Teenage Engineering has put its distinctive stamp on budget and high-end audio gear through the years, however has additionally ventured outside of its box every so often. The most recent instance of that’s an electrical moped/scooter referred to as the epa-1, developed with fellow Swedes Vässla Micromobility.
“I’ve all the time preferred merchandise which are a bit particular,” stated Vässla’s Mikael Andersson, who – together with Paul Frankenius – acquired the corporate’s chapter property in March of final yr. “Possibly a little bit smarter, extra trendy, or only a bit extra enjoyable to make use of. So after I took over Vässla, I naturally needed to do one thing very particular.
“However I wanted assist. And I knew instantly the place from. I’ve adopted Teenage Engineering for years and am actually impressed by how they always assume innovatively, and develop and design fully distinctive merchandise. All the pieces from small synths and audio system to, properly, all types of issues. So I referred to as them up.”
Vässla Micromobility
And so started a collaborative effort to design and construct an electrical moped (or sit-down scooter). The staff took a visit to China to take a look at what already existed within the house, and found a manufacturing facility prepared to take concepts from a bunch of drawings and construct one thing new from scratch.
“We examined new concepts, took the moped aside, rebuilt it a number of occasions, examined new concepts once more, developed our personal elements and our personal really feel,” added Andersson. “In the long run, we had our personal mannequin.” The collaboration named its creation the epa-1 – which stands for En Passer Alla, that means ‘One Suits All.’
Manufacturing started in January, and the primary batch arrived in Sweden a few months later, adopted by the journey to certification. Now the “new Vässlan” is able to roll, and because of extra design tweaks, can now be personalised and modified courtesy of a number of strengthened mounts, so that every rides with its personal distinctive vibe.
Vässla Micromobility
The epa-1 rides with a 2,600-W hub motor for individuals who need to attain 45 km/h (28 mph) and have the suitable license. Or you may go for 1,000 watts for as much as 25 km/h (15.5 mph), and the potential to journey with out a allow in some areas, in addition to rolling down bicycle paths if native laws permit it. Both approach you get 140 Nm of torque (103 lb.ft) and three drive modes to select from.
The blocky however detachable LiFePO4 battery pack that sits underneath the padded seat and could be had in two flavors. An 1,800-Wh model is reckoned good for as much as 70 km (43.5 miles) of per-charge driving, whereas the three,000-Wh pack bumps that to 100 km (62 miles) or extra.
Rounding out the important thing specs is a dual-beam LED headlight plus brake gentle and switch signaling, there is a built-in alarm system that is activated by way of NFC or distant, and a rear wheel that locks routinely when the sirens go off as an opportunist tries to make off the the journey. Parking stability shapes up with a double-leg kickstand underneath the battery bay. The e-moped weighs in at 60 kg (132 lb) sans battery, and is rated to haul as much as 150 kg (330 lb) – together with rider, battery pack, passenger and cargo.
Vässla Micromobility
An all black epa-1 is on the market to order now for SEK 19,990 (about US$2,100, although US availability hasn’t been confirmed). Extra colour choices shall be added later this month for a similar asking worth. Equipment like a entrance rack, passenger seating, helmet field and bike lock can be had.
For information, Vässla was based in 2017 by Rickard Bröms and subsequently launched electrical scoots, ebikes and pace pedelecs. The corporate grew quickly and ultimately constructed a staff of 60 workers, however monetary issues set in and regardless of radical restructuring, the Swedish courts declared the company bankrupt early final yr. The property had been quickly acquired by Andersson and Paul Frankenius, and a brand new chapter for the model started.
Supply: Vässla Micromobility
