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Electric scooter manufacturer Unagi has had a hit on their hands with their Model One, which they claim has sold "tens of thousands around the world." They've tapped Yves Béhar to design their follow-up Model Eleven (I guess Two through Ten were development models?) and have put it up for crowdfunding on IndieGogo:
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The Model Eleven is loaded with tech, featuring swappable batteries, two motors, GPS tracking and a collision warning system. A suspension system, puncture-proof tires and a handlebar screen that offers turn-by-turn directions are meant to make the UX smooth. It comes in at a relatively lightweight 32 pounds, thanks to carbon fiber, making it manageable to tote around. I was a bit horrified to see they've added a speaker so that riders can play music as they travel, forcing those around them to learn of their tastes, but I no longer live in a city so that's y'alls' problem.
The Model Eleven is relatively expensive, with the early-bird price at $1,540 (it's expected to retail for $2,540). Despite that it's been a smash hit, with $322,205 in pledges at press time on a $20,000 goal, and there's still 30 days left to pledge.
The company says they'll start shipping in June of 2022.
I’m a lapsed industrial designer. I was born in NYC and figured I’d die there, but a few years ago I abandoned New York to live on a farm in the countryside with my wife. We have six dogs.
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Crowdfunding Smash: The Yves-Béhar-Designed Unagi Model Eleven Scooter
Please stop calling campaigns a smash hit just because they bust through a goal set artificially low just so people are impressed. $20,000 is 13 scooters, and no one is building this if they only got that much money. Even the amount raised at press time is 200 scooters. Let’s educate people on how expensive it is to make a thing, and maybe they’ll have a greater appreciation for manufacturing, and more healthy skepticism about crowdfunding campaigns.
Check out their reviews on the previous indiegogo. They make pricey scooters that they do not offer parts for repairs. I find that unacceptable personally. Dont need to make these products more consumable, Uber and Lyft have already filled landfills with e-scooters.