We take a look a five scooters to provide you a reliable and fun ride into the workplace. Some of these scooters can be ridden with a standard car or moped licence so no additional endorsements to your licence are required.
Scooters are a great choice for your daily commute but there are some considerations you may want to take into account before handing over your well earned cash.
Advantages
Very cheap running cost
Ability to filter through congested traffic (where laws allow)
Convenient and generally free parking available in most urban centres
Small eco footprint compared to combustion transport
Disadvantages
Exposed to weather and seasonal elements
No as well protected as a 1500kg vehicle with a metal cage and airbags
Limited carry space for your equipment
You also have the option of using the scooter in the warmer months or taking alternative transport such as a bus on those inclement days.
If you’ve decided a scooter is your new way to travel have a look at five models we’ve selected which are all available and ready to ride!
Unu Scooter
This affordably priced scooter from German manufacturer Unu Motors is well designed, attractive and easy to use. With top speed limited to 50 km/h (30 mph) this scooter can be ridden on a driver’s license and even for someone with limited moped experience the simple to use interface will have you riding confidently in no time.
This is the second release of the Unu and the company have made some really nice improvements over the original. It comes in two power versions, 3kW and 4kW, and you also have the option of one or two removable batteries. These fit nicely under the riders seat and even with both batteries installed there is still reasonable space for your gear. The battery chargers are also really nicely designed and use fanless technology to provide quiet recharging.
Range with two batteries is 100km (60 miles) under optimum conditions but reduces significantly when maintaining maximum speed or with a passenger on board. Unu have made an excellent job with the throttle ramping providing smooth delivery of power for the rider, something to appreciate negotiating stand stop traffic at peak times or carrying a passenger.
Pricing starts at €3,299 (US$3666) for the 3 kW model with a single battery going up to €4,689 (US$5372) for the 4 kW version with dual batteries.
Other notable features include the steering column lock that automatically engages when the scooter is locked and disengages when unlocked. The LED halo headlight is a nice look and effective, as is the rear LED light strip for the tail light. There’s also the battery lighting which when opening the underseat compartment not only provides charge feedback but also provides light into the storage compartment for viewing at night.
Overall the Unu is an enjoyable and stylish scooter with a well thought out design. Having a top speed of 50 km/h (30 mph) it will get you to your workplace faster than an e-bike, bus or train and is simply a fun ride!
What we loved:
Single or twin battery option
Removable batteries
Decent under seat storage
Keyless start
Automatic steering lock
Refined power delivery
Specifications:
Range: 60 miles (100 km) – City
Maximum Speed: 30 mph (50 km/h)
Peak power: 4 kW (5.5 hp)
Battery Capacity: 1.78 kWh (per unit)
Charge time: Standard Outlet – 7 hours – 100%
For more information on the Unu Scooter you can visit their Website
Niu Nqi GT
Niu is a Chinese scooter manufacturer with its headquarters in Changzhou, China. Producing electric scooters since 2017 the company now has an array of models and has also moved into production of electric bikes. Originally selling to the Chinese market only, they now have dealers in Europe, Asia, the US, Australia and New Zealand.
The Niu Nqi GT sits on the upper end of their product range offering the best performance in speed and range. It’s two batteries are removable making it convenient for apartment owners to recharge and a decent deterrent to theft. With up to 140km (87 miles) of range you shouldn’t require a daily charge, even though we found the range was closer to 100km (60 miles) if using the highest power setting.
Top speed of the Niu Nqi GT is 70km/h (43 mph) so not a highway traveler but enough speed to ensure you keep up with urban traffic on some of its quicker carriages. Acceleration is decent too meaning after filtering to the front of the lights you’ll be able to pull away faster than most cars and any combustion scooters or small displacement motorcycles.
The 14″ wheels on the Ngi GT help soak up the rougher roads and its hydraulic suspension combined with cushy seat provide the rider a comfortable journey. Pricing is €4,500 (US$5155) so a lot more than it’s combustion cousins and also pricer than other electric scooter such as the Unu shown earlier. The Niu Nqi GT does come with plenty of smart technology and with its top speed of 70km/h will have you accelerating past many of its competition.
What we loved:
Removable batteries
Decent acceleration and top speed
Auto cancelling turn signals
14″ wheels
Smart technology including 100 digital inspection via phone app
Specifications:
Range: 87 miles (140 km) – Optimum
Maximum Speed: 43 mph (70 km/h)
Peak power: 3.5 kW (4.7 hp)
Battery Capacity: 4.2 kWh (both batteries)
Charge time: Standard Outlet – 5.5 hours – 100%
For more information on the Ngi GT Scooter you can visit their Website
Horwin EK3
This Austrian based manufacture recently won the Red Dot Design Award for 2021 in the product design category for the Horwin EK3 and it definitely shows in some of its futurist design aesthetics.
