Back in 2020, a London startup launched an electric road scooter on Kickstarter that did away with the usual deck in favor of pedal platforms on either side of a tubular folding frame for a forward-facing riding position. The second-generation Taur is now available.
Since its first Kickstarter success, Taur has operations in Los Angeles and London, and plans to sell the Taur II electric scooter to the US, Canada, UK and continental Europe.
New to the second-generation Ride are bigger, wider wheels wrapped in 12.5-inch Unilli puncture-resistant tires, a longer wheelbase and two different model variants – the Standard Ride comes with a 26-mile (42-kilometer) battery, while the Plus version has a range of 39 miles per charge.
Either way, you’re looking at a top speed of 24 mph (39 km/h) propelled by a 500 W rear hub motor — the Taur II will be speed-limited in the countries it’s shipped to, though those features can be unlocked via an app. Stopping power is provided by regenerative braking at the rear and hydraulic disc brakes at the front.
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There’s a trigger throttle and manual cruise control on the handlebar, and a simple LED status array in the middle of the bar shows battery level. Beneath it is a Quad Lock phone mount for docking a smartphone running the Taur app, which acts as a digital instrument cluster and navigation aid. In case someone tries to escape, the on-board GPS will be used to track your progress (provided by the FindMy network).
Elsewhere, the Taur II features integrated 300-lumen Cree headlights and 80-lumen brake/tail lights, in addition to projected lighting that illuminates the rider’s back, and also features 200-lumen turn signals.
The powder-coated aluminum frame folds down for easy storage or portability during rides, and the Taur II weighs 43 pounds (19.5 kg), while the Plus version weighs a few pounds more.
Interestingly, while it’s not legal in the UK to ride an electric scooter you own, the company has a rather cheeky approach: Commitment Pay any UK customer fines incurred for traveling on the Taur II.
Like the original, Taur II is funding crowdfunding. Pledges start at $995, and while the usual crowdfunding caveats apply, shipments are expected to begin in May 2024 if all goes to plan for the funded campaign.
source: bull
