E-scooter operator Neuron Mobility, has today unveiled its latest shared e-scooter, the all-new N4 which launches in Melbourne this week. Designed in-house from the ground up, it is being touted as the most rider-focused, sustainable and toughest e-scooter ever built.
Delivering a rider experience that is safe and reliable while still being fun has always been a top priority for Neuron but the N4 takes this ethos to the next level. Benchmarked against the best competitor vehicles, Neuron’s engineers have set up the vehicle to deliver unparalleled comfort, stability and manoeuvrability even at low speeds.
The N4 has an upgraded 300 watt, 48 volt, electric motor which delivers 39 Nm of torque, it has been precisely tuned to deliver a more linear acceleration profile. It allows the e-scooter to reach its top speed faster in a smoother, more predictable manner, giving the rider added confidence. It has been engineered to deliver best-in-class hill climbing performance, dynamically delivering power exactly when it is needed. When competitor vehicles fail, the N4 can comfortably climb a 17 degree incline carrying a rider of 90kg.
Neuron adds an upgraded front suspension combined with pneumatic tyres to significantly reduce road vibration and enhance comfort and traction. It has a swept handlebar set at a higher level than most e-scooters to improve ergonomics and overall riding experience. There is an all-new LED dashboard, powerful headlight, indicators, phone holder and a sturdy double kickstand which can operate on a range of gradients and surfaces.
It carries over well-known safety features from their N3 model including the world’s first App-controlled Helmet Lock, launched in 2020, which integrates a helmet to the e-scooter and a “talking e-scooter” voice guidance system which was introduced in 2018 to inform and educate riders.
Dual-battery system
The N4 has been designed to be more durable and economical to operate than competitor vehicles to improve unit economics. The deck and frame of the e-scooter is made from a single die-cast piece of aluminium which increases the N4’s robustness. The e-scooter has undergone rigorous crash and stress testing both in the lab and in real-world conditions in a range of climates to improve overall e-scooter integrity and component reliability. It will achieve a five-year or 10,000km life cycle, with significantly longer intervals between required workshop visits than Neuron’s previous generation e-scooters.
The N4 is fitted with rubber bumper strips along each side of the deck which protect the body of the e-scooter from the daily wear and tear rental e-scooters typically face. The bumpers improve overall durability and significantly reduce cosmetic damage which is both unappealing to riders, and also expensive for operators to rectify. All wires and cables are enclosed within the e-scooter and Neuron has added a transparent polycarbonate cover to protect the dashboard from damage and vandalism.
In 2018 Neuron revolutionised the shared e-scooter industry by introducing the world’s first battery swappable rental e-scooter. Building on this, the N4 features a new sequential, dual-battery system which can be deployed with one or two batteries depending on the demand in the city or to manage peak periods. As well as extending the range of the e-scooter, having two batteries reduces charging time by around 50%, compared to using a single battery of the same combined capacity, which significantly boosts operational efficiency.
Sustainable and smart
The N4 has been designed and built to meet the demands of modern cities. It is fully certified and compliant with major markets in Europe, North America and Asia Pacific. In an industry first, the frame and body of the N4 is constructed using certified 80% recycled aluminium, which significantly reduces the manufacturing footprint of the vehicle.
The N4 comes with a proprietary new IoT box which is future-proofed to allow technology to be added over time. It has a range of high-tech sensors to precisely locate the e-scooter and control where it can be ridden and parked. Unlike many competitor vehicles the GPS antenna is top-mounted and sky-facing, it sits within the new LED dashboard to achieve superior satellite reception.
The N4 is a game changer – it has been designed to be the stand-out e-scooter when it comes to comfort and handling and we’re confident it will become the number-one choice for riders.
Neuron’s CEO Zachary Wang
We have been testing the N4 for months in the lab and also in real-world settings involving riders at key points in the process.
They have participated in focus groups and clinics which has given us deep insight and valuable feedback – the results give us great confidence.
Beyond just delivering the best riding experience the N4 has been built specifically for rental operations, using Neuron’s own first-hand experience operating fleets in some of the toughest markets in the world. Making it as robust as possible and reducing the time it spends in the workshop has been a major priority. The dual-battery system adds flexibility, increased range, and a 50% reduction in charging time.
The N4 will launch first in Melbourne, Australia, with an initial 1,000 vehicles taking to the streets from this week, replacing Neuron’s current e-scooters with the total number of Neuron e-scooters in Melbourne remaining the same. Real-world testing has been ongoing for over six months in a number of Neuron cities.
Melbourne is Neuron’s most popular e-scooter programme worldwide, residents and tourists have taken over two million trips and travelled over four million kilometres since launching in February 2022. The release of the Neuron’s N4 e-scooter to Melbourne streets follows the Victorian State Government extending the city’s e-scooter program for a further six months.
The popular mode of transport is having a positive economic impact on the city, with a recent report from economist Nick Behrens of Australian Economic Advocacy Solutions (AEAS), independently analysing the economic and environmental contribution of Neuron’s operations in Melbourne. The AEAS report concluded that Neuron e-scooters contributed $135.74 million in direct, indirect and enabled economic activity in the city during the first 12 months of the program.
The AEAS Report, launched today, analysed operational data and a survey of close to 2000 riders from e-scooter operator Neuron Mobility to calculate the economic and environmental contribution of Neuron’s operations in Melbourne. It found 65% of all trips result in a purchase and the average Melbourne rider spends $65.97 at local businesses per trip.
Melbourne’s e-scooter trial is breaking records, it has the highest demand of any of our cities globally with over 4 million kilometres travelled to date. We are thrilled that riders in Melbourne will be able to experience our all-new N4 e-scooter.
Richard Hannah, Head of Australia and New Zealand, Neuron
The city has fantastic cycling infrastructure, which has played a big part in the program’s success. Our new e-scooter will encourage even more people to ditch their cars and explore the city in an environmentally-friendly way.
