Personal Electronic Transportation
For over nearly two years, my preferred mode of transportation has been personal electronic transportation devices (PETs). These include things such as electric bikes, electric kickscooters, and electric motorcycles. Primarily, I have opted for electric kickscooters (eScooters).
I made my first purchase almost immediately after watching a video on YouTube by MKBHD for a XR Elite from GoTrax.
| Device Name | Max MPH | Tires | Weight | MSRP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| XR Elite | 15.5MPH | Pneumatic | $399.99 | |
| Apollo Explore | 32MPH | Pneumatic | $1,399.99 | |
| GT SE | 25MPH | Solid | 30lbs | $999.99 |
GoTrax XR Elite
This was my first starter electric kickscooter. While it was very much intended for a short-term trial to prepare myself for faster and riskier rides (such as motorcycling), I essentially fell in love with getting around town effortlessly. This has a proprietary firmware only GoTrax devices use, so it is hard limited on the set speed of 15.5MPH. The device takes two steps to fold, but the entire process can be done in about five seconds. While rides can be rough, they aren:t uncomfortable unless you are on off-road terrain. The device is easily transportable in a back seat or a bus. After almost a year, I did begin to grow sick of its limited range and power output.
Apollo Explore
The Apollo Explore was the next upgrade to the XR Elite. It sports 10 inch tires, an upgrade from the smaller and less stable 8 inch tires of before. The top speed is almost exactly doubled, meaning that I can use the bike lanes to get around town even quicker than before. I got my first Apollo Explore in around August of 2022, while receiving my second in December. I could never recommend this device or company given that it is aware of manufacturing issues, but only uses those issues to advertise the next revision of their device. In addition, in accordance to its warranty policy, the buyer has to pay approximately 1/10th of the cost of the scooter at a minimum for a diagnostic to determine if an issue falls under warranty. My first Explore broke down to the point where the handlebars and onboard devices were unaligned and unstable. My second one had a factory defective battery.. Both instances of support were disappointing, where in the first, a representative told me that the breakdown is expected, but not so soon after owning the scooter. The second instance is where the $100, non-refundable diagnostic is required to determine warranty status.
This also suffers from design issues. The charge ports are located at the bottom of the device, where sand, dirt, and water rests. They also stick out to the point where if you dare brush the scooter against anything, you might not be able to charge it once you get home.
The scooter is rear-wheel drive, meaning that unless you turn off zero-start, you can kiss your rear fender goodbye. Dismounting the scooter a grip on the handlebar to stablise the device so it doesn:t fall. If you accidentally accellerate the scooter while dismounting, there is nothing stopping the device from accelerating without you. Since you are dismounting, you still have a grip on the device while not standing on it. This can cause the front of the scooter to zoom into the air and come crashing down on its rear wheel, damaging the fender.
This scooter would benefit from putting, at least, minimal thought into the design and longevity of their devices. Solid tires would be nice as well.
GT Sport SE
This is currently my holy grail.