Segway made something of a splash at this year’s CES when it showed off its latest electric scooter, the Ninebot by Segway MiniPro. (Beijing-based Ninebot is Segway’s parent company.)
Now, five months later, the not-hoverboard is officially available to pre-order on Amazon, with a full release scheduled for June 29. It’ll set you back $999.For that premium, you’ll get a cross between the personal transports that have become synonymous with the once-hyped vehicle maker, and the so-called “hoverboards” that briefly conquered Western civilization months ago.Segway’s adamantly distanced the MiniPro from those latter devices, though — which makes sense, given how they became enough of a safety hazard for the US government to outright recommend people not buy them.To that end, the company has gotten the MiniPro Underwriters Laboratories’ 2272 electrical and fire safety certification, which is now required for this class of device to be sold in the US. In other words, it shouldn’t blow up under your feet.Beyond that, the most immediately noticeable difference is that the MiniPro uses a “knee control bar” to help you steer around, instead of totally relying on your balancing skills. It’s also bit bigger than most hoverboards, and works with a companion app to, among other things, let you control the scooter remotely. Segway says it maxes out at 10 miles per hour.Yes, all of this comes at a higher cost than what you'd pay for an old Swagway — though it's currently cheaper than its usual $1,300 tag. But, you can’t put a price on not being on fire.
Looking for more information on hoverboards? Check out this review.
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