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Japan Whips Out One Cool Hipster Wooden E-Scooter Built with Aisin Auto Parts

This has to be one of the coolest moped designs we’ve seen in a while. Not just because it brings back a part of our childhood, but because, for us older kids who can now afford toys like these, this is the cream of the crop. If you’re into crazy and wacky designs.
ILY-Ai 9 photos
Photo: Yosuke Owashi
ILY-AiILY-AiILY-AiILY-AiILY-AiILY-AiILY-AiILY-Ai
And if you aren’t and just here for the automotive stuff, then stay a while and have a gander at what Japanese designers can put onto our streets.

Aside from looking like a toy or a piece of furniture, I find it looks rather neat. And honestly, I couldn’t see any other nation coming up with such a design. Minimalist from head to toe, this scooter blends man-made materials and the natural touch of wood into one beautiful child-like mobility device. But I assure you it’s no child-play.

Let's talk about the shell first as it’s the main aspect that draws our attention to this EV. What? You didn’t realize it’s an EV? Well, it is, but we’ll get into that a bit later. For now, the body is designed by Mikiya Kobayashi. If you don’t know who this person is, just know that he’s worked with giants like Yamaha, Fuji Furniture, and Dreamy Person in constructing a number of wooden accented designs.

ILY\-Ai
Photo: Yosuke Owashi
For the ILY-Ai we can see a massive use of wood. Only the wheels and their support struts, seat, and handlebars are man-made materials. And the internal brains and wiring. Other than that, the body is carved from solid wood. It’s been pieced together in a method similar to the Hommage by Woodman Garage.

Below the handlebars we can see a sort of full fairing that drops down and connects the wheels to the structure. But then that fairing continues to the back of the EV to create a footboard and connects the rear wheels to the structure. But it doesn’t end there. The wooden shape then curves back like a scorpion tail and supports the seat. Another wooded strut coming from below the handlebars and connecting to the tip of the ‘tail,’ offers another point of support for the seat.

But all of that is just for show. That chestnut casing hides a network of sensors, battery, wires and motors. Even steering components are all housed within this body. This is where the Aisin Group has surely left their mark as they don’t build wooden anything, but rather automotive and mobility components.

ILY\-Ai
Photo: Yosuke Owashi
The interior design is all rather simple really. At the base of the structure we can find the battery for the EV. But we have absolutely no info about its abilities. Above that, and visible through the wooden cover, is a motion sensor camera that stops the ILY in case any objects happen to come across its path.

Above this component and near the handlebars is the steering column for the ILY. But we were unable to find any information about how the steering mechanism works. Even the video Below doesn’t show us any sort of steering. And even speed for that matter. Even the drivetrain remains unspoken about.

But why all the hush hush? It could be for two reason, maybe this moped isn’t anything all that wow, or it is because it is all that wow. Either way, it’s a cool design that is sure to turn some heads no matter if shopping at the store, riding to the nearest café, or just cruising through your living room.
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About the author: Cristian Curmei
Cristian Curmei profile photo

A bit of a nomad at heart (being born in Europe and raised in several places in the USA), Cristian is enamored with travel trailers, campers and bikes. He also tests and writes about urban means of transportation like scooters, mopeds and e-bikes (when he's not busy hosting our video stories and guides).
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