The World Keeps Making Suitcases You Can Ride Through the Airport
Courtesy of Airwheel
The newest generation of “smart” suitcases can do a lot: They can charge your phone, tell you how much they weigh, and even track themselves to the baggage carousel. But can they carry you?
The SE3 by Airwheel is a carry-on bag that becomes the thing you’ve always needed in the airport: a vehicle.
According to the manufacturer, it takes only one second to transform from suitcase to scooter. To make the switch, travelers just need to extend the handlebars and the front wheel. Then sit down, rev the throttle on the handlebar, and scoot off.
Inside, there’s a 250-watt electric motor and a removable battery. Taking the droid-like suitcase through security is “not a concern,” according to the company. Everything inside is approved by air regulations set by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Transportation Security Administration (TSA), and the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
Just be aware of any weight restrictions. With the battery inside, the suitcase alone weighs about 30 pounds.
The suitcase works with a smartphone app. To keep things from getting too fast, users can set a maximum speed for their racing bag on their phones. (It can go up to 6.21 miles per hour, depending on the weight of the passenger.)
To compete with the flurry of other smart suitcases on the market, the SE3 also has a USB port for charging phones and other devices while you’re on the go. It takes about three hours to fully charge the battery, which can then power your iPhone up to 10 times.
It comes in black or silver and is available starting at $1,099.
The SE3 is not the world’s first rideable suitcase. In 2016, Modobag launched an Indiegogo campaign to create the “world’s first motorized, rideable luggage.” The “carry-on that carries you” has now been produced and is available for $1,495.
