MINI presents an innovative concept providing increased flexibility for individual mobility in conurbation areas; MINI Citysurfer Concept combines the agile riding properties of a kick scooter with an electric drive and expressive design features in the style of the British premium brand.
MINI is a transportation company. They solve transportation problems in smart and stylish ways that hold true to the MINI brand. And in this case that doesn’t necessarily mean an automotive solution. Today MINI takes the wraps off of the MINI Citysurfer, a product designed to solve transportation needs of urban dwellers in the most space and fuel efficient way possible while holding true to the kind of fun we expect with MINI products.
What we have here is a 40 lbs electric scooter with a 10-15 mile range that neatly folks to fit in the back of a MINI. Oh, and it looks incredible. Before you get your credit card out, keep in mind that this is a concept and MINI has not yet announced any concrete plans to build it let, alone a time-table. However, unlike MINI’s previous electric scooter concept, this looks entirely plausible from a production standpoint — especially if MINI partners with an existing manufacturer in the space.
The MINI Citysurfer will debut at the LA Auto Show this weekend alongside the Superleggera concept and the entire MINI range. If you’re in the area, check it out and let us know what you think. If not, hit up the comments below and let MINI know if they should build it. Either way, click through and check out the full gallery and official release.
MINI presents an innovative concept providing increased flexibility for individual mobility in conurbation areas; MINI Citysurfer Concept combines the agile riding properties of a kick scooter with an electric drive and expressive design features in the style of the British premium brand.
– Wide range of potential uses due to compact structure, foldability and low weight of just 18 kilograms (40 lbs); MINI Citysurfer Concept suitable both for use on its own and in combination with other means of transportation; easy to transport, for example in the luggage compartment of the new MINI 3 door or on buses and trains; minimum traffic space due to single-track concept, enabling spontaneous and convenient mobility even in those sections of an urban area not accessible to motorised vehicles; therefore the ideal mobility supplement for covering the distance between car park, rail or bus station and final destination.
– Auxiliary electric drive with thumb-operated accelerator and gearless hub motor in the rear wheel; electric motor power permits top speed of 25 km/h (15 mph); electric drive of the MINI Citysurfer Concept is not activated until a minimum speed is reached from the rider’s own physical thrust; motor is deactivated by means of a brake lever.
– Power supply via lithium-ion battery permanently installed in the frame; charging via 12-volt automobile socket or household socket; charging during travel by means of brake energy regeneration when brake is activated; battery management system with integrated power electronics; electric range: 15 to 25 kilometres (10 – 15 miles); use of the MINI Citysurfer Concept possible at any time, independently of auxiliary electric drive using physical strength and without rolling resistance from the motor.
– MINI Citysurfer Concept has safe, versatile and agile riding properties, large wheels with pneumatic tyres also make it suitable for bumpy paths, low foot board, stable frame and height-adjustable handlebars; three brake systems which operate independently of each other; recuperation brake via electric drive generator function, hydraulic disc brakes at the front and rear wheel; excellent deceleration and agile handling since there are no limits to the rider in shifting the centre of gravity; good all-round view and visibility to other road users due to upright riding position; folding concept with safety function for correct engagement when unfolding.
– Protection from dirt and weather impact due to trim parts and wheel covers at front and rear; extended range of potential use of the MINI Citysurfer Concept for both private and work-based mobility; additional everyday functionality with mobile phone holder and charge facility on the handle bars; use of Last Mile Navigation possible in conjunction with the MINI Connected XL Journey Mate.
– Vehicle fittings flexibly adaptable to market-specific public traffic regulations; MINI Citysurfer Concept also usable by young people going to school or travelling in their leisure time.
– Vehicle concept covers the entire range of individual urban mobility: commuting to work and school, sight-seeing and shopping, tourist excursions when on motor home, camping or boat holidays; spontaneous riding fun typical of MINI derives from the interaction between rider and electric motor when generating propulsion.
Superb fun on the road combined with minimum space requirements – this has been the principle underlying the success of MINI for 55 years. The British premium brand is now facing up to the current and future challenges posed by the traffic situation in urban conurbation areas all over the world by presenting an innovative concept for flexible individual mobility. The MINI Citysurfer Concept closes the often time-consuming gaps in the transportation infrastructure of modern cities in a way which is convenient, emissions-free and also lots of fun. As a light and compact single-track vehicle in the style of a kick scooter with an auxiliary electric drive, the concept study shows attractive ways in which its users can get directly to their final destination without having to consider traffic congestion, the shortage of parking space and the timetable intervals of local public transportation.
