SEAT launches three new electric scooters
SEAT’s offerings include an all-electric moped and a pair of electric scooters – all of which are designed for urban travel
SEAT has launched three new all-electric scooters, which the company says are targeted at city-dwelling commuters. The trio of scooters are ready to go on sale in the UK now – but the firm is still waiting for the Department of Transport to make a decision on their legality.
SEAT’s first option, called the SEAT MÓ eScooter125, is an all-electric moped with similar dimensions to the Peugeot Satelis 125i and Honda Forza 125. Like most mopeds, it features an upright windscreen and a hinged saddle that covers a luggage compartment large enough for two helmets.
When it reaches the UK market, the eScooter125 will be sold in two configurations – one aimed at private buyers and one targeted at fleet users. The private model will feature a pair of USB ports and a tracker, allowing the owner to remotely check the scooter’s location using their smartphone.
The fleet-focussed model is designed to be shared by company employees and features the same equipment as the private variant, with the addition of a top box for helmet storage and an integrated smartphone mount.
It’s powered by a 12bhp electric motor that’s integrated into the bike’s rear wheel. The motor has a maximum torque figure of 240Nm and gives the eScooter125 a 0–31mph time of 3.9 seconds and a top speed of 59mph – meaning it has comparable performance to a similarly sized 125cc combustion engined scooter.
The electric motor is supplied by a 5.6kWh lithium-ion battery pack, which SEAT says will offer a maximum urban range of 77 miles. Based on the scooter’s estimated usage level, the company also says it should only need to be recharged once a week.
The battery pack can be recharged in the scooter at a charging station, or it can be removed completely and charged at home using a domestic three-pin plug. The system also allows buyers to simply swap the eScooter125’s flat battery for a charged one to keep it on the road with minimal downtime, which SEAT says is most useful for fleet customers.
Pending government approval, SEAT will also launch a pair of standing electric scooters, called the eKickScooter65 and eKickScooter25. They’re both based on the same chassis, but the former features a larger capacity battery pack and a more powerful electric motor.
SEAT says the eKickScooter65 enables longer travel across cities. It’s powered by a 0.5kWh battery pack and has a maximum range of 40 miles and top speed of 12mph. A full recharge takes six hours using a three-pin plug and, unlike most of the scooters in this segment, it features two brakes, with a disc brake up front and a drum brake at the rear.
The eScooter25 is powered by a 0.2kWh battery, which can be recharged in 3.5 hours. It has the same 12mph top speed as the more powerful model, but its maximum range drops to just 12 miles – which SEAT says makes it best suited for commuters completing the last leg of their journey.
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