Bolt 7: E-scooter with AI parking assistant and LC display

Estonian mobility company Bolt is investing around 25 million euros in a new generation of its e-scooters, initially for the German market. In the coming weeks, around 20,000 units of the “Bolt 7” e-scooter are to be distributed in selected German cities – initially in Berlin and Hamburg – and later in other parts of Europe.

According to the company, the new model was “specifically developed for long-term use in cities” and should therefore be more durable than previous models. Bolt does not provide specific forecasts on the lifespan in its announcement (by email). Another focus of the new e-scooter generation is on active safety and control systems, “which can intervene during the ride and influence the riding behavior of users,” it says.

Regarding the innovations in scooter hardware, an integrated LC display in the handlebars is used. This is intended to display navigation instructions, speed information, and information on parking and no-parking zones directly in the field of vision of the riders. Furthermore, location-based safety messages can also be displayed in real-time – such as “warnings about danger spots, speed limits, or instructions for correct parking,” explains Bolt. In addition, the system helps users navigate to the nearest available parking space to facilitate compliant parking. Among other things, the new scooter is intended to comply with new regulatory requirements.

Bolt 7 cannot be parked everywhere

In addition, the aspect of accessibility in public spaces plays a role with the Bolt 7: the scooter's system recognizes tactile guidance systems for visually impaired people, for example, and prevents users from parking them on these surfaces.

Furthermore, Bolt has revised or introduced several safety-relevant components in the new generation. According to the company, the scooter features “four times stronger front lighting for better visibility in road traffic,” “improved regenerative brakes for more stable braking behavior,” “acoustic warning signals at excessive speed,” and “Predictive Traction Control.” The latter is intended to automatically adjust torque to the road surface. The model also features a new design that offers greater stability and ease of maintenance.

In addition, Bolt relies on digital systems for usage control in the 7 series. This includes an AI-powered parking assistant: at the end of each ride, users must upload a photo of the parked scooter. The system automatically checks whether the vehicle has been parked correctly and, if necessary, prompts for correction, explains Bolt.

(afl)