Summary

Although passenger cars are probably what come to mind when you think about electric vehicles, there are really an increasing variety of other vehicle types that fall under this category. Electric scooters are one of those vehicle kinds, and they’ve had a rocky start in Australia so far due to questions over their legality and permitted use areas. Electric scooters are a significant component of many countries’ transportation networks, and Australia should be open to the possibility of using them on a larger scale.

We have the chance to encourage the growth of additional modes of transportation at a time when we’re trying to lessen traffic congestion, and when those new alternatives have zero emissions, we should give careful consideration to how we encourage their usage.

Often too quick for the sidewalk but too sluggish for the road and even the bike lanes, scooters fall in an odd position. We must address this challenge to our conventional segmentations because under the proper circumstances and with the correct tools, getting from A to B can be a lot of fun.

Each Australian state and territory has its own set of laws governing the use of e-scooters, e-boards, and e-bikes (including where e-scooters, e-boards and e-bikes can legally be used and whether these products need to be registered with the relevant road traffic authority). Any person using this product must make sure they do it responsibly and in accordance with their local laws. When using an e-scooter, e-board, or an e-bike, exercise care and always wear a helmet and safety clothing.

I have a lot of ideas about the Mi Electric Scooter Pro 2: Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula 1 Edition after using it for a few weeks and covering a lot of miles. This review will lay them out and tell you whether or not this is the transportation of the future or just an expensive toy.

Performance

This scooter’s design is the result of much thinking. The Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team Edition is based on the Xiaomi Mi Electric Scooter Pro 2, but it has a radically distinct style, and fans of F1 will recognise the iconic grey, black, and green colour scheme.

The front wheel of the standard model is accented with red in the matte grey finish. After seeing the Mercedes version in person, I can say with certainty that I prefer it. I believe it looks far more upscale than the standard model, but the Mercedes branding does come at a rather significant premium, even if they both provide the same experience in terms of functionality.

Interface 

The power button, which is at the bottom of the control interface, is where you’ll start by turning the scooter on. This button also functions as a mode switch and an on/off switch for the headlight.

Additionally, your current charge level and speed are shown on the screen. They’ve done a fantastic job with this display since I find it to be incredibly simple to read after riding in a range of lighting settings.

Accelerator

Following a quick push to start the scooter moving, your speed is controlled by a very basic accelerator that is operated with your thumb. This gives you precise control over your speed and makes it simple for you to adjust it to suit any changes in the environment. Consider being on a trail; when a family of bike riders approaches, you may reduce your speed until they pass.

It could become uncomfortable to keep pressing the accelerator after a while since you’ll probably want to sustain that pace for a long. Thank goodness for cruise control on this electric scooter. Simply use Bluetooth to connect to the scooter using the Xiamoi Home mobile app, then turn on Cruise Control. Then, a beep will signal that you may let off of the accelerator after keeping it down for 5 seconds.

You may turn off cruise by using the accelerator or stop whenever you need to slow down. This is a great addition for individuals who log several kilometers each day.

Size

When I opened the package of this scooter, I was a bit surprised by its size since the majority of scooters I’d seen before were kids’ scooters. Definitely not a toy for children. According to the manufacturer’s specifications, the rider must be at least 16 years old (or 12 with adult supervision), yet a fully grown adult may easily ride this. Even though I’m 6’3″, I felt really at ease riding this due to the close closeness to the handlebars.

The scooter measures 1.13m long and 1.18m high when unfolded. With that scale, it really weighs 14.2 kg, yet it can hold a load of up to 100 kg at its maximum. If you’re on the fence about that, it’s crucial to remember to account for the weight of a backpack when calculating your weight if you want to commute with one.

Brakes

You may use your left hand to apply a brake that is extremely acquainted to stop the vehicle. This has a lot of stopping power yet functions quite similarly to how you’re accustomed to it on bikes.

The scooter not only has a sizable disc brake, but it also features E-ABS, so when you need to stop quickly, using the brakes won’t lock the back wheel and maybe make you unsteady. Similar to your road automobile, ABS keeps track of the traction and makes sure that the braking pressure is controlled to reduce stopping distance.

Like all excellent electric cars, this scooter has regenerative braking as well. In the mobile app, you may choose between 3 degrees of severity, although similar to single-pedal driving in electric automobiles, this feature may mean that you seldom ever need to use the brakes. Longer riding periods are made possible by the scooter’s ability to slow down via regeneration braking when you let off the gas pedal.

Deck

Everyone will likely take a slightly different position while stepping onto the scooter, and there is no right or wrong way to do it. Personally, I found a comfortable posture by putting my front foot in front of the deck and my back foot in a sideways position. This position, in my opinion, gives you a solid base to be stable no matter what surface you’re riding on, especially when paired with some knee flexibility.

Although the deck is a good size and can fit my size 13 shoes, it isn’t broad enough for both of you to be looking front and side by side. Even if your shoes are wet, you won’t slide thanks to the deck’s rubberized surface finish and discreet grip studs. These design features clearly demonstrate that the creators gave attention to how users would utilize the product.

