartphone app for managing the fleet.
Other upgrades include LED lighting, back-up cameras, AVAS pedestrian alert systems, and standard three-point seat belts for all passengers. Optional extras like ladder racks, beacon lights, and upgraded tires make it even easier to tailor each unit to the specific job at hand.
The Fusion line slots into Waev’s already broad family of low-speed EVs and fleet vehicles, including the steel-bodied Taylor-Dunn utility vehicles, Tiger heavy-duty tow tractors for airports and warehouses, and the classic GEM lineup that’s been a staple of street-legal fleet transport since the late ‘90s.
It also looks like Waev isn’t just trying to sell the hardware here – it’s pushing hard on full-service fleet support, too. The company is leaning on an extensive dealer network across the U.S., Mexico, Canada, and Australia, and all Fusion models are available through Sourcewell and Canoe procurement programs for simplified public-sector purchasing.
One big thing we’re not seeing, though, are the prices. It’s more of a “contact us for a quote” situation, which means exactly what you think it means. We’ll try to learn more, but don’t expect to make it out of the lot without a measurably lighter wallet.
Electrek’s Take:
This is the kind of product line that probably won’t turn heads in your local grocery store parking lot, but it’s exactly the kind of quiet EV revolution that’s transforming fleets behind the scenes. Lithium-ion golf carts and LSVs that can tow, haul, and shuttle without the noise or emissions of gas engines? That’s a win for everyone –from municipal fleets to private campuses.
And frankly, I’m here for the golf cart pickup truck vibe. Street legal, work-ready, and just weird enough to be cool. The fact that the tailgate seems to swing all the way down and doesn’t lie flat like a normal pickup truck’s gate was a swing-and-a-miss by the designers – I don’t know how that got through – but everything else looks great! And hey, I guess I could always add a pair of tailgate cables if I wanted.
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Tesla’s retro-futuristic diner with Superchargers and giant movie screens is ready to open, and I have to admit, it looks pretty sick.
This project has been in the works for a long time.
In 2018, Elon Musk said that Tesla planned to open an “old school drive-in, roller skates & rock restaurant at one of the new Tesla Supercharger locations in Los Angeles.” It was yet another “Is he joking?” kind of Elon Musk idea, but he wasn’t kidding.
A few months later, Tesla applied for building permits for “a restaurant and Supercharger station” at a location in Santa Monica. However, the project stalled for a long time, apparently due to local regulations.
Nevertheless, Tesla still moved forward with a Supercharger at the location, but it had to move the diner project to Hollywood. In 2022, Tesla filed the construction plans with the city, giving us the first look at what the automaker intends to build.
In 2023, the automaker broke ground on the site of the diner.
7 years after being originally announced, the project appears now ready to open:
Musk said that he ate at the diner last night and claimed that it is “one of the coolest spots in LA.” He didn’t say when it will open, but Tesla vehicles have been spotted at Supercharger and people appear to be testing the dinning experience inside.
A Tesla Optimus Robot can be seen inside the diner on a test rack. It looks like Tesla might use one for some tasks inside the diner.
Earlier this year, Tesla integrated the diner into its mobile app – hinting at some interaction through the app – possibly ordering from it.
Electrek’s Take
I think it looks pretty cool. I am a fan of the design and concept.
However, considering the state of the Tesla community, I don’t think I’d like the vibes. That said, it looks like Tesla isn’t prominently pushing its branding on the diner.
You can come and charge there, but it looks like Tesla is also aiming to get a wider clientele just for dining.
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