Cool new device does for electrified walking what e-bikes did for cycling

Move over, e-bikes – there’s a new way to get a power boost for cruising around town, and this one straps right to your legs. The Hypershell X Ultra is a high-tech wearable exoskeleton that delivers up to 1,000 watts of electric assist to your stride, giving “powered walking” the same kind of jolt that e-bikes gave to cycling.

The company behind it, Shanghai-based Hypershell, says the X Ultra is its most advanced performance exoskeleton yet, designed for hikers, runners, climbers, and even skiers who want to go farther and faster without wearing out their legs.

The new model uses a 1,000W “M-One Ultra” motor, around 25% more powerful than before, along with upgraded thermal management and improved energy efficiency. To put that in perspective, the US limits street-legal e-bikes to 750 watts of power, while the EU caps them at just 250 watts. That means this wearable device technically delivers more power to your legs than most legal e-bikes deliver to their wheels.

According to Hypershell, the X Ultra can reduce muscle load on the hips by up to 63%, lower heart rate by as much as 42% while cycling, and even cut oxygen consumption by nearly 40%. The system intelligently adapts to your movement using AI-powered gait mapping and offers 12 activity modes, including new ones for running, snow, and sand, that automatically adjust power delivery depending on terrain and intensity.

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Despite all the electronics, it’s surprisingly lightweight. The X Ultra uses titanium alloy and carbon fiber construction to keep the system at just 1.8 kg (4 lb), plus a 410 g (0.9 lb) battery pack. That 72Wh battery claims to deliver up to 65 km (40 miles) of assist when cycling or 30 km (18 miles) when walking, and the system can even regenerate energy on downhills for up to 10% extra range.

With a top speed of 25 km/h (15.5 mph), the $1,999 X Ultra is pricey, but could early adopters help it still kick off a new category of electric mobility where people are the vehicle? Let’s hear your thoughts in the comments section below.