Filip Brož When I was twelve years old, I got my first scooter. The era of skateboarders and bikers was just beginning. Here and there, people on scooters appeared in the skatepark, turning the handlebars or even the entire bottom of the scooter on the U-ramp in a few meters. Of course, I couldn't miss it. I messed up many times and ended up with a skateboard anyway, but it was still fun. However, I never imagined that sixteen years later I would be zipping around town on an electric scooter.
The Chinese corporation Xiaomi proves once again that nothing is impossible in its presentation and recently launched its electric scooter Mi Scooter 2. In three weeks I rode it for less than 150 kilometers - I still don't want to believe that much. The Xiaomi Mi Scooter 2 uses Bluetooth to communicate with your iPhone, so thanks to the application, I had all the parameters and operating data under control during the entire testing period.
Race with the wind
A scooter is definitely not a snail. The engine power reaches values of 500 W. Its maximum speed is up to 25 km/h and the range on one charge is up to 30 kilometers. I deliberately write up to thirty, because the electric motor is able to some extent to recharge the batteries while driving, so you can realistically drive even more. It also depends on your driving style. In the event that you trouble the Mi Scooter 2 in the hills, the energy goes down sharply. Speaking of hills, it should be emphasized that the scooter is not built for off-road and mountainous areas. You will appreciate its use especially in lowlands and flat sections.
I certainly did not skimp on the Xiaomi Mi Scooter 2 during testing. I purposely took her everywhere with me, so in addition to the hilly Vysočina, she also got to experience flat Hradec Králové, which is famous for its long cycle paths. It was here that the scooter from Xiaomi felt like a fish in water. The electric motor is cleverly hidden in the front wheel. The battery, on the other hand, is located along the entire length of the lower part. On the rear wheel you will find a mechanical disc brake.
In addition to the throttle, brake and bell, the handlebars also have an elegant LED panel with an on/off button. On the panel you can see LEDs that signal the current battery status. That's if you happen to not have an iPhone with the app handy.
At first, I didn't quite know what to expect from a Xiami scooter, but the Mi Scooter pleasantly surprised me, as I encountered practically no faults during the ride. All you have to do is turn the Mi Scooter on, bounce off and hit the gas. After a while, you will hear a beep that clearly indicates that the imaginary cruise control has engaged. So you can let go of the throttle and enjoy the ride. As soon as you brake or step on the gas again, the cruise control switches off, which is absolutely essential for safety.
Fold and take with you
I also drove the scooter repeatedly down the hill. The first time I thought I would get some decent speed out of it, but I was wrong. The Chinese developers once again thought about safety and the scooter brakes easily from the hill and does not let you go to any extremes. It made me feel safe every time. The brake is quite sharp and the scooter is thus able to stop relatively quickly and on time.
As soon as I arrived at my destination, I always simply folded the scooter and picked it up. Folding the Mi Scooter 2 is solved according to the pattern of traditional scooters. You release the safety and the tightening lever, use the bell, which has an iron carabiner on it, clip the handlebars to the rear fender and go. However, it is quite pronounced in the hand. The scooter weighs a decent 12,5 kilograms.
If you want to go out with the scooter at night, you will appreciate the front integrated LED light as well as the marker light at the back. I was quite amused that when braking, the rear light lights up and flashes exactly like a car's brake light. It can be seen that Xiaomi thought about the details, which is also proven by the practical stand. Charging takes place using the included charger. You just plug the connector into the bottom part and within 5 hours you have full capacity back, i.e. 7 mAh.
Paradoxically, the scooter's biggest stumbling block is the Mi Home app, which is largely in Chinese. Before using it for the first time, you need to create a Xiaomi account if you don't already have one. However, you must select China as the region. Subsequently, you will find the scooter among the devices, and as soon as it is within reach and turned on, you can immediately look and set various gadgets. Right on the start screen you can see the current speed, remaining battery, average speed and distance traveled. More details are shown below the three-dot icon.
Here you can set the charging mode of the scooter while driving, as well as the driving characteristics of the Mi Scooter 2, and above all, here you can see data about the battery, temperature and whether you have the latest firmware. The app worked during testing and I could rely on it for the data. However, it is worse with English and Chinese. Something is not quite right here and there, so the developers definitely have some work to do. But the European market is obviously not a priority for them yet.
For a while I toyed with the idea of placing the iPhone with some kind of handlebar mount and seeing the current information that way. On the other hand, I was worried about my phone in case of an accident, but it could definitely be done. We also presented you in a live video how the Xiaomi Mi Scooter 2 coped with driving and how it is controlled on our Facebook.
For any weather
All in all, I was very satisfied with testing the electric scooter. I quickly got used to getting around the city faster than by car and at the same time more practical than by bike. It's a shame that the Mi Scooter 2 doesn't have more power and it can't even handle hills. Here I had to drive everything with my own energy. It also depends on your weight. When the scooter was carrying my wife, it definitely went faster. The maximum stated load capacity is 100 kilograms.
The scooter can also handle dust and water. Once I caught a real slug. I was careful at pedestrian crossings and tried to make minimal turns, so definitely not sharply. Thanks to the fenders, I didn't even get splashed and the scooter survived without a problem. It also has IP54 resistance. I had to wipe the dust, mud and water off the scooter myself.
You can buy the Xiaomi Mi Scooter 2 in the iStage.cz store for 15 crowns. Considering how much regular scooters cost and that the Xiaomi is electric, it's not such a terrible amount. If thanks to it you replace transport by car or bus, the money will be returned to you as a result. So I can only warmly recommend it to everyone. The scooter will definitely not disappoint you. During testing, my entire immediate family literally fell in love with it, and they keep asking me if I'll ever rent it again or if I'm thinking about buying it.
Thank you for borrowing the product iStage.cz.
Could someone try it in Liberec?
In my opinion, the functionality will be the same in Liberec as it is, for example, in Prague, Cologne, and perhaps also in Hodonin.
And could it not be compared with other products on the market? So one-sidedly enthusiastic, it's more of a PR text (albeit disguised) than a review...
I personally don't know of any other electric scooters that somehow work with an iPhone or other iOS device. Which is a requirement for testing and review. If you know, I will be happy to arrange cooperation and test ;-))
A review does not necessarily mean a comparison with the competition. However, there is a discussion below the article - feel free to compare or share your experience with a similar product.
Hello, I also have this scooter and I am very satisfied. Can I ask you how you managed to get the cruise control to turn on after a while on the scooter. Was it already set that way in the base or did you set something via the application on the phone? I don't like anything and I have to keep it up.
thank you for the info
Everything works from the very beginning, so it's factory settings. In the app I had the driving mode – Medium. And the "Cruiser Mode" on if I'm not mistaken. Unfortunately, I don't have the scooter anymore, so I can't get into the application. Otherwise, after a while the scooter always beeped and I let off the gas and everything went automatically... after pressing the brake, the cruise control turned off.
It's a shame that Xiamo sells it for approx. 10 CZK cheaper in China :) Otherwise, I recommend a great product :)