It’s impossible to escape it when you live in the city, electric scooters are on the rise.
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Last year, more than 5 and a half million motorized scooters were circulating in France, almost as many as electric bikes! They are attractive, but which are the most efficient? 60 million consumers tested 8 models. A comparison on which we return Adrian de San Isidoro, journalist at the magazine.
franceinfo: What were your comparison criteria?
Adrian of San Isidoro : We have chosen important safety points such as braking efficiency, but also battery life, maintaining speed on hills and even ease of use. From one model to another, driving your scooter is more or less comfortable. The scores we gave vary from 15.2 for the Ninebot brand to less than average for Wegoboard and E-Twow, the last 2 in the ranking.
For autonomy, can we trust what the manufacturers display?
Alas no. For all our references, with the exception of the Ninebot, the observed endurance of the batteries is at least 30% below that announced by the manufacturers. For example, with the Navee brand which promises a range of 50 km for its model, the scooter was completely discharged after only 23 kilometers of testing. In fact, the endurance of batteries depends on very variable criteria such as weight, average speed or terrain of the route. In use, if you weigh 90 kilos while the manufacturer’s tester is a flyweight, there is a good chance that the autonomy will take a hit.
If we are interested in the recharge time, lThe Speedtrott electric scooter takes 4h30, compared to 8h10 for the Ninebot. To avoid decreasing the battery’s performance too quickly, avoid leaving it powered on overnight, or completely discharged for too long. The best is to power it between 50 and 70% then unplug it.
The speed of electric scooters is limited to 25 kilometers/hour. Is this still the case ?
Uphill or on flat ground, the scooters do not exceed the maximum speed of 25 kilometers/hour. When descending, however, it is possible to exceed this limit. This is why it is recommended to activate the speed limiter. And if you unlock your scooter, you riska heavy fine which can reach 1,500 euros if you are caught speeding by the police. If it is a simple check which establishes that the scooter has been unrestrained, it then costs 150 euros.
Note that in general, the braking of the models we tested is pretty good, with the exception of the E-Twow model, quite execrable on this point. After emergency braking, this scooter takes more than 13 meters to stop: a distance twice as long as the Ninebot, the most efficient on this point.
In terms of vibrations or lighting, are there big differences depending on the model?
Yes, solid tires, that is to say filled with rubber or polyurethane foam, produce a lot of vibrations, it’s really uncomfortable. On the other hand, inflated tires are much more effective in absorbing shocks and making driving more pleasant.
As for the lighting, it leaves something to be desired. Only the Speedtrott model is really satisfactory with a front headlight that illuminates a wide area in depth. Conversely, 3 scooters really disappoint on this point: the E-Twow, the Oxelo and the Inmotion. SIf your machine is poorly lit, it is recommended to purchase an additional lighting device, such as a lamp to attach to the handlebars or an LED bar to install on the helmet. Equipment sold from around fifteen euros at sporting goods merchants.
Some tips to conclude?
Let’s first note that it is quite easy to fold your scooter, a little less easy to carry it. None of the models tested have handles, which would be very practical for easier transport.
To ride safely and keep your scooter as long as possible, maintain it! When you feel that the steering column is rocking a little too much, tighten the screws which loosen with vibrations.
Also inflate your tires to 3.5 bars every 3 weeks if they do not have an inner tube, and every week if they do. Don’t forget to wipe with a dry cloth at the end of the day to disperse any dust that could infiltrate and damage the components.