The Segway rival that fits in your briefcase

It may looks like something from the parts bin at the Segway factory, but the Solowheel is a revolutionary self-balancing electric unicycle the size of a laptop bag.

The Solowheel manages to cram gyro-sensors, a 1000-Watt motor and rechargeable Lithium-ion battery within its diminutive 20-inch-diameter outer casing. Foldaway footplates, a total weight of 9kgs and a built-in handle make it easy to carry and store when not in use.

The £1,000 Solowheel has a 12-mile range and can be recharged in 45 minutes. It is controlled in much the same way as a Segway; the rider leans forward to go forward and backwards when they want to slow down. The gyro-sensors enable the unicycle to be self-balancing and as a result easy to master.

A spokesperson for the Environmental Transport Association (ETA) said: “The size and price of the Solowheel give it an obvious advantage over many other electric vehicles of this sort, but it may face the same challenge to its legal status that has stymied the Segway in Britain.

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