50cc equivalent electric scooters, which can be driven with just a BSR, are numerous (Super Soco, Askoll, Unu, LVN), but their quality and price vary enormously depending on their origin, their finishes, their performance. To help you choose the model that suits you best, the editorial staff of Numerama has produced a complete guide, completely independently.
There are many electric scooters that top out at 45 km/h on the market and on French roads. Five years ago, only a few models shared this brand new market. In 2022, competition is fierce and manufacturers are multiplying. To stand out, each manufacturer and dealer puts forward an asset: it is generally the look, the autonomy, the engine power or the price.
Few two-wheelers manage to obtain the best score on all these tables. It will be up to you to carefully analyze your needs in order to understand which characteristics are the most important to you, and on which you are ready or ready to compromise.
Today, the 125 equivalent electric scooters are also numerous: we have therefore reserved a separate guide for them, for those who prefer speed and have a bigger budget to put in a new vehicle. Numerama also has a guide to the best electric scooters to buy in 2022, regardless of speed.
Beyond our tests, recommend that you make an appointment in store to carry out a test on the road, in real conditions, to see if the product meets your expectations.
Here are the 50 best equivalent electric scooters to buy in 2020.
The best value for money: the Super Soco Cu-x
The Super Soco Cu-x (our test) has been our favorite since 2020! The Chinese brand has also won us over with its TC Max 125 equivalent motorcycle. Small and very handy, light but solid, it has many qualities that make it the best electric urban scooter currently on the market, among those we have tested. In addition, its look differs slightly from that of the “big round headlights” that we see everywhere, which makes it more original.
The 60-70km range is good for a scooter that only has a single removable battery, even if its dual-battery competitors are rushing to the gate – the 8-hour recharge is also a bit long. Acceleration is enough not to feel in danger at traffic lights, and its battery has the good taste of being pleasant to wear thanks to its more horizontal weight distribution. The possibility of unleashing it at 70 km/h to drive on the circuit is also a plus.
Unfortunately, the prices have exploded: it is now at 3,179 euros instead of 2,700 euros in the past. However, it remains a very good two-wheeler for this price.
Max speed : 50 km/h
Autonomy : 60-70km
Full recharge : 8 hours
Rear passenger : yes
NIU M+ (MQI+): the good second
The Niu M+ scooter, or rather now its equivalent, the MQI+ Sport, is everywhere: it is one of the most popular models from the Chinese manufacturer, along with the NGT+ (capable of exceeding 70 km/h). Here it is a 50cc equivalent that does not go faster than the maximum allowed speed in town. In addition to being stylish, it is light (65 km max). Its battery is slightly heavier than that of the Super Soco Cu-x (and the weight is distributed vertically) but that of the new MQI+ model allows up to 90 km of autonomy in sport mode.
The seat, on the other hand, is more curled up than its competitor (your knees will be quite high) and the rear wheel tends to skid in the event of very sharp braking. It is found from 2,899 euros.
Max speed : 48-49 km/h
Autonomy : 95 km announced
Full recharge : 6 hours
Rear passenger : yes
The King of Autonomy
LVE S5: is the autonomy worth the cost?
Let’s cut to the chase: the LVNENG S5 is expensive. For a 50 cc equivalent, it comes close to 4,700 euros, which is almost double what is on the market. The reason lies in its two light batteries (5kg each) which allow it to cover almost 140 km in one charge, and therefore makes it very interesting for those who travel a lot every day, such as delivery men and women.
In terms of style, the LVNEN S5 (which we tested for several days) has the merit of daring the square headlight instead of the usual roundness of its competitors, and benefits from a very reassuring braking system. With its 3000W motor, its power will allow it to support greater weights than other lighter 50 cc equivalent scooters on the market.
