Xiaomi -, the main shareholder of Ninebot – the Chinese company that in April 2015 acquired Segwaywheeled electric vehicles that self-balance – presented the Ninebot mini, a two-wheeled self-balancing vehicle and the company's first product after acquiring Segway in April.
The Ninebot mini is fundamentally different from any of Segway's models – instead of a handle, it has a stick that attaches to your knees and steers it. According to the company, it only takes "a few minutes" to get used to using it.
The electric scooter can travel 22 kilometers (13.7 miles) on a single charge, with a top speed of 16 km/h (9.9 mph). It supports loads of up to 85 kg – certainly a plus for many – weighs 12.8 kg, and can traverse slopes of up to 15 degrees.
The Ninebot mini also comes with a smartphone app, which allows you to secure your scooter by programming it to sound an alarm if it is moved. The Ninebot press release also mentions that the app allows for control of the vehicle's movement, but there are no further details on this.
However, the most important feature of the Ninebot mini is its price. At around $314, it's much cheaper than any of Segway's models, which typically start at $6,000.
