We never get tired of hearing that the future is electric and zero emissions. Brands and many citizens are making the transition to electromobility for their daily trips, but that does not mean that there is no carbon footprint when used.
Electric vehicles (and this includes micromobility solutions) must be produced and disposed of at the end of their life cycle. So, even if they do not generate emissions during their journeys, they still leave their mark on the environment, even if it is much lower than that of gasoline or diesel vehicles.
Designed and produced in Italy, the new Tom electric moped aims to be the exception. Its main workhorse is that, according to its creators ToMove (a partnership between the battery manufacturer Reinova, the designer Andrea Strippoli and the Polytechnic University of Turin), it is produced in a responsible and sustainable way at all times.
It is basically built with natural materials such as bamboo, so that the least amount of plastic possible is used in its structure, only 10%. In addition, all the pieces are made with local products, and there is hardly any surplus. The idea is that vehicles that are no longer used can be almost completely recycled, as well as used batteries and components. It is an example of circular economy.
The Tom presents an original and groundbreaking design, as attractive as the idea of driving what is possibly the first almost one hundred percent sustainable electric moped in the world. Built on an aluminum frame and a flexible wooden body, it mounts two small 12-inch wheels that make it an agile, resistant and versatile vehicle to drive around the city.
It is suitable for driving on all types of terrain with slopes of up to 18 degrees and can be easily folded in 7 seconds to store it at home or in the office and be able to move it comfortably by moving it on its wheels as if it were a trolley. It weighs 20 kg and can be driven by people of all sizes, with a maximum total weight of 120 kg.
It is powered by a 500 W motor that delivers 30 Nm of maximum torque, and gets its energy from a 750 Wh battery with a capacity of 15 Ah. This takes only three hours to fully charge and allows you to travel about 50 km, more than enough autonomy for day-to-day urban trips. It should not be overlooked that the vehicle reaches a maximum speed of 43 km/h.
Some of its most striking features are a very generously sized headlight, as if it were a conventional motorcycle, turn signals integrated into the handlebars, suspension fork with coil springs, and hydraulic brakes.
Another of its claims is connectivity, since the vehicle can be unlocked with an app installed on the smartphone, receive notifications when someone touches it or find its location using GPS. Also through the application, you can check battery levels, trip statistics or request roadside assistance.
For fashion aficionados, there are body and hull customization options. The first units of the Tom are scheduled to be delivered starting this fall at a price starting at 1,600 euros. You can take a look at the video that accompanies this article to appreciate Tom in motion.
