With the fast spread of electric scooters, one may think that e-scooters are a relatively recent trend. But the history of the electric scooter is one interesting narrative to share and appreciate where it all started.
Did you know that the first patent for an electric motorbike dates back to 1895? This came a year before the invention of the first gas-powered motorbike. Meanwhile, the eco-friendly nature and convenience of Mearth have seen a significant rise in its popularity in recent years in this century.
With the fast spread of electric scooters, one may think that e-scooters are a relatively recent trend. But the history of the electric scooter is one interesting narrative to share and appreciate where it all started.
The 1700s
The history of electric-powered transportation devices began in 1740 when experimenters like Benjamin Franklin and Andrew Gordon created the very first electric motors. These first motors were simple and could only be powered by an external power source.
In 1799, Italian physicist Alessandro Volta (the guy that the “volt” is named after) invented the practical batteries that could provide a constant source of power for electric motors. Although weak and could not provide much power, they set the stage for advancements in battery and electric motor technology.
The 1800s
A century later, in 1859, French physicist Gaston Planté invented the first lead-acid batteries, the kind of batteries we now use in cars. At that time, these batteries were much more efficient and could provide enough power to use for human transportation.
The early 1800s saw the invention of several electric devices for human transportation, such as the electric tricycle invented by Gustave Trouvé in 1881 and the famous “electric carriage” built by William Aryton and John Perry a year later. These early battery-powered devices could reach a speed of 25 mph.
The first recorded patent for an electric bicycle was filed by American inventor Ogden Bolton Jr. back in 1895.
In the next 20 years, various electric bikes and mopeds were invented, including Humber’s famous electric tandem bicycle and the invention of smaller nickel-cadmium batteries in 1899. However, gas-powered engines were still very inefficient, so electric scooters, bikes, and mopeds were seriously considered for daily transportation.
The 1900s – 1940s
In 1911, the magazine Popular Mechanics showcased an e-bike that could reach a max speed of 35 mph—a full 40 percent faster than the gas-powered scooters available at the same time, where this bike could reach distances of up to 100 miles on a single battery charge.
In 1911, British agricultural company Ransomes, Sims, and Jeffries released the first electric motorcycle with a sidecar carrying batteries.
In the next 20 years or so, developments inelectric scootersstalled after a Long-Island-based company released the Autoped, an efficient gas-fueled scooter that enjoyed numerous sales in the US and Germany.
The 1940s – 1980s
During the 1940s, many companies hopped on the wagon of making gas-powered scooters and some models were even adopted by the US military. The 1960s saw the rise of ‘environmentalism’ regarding new developments in e-bikes. In 1967, Austrian chemist Karl Kordesch made the first gas/electric hybrid motorcycle.
The 1980’s – Present
From electric bikes, the past few decades witnessed similar advancements in electric scooter technology. The first mass-produced electric scooter called theScoot’Elecwas invented in 1996 by Peugeot and had a top speed of 31 mph and a range of 29 miles. TheScoot’Elecwas very successful even though it was heavy and not really eco-friendly due to its nickel-cadmium batteries.
The early 1990s also saw the invention of the lithium-ion battery, the kind of battery that power most laptops, smartphones, and tablets nowadays. Lithium-ion batteries were much more efficient than nickel-cadmium batteries and eco-friendly, too.
In 2009, the modern wave of electric scooters began when Myway became Inokim and has since been one of the major manufacturers of electric scooters. These scooters made full use of new more efficient lithium-ion batteries to make fast scooters that could be charged at home.
Fast track to the present. Dozens of electric scooter manufacturers in different countries are becoming a common sight in most cities worldwide. Curious question, why do more and more people favor electric scooters?
The answer is quite obvious: they are portable and compact, lightweight and easy to use, emit a shallow environmental footprint, are easy to maintain, and have fewer regulations, as compared to the more traditional modes of transportation.
In case you didn’t know yet, a gas-powered scooter is almost four times high in emitting greenhouse gases (proportional to their size), just like cars — as opposed to an electric scooter. The current very fast electric scooter on the Australian market is Mearth top-performing onand-off-road terrain GTS MAX which can reach a top speed of70mph, at off-terrain speeds with a range up to 100km
Mearth, an inevitable destin
In 2016, two engineers with different backgrounds came together with one goal in mind to craft the most innovative and stylish electric scooter available on the market. They saw that the main challenge was to establish how they could utilize their technical expertise to break new grounds and achieve a breakthrough. They looked at the ‘simplicity’ of the scooter’s structure and determined it could be improved further.
For this dedicated group of engineers, improvement was a constant, one that needed to be fully understood. Unfazed, they researched. So, how does one improve on a design? Both ‘out of the box’ thinkers, they proceeded to improve, augment, and innovate. Singularly focused on the goal to create the most compact deck available that could withstand any challenge.
They spent tireless, endless hours doing stress analysis to find the strength without sacrificing the size or design elements of the electric scooter. The team dedicated hours of their engineering expertise to ensure the creation of the most exceptional end product that is now readily available to customers.
The invaluable collaboration with experts like LG helped ensure that the batteries they supply to Mearth for its e-scooters are of the highest quality to ensure customer safety, which always remains the top priority.
After significant trials, testing, research, and further refinement, the Mearth electric scooter was produced. It was the zenith of hard work, technological advancement, and uncompromising craftsmanship of the team. And the reward was worth all those sleepless times.
Today, the components that make the electric scooter a unique and sophisticated piece of technology as it is today, scrutinized over until it is perfected is an innovative electric scooter the world has ever seen.
The exciting part in all of this is that the Mearth story has just begun.
The hardworking group, a resolute and unswerving tandem that formed the electric scooter are persistent, striving to exceed their earlier achievement, to surpass and incessantly expand on their design.
Now that you are aware of why innumerable people are so fascinated by electric scooters and why this trend will grow exponentially because of its awesome features and benefits, foremostly, Mearth’s high-quality, top-performing e-scooters are undoubtedly here to stay.
Press Release Distributed by The Express Wire
To view the original version on The Express Wire visit A Walk-Through on Electric Scooter History Or How the Electric Scooters Began