With a maximum speed of up to 25 km/h (15 mph) and an electric range of some 15 to 25 kilometres (10 – 15 miles), the MINI Citysurfer Concept is ideally suited for day-to-day use over short distances. The full range of the concept vehicle’s strengths especially come into their own when it is used as a spontaneously available supplement to an automobile or local public transport. Thanks to its low weight of some 18 kilograms (40 lbs) and a folding concept, it fits easily into the luggage compartment of the new MINI 3 door, for example. In a few swift moves it is ready to take the user from a car park on the outskirts of the town to their final destination in the city centre – the so-called ‘last mile’. Its compact dimensions allow the MINI Citysurfer Concept to be taken along on a bus or train, thereby expanding flexibility in urban traffic.
In presenting the MINI Citysurfer Concept, the BMW Group once again demonstrates its creativity in the development of sustainable solutions for future mobility. Flexible mobility concepts have a key role to play in confronting the challenges posed by such developments as increasing urbanisation, climate change and the scarcity of resources. Even today, more than half of the world’s population live in urban conurbation areas. According to United Nations forecasts, this proportion will increase to more than 60 per cent by 2030. In view of both increasing individual mobility needs and changing structural conditions, the organisation and control of traffic flow in cities will be likewise subject to rising demands. As the world’s leading manufacturer of vehicles and provider of mobility services in the premium segment, the BMW Group responsibly dedicates its innovative strength to being involved the creation of future-oriented transportation concepts. With novel vehicle concepts geared towards specific target groups and needs as well as zero-emissions drive systems, it adopts a holistic approach in securing the future of individual mobility based on sustainability.
?The symptoms of increasing urbanisation include a shortage of traffic and parking space in the very sections of large conurbation areas which frequently attract particularly large numbers of people. The concentration of work, leisure and shopping facilities in a few areas results in increased mobility within a limited space. Some of the practical effects of this development include traffic congestion and a shortage of parking space – phenomena which not only impair the quality of living in the areas concerned but also generate unnecessary emissions, accident risks and economically significant time wastage. In view of this, novel vehicle concepts are becoming increasingly attractive. The MINI Citysurfer Concept is tailored specifically to the kind of mobility situation in which individual travel by automobile or local public transport reaches its limitations.
With its compact dimensions, the MINI Citysurfer Concept only takes up minimum traffic space. It allows convenient mobility even in those parts of a city centre where automobiles are not permitted access.
It can also be easily combined with other means of transport. When packed into the luggage compartment of an automobile, the MINI Citysurfer Concept is available for the user to switch over to at any time. It can also be taken along in many types of public transportation and used for the last stage of a journey to get to your final destination after arriving at a bus or rail station.
Its compact dimensions make the MINI Citysurfer Concept smaller than a folding bicycle. While the latter is powered by physical strength alone, the MINI Citysurfer Concept also has an electric drive which adds additional comfort features to urban mobility, enhancing the travel experience with a sense of innovation and fun. A brushless hub motor integrated in the rear wheel provides effective support for the rider, accelerating the MINI Citysurfer Concept to speeds of up to 25 km/h (15 mph).
The electric motor is powered by a high-performance lithium-ion battery contained in a rain and splash proof housing and integrated permanently in the frame under the foot board. This unit also includes a battery management system with integrated power electronics which controls energy feed and consumption based on both efficiency and cell durability. The lithium-ion battery provides sufficient power to allow the MINI Citysurfer Concept to achieve an electric range of 15 to 25 kilometres (10 –
15 miles). When the battery is completely discharged, the electric motor is automatically switched off and disconnected from the free-wheel hub in the rear wheel. The rider can then continue to travel by foot power and without being limited by the rolling resistance of the motor.
Battery charging is also highly flexible. A special cable with the relevant plug connections allows it to be charged at a conventional household socket while a supplementary cable is provided for the 12-volt power supply in an automobile. What is more, the MINI Citysurfer Concept is able to recharge its battery during travel by means of brake energy recuperation. The electric motor acts as a generator during braking phases for this purpose. In everyday use, most deceleration required by situations on the road can be carried out entirely by means of recuperative braking.
Since electric drive enables local zero-emissions mobility, it is predestined for use in a vehicle designed for city traffic. It thereby meets the requirements for an innovative means of transportation that is able to contribute to the reduction of emissions generated by urban traffic. There are a growing number of cities in the world where, in order to improve air quality, legal restrictions apply to vehicles with a combustion engine and the use of electrically powered vehicles is promoted by all kinds of benefits. So from this point of view, too, the locally emissions-free drive of the MINI Citysurfer Concept is future-oriented in character.
