By Christopher A. Sawyer
The Virtual Driver

(August 22, 2016) When I was growing up, gas-powered go karts were all the rage; their single-cylinder Briggs and Stratton engines chugging away behind your head, and a rudimentary steel tube frame tying everything together. Against the clock they weren’t quick, nor did they have a high top speed, but they felt like rockets as you skimmed along the ground imaging yourself to be Jim Clark or a young Mario Andretti.

Things have changed dramatically since then, and the idea of a kids go kart has all but disappeared form the scene.

With “helicopter” parents the norm, the idea of a youngster racing along in a self-propelled vehicle is enough to drive them to apoplexy. Plus, will these kids need the driving skills that can be learned in a future of self-driving car?

In the words of Dave Bell, CEO and co-founder of Actev Motors: “As a long time-car enthusiast, I wanted to leverage my 35 years of technology experience to bring a whole new category of fun and safe vehicles to families. Simple battery-powered ride-on cars don’t excite today’s kids — they seek high-tech interactive experiences. The Arrow Smart-Kart gets kids off the couch and outside, and behind the wheel of a real driving machine.”



Designed for kids aged 5 to 9, the Arrow Smart-Kart is an electric go kart powered by a pair of 250 W motors. It uses regenerative braking to scavenge as much energy as possible and return it to the lithium-ion battery pack, and therefore does not need physical brakes. The chassis, true to go kart tradition, is a perimeter frame built up of welded steel tubes, and has mounting points built in for accessories.

Unlike the go karts of my youth, there is a contoured seat with built-in speakers, a WiFi antenna and rear light. The WiFi is there so the Arrow Smart-Kart can broadcast a signal to a smartphone app (Android or iOS), and monitor its location. The app allows parents to adjust the kart’s top speed (up top 12 mph), create profiles for multiple drivers and skill levels, create driving area boundaries, and sends and alert if the collision avoidance system’s proximity sensor (which stops the vehicle if an obstruction is detected) is triggered.

Thankfully, the kids aren’t left out of this electronic fun. They can download synthesized engine sounds, or use the Actev App to monitor their stats (total driving time, total distance, maximum speed). And if they are real good, clean up their rooms and do their homework, they can pester mom and dad to add accessories like a body kit, driving cones, and wheel-mounted drifting rings. And the number of apps will grow, says Actev, to support new driving skill challenges and gaming.

The Arrow Smart-Kart starts at $995, and is available online at http://actevmotors.com/.

The Virtual Driver