See all Motoring NewsPros: User friendly, lots of fun, covers ground quickly
Cons: Heavy carrying weight, not for bumpy surfaces
The popularity of electric scooters is rising across Europe and they are becoming increasingly common on the streets of Irish cities such as Cork, Galway, Limerick and Dublin. Electric scooters are an enticing mode of transport for short distance commuting, and they are available in varying sizes and specifications. Car manufacturer SEAT suprised everyone recently when it partnered with Segway to launch its first ever electric scooter, the eXS KickScooter. With a top speed of 25km/h, a potential range of up to 25 kilometres and an affordable price tag, the eXS KickScooter makes for an interesting proposition. Carzone's reviews team recently swapped four wheels for two and spent a week with eXS KickScooter to see what it's like to live with on a daily basis and if it is possible to commute on electric scooters over short distances.
SEAT developed the eXS KickScooter in conjunction with Segway, a leading brand in electric mobility solutions. The scooter has several SEAT styling ques including a vibrant range colour scheme and several SEAT logos too. The eXS has an LED light up front for night time journeys, an LED rear brake light and also a small side stand for parking. There is an ambient light underneath the scooter that lights up at night time, and the colour of the light can be customised using the Ninebot-Segway smartphone mobile application which is free to download for iOS and Android devices. The KickScooter folds down easily which means it is easy to store in the boot of a car. At 12.5 kilograms in weight, the KickScooter is heavy to carry however.
On a straight stretch of road, the eXS KickScooter can reach up to 25km/h and it covers small distances surprisingly quickly. There is even a cruise control function which allows you to cruise along at a constant speed without having to hold down the accelerate button. So, is the KickScooter suitable for covering short distance commutes? We covered a short commuting distance of five kilometres in just 12 minutes, which was faster than we were able to manage by car the following day (18 minutes).
Charging the eXS KickScooter is easy; using a three-pin plug charger it can charge from empty to full capacity in around three hours. When fully charged, the KickScooter offers around 25 kilometres of range, but this will vary depending on the mode selected, the speed you are travelling at and also the weight of the rider. We covered approximately 15 kilometres in Sports Mode before needing to put the scooter on charge. Over short distances the SEAT eXS KickScooter makes real sense. It’s easy to operate, compact to store and it's a lot of fun, especially in good weather conditions and on smooth surfaces. Prices for the SEAT eXS KickScooter start from €599 at SEAT retailers nationwide. For more information you can visit www.seat.ie.
SEAT eXS KickScooter Details:
Model driven: SEAT eXS KickScooter
Prices from: €599
Appropriate Age: 14+
Engine: Battery
Power Output: 300 Watts
Max Range: 25 kilometres
Max Charging Time: 3.5 hours
Top Speed: 25km/h
Weight: 12.5kg
Max driver weight: 100kg