Personal electric vehicles (PEVs) span the gap between traditional bicycles and gas and diesel vehicles, but with an electric motor and batteries to spin the wheels. The InMotion Glide 3 brought 30 miles of all-electric range in a compact form factor that made it well suited for urban commuters.
Little did we know that the Glide 3 had a big sister, and it’s called the InMotion V10F. InMotion pulled out all the stops with the V10F, bundling increased power, range, and stability into a package that’s a more practical alternative for using this personal electric vehicle as a true commuter, but it comes at a cost. CleanTechnica spent some quality time with the InMotion V10F at the Alt Car Expo in Santa Monica to see how it stacked up against the competition.
The top of the line InMotion V10F will set buyers back an estimated $1,599 (MSRP), or they can opt for the well-trimmed V10 for just $1,299 if they don’t need all the trimmings. Have a look at the relevant tech specs for the two units to see how they compare.
- Range: V10 43 miles max, V10F 55-62 miles max
- Motor Power: V10 1800W, V10F 2000W (sustained for long periods, can peak much higher)
- Battery: V10 8.8AH 650WH, V10F 12.8AH, 960WH
- Charging Time: V10 6 hours, V10F 8 hours
- Speed: 25 mph
- Tire: 16 x 2.5 in
- Weight: 45.4 lbs
- Payload: 260 lbs
The V10 and V10F bring a noticeably more stable foundation to InMotion’s electric unicycle platform that makes traveling over uneven surfaces and at higher speeds more realistic for longer range travel. The wider tire and its beefier tread make the ride more comfortable, while also providing extra contact area with the ground for larger riders to spread their weight out across. This stability is transferred to the rider with longer, wider foot pads that, as they do on InMotion’s other electric unicycles, fold up for portability and storage.
Building on the stable base of the V10, InMotion dropped in a larger battery that feeds a more powerful motor. This is where the difference between the V10 and the V10F begin, as the V10’s 8.8AH, 650WH battery is paired with an 1,800 watt motor, whereas the V10F sports a more powerful 12.8AH, 960WH battery that feeds its insatiable 2,000 watt (sustained power) motor that actually peaks out at a much higher power output.
The higher capacity batteries translate first into longer range, with the V10 sporting an estimated range of 43 miles, while the V10F is capable of moving riders around for an impressive 55-62 miles. Much like we see with electric vehicles, real world range depends heavily on the way it’s ridden, the terrain it is ridden around on, and the weight of the rider. In my real world experience with the Glide 3, I was able to get close to the estimated range of 30 miles, but my 205 pound frame clearly took more of a toll on the range than my wife’s slender frame.
The V10 and V10F do take some time to charge, at 6 and 8 hours respectively, but the longer charging time is more than offset by the crazy range they sport. Anyone riding more than 40 miles per day on an electric unicycle might want to look into a slightly more robust personal electric vehicle like an ebike, where longer ranges are much more common.
Ultimately, the InMotion V10 and V10F allow riders who need a bit more range, power, or stability to take advantage of the numerous benefits of personal electric vehicles to solve for their unique transportation challenges. The ability to ride an electric unicycle to a transit station, whether it be a bus, train or shuttle, get on and ride close to the destination, while retaining the ability to get around when you get there, is unparalleled.
These vehicles are the best we’ve seen for maximizing personal mobility for situations like this, or just around dense cities where owning a car isn’t practical or necessary, but having a convenient way to travel a few miles when needed is especially handy.
