Blaze will start pre-ordering its new “Smart EV Specific Moped Model” on Makuake from 12:00 p.m. on August 20, 2012.
The company’s ninth model, the Smart EV Specific Moped Model, is the same size and appearance as the moped model launched in 2017, but it does not require a license to ride if you are 16 years old or older.
It can be recharged at a household outlet (100 V), takes about 3.5 hours to fully charge, and has a cruising range of about 30 km. 60 x 123 x 100 cm (W x L x H) and weighs about 20 kg. It can be stored indoors or loaded in a car. It can also be carried and transported by placing it in a special cover.
The driver can change between a 20 km/h mode for driving on the roadway and a 6 km/h mode for driving on the sidewalk at the touch of a button. The mode can only be changed after coming to a complete stop and squeezing the brake to prevent sudden starts.
According to the company, it is focused on safety and has passed the performance and other verification tests and examinations set forth by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism prior to release. In addition, the company says that the bike-type design allows the rider to sit on the bike, thereby reducing the risk of falling during the initial motion and ensuring a stable ride. The seat height is set so that even women can reach their feet.
The tires are larger at 12 inches in diameter compared to the 8-inch diameter of typical kickboard-type smart EVs and other vehicles, making it more difficult for the vehicle to tip over on bumps.
It is equipped with Bluetooth speakers, and an optional smartphone holder allows the navigation system to be used without looking at the screen.
Available in black, white, khaki, and wine, it has a matte, easy-to-maintain finish. The scheduled general release price is 239,580 yen, with discounts of up to 35% (155,727 yen) and other offers.
In response to these issues, the company is also involved in educational activities in Aichi Prefecture, such as educating high school students about traffic rules, safe driving practice, public road driving practice, and safe driving practice for foreign students, and hopes to expand its activities in the future.
After the presentation, the author also had the opportunity to drive a smart EV for the first time at a test drive event. The basic operation is simple: turn the accelerator pedal on the right handle to start the car, the left lever is for the rear wheel brake, and the right lever is for the front wheel brake.
The sensation was that of a vehicle somewhere between an electrically power assisted bicycle and a moped. The speed is similar to that of an electrically power assisted bicycle, but the rules and operation are similar to those of a moped, so one needs to pay attention to other vehicles and traffic rules when riding on the roadway.
The steering wheel area is equipped with a blinker and horn, and the driver uses the blinker to turn when turning left or right. Both the blinker and horn are set to a louder sound, which, according to the Blaze staff, helps prevent entrapment by making its presence known when the vehicle enters the blind spot of surrounding vehicles. The sound of the blinker also helps prevent forgetting to turn it off.
I applied the brakes when slowing down for a stop, turning right or left, or when speeding downhill, and was impressed by the disc brake’s good performance, which seemed to allow safe deceleration and sudden stops.
© Source travel watch
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