Inboard Technology
Having raised $8 million and conquered Shark Tank, electric skateboard-maker Inboard Technology is now taking aim at Uber, Bird, and Lime with its first e-scooter, dubbed the “Glider”. Touted as the “only scooter with a swappable battery,” pre-orders for the $1,299 two-wheeler begin this fall ahead of its February 2019 release date. Aside from the general public, Inboard is hoping to sell fleets of Gliders to businesses, cities, and universities.
Gallery: Inboard Glider | 8 Photos
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Like on Inboard’s M1 e-skateboard, each battery pack here can be swapped out for a new one when it runs out of juice — similar to what we’ve seen on Taiwanese company Gogoro‘s e-motor-scooters. That means range (12 miles in the Glider’s case) shouldn’t theoretically be a problem, as long as you carry enough spares — though Inboard is yet to confirm extra battery pack pricing. Inside lurks a 750W in-hub motor that trumps the Xiaomi M365 scooter’s 250W power (the latter used by Bird, Spin and Lyft, notes Electrek).
The fold-up Glider’s other features include large tires, a coiled suspension, and an 8.1-inch wide deck, making it bigger than its rivals. Both a consumer and business model are inbound, the only difference between the two being a slightly tweaked companion app for fleets.