By Jeffrey the Barak.

Recently in the-vu we reviewed the Zumaround Zum electric scooter and consequently we recently received a press release for a new German design, still in it’s capital crowdsourcing stage.

The prototype Skujou Cruise looks great and the specs are excellent, so we introduce it here, although you cannot buy one just yet.

Like myself, the founder Tarek Garir was a scooter lover as a child and that appreciation stayed with him as an adult, and fueled his passion for this venture. At time of writing, just one prototype exists but Tarek says that in the “mid-term” they plan to export to the EU and to the USA.

Legally, in Europe, the Skujou will be classified as a moped/electric non-pedalec bike  and can only be ridden on the street. Production will be in Germany, not China, and if the Kickstarter funding is successful an initial run of 25 to 35 units is planned.

They are making efforts to market the image. Using the prototype they are demonstrating what I already know, an electric stand-up scooter makes so much more sense than an e-Bike. There is no need for seat, pedals, chain, gears, derailleurs and all that complicated and uncomfortable bicycle nonsense.  Once you have a motor you can throw all those ideas in the garbage.

For the full details see www.skujou.com

Compared to the Zumaround Zum, the specs are only slightly similar. Here are some differences:

• The Zum is an existing kick scooter (a Sidewalker Willy) with a hub motor kit added, whereas the the Skujou is designed as an electric.
• The Skujou has a larger front wheel, 26” as opposed to 20”.
• Both top out at approximately 19 MPH. There will always be a slight variance from scooter to scooter, with some going a bit faster than others. My Zum seems to go just over 21 MPH.
• The Zum can usually go considerably further than the promised 20 mile range when ridden at well below maximum speed. The Skujou promises 13 miles, but that is usually far enough.
• The Zum’s 250 watt 36 volt motor is in the front hub, for simplicity, the Skujou’s 350 watt 36 volt motor is in it’s rear hub. 350 watts will be better on hills!
• The Skujou has a kinetic energy recovery system, whereas the Zum relies instead on it’s long frictionless glides to extend it’s range.
• The Zum weighs 36 lbs and the Skujou weighs 33 lbs.
• The Zum is steel and the Skujou is aluminum
• The Skujou’s brakes are hydraulic. The Zum’s brakes are just mechanical bicycle brakes but they seem to stop it very efficiently anyway.
• The Skujou has more smart features, specifically a smartphone app which provides ride data via your smartphone and a smart lock system controlled via the phone. The Zum has none of that.

At time of writing the Zumaround Zum is available in the USA for $1250 USD including shipping.

The estimated pricing for the Skujou, if it makes it, will be €1899 ($2091 USD), but early Kickstart investors are promised one for €1299 ($1430 USD). Shipping to the USA would be extra and there could be considerable taxes and duties.

The Skujou appears to be a very high-quality and well designed electric vehicle. I hope it will be a success in this very difficult market segment.

For more electric stand-up scooter news, follow this forum at Let’s Kick Scoot.

Writer Jeffrey the Barak is half-man, half-scooter.