In terms of the riding experience it offers, too, the electric drive is ideal for a compact and lightweight vehicle with a high level of agility and manoeuvrability in urban traffic. The electric motor’s spontaneous power delivery allows swift progress to be made with short accelerating and deceleration phases. For safety reasons, the auxiliary power of the electric motor is not activated until the rider reaches a minimum speed purely through physical thrust. This prevents the vehicle from rolling away unintentionally. The electric drive can be deactivated at any time by means of a switch in the brake lever. The particular interaction between the use of physical strength required in the lower speed range and the electromotive power which supports medium to high speeds is a factor that adds to the highly emotional riding experience.
The concept study is designed in hallmark MINI style, instantly showing itself to be a versatile, agile and safe means of transportation in high-end design for spontaneous riding fun with a touch of individual style. The large wheels of the MINI Citysurfer Concept are fitted with robust pneumatic tyres with sound grip, thereby providing for a safe and also comfortable ride response not just on perfectly asphalted surfaces but also when passing over curbs, cobblestones or unsurfaced roads. The extremely stable frameof the MINI Citysurfer Concept also contributes to its agile, effortlessly controllable handling properties.
Due to the upright riding position, the MINI Citysurfer Concept provides a good all-round view of the traffic situation. The rider benefits from an excellent range of vision and visibility to other road-users is also ensured. A telescopic shaft in the front section means the handlebar height can be adjusted individually. This feature allows users of different body height to find a comfortable and safe riding position on the MINI Citysurfer Concept. The handlebar position and the folding mechanism for stowing away the vehicle are fitted with a safety mechanism in order to ensure that the telescopic shaft and the folding joint are correctly adjusted when setting off.
Meanwhile the three independently operated brakes provide a high level of agility and safety in urban traffic. If an anticipatory riding style is deployed, deceleration manoeuvres can largely be carried out by means of recuperation at the rear wheel. What is more, both the front and rear wheel of the concept study have a powerful and precisely controlled hydraulic disc brake installed. The two deceleration systems are activated by means of separate brake levers on the handlebars of the MINI Citysurfer Concept. Lever travel and pressure point can be individually adjusted for both the front wheel and the rear wheel brake. The rider can support the dynamism and intensity of brake operation by shifting their centre of gravity. Due to the low position of the foot board, any change in body posture impacts directly on deceleration response.
The MINI Citysurfer Concept was developed for spontaneous riding fun in urban traffic and responds to the needs of various target groups in a range of different everyday situations. The innovative vehicle concept is not only geared towards fun use for individual leisure activities but is also particularly suitable as a supplementary means of transportation combined with an automobile or public transportation, as well as for commuters travelling to work and back and for other work-related mobility requirements. Generous trim elements and wheel covers provide effective protection from dirt and splash water, so use of the MINI Citysurfer Concept does not make special demands in terms of the rider’s clothing when travelling in wet weather, for example.
The flexible smartphone holder on the handlebars likewise enhances comfort and functionality in everyday urban life. This enables the use of a mobile phone for navigation purposes as required. A user can thus navigate precisely and conveniently to cover the so-called last mile to their final destination. This provides the ideal basis for the rider to benefit from the Last Mile navigation function offered by the MINI Connected XL Journey Mate. A charging socket integrated in the holder also means that the smartphone can be powered by the MINI Citysurfer Concept’s lithium-ion battery during travel.
The design, drive and fittings of the MINI Citysurfer Concept are geared towards allowing adaptation to the specific approval requirements in different markets. Even at the concept stage, for example, the study already has safety and lighting features which make it fundamentally suitable for proper use in road traffic.
The innovative vehicle concept therefore covers virtually the entire range of individual urban mobility. The MINI Citysurfer Concept can be used for everyday commuting as well as providing an attractive means of transportation for young people, allowing them to enjoy future-oriented riding fun both for travel to school and in their leisure time. It offers users a comfortable, zero-emissions ride through urban conurbation areas to go shopping or sight-seeing, for example – without having to get stuck in time- consuming traffic jams. And the exceptional potential of the MINI Citysurfer Concept as a supplement to other means of transport is not limited to day- to-day urban mobility. It can also be taken along on holiday trips in a motor home, camper van or boat to provide spontaneous and typically fun MINI mobility at all times.
