Ninebot E22

Xiaomi Ninebot E22 Folding Electric Scooter

Ninebot E22 electric scooter adopts an integrated frame design, simple and fashionable, BMS intelligent management system, 9-inch high-elasticity shock absorbing tires, 22KM long endurance, 300W Hall brushless DC motor, 20km/h speed, 15% climbing ability, 2.5 W high-brightness LED lamp, 13.5 m irradiation distance, and safer driving.

The E22 is a new scooter of the Chinese manufacturer Ninebot. Long specialized in gyropods and gyrorouas, this start-up, heavily financed by Xiaomi, bought Segway in 2015, giving birth to the brand Ninebot by Segway.

If this name doesn’t ring a bell, many city-dwellers come across its products every day, since it is Ninebot by Segway that supplies Lime, one of the two self-service scooter companies that flood the streets of several large cities.

The Lime-S scooters are based on ES2, the first generation of Ninebot’s entry-level “for the dad in search of daily adventure”, from the manufacturer’s own words. The E22 is something else entirely, as it is considered by its manufacturer as “the Rolls of electric scooters”. After testing a bunch of models, we were looking forward to a few laps around the track with this one.

Yes and no – Design, but cumbersome

Ninebot has created a visually very sober scooter. Its lines are soft and clean. There are no visible cables here, except for a small piece between the wheel and the steering column, everything else is well camouflaged in the metal tubing of the handlebars. This is a reassuring effort, as the electronics are well protected.

While it is pleasing to look at, the E22 is far from being practical to carry. Without a carrying handle, you have to grasp the steering column to carry it in the folded position. The steering column is so wide that the 12.5 kg of the machine quickly becomes unbearable for the arms. It is then moved in trolley mode, by pulling it on one wheel by the handlebars. A more annoying method and not always obvious in public transport. In addition, the height of the handlebars is fixed, as are the handles, which cannot be folded down.

Apart from that, its finishes are good, including a quick-fastening system at the foot. Over the three weeks of testing, we didn’t have any play in the axles. In movement, we’re just intrigued by a rattling noise coming from behind when we pass a bump or a bump in the road. A plastic noise of little quality, but which does not affect the good driving of the scooter. Last but not least, Ninebot had the good idea to install a foot release system, which allows the scooter to be folded in no time at all, and that’s quite practical.

Yes – A festival of light!

At night, it is certainly one of the most eye-catching scooters on the market. And that’s good because it’s safer for the user. Its front lamp is integrated into the steering column and indicates the position well, but lacks a little power to illuminate the roadway properly. Two LEDs on either side of the rear wheel mark the position and stop lights.

Finally, Ninebot’s little extra is a light strip that runs the entire length of the bottom part of the board. Programmable via the Ninebot-Segway application, it can be illuminated continuously, intermittently, depending on speed, etc., in multiple colours. Of course, it’s a bit of a tuning, but this lighting element is an additional safety feature in our opinion. A good point.

Yes – Shock absorbers at their best

No air tires for Ninebot. The Chinese manufacturer bets on solid models that are not afraid of nails. The risk is to lose comfort, but the engineers have overcome this problem with front and rear shock absorbers. A first or almost a first in this price range. The ride is then very smooth and pleasant, especially when driving on sidewalks.

You just regret hearing them slam when you drive over rough terrain. Also note that the handles are well-made. As for the rubber grip, it’s functional, but it may not grip well if it’s wet, depending on the type of soles that are in contact with it. So far, we haven’t found a better grip than the thick rubber grip used by Micro Mobility.

No – A real soap on wet roads

We were able to test E22 in the rain. Certified IP54, it is resistant to splashing water, which is a good thing. Nevertheless, let’s say it right away, our ride was not very pleasant. The scooter slips at the start before hitting the asphalt, which does not bode well.

But it’s in the corners that we got a few good scares. The E22 literally hunts when it is tilted on wet roads. Impossible not to decelerate strongly if you don’t want to fall. In addition, it is strongly advised to take a wide turn so as not to lose grip.

Such behaviour is only due to the structure of the tyres. Solid tires do not promote grip. The same goes for their grooves, which do not seem optimal for safe driving on wet roads.

Yes and no – Pretty good braking, but can turn off the scooter…

Sober, the E22 opts for magnetic braking. Available on the left side of the handlebar, it is progressive but does not completely brake the machine. To complete it, there is a foot brake located in the rear mudguard, just like on a mechanical scooter. The combination of the two is efficient, except on wet roads where the braking distance is much greater.

But we realised that braking was also the Achilles’ heel of E22. On a steep slope where we were freewheeling at just over 30 km/h, we wanted to slow down by applying the magnetic brake. After a few seconds, the engine came to safety and the scooter shut down while we were still going at high speed. Luckily the rear brake is mechanical. It saved us from the accident. We saw this problem twice on two different E22 cars. On this point, it is dangerous.

The latest safety complaint is that the E22 is delivered without any horn. So you have to get a separate one. As it is, it is quite complicated to signal to other users.

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