The ultimate in urban mobility?

Among the hundreds of mind-boggling tech premieres on show at the 2018 CES (Consumer Electronics Show) in Las Vegas (January 9-12) was this initially unassuming little electric scooter from Luxembourg-based manufacturer, Ujet Interntional.

Volume-production electric scooters are nothing new – the defunct Vectrix brand launched its first production model back in 2006, in fact – but Ujet's pint-sized creation may just have the smarts and the practicality to give it some serious legs.

Seriously light
Two models are available depending on the battery, one with a range of 70 kilometres and the other with a range of 150 kilometres, but thanks to the use of alloy and carbon composite materials the Ujet weighs in at a paltry 43 kilograms or 49 kilograms respectively. Ujet says the scoot's frame is in fact 40 per cent lighter than aluminum, yet presumably also offers comparable strength.

At those weights, it's virtually light enough to pick the scooter up at your journey's destination and take it with you, which is indeed the intention. In fact, it folds up to a compact package that you can wheel right up to your office or apartment – neat!

But the really clever bit is the Ujet's motor – mounted inside the wheel, this ultra-thin brushless motor produces 5.4hp (4kW) and an impressive 90Nm. That's plenty to get this diminutive package up to a limited top speed of 45km/h.

The lithium-ion batteries weigh 11 kilograms or 17 kilograms respectively and they're designed to be portable – if you don't want to charge them in situ, you can remove them from the scooter and take them to the nearest regular power point for recharging. A full charge via the onboard charger is said to take from three to six hours, while charging with the portable charger takes three hours.

Top tech
Available in five colour schemes, the Ujet also has three driving modes – Eco, Normal or Sport – with a boost function available in Sport mode. Two seat heights are on offer, 680mm or 730mm, while the Ujet has a maximum payload of 120 kilograms.

Other techy bits include the 'nano-augmented' tyres on the Ujet's 14-inch rims – no, we're not quite sure what they're on about either but the hoops are said to be very light, grippy and durable – and a connectivity/multimedia setup to put many luxury cars to shame.

This includes a 7-inch TFT instrument display, an integrated dashcam, full Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPRS and 3G connectivity, sat-nav, and voice commands via an in-helmet headset. The Ujet can even produce a "virtual simulation of driving sounds" to alert other motorists and pedestrians to the scooter's presence!

Owners can keep tabs on their Ujet via a dedicated app, which shows you where you parked (or stored) it, its remaining range and charge level, and where you can find the nearest authorized Ujet service outlet (not that servicing should be a regular endeavor on an all-electric vehicle).

New take on mobility
Ujet International's CEO, Hugues Despres, says the scooter is more than a simple and effective solution to modern transport problems.

"With more of us than ever living in cities, it's never been more important to make urban environments a place in which people enjoy to live," he said.

"As a result, Ujet is focused on providing urbanites with great products that help them get around their city with style and ease."

And this isn't just a concept. Ujet International says the scooter will go on sale mid-2018, initially in Europe followed by the US and Asia, priced around $A11,375 or $A12,650, depending on the battery. Ah yes, there's always a catch, and at this point in time saving the planet doesn't come cheap…