Bristol-based Supersmith is developing a 3-wheeled foldable mobility scooter which uses stabilisation technology to reduce the risk of tipping.
The ‘3Scooter’ is integrated with Supersmith’s patented ‘EverLevel’ technology that senses the scooter’s movements and actively adjusts the two back wheels to keep the rider level on uneven ground. According to Supersmith, it’s the first time active suspension has been applied to a 3-wheeled electric scooter.
Supersmith aims for the 3Scooter to be a safer alternative to traditional mobility scooters, which have 5x more fatalities than motorbikes per kilometre of distance travelled.
“My sister has multiple sclerosis. I’ve watched her use mobility scooters for the last 15 years and I’ve seen how difficult and dangerous they are,” Supersmith Co-founder Tom Morgan told Zag Daily.
“There’s also a lot of negative stigma around them. People don’t want to use them and be seen as ‘frail’ or ‘old’, and they don’t want to face the exclusion that comes with being perceived as not fully able. My sister experienced exactly these situations.
“So we set out to create a safer mobility scooter that avoided the negative stigmas. It leads on all the innovation happening in the 2-wheel e-scooter space, and applies that into a pretty un-innovative market place which is for people with walking difficulties.”
Tom and his two co-founders began designing the 3Scooter in 2018 and since then the Supersmith team of five has consulted with hundreds of people with walking difficulties to ensure the vehicle meets their needs. Consultations included workshops, surveys, and experiencing the technology in action.
“We’ve done extensive testing with people who have walking difficulties to ensure it meets their needs, and to make sure that it isn’t just our interpretation of what we think they need.”
The lightweight 3Scooter is equipped with a seat that can adjust up to 90% of the rider’s standing height. This is designed so that riders can communicate with others at eye level and have easier access to reach items while staying seated.
Primarily designed as a B2C product, Supersmith is building a waitlist for the 3Scooter which will be ready for delivery at the end of 2025. Supersmith is initially targeting UK markets before it expands to the US, Europe and the Far East.
