Strutt's ev1 Can Steer Itself Through Narrow Doorways
Strutt's ev1 uses 360-degree sensors and four independently suspended wheels to sense obstacles and adjust its own path in real time on uneven ground.
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strutt-ev1
Strutt's ev1 Can Steer Itself Through Narrow Doorways
A
hallway narrows near a doorway, and a wheelchair or scooter has to be lined up
by hand to get through without clipping the frame. Strutt built the ev1, a
smart personal mobility vehicle, to handle that kind of maneuvering on its own
rather than leaving it entirely to the person driving.
Strutt,
a company incorporated in Singapore with operations based in Long Beach,
California, calls the ev1 "The Smart Everyday Vehicle." Founder and
CEO Tony Hong has described it as bringing automotive technology and robotics
intelligence into a compact form that enhances everyday mobility and safety.
The company built it for aging users, people focused on staying independent,
and anyone using a compact vehicle who wants extra sensing and safety built in.
The ev1 won the CES 2026 Best of Innovation Award in the Vehicle Tech and
Advanced Mobility category, and separately received a 2025 Red Dot: Luminary
Award. Beyond the United States, Strutt also operates in the United Kingdom and
the European Union.
How the ev1 Senses and Moves
At
the core of the ev1 is evSense, a sensor system that gives the vehicle
360-degree vision around itself and uses artificial intelligence to detect
obstacles in its path. Built on top of that sensing layer, a feature called
Co-Pilot applies gentle braking to prevent a collision when something appears
suddenly in the vehicle's way. A more advanced version, Co-Pilot+, goes further
by adding autonomous steering correction, nudging the vehicle's direction on
its own when the space ahead narrows, such as through a doorway.
Underneath
the seat, a Quad-Drive System gives each of the four wheels its own independent
suspension, paired with an Electronic Stability Program and Anti-Lock Braking
to keep the vehicle steady. According to Strutt, this system lets the EV1
navigate slopes of up to 13 degrees without losing traction or stability.
Exploring the Practical Benefits of an AI Obstacle Detection Mobility Device
Beyond
reacting to what is directly ahead, the ev1 includes two Auto-Pilot functions
for planned movement. Waypoints let a person save a home location, then return
to it later using a voice command or a tap on the screen, without steering the whole way manually. Pathfinder extends that same sensing system to navigate
autonomously through tight spaces, such as a narrow hallway or a crowded room,
adjusting its own path as it goes.
A
separate mode, ev-Pilot, lets the vehicle follow its user autonomously and
carry items alongside them, useful for a shopping trip or moving between rooms
with hands otherwise full. All of this is managed through a touchscreen built
into the vehicle that displays 3D mapping of the surrounding space, and
adaptive headlights adjust automatically to changing light conditions as the
vehicle moves.
Built for Adjustment, Not One Fixed Shape
The
ev1 separates into five individual pieces for transport or storage, with the
heaviest single piece weighing 44 pounds, lighter than carrying the whole
vehicle assembled. Once assembled, its seating adjusts across four backrest
angles, six seat heights and three armrest levels, letting one vehicle fit a
range of body sizes rather than a single fixed position. Strutt also designed
the seat cushions to be swappable, so a worn or uncomfortable cushion can be
replaced without replacing the seat itself.
The
vehicle measures 41.2 inches long, between 23 and 26 inches wide, and between
34.3 and 38.7 inches tall depending on configuration, with a turning radius of
30.7 inches. It carries a maximum weight capacity of 350 pounds and reaches a
top speed of 8 miles per hour.
Power, Charging and Software Built-In
Strutt
offers the ev1 with two battery options: a 640-watt-hour long-range battery
rated for up to 20 miles on a single charge, or a smaller 288-watt-hour battery
built to meet airline flight-safety limits for travel. Both support rapid
charging from 0 to 80 percent, and the vehicle carries an IPX5 water-resistance
rating, meaning it can withstand light rain or splashing water without damage.
According
to Strutt, the ev1 receives its software, including the Co-Pilot, Auto-Pilot, and EV-Pilot features, through over-the-air updates rather than requiring a
trip to a service center for every improvement.
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