Electric unicycles, or EUCs for short, are a type of personal electric vehicle (PEV) that I think are quite neat. I got one about a month ago and have been learning a lot. I thought I'd write up a quick intro to them for cohost.
Don't think EUCs are like conventional unicycles - they're really in a different category. EUCs are more comparable to products like Onewheels or electric scooters.
EUCs essentially consist of a wheel, an electric motor, some electronics, a battery, and pedals. Unlike a bike, these pedals are fixed in place and you stand on them. You control the EUC by shifting your body weight. People most often ride standing up, but there are options to mount seats and some people do ride while sitting.
EUCs are self-balancing in the front-back axis, so they won't tip forwards or backwards. On the left-right axis, you'll have to balance, but this doesn't require an amazing sense of balance or reflexes. If you can ride a bike, you can definitely learn to ride an EUC.
I'd like to also say, EUCs are really fun to ride once you get going. You can accelerate by leaning forwards, and decelerate by leaning back. Steering by shifting your weight may sound weird, but actually feels very intuitive and free once you get accustomed to it. This method of steering also leaves your hands free, which is a nice bonus.
EUCs have the advantages of PEVs in general. They produce no emissions and can be charged on normal wall power. They're great for last mile commuting and can be taken on public light rail / metro systems.
EUCs also have some specific advantages. One major advantage is size - they take up much less space than something like a bike, and it's easy to take them with you. EUCs are generally "suitcase-sized" and come with a handle for transporting them when not riding. This is also great for preventing theft, as you can just bring your EUC with you most places.
Despite being smaller then many other PEVs, EUCs tend to have larger batteries and better range. They are also much better at dealing with hills than hub-drive bikes or scooters due to their self-balancing and power delivery.
Some common questions:
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Are they hard to ride?
They're not really harder to ride than something like a bicycle, but it can take some time to figure out how they work and to exercise the leg muscles needed for riding them. If you've done activities like skateboarding or snowboarding before, you'll probably learn fairly quickly. I personally have not been a fast learner, but I feel reasonably confident after a few weeks of practice. -
How can I learn to ride one?
If you're in the Bay Area, I would highly recommend checking out PEVRA's training events. If you're elsewhere, your city may have similar in-person events, so I'd suggest doing some research on your area. There are also many helpful guides on YouTube. -
Can you use them for commuting?
Yes! I'm planning on switching from taking the bus to riding my EUC to BART in the near future. -
How fast can they go?
It really depends on the model, but generally speaking max speeds have risen over time. The EUC I have, the Commander Mini, can go up to about 45mph (72kph). I personally do not go that fast. -
How far can they go?
Again, it depends on the model. Many have quite large batteries. Mine can go about 60 miles on a full battery. -
Isn't that dangerous?
First off: PLEASE WEAR A HELMET. DO NOT RIDE WITHOUT A HELMET.
The reality is that yes, if you are going to be riding on streets with cars there will always be some level of danger. Much like with bicycles or other person electric vehicles, the biggest danger is not falling over or crashing, but rather getting hit by a driver who's not paying attention. There are measures you can take to make yourself more visible, but these can only do so much. If you're going to ride at night, you should look into getting bright lights to make yourself more noticeable. You can look into helmet lights, bike light options, LED strips, backpack lights, etc.
My friend @widr says:
the best plan is to get away from cars. 90% of car drivers are simply not looking and 10% are out to get you. if you're in an unprotected bike lane consider not doing that, especially if you are going fast. few places are more dangerous than an unprotected bike lane, and you are safer by far on the road when you can keep up. if you're on the road stay behind cars or get way in front of them and watch for them lurking in the shadows or leaping across from the other side of the road. if you're out in the road lanes going fast like this, a proper helmet and some motorcycle gear are key for taking a fall on the pavement, but nothing will make a disagreement with a car easy to walk away from. (if you're in a place with separate and protected bike lanes: hell yeah)
