#EV maker Phat Scooters co-founder talks growth of Phoenix-based startup
Back in 2017, Phat Scooters co-founder Peter Johnson and his friends Dan Hankins and Beau Ralphs were looking to find fun, sustainable ways to get to each other’s houses in Phoenix’s Arcadia neighborhood without wasting gas driving back-and-forth. Bird and Lime scooter rental companies hadn’t been introduced yet.
It was when one of his friends purchased electric scooters equipped with big tires for them to ride that they first got the idea for their first “phat” scooter, Johnson said.
Since the release of the first bike in 2017, Phat Scooters has grown to include seven different models of scooters, including a golf-style scooter to replace the typical golf cart. Phat Scooters has grown so much that it moved last summer into a 50,000-square-foot warehouse in Tempe south of Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.
The original Phatty Electric Scooter starts at around $2,495 and is notable for its thick tires, sleek design, and motorcycle-style handlebars. The scooters themselves are completely customizable, with rechargeable batteries and able to maintain speeds of up to 20 mph to stay within legal limits in bike lanes.
While many companies had detrimental setbacks because of the pandemic, Phat Scooters was able to successfully continue to grow as people looked for more ways to get outside and find alternative ways to commute to work. Johnson said many people have abandoned the typical car commute or public transportation and use their scooter exclusively to get to work or run quick errands.
Additionally, Phat Scooters is going to be featured in a documentary-style reality television show called “Riding Phat” on the Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment network Crackle that is expected to start airing in April.
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