What happens when motorsport engineers set their minds to create an e-scooter?
Founded in 2019, the Bo founders gained their experience working on the Bloodhound World Land Speed Rocket Car programme and with Williams Formula One Advanced Engineering. Now the team is harnessing this motorsport capability to create a record-setting monster.
With the innovations of Safesteer, BoPower, and the unique Monocurve chassis, Bo has already developed a reputation for technology advancement with its core product – the Bo Model-M.
Now the company is pushing the performance boundaries, utilising these same technologies to create the speed-focused Turbo.
Bo CEO Oscar Morgan said: “Working in motorsport I heard a phrase ‘Racing Improves The Breed’.
“As The Turbo development progressed, we realised that we were creating a monster. The Turbo called upon all of our prior experience from the world of Formula One Advanced Engineering, and we identified there was the potential to do something unique and exciting in this sector: the fastest e-scooter in the world, perhaps even a Tesla-beater.
“Our passion is elite vehicle engineering, and we are firm believers in the human spirit of adventure. The UK already has a proud history in this pursuit with the first car to pass 100mph, then Thrust SSC taking the Land Speed record in Nevada. I guess you could say the UK has a proud history of crazy brits constructing vehicles that ought not be possible.
“E-scooters have been revolutionising how people move locally, but they are yet to enter the leagues of mainstream automotive culture. The Turbo is part of our mission to elevate these futuristic electric vehicles into the top tier of automotive performance.”
After 18 months of development The Turbo has been undergoing initial commissioning and shakedown. First test runs on the famous Goodwood Motor Circuit straight immediately confirmed the vehicle’s potential, flying up to 85mph/135kph. Piloted by professional racing rider Tre Whyte, the Turbo completed over twenty runs building speed and delivering performance data from the battery, motor and motor controllers.
The surprise in testing was accelerative performance – The Turbo demonstrated potential to out-accelerate a Tesla Model 3, even with the motors calibrated for maximum speed rather than maximum acceleration.
Now with the power, stability and consistency of the vehicle having been demonstrated in test, the project to reach record-breaking 100mph+ speeds is underway.
Bo CTO Harry Wills said: “My first role as an engineer was with the World Landspeed Rocket Car, Bloodhound – an attempt to reach 1,000mph.
“From there I went to Williams Formula One, working in the Advanced Engineering division. It is inspiring for me to once again be involved in an attempt to maximise the technology and performance in a vehicle, and a credit to the strength of the core Bo Model-M chassis on which The Turbo is based that we have been able to use it as a foundation for the programme.
“Having successfully completed the shakedown process on race tracks here in the UK, and with a high level of confidence in the stability and rideability of The Turbo, we are now initiating a process to increase the output and speed from the vehicle until we achieve our target.
“As an engineer, for me this sector has been lacking in truly inspiring performance vehicles. The team is aiming for The Turbo to highlight the true potential in this vehicle class, and the ability of the UK to compete at the very peak of any new transport innovation.”
Turbo chassis
The Turbo is based on the exact same Bo Monocurve chassis technology as at the heart of the Bo Model-M. Even in ‘road-going’ trim the Bo M chassis is designed to a peak loading of 650kg, equivalent to three Harley Davidsons.
To increase the available battery space the team utilised a combination of CNC billet-machined components, with a structural skin in aerospace grade aluminium for maximum strength and stiffness.
This chassis technology has already been proven through the Bo M production programme. On a foundation of over five years of technical development the Turbo chassis has now turned up the dial to maximum on every aspect of its performance.
Turbo powertrain
To break speed boundaries The Turbo Powertrain required something new and special. Working with elite e-motor tuning company Rage Mechanics based in Lyon, France, a bespoke system was built with the potential to drive The Turbo to over 100mph.
Based on twin motors and motor controllers with over 300A peak current each, The Turbo is the most potent powertrain we have ever developed for a Bo vehicle. At full power the battery supplies energy equivalent to fast-charging 1,500 iPhones simultaneously.
Inspired by F1 brake duct inlet design, ram-air induction for the motor controllers was developed to drive high speed airflow across the cooling plates. This helps to keep the system at safe temperature on repeated high speed runs, and the 88V battery uses The Turbo chassis as a direct heat-sink.
Power is nothing without control, and The Turbo System was developed to deliver its power in a confidence-inspiring manner for our test riders to deploy. While The Turbo never lets you forget its potential, the most surprising outcome of all is that an experienced Bo rider can still harness it within a short initial ride.
