For some time now, scooters have reappeared on the streets. Small and light, they are indeed an excellent way to get around town more quickly. The addition of an electric motor to the scooters has given them that little extra which makes them even more attractive.
Nevertheless, when looking to buy a model of electric scooter for the first time, one can quickly find themselves lost in the number of available models.
In this article, we have chosen to look at the Ninebot ES4 electric scooter model, sold by the Segway brand.
Segway, which is a world-renowned brand known to the general public thanks to its range of gyropods that appeared on the French market a few years ago, has now launched its own model of electric scooter, the Ninebot ES4.
Displayed at the price of €799, the Ninebot ES4 scooter is positioned among the high-end models of electric scooters.
Let's now take a look at the characteristics of this product to see if its price is justified, and if it stands out as an intelligent purchase of an urban mobility solution.
Structure and Design of the Ninebot ES4 electric scooter
Strictly speaking, the Ninebot ES4 scooter is very similar to the Ninebot ES2 model, also designed by Segway. The main difference will be in the battery.
Due to the presence of a double battery, the Ninebot ES4 electric scooter has a net weight of 14kg. We are in the high average of electric scooters. Considering the gain in battery life, the few extra kilos are really not a problem. In addition, if necessary, the battery is removable.
The maximum authorized weight is 100kg. It is possible to use the machine when you weigh a little more, but the maximum speed will be lower and the acceleration slower.
The minimum age recommended to use it is 14 years old. The Ninebot ES4 scooter has two brakes: an electromagnetic brake at the front and a mechanical brake at the rear.
It is equipped with an LED headlight at the front as well as a brake light at the rear, allowing users to travel safely at night. Plus, it's rain-resistant (but don't leave it outside!).
The battery of the Ninebot ES4 electric scooter
Let's take a closer look at the most interesting point of the Ninebot ES4 scooter: its battery. In fact, when the double battery is attached to the scooter, we achieve a maximum autonomy of 45 km.
The batteries are of type Lithium-Ion and require a full charging time of about 7 hours. However, the second battery can be charged alone, separately from the rest of the scooter. The full charging time for each battery is approximately 3.5 hours.
In addition to this, the batteries of the Ninebot ES4 scooter are equipped with standard Segway safety features:
- Overheating protection
- Short circuit protection
- Protection against excessive load
- Protection against too strong current
Is the Ninebot ES4 a fast scooter?
The Ninebot ES4 electric scooter has an accelerator located on the handles. At maximum speed, the vehicle can reach 30km/h.
It is possible to pre-determine a maximum speed not to be exceeded. This can be very practical, especially if you lend your scooter to your children, or if you operate in heavy traffic.
In addition, it is equipped with a cruise regulator. If you are traveling long distances, it is much more comfortable not to have to constantly press the accelerator.
The motor power is adjustable and ranges from 300W to 700W. This makes it possible in particular to obtain faster acceleration in order to reach the maximum speed of the device more quickly.
The Ninebot ES4 also has a small screen located on the handlebars. It displays, among other things, the current speed and the battery charge level.
Is the Ninebot ES4 scooter practical in the city?
Many electric scooter users (see the Segway ES4 review) use them primarily to make the journey between their home and the nearest public transport. Others use it to get to the office and have to store it there all day.
Good news if this is your case, the Ninebot ES4 scooter is foldable. It then becomes very compact and easy to store in little space. To fold it, nothing could be simpler: just press the small pedal located at the front of the platform. While using the scooter, it is possible to lock this pedal in order to avoid an unfortunate accident.
The scooter is also equipped with suspensions. Don't expect miracles in this regard, but they are sufficient to absorb the shocks of uneven terrain. However, it is not recommended to use the scooter on dirt roads.
A Connected Segway scooter
Finally, the Ninebot ES4 electric scooter has a mobile app available on iPhone and Android. The vehicle pairs with phones via a Bluetooth connection. But what is this app for?
It is first used to consult the level of use of your scooter: number of kilometers traveled, average speed, battery use, trip history. It is also possible to adjust the cruise control as well as the maximum authorized speed from the application.
Segway also stands out from the competition through its mobile application, which allows the owner of the Ninebot ES4 to lock the scooter when not in use. The wheels are then blocked, and if the scooter is moved, or someone tries to roll it, the owner is immediately informed with a notification on their phone.
Conclusion of the Ninebot ES4 test
The Ninebot ES4 electric scooter is an excellent solution for urban mobility that we highly recommend. Its maximum speed is generally average compared to other urban scooters, but the real difference lies in its dual battery. Indeed, it is relatively rare to see a model capable of lasting 45 km.
The somewhat high price is justified by a quality design and a practical solution which does not need to be constantly recharged for fear of running out of fuel. We therefore do not find it so excessive and consider the Ninebot ES4 scooter to be a good long-term investment.