My first impression of the NEW Segway Drift W1’s look is dorky. They’re a little like motor-powered Heelys, those sneakers with wheels in the heel that exploded in 2008. Let's say the wheels were not that big, but still.
After roller skates, inline skates, and other fun mobility products in the past, the next new trend was born in 2018: e-Skates. The new Segway Drift W1 has all the fun and coolness you expect from Segway’s consumer products line, combined with the high-quality design and manufacturing consumers expect from the Segway label. It is perfect for the modern generation who dare to stand out and generate new trends.
It’s silly to ignore Segway and its never-ending quest to solve personal mobility and the “last-mile problem.” Beijing-based transportation robotics startup Ninebot acquired Segway in 2015, and it raised $180M from Sequoia Capital, Xiaomi, Intel, and others.
Pros: Self-balancing will help a broader range of people ride them. It looks like you don’t need special boots or shoes—just people like me who want to have this but are not masters in rollerskating.
Cons: The short wheelbase will make it hard to keep self-balancing on rough terrain and require much power/short-range compromise.
Verdict
I would love to try these wheelers. They will probably produce fun, falling, bum-crashing scenes, though.
Fun fact
The Segway-Ninebot amalgam designs and produces every scooter that scooter-sharing startup Bird and Lime uses. Both startups have exploded in demand across the US, each raising $350M+ to bring dockless electric scooters to a sidewalk near you. Segway is everywhere.
Everybody is trying to increase short-distance journeys. The world’s first flying car launched two weeks ago with a review from Casey Neistat, and Elon Musk’s Boring Company wants to build tunnels that crisscross cities to cut down community time. The city of Chicago just signed a $1B contract with the company. 🕳️
If you’re intimidated by Segway’s latest creation, Paris-based Flaneurz are clip-on rollerskates that attach to any pair of sneakers.
Further product specifications and expected availability of the Segway Drift W1 to EMEA markets will be announced soon and may differ by region. Learn more at eu-en.segway.com. The official Segway Drift W1 video can be watched here: https://youtu.be/UO4JsKrWZzY
About Segway
Segway is moving in a brand new and exciting direction. You’ve known us for years as the world leader in commercial-grade, electric, self-balancing personal transportation. After strategically merging with Ninebot, we reevaluated our product lines and target markets and made some bold changes. We’re now also applying our world-renowned intellectual property to consumer products, with a sharp focus on transportation for lifestyle and recreational riders, and we're not looking back. For more information, please visit http://eu-en.segway.com.
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