As COVID cases surge recently, Toronto and other regions begin a four-week lockdown. As a commuter, have you thought about how you will get around in the near future? Public transportation comes to mind, but would you feel comfortable taking them? Driving or Uber are other options, but as more people go out, it’ll be much harder to navigate around. Biking is also great but lacks portability.
As a socially-distanced transportation option, electric scooters will be the perfect tool to get around with their combination of performance, portability and usability! E scooters like the Xiaomi M365 Pro 2, the Segway Ninebot Max or TekTrendy’s ES Commute, are all excellent alternatives to the traditional ways of travelling around, such as public transportation, driving and other micro-mobility vehicles like bikes and e bikes.
Why Invest In An Electric Scooter?
First, an e-scooter is light and very portable, allowing you to easily get to wherever you want to go. It also offers good performance and can travel up to 65km with one single charge, making it suitable for any short to mid-range commute. Finally, it is low cost and low maintenance, not requiring any parking, gas, fare costs or insurance, making it the best micro-mobility vehicle available today and a great investment for your future.
Who Can Use The Electric Scooter
In reality, everyone can benefit from using an electric scooter but there are four key groups of people that we believe will get value from having an e scooter. They are 1) Students, 2) Young Professionals, 3) Outdoor Enthusiasts and 4) Families.
Students: The large campuses and flat roads make electric scooters the best way to quickly and easily get to school from your home as well as get around campus. Simply scoot to your destination, fold and carry it into your class, restaurant, store or your residence. If you live far away, combine e scooters with public transportation to make your daily commute easier and more fun!
Young Professionals: As everyone returns back to work, investing in an electric scooter can make your commute much more efficient - no more waiting for public transportation, getting stuck in traffic or having to rely on Uber just to get around. And for those who typically ride a bike to work, now you can easily get to work without working up a sweat (which is especially great for those who go to work in a suit!).
Outdoor Enthusiast: For those individuals who love adventure and exploring the great outdoors, an electric scooter can be a great addition to bikes. Interested in going for a hike? Exploring a local park? Checking out your new campground? Simply use the scooter to get you there, lock it up and enjoy your adventure, completely hassle-free.
Families: An electric scooter is a perfect complement to ensure you are fully covered for any short, medium and long-distance trip. Whether you are going out for a stroll, visiting nearby attractions or going to a cottage, having an electric scooter means more flexibility exploring nature and more fun… how’s that for a family vacation?
Differences between the Segway Ninebot Max, Xiaomi M365 Pro 2 and TekTrendy ES Commute
Each e-scooter has its unique benefits and downsides, so make sure you choose one that best fits your lifestyle and preferences! Below, we take a deep dive into three of the most popular premium electric scooters that we offer.
Ninebot Max
The Ninebot Max is a premium electric scooter built for adventurous individuals and is well suited for long and comfortable rides. It offers customers a reliable and durable commute solution that is also designed for minimal maintenance and longevity.
Compared to the Xiaomi M365 Pro or ES Commute, the Ninebot Max offers a significant improvement in battery life, larger wheels, premium build quality, a more effective braking system and enhanced riding comfort. While it is the most expensive among the three options, riders get the best in class performance and with benefits well worth the additional cost.
Best-in-class Performance & Battery Life: To start, the Ninebot Max has a max speed of 30km/h and the ability to go up to a total distance of 65km (around 30-60km in real-life testing depends on the mode, weight, road condition and temperature). It’s able to charge extremely fast, being able to fully charge within 5 to 6 hours. One key differentiator of the Max is that the motor is located in the rear versus the front, which is better for acceleration, stability and braking. In terms of hill climbing, the Max is able to climb up 20 degree inclines with ease, putting it at a similar level to both the Xiaomi M365 Pro 2 and TekTrendy ES Commute.
To better understand the performance capabilities of the Ninebot Max, a user actually raced the Max against a premium Audi TT car in a stimulated commuter journey (3.7 miles). While the Audi TT car just narrowly beat the Max in the end, if this test was done during normal work hours, the Max would have won hands down… just think about that for a second!
