Latest news with #BoModel-M
Tom's Guide
22-07-2025
- Automotive
- Tom's Guide
I just rode a $2,000 electric scooter designed by Formula One engineers — and I'm actually tempted to buy it
What do you get when a Formula One engineer takes his talents and designs an electric scooter? I found out for myself when I took the Bo Model-M for a test ride in Brooklyn last week. This new electric scooter has an aluminum monocoque chassis and a unique steering system that makes it unlike any other electric scooter on the market today. But how does this $2,000 machine compare to the best electric scooter? I went for a ride with CEO Oscar Morgan, who previously worked for Williams Racing, to see how well it handled. Motor: 400W (1200W peak)Speed: 22 MPHMax range: 40 milesBattery capacity: 672WhBrakes: Sealed drum (front), Regenerative e-brake with e-ABS (rear)Weight: 50.7 poundsMax rider weight: 265 poundsDimensions: 47.2 (length) x 44.5 (height) x 23.2 (width) The company is slowly introducing the Model-M to the U.S. You can order the base model — which has a top speed of 16 MPH and a range of up to 25 miles — for $1,990 at Bo's website. A version with a top speed of 22 MPH and a range of 40 miles sells for $2,490. The Model-M is also offered in four colors — silver, gold, black, and chrome — with the latter three being a bit more costly. For example, a gold version of the top-end Model M costs $3,399. That's a lot more expensive than the best electric scooters, but the company doesn't plan to release it in large numbers; each scooter is hand-built. Lest you think it can't go faster, Bo is developing a modified version of the scooter that can reach speeds of up to 100 MPH. At $30,000, it'll cost you as much as a car, though. Unlike most every other electric scooter, the Bo Model-M has a monocoque chassis, which means that the outer shell of the scooter itself provides support, rather than an internal frame. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. So, there's no vertical downtube like you'll see with most scooters; rather, you get an L-shape that swooshes down and blends seamlessly with the deck; it's the sleekest scooter design I've seen since the Unagi Model One. A running light sits about a third of the way up the scooter, with a headlight in the middle of the handlebars. Partly because of this design, the top of the scooter doesn't fold down, which makes it more suited for those who have a garage to store it. There are two small design touches I particularly liked. The first is the Model-M's kickstand, which is designed that that you'd find on a motorcycle: It folds down on both sides of the scooter, so it's propped up level, and more securely, than a kickstand that's just on one side. The other feature I loved are the folding loops for a bike lock. These are located about halfway down, and pop out so that you can slide a bike lock through the frame of the scooter, and then fold them back in for a sleeker look. These loops also have a small tab at the top, so you can use them to hang a bag from the scooter while you're riding. The Model-M lacks a built-in display. Instead, there's a mounting bracket in the middle of the handlebars, to which you attach your smartphone, and use the Bo app as your dashboard. Also, the steering is a lot tighter than a traditional scooter — you feel a lot of resistance as you turn the handlebars to either side, as they automatically return to center. In some ways, it feels like the steering wheel of your car. While I didn't try it, you could almost ride the scooter one-handed, as you don't have to focus on keeping the wheel pointed forward. The Model-M is powered by a 400W (1200W peak) rear motor, which felt pretty zippy around the admittedly flat streets of the area around the Brooklyn Navy Yard; I'd be interested to see how it would fare in hillier environs. Still, it felt very zippy during my time riding it; the Model-M has two speed settings, so you can keep it at a lower top speed until you get used to riding it. Another conscious design decision was to forego any sort of suspension system on the Model-M, and instead rely on its 10 x 2.5-inch pneumatic tires to absorb any bumps in the road. It was definitely more jarring than full suspension scooters like the Segway Max G3, especially when riding over the cobblestone streets of Brooklyn. There's a lot to like about the Bo Model-M; not only does its design stand out from the crowd, but it's thoughtfully made; I especially like touches such as the folding bike lock. While I'd like to test it out further, the Model-M's steering is also unlike any other electric scooter I've ridden, and definitely feels more stable when making turns; it felt more like skiing than scooting. I do wish there were some sort of suspension, though. At $2,000, this is definitely a boutique ride, and, as it doesn't fold and weighs around 50 pounds, I would not recommend it for those who live in a walk-up apartment. But, if you're looking for a scooter that will make a statement, this is it.
Newsweek
18-07-2025
- Automotive
- Newsweek
New 100-mph Electric Scooter Billed as a 'Tesla Killer'
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. It can accelerate faster than a Tesla, travel further on a single charge than a BMW i3 and has a higher power-to-weight ratio than a Bugatti Veyron. Bo's new high-performance electric scooter pushes the limits of the possible and is being marketed as a "Tesla killer" by the company. Built on the base of the Bo M, a road-going scooter, the Bo Turbo is a step further. It took 18 months to develop and test. "We were designing cars - riding e-scooters for fun - and could not believe how insanely badly engineered they were. So we upgraded to Segway - at the time one of the best brands available - and were again disappointed. We imagined powerfully carving down the road, like on a magic carpet. Instead it felt more like riding down a hill in the front of a shopping trolley," Bo co-founder and CEO, Oscar Morgan, told Newsweek. "The only option seemed to be high-speed sports scooters, which are fine for enthusiasts but total overkill if you just want a great ride. We wanted an 'SUV' scooter, not a Baja truck. So it was a classic Goldilocks problem: we could have cheap, weak and crappy or expensive, fast and crappy, but what we wanted was in the middle; power, quality and style. We were lucky enough to have the skills to create it, and naive enough to think it would be easy," he said. A professional driver pilots the Bo Turbo around the Goodwood circuit. A professional driver pilots the Bo Turbo around the Goodwood circuit. Bo The company first tested the Turbo at Goodwood Motor Circuit, where it was driven at 85 mph while piloted by professional driver Tre Whyte. Now, the company has reached 100 mph with the model. It can out-accelerate a Tesla Model 3, the company claims, and it can go up to 150 miles on a single charge. The scooter runs on an 88-volt battery that can push the same amount of power to its wheels as it takes to fast charge 1,500 Apple iPhones simultaneously. "The mission of the company is to Enjoy Every Journey, and the Bo Model-M is the personification of that. What that means is we care about every moment - not just how far or fast you go, but how you feel walking towards Bo, turning it on, hanging your bag on it. We care about the way the power is delivered and the ultra stable ride dynamics. We even care about your sense of pride when a friend sees you riding past," Morgan said. The CEO sees there being two types of consumers in the market for such a scooter: "Firstly, anyone who has had a mid-range scooter like a Segway and is looking for an upgrade, Bo is a superb choice. Every feature of their current scooter, made tougher - more powerful - and more fun. So far I'm glad to say everyone who has come to Bo from Segway-level brands has been completely delighted. "Secondly in 'non-scooter riders' - the Bo Model-M inevitably appeals to mavericks and innovators. Most of our riders are noticeably successful in their field and willing to trial a new mode of transport before it has widespread acceptance. That said, I have actually been surprised by the proportion of consultant surgeons, company directors and lawyers placing an order." Above all, Bo's scooters are designed to appeal to people who are searching to "optimize their life," Morgan said. A man rides a Bo M electric scooter. A man rides a Bo M electric scooter. Bo The base model Bo M scooter is on sale now and starts at $2,249.