Lights

There were undoubtedly occasions I found myself riding after sunset, which turned into dark by the time I arrived home. Most scootering is probably done during the day. The Mi Electric Scooter Pro 2 has reflectors on the front and each side of the rear tyre to support this nighttime riding. If a vehicle light is shining on it, this will reflect light, making you visible in the dark.

There is also a headlight integrated into the front of the frame to make sure you can see your way through the streets. By merely touching the power button, this may be turned on or off. This makes a very large light field in front of the scooter, guaranteeing that you can see the approaching terrain. When travelling at high speed, this is crucial since the terrain might attack you suddenly.

A rear light is also there, which you may configure to always be on using a mobile app or to flash when you use the brakes.

Foldable

A bell for signalling others is located on the handlebars, but it also serves another purpose. Simply swivel the 2-step clip down and unclip it from the bottom of the handlebars to carry the scooter. The latch on the top of the rear wheel guard is where the bell’s arm, which is used to ring it, joins.

The front stem may now be used as a handle to carry the scooter once it has been folded and hooked in. I don’t think you’ll be able to carry this far at 13 kg or more, but you may be able to get off the train and up a few steps before it unfolds and rolls away.

Designing this folding and clip mechanism within the bell, which must be there anyway, is simply an extremely brilliant design element that is really practical. It might have easily been an unsightly addition hanging from the handlebars.

Kickstand

The stand is the last component of the design I want to discuss. This little kickstand is sturdy and supportive, allowing you to stand the scooter up while it charges or as you wait for your next trip. If you possess a well-made product like this, you should stand it up rather than rest it against a wall where there is a chance it could collapse and be damaged.

There are essentially just two key factors to consider when evaluating an electric scooter’s performance.

Range comes first, followed by speed.

Range

When you utilize the scooter will depend on the amount of range you can obtain on a single charge. Thanks to Xiaomi’s large 12,400 mAh/446Wh battery, which powers the front wheel’s 600W brush less DC motor, you can go up to 45 kilometers. At that range, it’s far more than I would need every day; in fact, many people could go several days without charging.

Use the included charger if you do need to recharge. Most individuals are unlikely to ever totally deplete it, but if you did, it would take 8–9 hours to recharge. Realistically, I believe folks who regularly go 5–10 km on the scooter each day would plug it in to recharge at night. Even if it’s technically feasible, I doubt most people would try a 20-kilometer commute (one way) every day. With more casual usage, though, a week may pass without the need for recharging.

According to the manufacturer, even after 500 charging cycles, you’re likely to receive 70% of the capacity out of the battery. I believe it would be years before you have to really consider a battery change since the range would still be above 30 kilometers. Given everything we’ve just covered, it’s doubtful that you’ll need to worry that the scooter’s battery is built into the deck rather than being quickly switchable like that of an Eriders.

Speed

With a top speed of 25 km/h, this scooter is no joke when it comes to speed; it will get you where you’re going far faster than walking. In reality, the typical walking pace is around 5 kilometres per hour, so at 5 times that rate, you may go a long far in a short amount of time.

Max speed is one thing, but it’s also crucial to discuss the many speed settings that are available:

5 km/h pedestrian; 20 km/h driving
25 km/hr for sports
The 8.5′′ pneumatic tyres’ capacity to absorb most minor bumps eliminates the requirement for suspension when it comes to riding on various terrain. Most hard surfaces respond well to this, but longer grass may provide a difficulty.

There is a spare tyre included in the package, which is quite helpful if you decide to use this off-road or are simply unfortunate and get a nail through one of the tyres.

Ride Experience

Riding this electric scooter is ultimately much more enjoyable than I had anticipated. Most days, I discovered that I would set aside time to go on a ride, often not because I had a specific destination in mind, but rather because I loved it so much. Although part of that usage was to familiarise myself with its capabilities in order to inform this evaluation, I still can’t wait to ride it more, to new locations, and to go further and quicker than I ever would on foot.

Suspension

With this scooter, the performance concern is the second most important one after range and is already fully addressed. When used properly and at the appropriate setting, the range is absurd, the speed is fantastic, and it still feels secure.

Known Issues

There are many great things about this electric scooter, but for the majority of people, the price will be the primary deterrent rather than any technical concerns.

Maintenance

For the same amount as this scooter, some people purchase used vehicles. While the goal may be different (being clean and environmentally friendly), even an old, inexpensive car provides a number of advantages, like storage, more passengers, faster speeds, and the ability to drive in all weather.

Given that design is a highly personal matter, only you can determine whether paying a premium for the design of this high-performance electric scooter is worthwhile to you.
The Xiaomi Mi Electric Scooter Pro 2 is virtually the same product as the one described above in the design section, except the Mercedes F1 flair and style. Despite how much more I enjoy the look, I know that many more consumers who are concerned about their budgets will select the Pro 2 since that logo comes at a considerable price premium.

An early product on the market often lacks the attraction for many people, necessitating several revisions in order to become a compelling mainstream product.This leads me to believe that state authorities in Australia should loosen their restrictions and be much more flexible when establishing rules for when and where you may operate an electric car with a peak speed of 25 km/h.

If your budget allows, I would highly suggest this; otherwise, you may want to think about the Pro 2’s less expensive design without the Merc logo.

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