The Inventor of the Electric Balance Scooter: A Look into its Origins

The electric balance scooter, commonly known as the hoverboard, has taken the world by storm since its invention. It is a self-balancing, two-wheeled device that enables users to travel short distances comfortably and efficiently. But who exactly can we credit for this innovative gadget?

The origin of the electric balance scooter can be traced back to the works of entrepreneur Shane Chen. Chen is a prolific inventor with several patents under his name, including the electric unicycle, Solowheel. He founded his company, Inventist, in 2003 with a vision to create practical and unique personal mobility devices. In 2013, Chen filed a patent for his latest invention: a two-wheeled, self-balancing personal vehicle that came to be known as the Hovertrax.

However, Chen's innovation quickly caught the attention of others, leading to a surge in copycats and knockoffs. As a result, the market was soon flooded with various versions of electric balance scooters, differing in design, quality, and price. One of the most well-known adaptations came from the company Segway, previously known for its self-balancing, two-wheeled personal transporter. In 2014, Segway launched its version of the electric balance scooter, the MiniPro, which also utilized self-balancing technology but included a steering column to improve user control.

Despite the many variations in the market, the electric balance scooter is a testament to Shane Chen's ingenuity and vision for personal mobility devices. Although the market can be confusing with a myriad of options available, the origins of this innovative gadget can be traced back to the dedicated work of Shane Chen and his company, Inventist.