The Horwin EK3 has quality features to it at a very reasonable price. With a top speed of 95 km/h (59mph) the EK3 it’s one of the faster electric scooters in its class. A bonus for commuters needing some time on the expressway as part of their commute. With an output of 6.7 kW the Horwin EK3 can do 0 – 60 km/h (37mph) in six seconds, something you’ll appreciate when accelerating from the front of traffic lights.
Another feature to set the EK3 apart is the ‘mullet’ wheel configuration. With a 14″ front wheel and rear 13″ the scooter can soak up those potholes while still having manoeuvrability to filter. Mullet setups have become popular on e-mountain bikes and it’s nice to see this adopted on an urban scooter. The EK3 has also set itself apart from standard scooters with a mid mounted motor and chain drive. Something you see more with electric motorcycles.
The EK3 scooter is equipped with double hydraulic shock absorbers at the front and rear. This combined with its proprietary CBS braking system the EK3 feels a safe and smooth ride while negotiating busy urban streets.
Other notable features are LED lights front and rear, option of single or dual batteries, keyless ignition, touch-start display, cruise control, reverse gear, anti-theft alarm system, and vacuum breakdown-proof tyres. All of which comes standard on the Horwin EK3.
Pricing starts at €3,936 (US$4479) for the single battery model.
What we loved:
Single or dual battery option – Removable
Top speed of 95 km/h
Mid mounted motor with chain drive
Mullet wheel setup – 14″ front and 13″ rear
Smarts such as keyless ignition and anti-theft alarm system
Specifications:
Range: 60 miles (100 km) – Optimum – single battery
Maximum Speed: 59 mph (95 km/h)
Peak power: 6.7 kW (9 hp)
Battery Capacity: 2.88 kWh
Charge time: Standard Outlet – 4.5 hours – 100%
For more information on the Horwin EK3 Scooter you can visit their Website
Kumpan 54i:mpulse
German based scooter company Kumpan has a range of electric scooters starting from the Inspire which has 3 kW of power and a top speed of 45 km/h (28 mph) to the Ignite which will take you up to 100 km/h (60 mph) with its 7 kW powertrain.
We reviewed the Impulse which tops out at 70 km/h (44 mph) via its peppy 4 kW motor. These scooters have an appealing retro look and come loaded with quality tech features. Its 7″ colour touchscreen enables you check the status of your batteries, showing each battery independently, change ride modes (their are four Eco, Comfort, Sport & Rain) and alter your regenerative settings. You can also unlock your under seat storage and trunk via the touchscreen. There is also a GPS tracker and in phone integration via an app which provides stats such as battery levels.
Battery storage on the 54i:mpulse is really well thought out with storage for up to three batteries, the 54i range provide two batteries as standard. The batteries are removable and show their charge status via a LCD display making it easier to check their progress when charging at home.
What we loved:
Up to three removable batteries which independently show charge status
Top speed of 70 km/h
Quality 7″ touchscreen
Retro styling
Specifications:
Range: 75 miles (120 km) – Optimum – three batteries
Maximum Speed: 44 mph (70 km/h)
Peak power: 4.0 kW (5 hp)
Battery Capacity: 3.0 kWh with two batteries
Charge time: Standard Outlet – 8.0 hours – 100% two batteries
For more information on the Kumpan 54i:mpulse Scooter you can visit their Website
Nito NES
This retro inspired scooter is available in both Europe and the US. Nito offer a very customisable experience when purchasing the NES. You can choose between a variety of body and saddle colours, and a choice of textures for the deck. With 72 colour combinations this is a scooter you can really make your own.
The Nito NES comes in two variants, a 45 km/h (28 mph) model and a 90 km/h (56 mph) model. Both models utilise the same 4 kW rear hub motor, though that number is a continuous power rating. The Nito NES comes with a 2.16 kWh battery pack which can provide up to 100 km (62 miles) of range in ECO mode. At higher speeds you can expect closer to half of that range.
The Nito NES comes with removable batteries for charging at home or away from the scooter. The batteries aren’t exactly lightweight, with the battery pack tipping the scales at 12.6 kg (28 lb). Charging is around 4 hours via a standard outlet.
Pricing for the Nito starts at €4,750 (US$5337) for the NES 5 and €5,250 (US$5899) for the NES 10. With its Italian style the Nito NES is both beautiful and functional, the way transportation should be.
What we loved:
Lots of customisation options on purchase
Top speed of 90 km/h (NES 10)
Removable batteries
Retro styling
Specifications:
Range: 62 miles (100 km) – Optimum
Maximum Speed: 45 km/h (28 mph) NES 5 and 90 km/h (56 mph) NES 10
Peak power: 4.0 kW (5 hp)
Battery Capacity: 2.16 kWh
Charge time: Standard Outlet – 4.0 hours – 100%
For more information on the Nito NES Scooter you can visit their Website
