ninebot segway electric scooters

Segway is one of the few scooter companies that needs no introduction, and if you’ve been to a European capital in the last decade you’ll almost certainly have narrowly avoided a sticky end under the wheels of a group of tourists on their more famous personal transportation devices. Their relationship with Chinese tech company Ninebot only goes back to 2015 though, and it married the innovative young brand to its much more established American owner to combine their big ideas with Segway’s experience, design heritage and cold hard cash. The result is a range of electric scooters that pack in a lot of nifty little design touches alongside good technical specifications and performance. 

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Electric scooters took off in China before they made their way to Europe and the US as an answer to the country’s famously crowded roads and congested public transport, so it was a natural place for Segway to look for a partner, and Ninebot were already well established when the companies merged. So Ninebot already had their own thing going when Segway showed up, but the Segway DNA definitely shows through as a company designed around mobility: The controls on the Ninebot range are particularly effective and easy to use, and the design of the deck has been singled out for particular praise as it is grippy and wide, while its upturned ends allow it to be bigger in surface area without taking up more space. So which are the top models to look out for? 

Huge model range!
One of the best things about the Segway brand is the sheer number of options that you have, and they have so many scooters in their range that we could write a book about them. This can get confusing, but it also means that there’s bound to be a Segway for you whatever your performance needs and price point. So let's take a look at some of the biggest sellers! 

The Segway ES range has a nice progression from the ES1 through the ES2 to the ES4, with each one adding slightly to the specifications as well as the price. They are all simple, compact and extremely light weight with a curvy profile and a nice inset display, but each model offers you slightly more so you can get that perfect balance between performance and price. The ES1 is the cheapest but has the lowest range and lacks shock absorbers or rear lights, while the ES2 adds to the range and power while also giving you a rear shock absorber and lights at the back. Finally, the ES4 has even more power and range while giving you front and rear shock absorbers and even cruise control, in exchange for the highest price. 

Looking for a step up from the mid-range scooters? These scooters: the E22, E25 and E45 are basically direct upgrades to the same numbers in the ES range, and while they look pretty similar you get even more premium features as standard. The whole range has been given a new aluminium body and a tyre upgrade, which makes them all much sleeker looking and more waterproof, while the battery on the stem means you can actually replace and upgrade it for extra power. They’ve all had little power boosts to the ES version that gives them better hill performance, while their bigger batteries means the range doesn’t suffer as a result, plus you also get triple electric brakes on the Ninebot E25 and E45 models. 

The Ninebot Segway G30 Max range is the biggest and best performing model that the company produces, and can pretty reasonably be called the grand tourer of the electric scooter market. These models, the G30 Max, G30 LE and the G30 II are bigger, chunkier and heavier than just about anything else out there, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing when you consider their maximum range, which is a whopping 60km or 40 miles on a single charge. This clearly needs to be a scooter range that’s built to last, and one that you’re going to be comfortable standing on for extended periods of time, which is exactly what it achieves with that spacious deck and solidly built aluminium frame. 

The G30 Max earns its name by having the largest range out of the three, while also having the same power output as the G30 LE, as well as the same electronic braking system and pneumatic tyres for extra safety and a smoother ride. If you’re looking for all that great performance plus even more extras, then the G30 II is your best bet, boosting some extra cool features like an improved app, better waterproofing, mood lighting and fast charging that fills you up in just six hours. 

Finally, don’t worry if you thought Ninebot Segway had neglected the smaller scooter riders out there, because there’s also a great kids range in their garage too. The Ninebot Segway Zing range, including the E8 and the E10, is a great choice because it doesn’t dumb the experience down for kids. They look just like the adult versions but smaller, and feature some of the cool toys that you get on adult scooters like the driving modes and the mood lighting, while also being tough and durable. You get a little bit less performance out of the E8 as opposed to the E10, balanced by the lower price, but both scooters are built to last with grippy decks and handlebars, so you can be confident your kids will be safe.