It’s an old cliché, Why re-invent the wheel? …Well, the inventors of Solowheel claim to have done just that, but should we really keep trying?
One could argue that Baron Karl von Drais almost achieved this when he ‘invented’ the modern bicycle almost 200 years ago. We have since tried, and tried and tried to out-do such an amazingly simple yet effective invention which brought us the most widely used and eco-friendly mode of transport to date. It’s a shame that the ‘invention’ of the motorized vehicle almost killed any genuine creative attempt at surpassing the simplicity of mechanical individual transportation which bikes generally give us. This means that we perhaps almost never will surpass the eco-credentials of the common bicycle, but In an age of fast moving communication, business and convenience motorization it seems is essential. So the most recent attempts at personalized transportation are all in one way or another motorized. Personally, I think its a bad move to try and move away from mechanical transportation, and I don’t think we have out-done the bicycle just yet, but more and more designers are coming up with ingenious ideas that could challenge our notions of what personal transport can be, even if it means using a bit of energy to move us about. It can’t be a bad thing, and if it means less gas guzzling cars on the road I am all for it.
Here is the latest attempt at an “eco-friendly” individual transport. This baby like its big cousin, the Segway, uses gyroscope technology to balance the body. This modern day unicycle carries a 1000-Watt motor and a rechargeable Lithium-ion battery. All this technology is housed under a visually appealing, slim case with leg pads and a handle for easy carrying. Lean forward to go forward and backward when you want to slow down. Also, the highly efficient lithium ion battery recaptures energy when going downhill or slowing down. It has a two hour battery life and can be fully recharged in only forty-five minutes.
I don’t see these suddenly taking the world by storm (whats wrong with walking?), but it does seem like we are making a step forward from towards more green universal modes of transport.
