Guide
Why I won’t be buying an e-scooter with an inner tube
by Lorenz Keller
Weighing just 11.9 kilograms: the Niu KQi Air is ultra-light, but still rides stably
8.10.2024
Translation: machine translated
The new e-scooter from Niu weighs just 11.9 kilograms. The lightweight scooter is not only impressive during transport, but also on the road.
E-scooters are ideal for the so-called last mile, i.e. the last few kilometres from the car park or train station to your home or office. Thanks to the foldable design, you can easily load the scooters into the boot of your car or take them on the train. Much more convenient than a bike, for example.
The crux: these things are heavy. The metal construction and battery ensure that e-scooters weigh 15 to 20 kilograms or more. What is lighter usually only has bumpy mini wheels and a short range. The lightweight Niu is now attempting to solve this major problem.
Slimming down has paid off
The KQI Air from Niu weighs less than twelve kilograms. This makes it one of the lightest e-scooters on the market. I notice this immediately as soon as I have to lift the two-wheeler just a little, which I can easily do with one hand. Loading or stowing it away is also child's play.
Source: Lorenz Keller
Carbon and magnesium instead of aluminium or steel ensure weight savings. The material is said to be around 40 per cent lighter. The medium-sized battery lasts for 50 kilometres. That also saves weight. In reality, the range is then, as with all other scooters, 10 to 15 per cent shorter, i.e. closer to 40 to 45 kilometres.
A lightweight on the road too
My previous experience with e-scooters is that the lighter and more compact they are, the poorer their road holding. The KQI Air also has this problem - within reasonable limits.
Source: Lorenz Keller
When I jet over bumps, I feel them more than on the Vmax VX2 Pro ST, which I use privately. It is comparable in terms of vehicle class and, like the KQI Air, rolls on ten-inch tubeless tyres - but it is eight kilograms heavier.
With the Air, I'm lighter on the road. In general. When riding, everything feels less massive, but I still feel safe on the road or on gravel paths. Neither is a problem, even though the e-scooter has no suspension.
According to the manufacturer, the scooter is recommended for riders weighing up to 120 kilograms. And even a heavyweight like me is quickly accelerated by the motor up to the maximum 20 km/h. The motor, which is listed as 350 watts, can deliver 700 watts for a short time, pushing me up inclines with ease.
When it comes to riding characteristics, there are more powerful and more comfortable scooters on the market, but the Niu does everything so well that I don't have to make any compromises in everyday use.
Source: Lorenz Keller
With keycard against thieves
The low weight is not the only selling point for the e-scooter from two-wheel specialist Niu. I can lock and unlock the KQI Air with a digital key in credit card format. All I have to do is hold the black plastic card up to the speedometer and it is recognised via NFC and switches the scooter on and off.
Source: Lorenz Keller
You can also use the app to set up other NFC cards as keys or use your mobile as a key. As soon as it is within Bluetooth range, the e-scooter unlocks. This is a function that many models have - NFC keys, on the other hand, are rare.
You can also deactivate the lock via the app, which is important. This not only prevents someone else from switching on the scooter and driving off with it. It also serves as an alarm system. As soon as the KQI Air detects too much movement, a loud siren sounds. This happens not only when you want to push the two-wheeler away, but also when you carry it onto the train or load it into the car.
It's worth switching off the alarm function in the app for manoeuvres like these - otherwise you'll need to have your keycard to hand to avoid the critical looks of passers-by. The alarm is really annoying. Good against thieves, but bad if it goes off accidentally.
Standard speedometer, good equipment
The instrument display for speed and battery charge is rather bourgeois compared to the rest of the carbon design. The app, on the other hand, offers many setting options.
Source: Lorenz Keller
The strength of regenerative braking can be regulated: The more power you want to recover, the harder the motor brakes. If you drive with foresight, you no longer need the "normal" brake at the strongest level. You can also adjust the acceleration and the charging cycle.
The e-scooter also has built-in indicators. The switch for this can be easily reached with the thumb of the right hand without having to take my hands off the handlebars. Also useful: the rear red light lights up more brightly as soon as you brake. This warns following vehicles.
Source: Lorenz Keller
The scooter is folded up in the N(i)u: you release the lock on the handlebars, fold down the bar and can lock the handlebars on the rear wheel arch. The lightweight scooter can be lifted directly by the handlebar with one hand.
In a nutshell
The most important advantage is the lightness
The Niu KQi Air has one major strength: its low weight of just under twelve kilograms. The e-scooter is therefore primarily suitable for anyone who not only rides it, but also has to carry it around.
The carbon construction is not cheap, but has the advantage of being very stable. This means you don't have to make any major compromises in terms of riding characteristics despite the lightweight construction. The motor offers enough power and the range of up to 50 kilometres is also acceptable.
The equipment also stands out positively: The indicators, alarm system and app, which I can use to configure the scooter according to my needs, leave little to be desired.
Pro
- lighter than almost all competitors
- powerful motor
- NFC key card
- stylish carbon design
Contra
- very plain speedometer
- Low weight slightly impairs driving experience
- Expensive price
Header image: Lorenz Keller
Lorenz Keller
Senior Editor
Lorenz.Keller@digitecgalaxus.chGadgets are my passion - whether you need them for the home office, for the household, for sport and pleasure or for the smart home. Or, of course, for the big hobby next to the family, namely fishing.
E-mobility
Follow topics and stay updated on your areas of interest
7 comments
later