Larger Wheels For More Comfortable Riding Experience: The Ninebot Max comes with 10-inch pneumatic (air-filled) tires, making it easier to go over small obstacles and gaps and giving the riding an extremely comfortable riding experience, despite the lack of suspension. The Ninebot Max also has the battery on the bottom of the scooter, which better protects it from damage and increases overall stability. Plus, both tires come with self-healing technology, making it less susceptible to punctures and reduces the need for tire maintenance.
Enhanced Braking Features For Additional Safety: Unlike other electric scooters, the Ninebot Max comes with both a front drum brake and rear electric brake which engages at the same time when pressing the brake, reducing the distance needed to stop. Additionally, the rear electric brake activities automatically at high speeds, which helps keep speed manageable, especially if you’re going downhill. From actual tests, the Max had a much shorter stop time than M365 Pro 2 and ES Commute, which means more maneuverability and safety!
High-Quality Design: The Ninebot Max is carefully designed and crafted using high-quality materials. Parts that are susceptible to damage, such as the front drum brake and folding mechanism have been upgraded to reduce breakage. While the Max’s design does sacrifice some nimbleness, the rider ensures they get a high quality and comfortable e scooter solution.
Built-In Charger, Convenient Bell and More: One small but useful feature is that the Ninebot Max comes with a built-in charger, meaning you only have to carry a small cable around anytime you need to charge your scooter. Users will also get access to an easy to use attached bell, IPX5 water resistance and a bright high-mounted front LED light when riding in the dark.
Xiaomi M365 Pro 2
The Xiaomi M365 Pro 2 is one of the world’s most popular electric scooters and the best fit for the first time e scooter users. From our experience, the new M365 Pro is a great micro-mobility vehicle for urban transportation and offers the perfect combination of comfort, performance and price.
Compared to the Ninebot ES4 or Max, the Xiaomi M365 Pro 2 offers comparable performance metrics, good battery range, is extremely easy to use (beginner-friendly), has great riding comfort, a good braking system and a stylish design. While it is the cheapest among the three options, the M365 Pro 2 provides great value for its price.
Great Performance and Battery Life: The M365 Pro 2 provides a maximum speed of 25km/h and the ability to go up to a maximum distance of 45km (around 35km in real-life testing). In terms of charging, the M365 Pro 2 takes around 8-9 hours to fully charge. One stand-out benefit of the M365 Pro 2 is that it is similar to the Max, allowing the rider to climb up to 20-degree hill grades, meaning it can take on most uphill climbs on your daily commute.
Comfortable Riding Experience: The M365 Pro 2 comes with 8.5-inch pneumatic (air-filled) tires that help to add additional cushion and makes it easy to go over bumps and cracks, even without any suspension. The M365 Pro 2 also features wider and higher handlebars, a bigger deck and better geometry, which allows this scooter to be extremely nimble in maneuvering in traffic but at the same time offer a comfortable and stable riding experience.
Very Easy To Use: One of the biggest benefits is that the M365 Pro 2 is extremely easy to use and very beginner-friendly. The M365 Pro 2 comes with an attached bell and a physical hand brake similar to a bicycle, making learning how to ride it very intuitive. Plus, it offers sturdy and comfortable design, 8.5-inch wheels for easy maneuverability and a dual braking system that offers safety and comfort while making it easy to pick up for new riders.
Efficient Braking System: The M365 Pro offers an effective dual brake system that combines a front regenerative brake and rear mechanical disc brake, both of which are activated at the same time by pressing the brake lever. In addition, like the Max, the battery is also located on the bottom of the scooter, which increases stability and makes it easier to keep the balance for the rider (which is important especially for beginners or new scooter users)
Stylish Design: Lastly, the M365 Pro 2 has a sleek and stylish design with its black frame and striking red accents. As a winner of the Red Dot award, you can be sure that you will get a stylish yet minimalist scooter that will make you look cool everywhere you go.