<p>@MINIusa Check out The League of Extraordinary MINIacs on Facebook for the 15,000 people that would love to buy one of these!</p>
<p>This is just dumb. MINI a transportation company? NO! They are a car company. Because this isn’t miniss sweet spot (its not a car), they will outsource production, and margin stacking will screw the pricing. Also, how many of those 15k who awe waiting for it will buy when it comes in at $750+? And what does carrying this do to the limited storage space of many of the Mini models. Also, I question the logic of putting a “last mile” solution into one of the model lines with the smallest footprint. This makes more sense for larger cars where inner city parking is difficult, and carrying it doesn’t get rid of what limited storage the car already offers.</p>
<p>I wish MINI would put more effort into solving real problems for the car, like the too small gas tank in the F56 series than these cute solution to unreal problems.</p>
<p>“when it comes in at $750+”</p>
<p>Guessing more like $2500-3500 (or more) based on the specs. Price a Go-Ped ESR for perspective.</p>
<p>They are thinking outside the box. Are they going to sell millions of these? Probably not. That said, coming up with fresh ideas and showing them to people to see what they think beats doing the same thing over and over again and having people say it’s getting old. I like it.</p>
<p>No thanks, not for me.</p>
<p>when we said we wanted MINI to go smaller, we didn’t mean this.</p>
<p>If a) reasonably priced, and b) has some means of locking it to a bike rack… I can name 1,000 ppl who would buy this today! (1,001 if you count me!)</p>
<p>But they could already buy an electric scooter, and they haven’t bought one yet. So take the responses with a grain of salt.</p>
<p>Except you can’t buy a scooter like this from a well-known brand name, and even the ones that are available aren’t this visually appealing.</p>
<p>My point is that if they want a high end electric scooter, then they, or at least some, would own one form of the tech already. Not many Razor E300s on that campus, as they all ride “bikes and longboards”. So, where are the early adopters who are hacking electric scooters, or using other escooter offerings that would give any marketeer a hope for commercial success? Will being stylish and folding be enough of a differentiator to create a .market where there is none now? Personally, I don’t see it…. Especially with the MINI premium pricing.</p>
<p>A lower priced trans offering would need to sell in volumes that are larger than the car volume to get economies of scale to make the line worth carrying at all, so thee have to sell 100k+ per year in the us alone to make the product viable. They would be lucky to vet a 5% take rate. 5k units a year in the US wount pay for the overhead on the product line. This as pretty basic business 101 stuff. MINI knows this.</p>
<p>I agree. There are already so many options in this category – from bikes to scooters – that it’s inconceivable to think MINI can change existing behavior with something like the Citysurfer. At any price.</p>
<p>And they could carry 40 lbs to their class and sit it next to their chairs.</p>
<p>Segway seems to have this market covered.</p>
<p>Segway’s only market at this point is tour companies, malls, and factory facilities. They’re all b2b sales. It never caught on as a consumer product, mostly because they’re very expensive and you look dorky riding one. It’s too bad though, because they’re a hell of a lot of fun to ride.</p>
<p>Something like this could offer all that same utility, but without the major dork factor. A Segway also weighs nearly 100 lbs, making this much easier to live with.</p>
<p>Here in Chicago, something like this would be so perfect. One could flow pretty seamlessly between bike lanes and sidewalks and cover some serious urban ground in a hurry. Being able to fold it up and haul it on/off the train, or up the elevator to the office is a major bonus too.</p>
<p>I’d also use the hell out of this as pit bike-type runabout every time I’m at Road America, Autobahn Country Club, Blackhawk or Barber. Was already considering tracking down a used Segway for this, but would so much rather have this. Hell, I could toss this on the back of a motorcycle.</p>
<p>So yeah, for anything south of $4k, this is pretty much “Shut up and take my money.”</p>
<p>Also, those rims. Love those rims.</p>
<p>I have had long-term plans to build something exactly like this for the past couple years (have a deep project backlog at this point), so if this just came to market that’d be so much easier.</p>
<p>Sounds cool. Run numbers to get a unit volume that will pay for a marketing campeighn. With a relatively small gross profit per unit, you need to sell a lot of units to pay the freight.</p>
<p>I go to tracks as well. 10%-20% of track attendees have powered pit transportation. And they drive cars that use gas, there is no waiting for a charge, just put in you quart of gas and go. So between limited range, charge time issues, and price, this would be lucky to get 10% of the track junkies who use powered pit scooters. This is a statistically insignificant number of unit sales, Evan if it is hitting your personal sweet spot.</p>
<p>I’m thinks ng that this will go the way of the last MINI scooters.. An idea that some nimrod thought would play with the young urbanites. They were wrong before and they are wrong now.</p>
<p>I had a Schwinn brand scooter almost exactly like this when I was a kid. It didn’t have the electric motor or disc brakes, but the overall form was close to what is shown here.</p>
<p>I don’t know why, but I kind of want one.</p>