# Self-Balancing Personal Vehicles The Solowheel 'Iota' Offers a Balanced Ride for Users By Michael Hemsworth | Published 2017-01-25 | Tech Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/personal-vehicles References: [newatlas](http://newatlas.com/inventist-solowheel-iota/47563/) & [kickstarter](https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/687658339/solowheel-iota-a-mini-personal-e-vehicle) The Solowheel 'Iota' personal vehicles are a newly announced piece of technology that acts as a hybrid device that's somewhere between being a [scooter and a hoverboard](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/motoroid-bike). Developed by the same brand behind the original Solowheel and the Hovertrax, the Solowheel 'Iota' features a [two-wheel design](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/inmotion-v9) that enables it to have a balanced design for riders to feel comfortable with. The Solowheel 'Iota' is designed for [last mile transportation](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/fastport-equad) as a means of getting from, say, the train to the office without having to walk. The personal vehicles are purported to have an eight-mile range which is achieved through a 40-minute charge of the internal battery. The Solowheel 'Iota' is currently in the prototype phase with development expected to continue with shipments potentially taking place in September 2017. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 4.9/10 - Popularity: 84% | Activity: 54% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Tech](https://www.trendhunter.com/tech) > [Gadgets](https://www.trendhunter.com/gadgets) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Hybrid Personal Vehicles:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop new hybrid personal vehicles that combine the benefits of scooters and hoverboards for an enhanced and balanced riding experience. - **Last Mile Transportation:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Create innovative solutions for last mile transportation by developing personal vehicles that are efficient, convenient, and eco-friendly. - **Short-range Electric Vehicles:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Explore the market potential of short-range electric vehicles with improved battery life and charging times for increased convenience and usability. ### Who This Affects Most - **Personal Transportation:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Reinvent the personal transportation industry with advanced design and technology to provide users with safer, more efficient, and accessible options for commuting. - **Battery Technology:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Drive advancements in battery technology to enhance the range and charging efficiency of personal electric vehicles, enabling longer journeys and reducing charging time. - **Urban Mobility:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Revolutionize urban mobility by introducing innovative personal transportation solutions that address the challenges of traffic congestion, reduce carbon emissions, and enhance the overall transportation experience. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Single-Wheeled Modular Concepts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-naowheel.md) - [Modular Monowheel Hoverboards](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/naowheel.md) - [Smartphone-Controlled Mobility Seats](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/gosolo-personal-mobility-device.md) - [Single-Seat eVOTL Vehicles](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/leo-solo.md) - [Three-Wheel Electric Scooters](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/xoto-founder-edition.md) - [Adaptive Mobility Scooters](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/wimo-scooter.md) - [Dual-Posture Electric Scooters](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hybrid-escooter.md) - [Transforming Electric Unicycles](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/titaa.md) - [Stabilized Standing Electric Scooters](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/element-bondi.md)