Hoverboard inventor unveils two-wheeled EV concept 'SHANE'

Shane Chen, inventor of the original Hoverboard, introduced his latest invention, SHANE: a parallel two-wheeled electric car concept. SHANE is the first two-wheeled car concept to be practical and efficient for everyday urban and highway use, Chen said. Chen said he is a long-time inventor whose active lifestyle and imagination have fueled his vision of enhancing the activities he enjoys by creating innovative yet practical inventions. Chen holds a total of 76 patents including the Hoverboard, Solowheel, Orbitwheels, Powerwing and Aquaskipper.

SHANE side — The SHANE concept – whereby the wheels automatically react relative to the car body to keep the car in balance – means the car can safely travel at high speeds, a capability that has not been previously possible, Chen said.

According to Chen, key features of this car concept include:

Stability: SHANE’s shifting center of gravity relative to the wheels counters the driving and braking torque to keep the car level, making it as stable and safe as being on four wheels;
Maneuverability: Maneuverability and parking are easy with SHANE, thanks to two-wheel differential speed control;
Energy Efficiency: SHANE features large wheels that minimize rolling resistance and in-wheel regenerative shocks that save damping energy to recharge the battery.

“Two-wheeled cars have simply not been practical or stable enough for everyday driving, until now. I was excited to create a car concept with two wheels that can go at high speeds and be energy efficient. I truly believe SHANE will make a difference in how we approach mobility and I look forward to collaborating with partners to bring this concept to life,” Chen said.

Pirelli P Zero R and P Zero Trofeo RS have been chosen by Porsche for the restyling of the Taycan and will be the only tires available on the Taycan Turbo GT, the sportiest variant of the range. The first is designed for supercars’ everyday driving, while the second is a street-legal semi-slick tire, Pirelli said. Both tires launched earlier this year and feature the Elect marking on the sidewall, indicating a tire that suits the characteristics of EVs and made its debut in 2019 on the first generation of the Porsche Taycan. Pirelli said Porsche's range includes over 30 of its tires with Elect technology designed to accompany Porsche's electric transition on different models, such as the Macan.