Affiliate links on Android Authority may earn us a commission. Learn more.
Archos just announced an Android-powered electric scooter
- French company Archos will release an electric scooter with an Android phone built into the handlebars.
- Connected to the motor, the phone will feature software that allows the user to see and control the scooter’s functions.
- The phone is no powerhouse, but is 3G-connected and enables data while on the move.
There’s a certain demographic of city-dwellers who love electric scooters. Smaller and lighter than a bicycle and requiring only a small amount of physical exertion to operate, an electric scooter is a fun and easy way to get quickly from one area of a large city to another.
With that in mind, Archos, a French company focused on urban mobility, will be showcasing their latest product at Mobile World Congress 2018: the Archos Citee Connect, an electric scooter with an Android phone built right into the handlebars.
The phone’s specs are nothing incredibly special, with a 5-inch display, 1 GB of RAM, and 8 GB of storage running on a quad-core processor. But it does run Oreo right out of the box and is directly connected to the motor of the scooter, giving users a unique controller for their new method of transport.
With custom software that comes preinstalled on the phone, users can track their progress, see the battery level of the motor/phone, and check how fast they are going. Since its an Android device, it will also come with access to the Google Play Store allowing users access to all the traveling apps they would ever need.
And the phone itself does have a 3G connection, giving users the ability to get directions via Google Maps in real time, without having to download via Wi-Fi before they leave the house. You could, theoretically anyway, also browse Facebook while motoring around (not recommended). The press release supplied by Archos does not explain whether or not the 3G connection requires some sort of monthly fee.
The Citee Connect itself looks like any other motorized scooter, although it does look like an exceptionally lovely motorized scooter. It’s an all-black design with a few streaks of green here and there to accent the 8.5-inch puncture-proof wheels. Its aluminum frame makes the unit light enough to have a range of 25 km (about 15.5 miles) on a single charge, but strong enough to withstand 100 kgs (about 220 lbs) of weight. According to Archos, the Citee Connect can reach speeds of 25 km/h (15.5 mph).
Archos will be showing the device off at MWC 2018 and promises that units will go on sale direct from the company in April for €399 (about $494). The price will rise by €100 when the product hits traditional store shelves in the summer.