Outdoors

EZRaider stands at the intersection of scooter and quad bike

EZRaider stands at the intersection of scooter and quad bike
Sideways on the EZRaider LW 4-wheel electric scooter
Sideways on the EZRaider LW 4-wheel electric scooter
View 9 Images
Sideways on the EZRaider LW 4-wheel electric scooter
1/9
Sideways on the EZRaider LW 4-wheel electric scooter
Integrated lighting and a pop-up seat for looking windswept and interesting on
2/9
Integrated lighting and a pop-up seat for looking windswept and interesting on
19.6 inches of suspension travel at each wheel and individual hydraulic brakes
3/9
19.6 inches of suspension travel at each wheel and individual hydraulic brakes
The EZRaiders look like primo sand-flinging tools
4/9
The EZRaiders look like primo sand-flinging tools
Does it wheelie? That's a yes.
5/9
Does it wheelie? That's a yes.
These beefy scootboards offer a limited jumping capability
6/9
These beefy scootboards offer a limited jumping capability
Airborne on an EZRaider LW
7/9
Airborne on an EZRaider LW
A trailer accessory allows these beasts to be trate
8/9
A trailer accessory allows these beasts to be treated as stand-up utility vehicles
The EZRaider folds up for transport, but these things are still very heavy
9/9
The EZRaider folds up for transport, but these things are still very heavy
View gallery - 9 images

Israel's EZRaider takes the electric scooter into new territory – indeed, just about any territory – with a series of offroad-ready four-wheel beasts making up to 18 kW (24 hp). Rugged and fast with long-travel suspension, they look like 4x4 Segways. EZRaider's top model is the HD4, which puts 4.5 kilowatts' worth of motor in each of its four wheel hubs, along with hydraulic disc brakes all round. The top speed is limited to 45 km/h (28 mph) out of the box, and its 60-V, 3-kWh lithium battery pack gives it a range up to 75 km (45 miles).

Each wheel has its own chunky all-terrain tire, as well as a huge 50 cm (19.6 in) of suspension travel, letting riders fling these things down some seriously rocky paths, hopefully with minimal flinging of the riders themselves. The suspension is also notable for its claimed six axes of movement, allowing the wheels to tilt and move independently in 360 degrees. Ground clearance is listed at 24.4 cm (9.6 in), and it can carry beefy riders up to 200 kg (441 lb) on its back, or even pull an accessory trailer.

A trailer accessory allows these beasts to be trate
A trailer accessory allows these beasts to be treated as stand-up utility vehicles

The steering post turns the front two wheels, and offers a throttle as well as independent brakes for the front and rear wheels. It also gives you something to hang onto, which looks very necessary, as you can augment the steering by moving your weight around as on a skateboard. A small bicycle seat also telescopes out of the rear of the board, giving you the ability to sit down on the smooth stuff. The EZRaider folds up like most kick scooters, to a 170x74x75-cm (67x29x30-in) package – although you're unlikely to be heaving this 130-kg (280-lb) behemoth into the trunk of your car.

At this stage, they seem to be seeing action with off-road tour experience companies, but they're also being offered as agricultural and military tools. Municipal police and security guards are dipping a toe in the water as well, and the company makes a version equipped with sirens and a loudspeaker, so you might be looking at the next generation of Paul Blart-mobile here too.

They appear to stunt significantly better than a Segway, with wheelies clearly on the menu, along with the ability to perform small jumps and get sideways. Would we be willing to get silly on one? Well, the EZRaiders have a much narrower track than a quad bike, so they're certainly more prone to tipping over. On the other hand, they're slower and lighter, and the fact that you're standing up gives you the chance to jump off. A lot of serious quad bike injuries happen when they tip over and crush the rider – ask Ozzy Osborne, if you think you'll be able to pick any words out of his answer – and while the EZRaider can likely hurl your face into a boulder with alacrity, you're much more likely to separate from the vehicle and leave your spine intact. So yeah, why not?

Does it wheelie? That's a yes.
Does it wheelie? That's a yes.

They're not cheap; the HD4 starts at US$19,200. There's a lower-spec LW "lightweight" model for $8,500, with just two driven wheels, a lower top speed and a smaller battery. But we mainly highlight this thing as yet another example of the proliferation and cross-breeding of vehicle types that's characterized the dawn of the EV age.

Check it out being ridden with considerable elan and panache over some gnarly rocks in the video below.

EZ Raider group

Source: EZRaider

View gallery - 9 images
8 comments
8 comments
minivini
WOOHOO - YES!!

$20,000. nvrmnd.
paul314
"Well, the EZRaiders have a much narrower track than a quad bike, so they're certainly more prone to tipping over. " So basically if you look at them a little funny?

Anyone riding one of those things should be in at least as much protective gear as a motocross contestant (and remember they get medevacs on a fairly regular basis). Especially since if you're standing up, your center of gravity is higher and you have only your hands and the frictional grip of your shoes opposing intertia.
akarp
$20k...LOL. Maybe if they had more technology to justify this cost? But looking at the videos they have quite a bit of wheel slip and no 'traction control'. This would be easy with 4 seperate motors.

Realistically they need to get to 1/4 the price...and that would still be a challenge but at least plausible.
guzmanchinky
Hmmm, so as an avid off road motorcycle rider and ATV rider, this looks very interesting. But, it looks like a very rough ride, or am I mistaken?
Daishi
@guzmanchinky The suspension mechanism is mostly your legs. I think if you spent a lot of time on rough terrain you would get a pretty good workout.
buzzclick
That's all we need is another useful contraption to rip up the countryside with. But hey, we're humans, and many of us like to destroy nature to prove we're the top of the food chain while putting selfish pleasure first.
ljaques
Really cool. Almost as cool and adrenaline-evoking as a Shredder.
BUT, for $20k, I could buy a Shredder ($3,500-6k) + an offroad E-skateboard ($400-1,200), a OneWheel ($950-1,800), a Brozz 250cc dual sport motorcycle ($2k), and an old beater mini-pickup (and tons of gas) to haul 'em all. --== Shoot, who needs a stock portfolio, anyway? ==--
Ron Walker
Cool toy, but unless they can get the price to a 1/4 of that no one will be buying. I can buy a single seat 4×4 RZR 1000 for substantially less than that and it has a seat belt and roll cage.