There is one group that has been driving electric vehicles for decades: people who use mobility scooters. Yet innovation in this market has been at a virtual standstill in recent years. A group of entrepreneurs from Delft are changing that and have launched – in their own words – the ‘Tesla of mobility scooters’.
The new mobility scooter has been named Scoozy and should make users' riding experience a lot more pleasant and safe. After all, there are still nearly 40 deaths each year due to mobility scooter accidents. The fun factor also played an important role in the creation of the mode of transport.
Safer
To make the four-wheeler as manoeuvrable as a three-wheeler, the Scoozy has four steering wheels. A lower centre of gravity lowers the risk of tipping over and intuitive throttling with a joystick should reduce the risk of collisions.
Job van de Kieft, CEO of Scoozy, in a press release: "We believe in getting everything out of life that is in it. Going on adventures and experiencing new things. Pushing your limits and facing the unknown. Smart and safe mobility is a prerequisite for that. That is why we developed Scoozy. With it, we set the new standard for mobility scooters."
Smarter
Besides a safer design, Scoozy also brings more fun and comfort. Thanks to special options such as 4×4 drive, users ride effortlessly through the woods or from and on high kerbs. Through smart range prediction, users know how many more kilometres they can drive. Together with other data, the range prediction is remotely readable and forms a platform with endless possibilities, such as temporary use, lease variants and B2B float management. 'It makes Scoozy widely applicable, including in theme parks and airports,' say its creators.
The modern trolley also contains an on-board computer. The data coming from this can be read out by the Delft-based company if necessary to do preventive maintenance, for example because the system reports that the battery needs replacing.
Investment
That the entrepreneurs are on the right track with their new mode of transport is shown by the fact that earlier this month they raised an investment of €550,000 from a group of business angels (private individuals who invest in a company from a business perspective). That means the mobility scooter can enter the market, and the new growth money will be used to scale up Scoozy's team and aim to complete an initial batch of 30 units. A pilot project already yielded 14 reservations.
Jan-Willem van Gent, CTO of Scoozy: "We are extremely happy that Scoozy's design is so popular, even outside our intended target group. Now the challenge is to deliver the first line within a year and then scale up to series production."
Investment was made by six business angels in total, with two of them also immediately reserving a Scoozy for themselves or family. Several of the investors also indicated their intention to join the second round. This round is scheduled during the course of next year, with Scoozy scheduled to go into full production in early 2019.
Electric driving
The four founders of Scoozy have a special background: they are solar racing world champions with Nuna, the solar racing car of the Nuon Solar Team from Delft. This gives them a different background from competing parties in the field of electric mobility scooters, they say. 'We come from electric driving, not healthcare. In our opinion, that is a big advantage.'
By: Kelly Bakker
Source: Scoozy + Sprout
Photo: Jorrit Lousberg
