Briefcase riding may not be common now, but that may change — Coolpeds has released the Briefcase E-Scooter which you can ride through an airport, or many other places. This sounds odd at first, but how often do you see people carry all their groceries on a scooter, or on foot? Scooters lack the necessary storage, and walking with too many grocery bags is inconvenient. The E-Scooter could resolve that problem if scaled up, as it’s 6-mile (10 km) range isn’t quite enough for all supermarket commutes.
If you’ve had to lug heavy school books across a large university campus, or run from the airport to narrowly catch a train, you can appreciate the benefits of this powered-scooter. However, the airport benefits take the cake — traversing enormous airports (for example: Miami International Airport) with heavy luggage is quite a task for frequent and long distance travellers. It is a nuisance even without luggage.
Long-distance travellers would benefit most because they usually have to make multiple airport stops on the way to their destination. The Briefcase E-Scooter has 6 miles of range, which is more than enough for an airport. It can also save travellers time because it has a top speed of 12.4 mph (20 km/h), while people walk at an average speed of only 3.1 mph. This briefcase beats a tiring run across the airport!
The scooter is powered by a brushless electric motor mounted in its rear wheel. Brushless motors are among the most efficient, plus they are quiet and reliable. The motor is powered by a lithium-ion battery pack, which is a step up from the older lead-acid battery technology often used in personal mobility devices. Lithium-ion batteries store 4 to 8 times more energy than the lead-acid chemistry.
Unfortunately, all products have their disadvantages. The Briefcase E-Scooter has small wheels, and that may translate to a bumpy ride on textured surfaces. This is best used at an airport. This briefcase weighs in at 17.4 pounds (7.9 kg), which is almost as much as a typical car battery (20 pounds). Add your toiletries and you’ll end up with a very heavy briefcase which is uncomfortably heavy to lift. The greatest disadvantage, however, is the price tag of $599. It costs $699 with the range-extending solar panel (you should only purchase this if you intend to frequently use it outdoors).
As for shopping: Stores often don’t want people to carry large bags inside unless they are shopping bags, and some of them won’t permit even those. They aren’t likely to permit the Briefcase E-Scooter either. Fortunately, modern stores have cameras and scanners to deter theft, so some of them have relaxed restrictions. This means some stores may permit this briefcase.
