If you’ve ever attended a Formula One race, you must have noticed electric scooters zipping around the pits. These e-scooters have become the ultimate tool of convenience in the F1 paddock, making life easier for time-strapped drivers and mechanics alike.
One F1 driver who has a vested interest in the growth of the electric mobility segment is Lando Norris. Norris’s father, Adam Norris, believes we’re polluting too much and wants to do his part for the environment. “Fundamentally, cities are getting clogged up with congestion. How do we change that?” he asks.
In 2019, Norris and his team started Pure Electric with the aim of revolutionizing the electric mobility movement. They began with the Pure Air, a British brand’s answer to high-volume, low-price, Chinese-made e-scooters. Over time, they refined the design, all while Pure’s competitors raced to the bottom of the bargain bin.
However, Pure Electric’s vision of revolutionizing the electric mobility movement requires actual revolutionizing, and that’s precisely what they’ve done with their all-new flagship model, the Pure Advance e-scooter.
Living up to its name, the Pure Advance e-scooter addresses grandfathered scooter conventions that no longer serve the modern user. The e-scooter has a forward-facing riding position, with two, fold-up floorboards placing the rider’s feet parallel to the direction of travel. This feature enhances handling while self-centering steering prioritizes safety.
The e-scooter’s aluminum alloy frame construction remains both lightweight and sturdy, housing the 37V, 9.6Ah Lithium-ion battery with an IP65 waterproof rating. Paired with the Advance’s 500W (710W Peak) electric motor, that power pack propels the base model and foldable Flex variant to a top speed of 15.5 miles per hour (25 kilometers per hour) and a 24.8-mile (40-kilometer) range.
The Advance+ model features a 36V, 12Ah power unit that yields the same max speed but boosts the range to 31 miles (50 km). The Advance line adapts to life in the urban jungle with a 60-lux headlamp, taillight (with always-on running light), and indicators integrated into the bar ends and foot pads.
Tech accommodations don’t stop there either, with three drive modes, Bluetooth connectivity, and Pure Electric’s app (iOS- and Android-compatible) enriching the ride. The Advance e-scooter appeals to working professionals, but Pure Electric keeps affordability in mind.
“I see it being very much for students,” Norris admitted. “If you’re going to have a way of getting around, it’s a lot less than a car. So, it means you can have something that’s really nice but for a relatively low cost.”
The costliest e-scooters are still more affordable than today’s cheapest e-bikes. For that reason, the Advance presents a particularly convincing value proposition, especially when considering the model’s progressive features, top-notch build quality, and state-of-the-art tech.
Pure Electric currently serves its homeland, France, Spain, and Belgium, with plans to expand into the US market by August 2023 (homologation pending) as well as Dubai and Saudi Arabia later in the year. E-scooters may present a convenient form of transport in the F1 paddock, but Pure Electric is set to have a more profound impact on the global community.
Pure Electric’s focus on revolutionizing the electric mobility movement and making e-scooters more accessible, affordable, and eco-friendly is commendable.
