While the Chiron has 1500 horsepower, this electric Bugatti scooter by ByTech International has just under ONE
by Khris Bharath, on LISTEN 03:57The Bugatti of Electric Scooters, well that’s not a metaphor, but is in fact a reality, courtesy of an all-electric scooter that the French marque unveiled a few weeks back at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES 2022) in Las Vegas.
Overview
While many big names like BMW and Mercedes didn’t participate at this year’s event thanks to Covid, Bugatti was present, and they had something really interesting at their booth. No, I’m not talking about the Chiron on display, but the three scooters that were standing next to it.
Several luxury automakers including the likes of Porsche, Ferrari, and Bentley sell many high-end luxury goods with everything from eyewear and watches to clothing. Some of them even have cars for kids. And believe it or not, these things actually sell and Bugatti too is guilty of producing such items because who wouldn’t want to own something from a brand that consistently produces some of the fastest cars in the world.
Bugatti’s First EV
Well, the latest project to join that list of aspirational products is a new electric scooter. It is in fact Bugatti’s very first electric vehicle. They have tied up with New York-based ByTech International to put together what looks like the Bugatti of the electric scooter world.
Speaking to the Drive, Managing Director of Bugatti Wiebke Stahl added “Bugatti is at the pinnacle of automotive excellence. Partnering with a company such as Bytech gives us an opportunity to expand our reach in the electric mobility space with an experienced partner and a product that can be enjoyed by consumers by the world.”
Design
Now, this is Bugatti we’re talking about here, and hence, just the design and build reeks quality. The frame is constructed from Magnesium, exotic by electric scooter standards, I’m sure, and can be had in either black, blue, or silver. You’ve got LED lights both front and rear along with a digital LED readout that displays your battery level, riding mode, and speed. You can’t miss the EB (Ettore Bugatti) logo in the dark projected onto the ground, by the tiny puddle lamp at the rear. Look closer and you’ll find the Bugatti Horse Shoe integrated to the tail of this e-scooter.
Performance
Coming to the specs of this yet-to-be christened electric urban runabout, the Bugatti electric scooter is powered by a 700-watt motor that weighs 35 pounds and has a range of 22 miles on a single charge. The tiny removable 360 Wh battery pack can be topped up in just four hours via a regular plug point at home.
As far as outright performance is concerned, this ain’t no Veyron or Chiron and sits at the other end of the spectrum within Bugatti’s portfolio. While most Bugatti’s have power in excess of 1000 horsepower or even 1500 at times topping out at well over 250 mph, this electric scooter has less than one horsepower and has a top speed of a whopping 19 mph.
Final Thoughts
I think with this new electric scooter, Bugatti is just testing the waters with EVs. I mean I’m sure something serious is already in the works, considering how Rimac and Porsche are now part of the Bugatti story as well. I mean, they do have the herculean task of retaining the legacy of the French marque for producing the ultimate speed machines in the world.
But until that happens, we have something more modest in the form of this Bugatti electric scooter. Prices haven’t been announced yet, but expect it to be priced like a Bugatti, i.e the most expensive electric scooter? Perhaps. But what I can say for certain is that it will be the most affordable Bugatti ever.