In the world of personal electric vehicles, or PEVs, few things come close to the cute ETScoot in terms of looks and balance of features.

Every PEV is a bundle of compromises: On the one hand, there are power-assisted bicycles and electric kick scooters with comfortable seats, but which are way too bulky to lug aboard trains and buses.

On the other hand, there are the highly portable, electric kick scooters and unicycles that, while easy to lug about, are less stable and less comfortable to ride as they are operated by a standing rider.

The ETScoot is among the few PEVs with an easily foldable saddle, so the machine can be taken onto a train or bus. Think of it as a letter K that can be folded into an I.

That said, it weighs 30kg, so although it is light enough conceivably for you to drag up a flight of steps, the weight is significant enough that you are better off using the lift or wheelchair ramp.

The aluminium alloy frame feels well built, albeit chunky.

More importantly, the ETScoot has a head-turning "modern retro" design, as its distributors describe it. Its front fork, seat post and main frame with rear axle (which holds the batteries), fan out from a large, beefy hinge. A hinge allows these parts to be folded in, just like a folding pram.

So riders can push it about on its front wheel. The fold-up design also makes it easy to stow. A spring- loaded main stand folds over backwards to form footpegs when in riding mode.

It feels as if you are riding an automatic motorcycle. It has a grip throttle and brake levers on the handle bars that control the brakes on the front and rear wheels. Thanks to the seat, this is more controllable and far more comfortable than a standing kick scooter.

However, the footpegs are positioned just above the rear wheel, which forces the rider into a slightly awkward, half-squatting posture that is much less comfortable than riding a bicycle or kick scooter.