Max speed : 50 km/h
Autonomy : 120 km announced with two batteries
Full recharge : 6 hours
Rear passenger : yes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTt9k9iToOw&feature=emb_title
The Niu UQI GT Pro: a gentle being in a rough body
If you don’t like the look of it, don’t even go near it. The UQI GT Pro is a scooter that is chosen above all for its originality, its fine and racy air, which gives a little vintage style to this electric scooter equivalent to 50, which is nevertheless quite modest.
For 2,799 euros, Niu’s latest 2020 model has performance below the M+ Sport from the same manufacturer: its range is low (55 km max) and its acceleration is slow. This last characteristic can be seen as a defect as well as a quality for those who do not wish to spin like the wind at each start, but to reassure themselves and take their time. Nice bonus: the Niu UQI GT Pro is very comfortable and easy to handle.
Max speed : 50 km/h
Autonomy : 55km
Full recharge : 9 hours
Rear passenger : yes
The almost-Vespa, the 2Twenty Roma
Do you dream of a Vespa but cannot afford Piaggio’s Elettrica at more than 6,000 euros? The French 2Twenty Roma will be able to do the trick, if you are ready or ready to make some concessions. The first is on the size of the machine: where Vespas are known to be small and handy, the 2Twenty Roma takes up a lot of space, and its body is quite wide at the front.
For 2,890 euros, the 50 cc equivalent electric two-wheeler has solid arguments in its favor, such as being able to reach 100 km of autonomy with the two batteries (count 795 euros more). Said batteries, on the other hand, are housed under the driver’s seat and do not benefit from the best tips, which makes handling sometimes awkward – it will however take less than a minute.
Max speed : 50 km/h
Autonomy : 55 km per battery
Full recharge : 6 hours
Rear passenger : yes
>> Read our full review of the 2Twenty Roma electric scooter
How to choose an electric scooter?
There are several things to consider when choosing an electric scooter. The important thing is to identify your needs.
The look of the scooter
The look is the easiest component to take into account: it is about following your instincts. If you don’t like one scooter, switch to another. If you like a scooter, on the other hand, this will not always be a sufficient guarantee. There are many electric scooters made from “molds” imported from China, and whose appearance is almost similar while their price can vary a lot.
Top speed: equivalent to 50cc or 125cc?
There are three main categories of electric scooters available today on the French market: those that travel up to 45 km/h, those that reach 70 km/h, and those that exceed 90 km/h. The maximum speed of a scooter will, as a general rule, influence its price: a 50cc equivalent rarely costs more than 3,000 euros (or else, there is outstanding autonomy performance), while you will hardly find less than 4,000 euros an electric scooter capable of reaching 90 km/h. Between the two are some models such as the Askoll eS3 or the Niu NQI GTS Sport, with their maximum 70 km/h and prices that are around 3,600 euros.
The autonomy of the scooter is essential
Range varies greatly from scooter to scooter. This is the sinews of war when it comes to electric vehicles, because manufacturers are still dependent on the progress of research into more powerful batteries that would allow them to drive ever longer. Manufacturers must therefore make choices: one heavy battery or two light batteries? A removable battery or recharging only from the mains socket?
To find out what suits you best, you have to think about where you will be charging your scooter most of the time: do you live on the ground floor? Do you have an elevator? Do you have the possibility to plug your scooter outside?
If a scooter has a single battery and a long range (more than 70 km for a 125 for example), you can be sure that the battery will weigh nearly 20 kg: this will have to be taken into account if you have a long way to go. carrying a battery at arm’s length.
The engine power, possibly
The engine power of a vehicle makes it possible to determine its power, which notably influences its acceleration capacities and its driving modes, but which will also give you access to various state aids. The lower the engine power, the lower the financial aid, but the lower the price of the scooter.
The higher the engine power, the more energy and strength your vehicle will gain, and the more expensive it will be; depending on your build and the capabilities you expect from an electric two-wheeler, going from 2000 W to 3000 W power may be relevant. On the other hand, you are entitled to wonder if an electric scooter that does not exceed 45 km/h would really be useful with a motor power of 4000 W, when you can buy it cheaper with a power of only 2 000W or 3000W.