Seat Gets Serious Over e-Scooter Mobility

Seat has followed-up on its pledge to get serious over e-scooter mobility announcing the launch of three new models.

The Spanish automaker first revealed the powertrain details of its pre-production e-scooter back in autumn last year. Now the sub-brand of the auto giant Volkswagen has announced series production of three new bike models which include Seat MÓ eScooter125 electric motorcycle, the Seat MÓ eKickScooter65 and eKickScooter25 electric stand-on scooter. Seat says each offers a different approach to mobility but all highlight the changing face of how we travel around cities.

The automaker is responding to growing interest by governments and city regulators in the issues surround e-scooter mobility. In the UK the Department for Transport is conducting studies into the feasibility and viability of allowing electric scooters to be used on pavement, cycle lanes and public roads by trialing rental schemes.

Meanwhile, Helsinki in Finland, is launching a pilot study into micro-mobility use in the city this spring. The experiment will be conducted in cooperation between French company Vianova, micro-mobility operators, the City’s innovation company Forum Virium Helsinki and city authorities.

The goal is to better understand how e-scooters and other micro-mobility vehicles are used. Vianova’s solution is based on the MDS (Mobility Data Specification) communication protocol, which aids bilateral and secure exchange of data between mobility providers and cities. Aggregated anonymous mobility data will be shown on a dashboard, giving the city an overview of how, when and where the e-scooters, city bikes and other light vehicles are used and parked.

Janne Rinne, project manager at Forum Virium Helsinki, said: “We want to see what this kind of new mobility data can offer to planners and how it can support safe and sustainable multimodality.” Seat will be hoping to tap into these sort of projects with its new offerings.

Its range-topping MÓ eScooter125 has integrated into its rear wheel a 12bhp electric motor, equivalent to a 125cc gasoline motorcycle, that produces 177ft-lbs of torque. This claims a top speed of up to 59mph and a 0-31mph acceleration time of 3.9 seconds.

It boasts three driving modes City, Sport and Eco, and, unusual on a small motorcycle, a reverse gear. Seat claims a range of up to 77 miles on a single charge of its 5.6kWh lithium-ion battery pack meaning that, based on typical usage levels, the vehicle should only need charging once a week. Users can also track their vehicle using a smartphone app, giving information on position and status updates to attract the vehicle-sharing market.

In fact, a special sharing version, in exclusive Dark Aluminium matte paint, hopes to build on the key attributes of the private version, with extra elements designed for the shared mobility: a top box case to store the helmets and an integrated phone holder.

The Seat MÓ eKickScooter65 enables a 40-mile range thanks to its 551Wh battery pack and a top speed of 12mph. The electric scooter offers a nominal power of 350W, which is enough energy to tackle a climbing angle of up to 20 degrees. Front and rear lights, brake light and side/rear reflectors with a front electronic and rear drum brake.

For commuters with more modest requirements there’s the eKickScooter25, which has a 12 mile range aimed at car owners completing the last leg of their journey. Prices have yet to be announced.

— Paul Myles is a seasoned automotive journalist based in London. Follow him on Twitter @Paulmyles_