The soon-to-be-listed China electronics giant/handset maker Xiaomi is really the provision shop of gadgets. Man, there’s nothing this company does not want to make. Xiaomi’s products are coming onto the market too fast, too furious and odds are, we may miss some interesting stuff every now and then. Speaking of missing, the Xiaomi Mi Electric Scooter is one of those interesting products we have missed. Initially, I thought of just letting it past, but then I saw it in person and boy, was I smitten by it. To be clear, I did not test drive it, but I did “caressed” it for a bit and I was impressed by both its aesthetic, the attention to detail and the build.
If you think the images presented here look nice just because they are product images… well, let me tell you this: in person, it beckons you to steal many more looks. It is that pretty. I have seen quite a handful of these “e-scooter” but none this clean and minimalist. Not surprisingly, Mi Electric Scooter have bagged itself the prestigious Red Dot “Best of the Best” Award in 2017 and also snagging the iF Design Award last year. The attention to detail is pretty mind-blowing. TBH, I still can’t get over how good it looks. I am not even exaggerating.
As for the drivetrain, Mi Electric Scooter is powered by a 250W brushless motor capable of making a top speed of about 15.5 mph (24 km/h) and tackling up to 14 percent inclination. It is good for traversing over smooth to mildly rough terrains, and it is IP54 rated for resistance against dust and splashes. So, yeah, it should work fine under light rain, if you choose to brave the rain sometimes. Keeping the motor juice is a 30 x 18650 lithium battery setup that offers up to 18.6 miles (30 km) range on a single charge. Xiaomi said it will take around 5 hours to make full charge and it promised a host of safety features that will ensure it won’t go up in flame whether when operating or charging.
Other highlights include an aerospace-grade aluminum frame, an innovative 3-second folding design, at-a-glance 4-LED battery status light, integrated super bright 1.1W headlight and taillight with flashing functionality when braking, power-saving mode, disc brake with eABS regenerative anti-lock braking system, and rounding up with a set of pneumatic rubber tires. All in, the Mi Electric Scooter weighs in at just 26.9 lbs (12.2 kilograms!) which makes it lightweight enough to be carried when required and thanks to its 16 Nm (11.8 lb-ft) of torque, it is good for a maximum load of 220 lbs (100 kilograms).
Xiaomi is peddling its personal mobility device in the U.S. via Amazon, but last checked, it is still unavailable. So, we do not know the price. As a gauge, it is being sold in China for 1,999 yuan, which works out to be 313 American dollars. So, this is one heck of a good looking e-scooter that won’t break the bank.
Images courtesy of Xiaomi.
