Brisbane-based Electric Mobility Solutions (EMoS) has formally unveiled its new Wyld “e-chopper” electric scooter at the Launch, Show & Ride EV Expo at the University of Southern Queensland (USQ) Springfield campus.
The “Easy Rider” chopper-style Wyld was available for test rides on Saturday and gave people an opportunity to test out the single-seater electric scooter with ape hanger-style handlebars and fat tyres.
First unveiled back in September, the $4,199 Wyld has a top speed 50km/h and a range of 80-kilometres thanks to its kW electric motor and 60V/30Ah removable battery. EMoS expects that the bike’s removable battery will avoid the need for people living in apartments and complexes to install an external charging point.
“We want our vehicles to give our customers more – more safety, more agility and more fun,” said EMoS Founder Wolfgang Roffmann.
“Our philosophy has been from the start to be different; we want people to turn their heads for our vehicles, we want them to be excited about the form and the function, and to make a statement for electric vehicles and that is the same for the Wyld .”
Designed more in line with the company’s range of personal electric mobility scooters, and nowhere near the Livewire electric motorbike introduced in early-September by iconic bike maker Harley-Davidson, the WYWyld LD will nevertheless likely still have a place in the growing electric mobility market.
Labelled everything from an e-chopper, e-moped, and scooter across the company’s website, the Wyld will come with 18-inch wheels and be able to be charged in 5-hours.
“The Wyld ’s classification allows it to be used with a normal car driver’s license in Queensland, South Australia, Northern Territory and Western Australia,” said Motor Trades Association Queensland (MTAQ) Innovation General Manager Paul Kulpa.
He expects the Wyld could potentially introduce an entirely new market of environmentally conscious commuters to the world of e-choppers.
“If EMoS gets its message out to the right audience, it has the potential to attract a solid customer base looking for easy entry into personal electric mobility market.”
EMoS’ new Wyld is also being seen as an opportunity for the emerging suburb of Springfield, south-west of Brisbane and bordering on the edge of suburbia.
Billed as Australia’s “largest master-planned urban environment” and designed in an effort to provide “a nation-building blueprint for what a 21st century city should be”, Springfield has already taken in more than 43,000 people and expects to see its population grow to over 100,000 by the end of the decade.
Springfield City Group (SCG) Energy Innovation Manager Andrew Deme is hoping that Springfield might look to build on its existing partnership with EMoS to potentially become an electric personal mobility manufacturing hub.
“More than three billion dollars will be invested to help make Springfield the world’s most ecofriendly community by 2038, under a strategic alliance with Engie, a world leader in the global transition to a carbon-neutral economy,” said Deme.
French multinational electric utility Engie signed a 50-year strategic alliance with the Springfield City Group to make the city a net-zero energy city, and generating more energy than they consume by 2038.
Joshua S. Hill is a Melbourne-based journalist who has been writing about climate change, clean technology, and electric vehicles for over 15 years. He has been reporting on electric vehicles and clean technologies for Renew Economy and The Driven since 2012. His preferred mode of transport is his feet.