This space-age electric scooter features assisted steering and a controversial design

A next-generation e-scooter has been announced – but not everyone is happy about it. After three years of development, the micro-mobility startup bo has announced its M-Scooter, which promises to “set new standards in safety, comfort and design”. The model offers innovative and exciting features in a number of areas ranging from the lighting, to safety, to the padded, grippy material that the rider is meant to stand on. Bo has suggested that his vehicle is suitable for everyday use and commuting, as opposed to the recreational or short-distance uses that e-scooters are often used for.

The target group seems to be commuters in large metropolitan areas like London. In a press release, Oscar Morgan, CEO of bo, outlined the company’s goals for the M, saying, “Our mission was to develop game-changing features and safety enhancements like Safesteer, while using our automotive design expertise to build a scooter that that makes people feel proud to own and drive.” The experience Morgan is talking about is far from insignificant. The startup was founded in 2019 by a team of “Formula One Advanced Engineering and Automotive Designers,” according to the company. As you would expect from a group of talented individuals, all having made careers in one of the most competitive environments in the world, their ambitions were high.

The bo team wants to help the world move away from cars and towards the highly efficient, practical electric vehicles they design and produce. The bo M can be pre-ordered from bo.world at an MSRP of $2,399. Financing is also available at a cost of $79 per month. Those who pre-order a bo M can expect their scooter to be delivered sometime next spring.

The safety features of the M include a 360-degree light halo, a powerful headlight and a driving stabilization system called Safesteer. The halo of light surrounds the chassis of the scooter with bo’s daytime running lights to make the scooter and its rider stand out on the road. Just like a car’s headlights, improved visibility can help other road users spot the M driver and should drastically reduce the likelihood of an accident. A powerful headlight increases the driver’s visibility even in poor light conditions, helping him to identify and avoid potential hazards in all conditions. The real star of the show is Safesteer, which increases rider control and confidence in the scooter by stabilizing steering amid road bumps for an overall smoother ride. While this is a huge benefit for experienced riders, it should also allow new riders to get on the scooter with far less anxiety.

All of these features are based on the monocurve chassis, which Bo describes as “a sea change in vehicle design and engineering.” It’s the part of the scooter that the company says is heavily based on “automotive principles” and holds together all the innovative bits that make the M what it is. The aluminum construction of the scooter promises durability and rigidity with a low weight at the same time. All this plays into the geometry of the scooter, which according to the company has been optimized for stability and ergonomics. Design cues include a 3-foot wheelbase, wider handlebars and an optimized 76-degree steering angle to improve control and handling.

Scooters are obviously not an ideal mode of transportation when you need to carry a lot of things. Yes, you can throw on a backpack and keep your balance, but there’s only enough to fit in a single bag. Bo thought of this and produced what is possibly the most luggage-friendly e-scooter in the known universe (at least for now). Because of the stability of the chassis, the M designers were able to add a pair of cargo hooks that riders can use to hang an extra bag or two. The “steel dual mount system,” as the company calls it, also provides a secure point for riders to lock their bike when it’s parked. A bike lock is far from the only security feature – there’s also GPS tracking, motor locking, loud anti-sabotage alarms and a cell phone notification system to ensure the scooter stays in your possession.

You can ride an M-Scooter up to around 50km on a single charge. The scooter’s “tubeless air tyres” are designed to help increase grip, increase ride comfort and reduce the risk of flat tires as you cover those miles. There is also a comfort system based on high-end sneakers to reduce the stress on a rider’s body during the daily commute. The so-called Airdeck, on the other hand, aims to increase comfort and reduce vibrations from the road, which has enabled bo to simplify the scooter’s suspension system.

Bo’s e-scooter was never meant to be conventional. However, there is a risk that moving away from a long-established mechanical element could lead to some debate and controversy within the e-scooter community. The change affects the hinge that most e-scooters have between the stem and the deck, which bo has removed entirely, meaning the M is non-foldable. It’s too early to tell if bo’s decisions will lead to a full-blown scooter civil war, but the company stands by its decision, and CTO Harry Willis said: “As we are aware it may be contentious for some is, we made a conscious decision to eliminate the crease and launch bo M with an uninterrupted monocurve chassis.

The startup argues that the benefits of not doing the fold outweigh any inconveniences. These claimed benefits include improved ride quality, safety and reliability. “It presented a weak point that led us to this final design,” Willis said. The disadvantages are essentially limited to the fact that the scooter takes up more space when not in use. This may not be a problem at all, as Bo claims that the majority of people don’t even bother to fold their scooters at all. They also claim that this puts the M in a whole new category, somewhere between a classic e-scooter and a larger, more practical e-bike. Sometimes a change is good.