It's About Time

One issue with scooters today on the market is the inconvenience of carrying them with you and the difficulty in trying to pack them away so that they are easier to travel with. Some scooters fold up easily but they can still be heavy or awkward to travel with. Well, what about an inflatable one?

Students from the University of Tokyo working with a research organization have been able to develop something interesting in the scooter space with an inflatable electric scooter that can gap that last mile for travelers. Make it from the train station to the work office etc. They pull it out, inflate within minutes, and they are on their way.

The device has been dubbed the Poimo which stands for inflatable and portable mobility, equipped with detachable handles, wheels, and a motor and battery too.

Using a pump the scooter can be inflated within minutes.

It is a design that creators say is a nod to the character Baymax from the Big Hero 6 Disney film. It is ideal for short trips around the city and helping to gap that last mile that people have to their work destination or some other destination.

Of course not everyone finds it appealing, some have said it is the most ridiculous e-bike idea yet. But at least this innovation from students has brought one more possibility to the market for those who could be interested even though it might not be the perfect travel solution. It has been designed for easy upkeep, to be lightweight, and offer soft mobility to users. There also looks to be a great deal of customization opportunity with this design as well. But for now it isn't clear when or if it will roll out to market or how much it will be.