TekTrendy ES Commute
The TekTrendy ES Commute is a well-balanced electric scooter that offers good performance, range and portability all at a budget friend price. The ES Commute offers riders a reliable, low maintenance scooter that can be used for both short and medium length commutes. Compared to the Xiaomi M365 Pro 2 or the Ninebot Max, the ES Commute offers similar performance, smooth riding, solid wheels, and customizable ambient lights.
Solid Performance and Battery Life: The TekTrendy ES Commute provides a maximum speed of 25km/h and a maximum range of 30km (around 15-25km in real-life testing). Unlike the M365 Pro 2 or Ninebot Max, the ES Commute has the shortest full charging time, only taking 4 to 5 hours in total.
Solid 10 Inch Wheels For Lower Maintenance: The TekTrendy ES Commute is unique compared to most e scooters as it comes with two 10” puncture-free cellular tires that will not puncture and are less likely to have issues. This gives the rider additional comfort that they will have less maintenance work ahead of them and can help them save on costs over the long-term.
Intuitive Triple Braking System For Additional Safety: Unlike other electric scooters, the ES Commute comes with a proprietary triple brake system that provides additional safety guarantees for the rider and gives it a more comfortable riding experience. It currently features a disc brake, hand brake using eABS regenerative anti-lock and foot brake. This helps increase safety and makes the riding experience extremely easy for new riders to get used to, as it features a similar hand brake to bicycles, which is very intuitive to learn.
Futuristic Large Screen Dashboard with Customizable Headlights: Users of the TekTrendy ES Commute will also get access to a high quality dashboard that lets you see your speed, battery life, headlight status and more. This ultrasound waterproof LED display offers a complete picture of your electric scooter’s key stats in one easy to read display and also is the only electric scooter in the industry that allows you to adjust your headlights to suit your own style and preferences.
High Performance Rear Suspension for Additional Riding Comfort: There’s a reason why the TekTrendy ES Commute offers one of the most comfortable riding experiences out there. With its 3,000 high performance spring, the ES Commute offers an elastic coefficient of up to 627N/mm, meaning this e scooter features excellent shock absorption and provides a very comfortable riding experience on all kinds of road conditions.
Extremely Portable - Light and Easy to Fold: Lastly, the ES Commute is a perfect commuter e scooter that features a lightweight 13kg design with an easy to fold mechanism. The light weight makes it easy to carry up stairs and over short distances. Overall, with this lightweight portable scooter, you’ll no longer have to use the bus, bike or public transport ever again as it can cover a large part of any urban commute with a single charge, which is extremely powerful!
Overall Verdict
From our personal experience and speaking to our customers, the Ninebot Max has the highest review - it offers high performance and long-range, 10-inch self-healing tires and a powerful dual brake system with a built-in charger, giving you, the rider, a best-in-class e scooter experience. Although it is slightly more expensive than the Pro or the ES Commute, the benefits you get are well worth the additional cost.
For customers who are on a budget, both the Xiaomi M365 Pro 2 and TekTrendy ES Commute are also great options. The M365 Pro 2 is great for all situations and it’s 8.5-inch tires, high maneuverability and easy to use setup makes it great for all users, especially those considering their first electric scooter.
The TekTrendy ES Commute is another great option. It’s solid, puncture free wheels, high performance, futuristic dashboard, powerful rear suspension and high portability make it lower maintenance than the other choices and a great option for those looking to balance between performance and portability.
So Where And When Can I Ride My Scooter?
We would highly recommend you to check with your local city officials to understand the laws and regulations for electric scooters in your area before riding. For customers in Ontario, please refer to our Are Electric Scooters Legal in Ontario Blog. To learn more about the other benefits of an electric scooter, please visit our other blog posts.
Summary
An electric scooter is an investment for your future. As cities begin to reopen, we believe electric scooters will be one of the primary ways people will get around.
All the electric scooters covered above are great options and it’s important you find one that fits your lifestyle, needs and preferences. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach us on our live chat… we hope to see you with your new e scooter on the road someday :)
