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The French Plume, specialist in micromobility, presented a new model of electric scooter. La Plume Allure is the first to benefit from the Guaranteed French Origin certification, with 82% of its components coming from France.
Plume is a French company that has until now focused on serving companies in the micromobility sector. The company has just announced the upcoming launch of an electric scooter model, the first to benefit from the Origine France Garantie certification. La Plume Allure, that’s its name, would have “more than 80% of its parts designed, manufactured and assembled in France”.
This is necessarily one of the main assets of the brand, which relies in particular on partner companies in the north of France. The frame, the plastic parts and a large part of the electronics are developed in France. Plume also works with Gouach, a Bordeaux company behind an easily repairable and durable battery, thanks in particular to the fine management of li-ion cells. Their replacement is simplified and recycling is ensured by Gouach. The connectivity of the machine is for its part entrusted to the care of Cosmo, a Parisian start-up known in particular for its lights for motorcyclists and cyclists.
Beyond its eco-responsibility, the Plume Allure also relies on a sophisticated look. The front features a tube of LEDs that does not fail to catch the eye, especially that of other road users. These tubes turn into orange flashing lights to indicate changes of direction. Turn signals also sit at the rear, on either side of the brake light.
The wide fork at the front relies on its robustness, but does not offer suspension. Comfort could therefore be Spartan, the brand not specifying whether it uses inflatable or solid tires. However, the wide handlebars and the generously sized deck should allow for a pleasant position. The 10-inch (25.4 cm) wheels should guarantee good handling and certain precision. The IP65 certification displayed by the Plume Allure guarantees driving in all weathers.
Powerful and enduring
The motor is housed in the rear wheel, with a power of 500 W (1000 W peak). What theoretically be lively in town and quickly reach the maximum 25 km / h imposed by law. Several driving modes are offered by the Plume Allure, in particular a pedestrian mode which restricts its speed to 5 km/h and a “mountain” mode giving priority to torque for crossing hills without losing speed. Braking is provided by a drum brake surprisingly placed on the front wheel and coupled to the motor’s magnetic brake.
Two versions of the Plume Allure are planned, one with a 48 V 454 Wh battery and the other with 702 Wh. It promises, said the French brand, respective ranges of 45 and 70 km. Plume also announces a recharge in 3 h 30 min, but does not specify which of the two capacities is concerned by this data.
A large 3.5-inch screen displays essential driving information. Designed in partnership with Cosmo, this display appears to be much more sophisticated than what the world of electric scooters has accustomed us to. Bluetooth connectivity allows you to link the machine to a smartphone to take advantage of certain information from the Plume app.
An affordable price for such services
The Plume Allure should be more comfortable on roads and cycle paths than in a multimodal setting. Its large dimensions and limited folding make it rather cumbersome. It remains particularly high once the handlebars are folded down and should not be easy to slip into the trunk of a car. The handlebar grips remain fixed, which does not help matters. Ditto, the 20 kg of the French electric scooter does not encourage transporting it beyond a floor or two.
For now, the Plume Allure is available for pre-order only. Its official launch should take place during the summer of 2022. We were pleasantly surprised, because the price of this electric scooter does not fly too high, given what it offers. It will still cost 1099 € or 1399 € depending on the battery. These prices change to €879 and €1,119 during pre-orders, i.e. until May 15.