The Stator electric scooter, one of the funniest standing scooter designs we’ve ever seen, is finally coming to market.
Based on the comments I received when I first reported the Stator electric scooter prototype over a year ago, there is serious pent-up demand for such a scooter.
The unique design of giant tires, single-sided wheels, and self-balancing (or more accurately, “self-healing”) features have been popular with consumers.
But even with high demand for the Stator, it took a long time to find it on the market.
The scooter concept was developed by Nathan Allen, director of industrial design at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California.
Since then, the design has attracted the attention of businessman and investor Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, founder and chairman of NantWorks. Under the leadership of his new NantMobility subsidiary, Sun-Shiong helped bring the Stator electric scooter to market.
With its unique design, the Stator electric scooter is definitely unique in the market. The steering wheel is single-sided and is equipped with a rotary throttle, brake lever, horn button, LED battery indicator, on/off button and lock.
All wiring is routed inside the handlebar and stem for a neat look.
The scooter is rated for a top speed of 30 mph (51 km/h) and has a 1 kWh battery. The company claims it has a range of up to 80 miles (129 kilometers), but unless you’re going slower than a rental scooter, that’s a pipe dream. In comparison, other scooters of a similar power level but with 50% more battery capacity have a practical range of 50-60 miles (80-96 km).
Stator scooters are all-electric and relatively quiet, allowing riders to maneuver through city traffic in just over an hour after the battery has been charged. This represents a significant advance in micromobility, in stark contrast to the noisy fossil-fuel-powered scooters that currently clog roads and sidewalks in cities across the country. The Stator’s speed and comfort go beyond the hard, slow ride found in today’s small wheeled scooters.
Unlike low-quality generic rental scooters, the Stator is durable and available for individual purchase. Every owner will learn from the very first ride why NantMobility is proud of the Stator and share it with pride in their ownership.
The 90 lb (41 kg) scooter has a 50 inch (1.27 meter) wheelbase and uses 18 x 17.8-10 tires. See those fan blades built into the wheels? They should help cool the engine.
If you’re thinking of getting your own Stator electric scooter, hopefully you’re already saving up.
The stator sells for $3,995, although you can pre-order for as little as $250. Just try not to think about how that same $250 deposit can get you a full Amazon electric scooter.
To sweeten the deal and add a bit of exclusivity to the scooter, NantWorks says the first 1,000 Launch Edition stators will come with custom-made metal plates, numbered and signed by the design team. Delivery is expected in “early 2020″.
The goal of NantWorks is to unite the collective commitment to science, technology and communication and make them accessible to everyone. The Stator Scooter is a physical application of that purpose – a graceful movement that serves a functional purpose.
But $4,000? This is going to be a tough deal for me, especially when I can buy a 44 mph (70 km/h) seated electric scooter from NIU and get more than double the batteries for that price.
When I entered, I was thrilled to see that NantMobility provided the Stator electric scooter with a realistic average speed of around 20 mph. An e-bike with a throttle body and a battery of the same size will go about 40 miles (64 km) at that speed and will definitely have less rolling resistance than such a scooter. The Stator’s claimed range of 80 miles (129 kilometers) is probably possible, but only at speeds well below its maximum cruising speed.
But if the stator is really as strong as they claim and rides as well, then I see people spending money on such a scooter. It’s a premium product, but places like Silicon Valley are full of rich young people who want to be the first to get a trendy new product.
Mika Toll is a personal electric vehicle enthusiast, battery lover, and #1 Amazon bestselling author of DIY Lithium Batteries, DIY Solar Powered, The Complete DIY Electric Bicycle Guide, and The Electric Bicycle Manifesto.
Mika’s current daily e-bikes include the $999 Lectric XP 2.0, $1,095 Ride1Up Roadster V2, $1,199 Rad Power Bikes RadMission, and $3,299 Priority Current. But these days it’s a constantly changing list.
Post time: Aug-03-2023