If a Mini is not a small enough vehicle for you, Mini is working on a smaller option: The Mini Citysurfer Concept.
The Mini Citysurfer Concept is a kick scooter with an electric drive designed to provide increased flexibility for individuals who must navigate urban areas, especially when moving by car is impractical or annoyingly slow.
The Citysurfer Concept is compact, foldable, and relatively lightweight at 40 pounds. It’s small enough to go in the trunk of a Mini and light enough to carry on buses or trains. It might be ideal for quickly covering the distance from the parking lot or train station to the office, depending, of course, on local statutes concerning such vehicles.
The rider starts the Citysurfer in motion by pushing off and thrusting with the feet. Once a minimum speed is achieved, the rider can trigger the auxiliary electric drive using a thumb throttle. Top speed under electric power is 15 miles per hour. A brake lever deactivates the electric motor.
The lithium-ion battery is permanently contained within the frame and charges using a twelve-volt automobile socket or normal household power. Like its very much larger relatives in the BMW “i” family, the battery is also charged by means of braking energy regeneration. The Citysurfer’s range under electric power is about ten to fifteen miles. When the motor is off, the vehicle can be propelled by physical strength alone without any drag from the electric drive.
Besides the electric brake regeneration slowing the vehicle when desired, the Citysurfer has hydraulic front and rear brakes. The large wheels help with bumps and the low foot board, rigid frame, and height-adjustable handlebars make for a stable ride, or as stable as one might expect from a two-wheeled scooter. The upright riding position makes the driver more visible to other road users and, of course, all-around visibility is outstanding—because the rider is out standing on the Citysurfer. Sorry.
Wheel fenders help protect the rider from road dirt and moisture. The vehicle has a mobile phone holder and charging readout on the handlebars. Last Mile Navigation is possible in conjunction with the Mini Connected XL Journey Mate app. According to the App Store, Mini Connected XL is “the smart enhancement of Mini Connected with a series of standalone apps. These connect momentary, context-based, vehicle information with the outside world. The first of these is the Mini Connected XL Journey Mate, which accompanies and assists the driver as a virtual companion—like a friend—in everything from journey planning to your arrival at your final destination.” Last Mile Navigation gives advice on where to park and then switches to pedestrian navigation mode to guide the user over the last portion of the trip.
Mini has not given any indication of when—or if—this concept will come to market, how much it will cost, or what is its load limit. Well, that’s important to some people.
The Mini Citysurfer Concept is designed to cover the entire range of individual urban mobility: Commuting to work and school, shopping, tourist activities both around town and when arriving at excursion destinations, camping (depending on the terrain), shore activities when boating, and just having fun. Kind of like a Mini.—Scott Blazey
