In an increasingly competitive market, Segway launches the eScooter E300SE, a 125 cc equivalent offering excellent value for money. Its performance is impressive, as well as its many options. Do we have the electric scooter of the year? Answer in our comprehensive test.

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Ninebot-Segway is a well-known brand in the field of urban and electric mobility. It is indeed known for its hoverboards and electric scooters, but has more recently entered the electric scooter market. We had also tested the E125S, an excellent 50cc equivalent, which was however quite expensive.

The brand continues its momentum with the introduction of the E300SE, a 125 cc equivalent, aesthetically very similar to the E125S, with some changes and better value for money. It offers attractive performance and good battery life on paper, but let’s see what it’s worth on a day-to-day basis.

A modern look, excellent finishes

Let’s start with the aesthetics of this new E300SE, which looks like its brother the E125S. And for good reason, the brand has left the design of the latter: the new version thus takes up most of the curves of its elder. However, the colors are less customizable, since it is currently only available in black. This tone suits it very well, but we would have liked to find the same level of possible combinations as on the less powerful model.

The shapes are modern and futuristic, with slim and rectangular full LED optics and a slender saddle. For a 125cc, the E300SE is quite compact, although it is long enough to accommodate two adults. Its 12-inch wheels make it fairly short-legged, with a seat height of 780mm. Ground clearance is generous, however, and the placement of the batteries in the floor raises the driver’s feet.

The finishes are excellent and exude quality, as are the alignments and the quality of the plastics, which nevertheless seem sensitive to micro-scratches. The frame is made of alloy steel and gives the scooter a solid and durable feel.

As for comfort, the verdict is more mixed. Indeed, the 781 mm saddle is comfortable and large enough to accommodate two adults. On the other hand, the two-wheeler is more suitable for small builds, due to the limited legroom at the front. The brand has chosen not to extend the floor to the end of the handlebars, which reduces the space available.

Similarly, the batteries in the floor raise the feet of the driver, without the height of the saddle or the handlebars being adapted. We thus find ourselves curled up on the handlebars to drive, having the impression of being too low. If I weren’t as comfortable as possible with my little sixty meter doubt, a taller adult will like it even less. It’s a shame, because the passenger is well installed and has solid and easily accessible grab bars, as well as retractable footrests.

Under the seat, the available space of 34 liters is generous and allows you to easily store a full-face helmet, while still having room for gloves and a few small items. It is also possible to house a third battery, in which case a 17-litre plastic bin allows you to store personal effects and easily remove them for recharging. The carrying capacity of the E300SE is complemented by a large storage compartment with USB-A and USB-C sockets, as well as a hook to carry bags between your legs.

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Let’s finish with the handlebar layout, which is overall very good, despite the fact that it may be too low. On the left side we find the high beam switch, the turn signal, the horn and the cruise control. The latter can also be used as a reverse gear in the event of a long press, which can be configured from the application.

On the other side, we find the driving mode selector, the warnings and the opening of the saddle. The layout is good and the brake levers easily accessible. However, we can mention the fact that the horn is very sensitive and I happened to activate it inadvertently several times.

A top-notch mobile app

Segway has opted for a fairly large central display, without being a real screen. The information is however complete, since it includes the speed, the driving mode, the time, the odometer and the remaining battery. We regret, however, that the exact percentage of charge and autonomy are not displayed, nor the outside temperature if we had to nitpick.

On the other hand, the central display is surrounded by two light strips which change color according to your driving. They thus light up in green when regenerative braking is engaged, in blue while driving, in yellow when stationary, etc.

The scooter is obviously compatible with the brand’s application, which is probably one of the most successful on the market. It allows you to consult the charge level and estimate the remaining autonomy of the scooter, but also to locate it and consult the details of the last trips.

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It is also possible to unlock it, open the saddle and even customize many functions of the two-wheeler. It is thus possible to adjust the intensity of regenerative braking, adapt the display of the brake light, the volume of sounds, and many other additional settings such as the automatic return indicator or reverse gear.

The scooter is connected using mobile networks, which allows it to be tracked remotely. It also uses Bluetooth technology to authenticate your smartphone and thus allow you to start it without a key and without having to take your mobile out of your pocket.

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However, if you prefer to start your two-wheeler the old-fashioned way, be aware that it is still possible to use the key provided, but also the remote control and even an unlocking code that you can define, in the event that you lose your keys and your phone.

The lock is very effective, since it automatically blocks the wheels, in order to complicate the task for malicious people. Plus, you can link your batteries to your Segway account, ensuring they can’t be used in any other two-wheeler than yours in the event of theft.

Dynamic driving

The E300SE has three driving modes. The first is economical and maximizes range, while promoting energy recovery thanks to regenerative braking. The second is more useful in town, offers sharper acceleration and deactivates regenerative braking.

Finally, the sport mode develops the full power of the 7.8 kW motor and allows a maximum speed of 105 km/h to be reached, but also facilitates braking thanks to energy recovery. Two additional modes are available: cruise mode, which is actually cruise control and proves to be of little use in everyday life, as well as assist mode, which facilitates maneuvers by limiting the speed to 4 km/h.

On the road too, the two-wheeler shines with its qualities. Acceleration is very good, with a 0 to 50 km/h shot in 2.9 seconds in sport mode, but also well-balanced braking and acceleration. The motor is very responsive and quiet, although a fairly audible fan noise is felt when stationary. The regenerative braking is also very well calibrated, with smooth acceleration at high speed, which intensifies until a complete stop. The colored bands around the central display make it possible to understand the intensity of the braking intuitively, which is very appreciable.

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Safety and stability are also there. The scooter has anti-skid technology TCS (Traction Control System) which gives it increased stability, especially when starting. This is complemented by ABS, which allows the two-wheeler to remain stable under heavy braking, especially in bad weather.

When it comes to comfort, the suspensions are also excellent. Indeed, the scooter combines hydraulic spring suspensions at the front with pressurized nitrogen and springs at the rear, making it possible to erase most of the imperfections of the road. However, some vibrations can be felt on the fast lane, without it becoming annoying.

In town, the small size of the E300SE allows it to sneak around without too much difficulty, despite mirrors that protrude slightly and are quite high. On the other hand, their visibility is not very good and the blind spot becomes almost dangerous on the fast lane. Segway has favored the aesthetic aspect of round mirrors, while they are not really suitable for a 125 cc.

Let’s finish with the maneuverability of the scooter which is naturally good due to its small size. Maneuvering is made easier thanks to the reverse gear and the assist mode, which allow you to park with complete peace of mind. We should also mention the Hold function, very useful for keeping the brakes applied when stationary automatically, which is a great help when stopping on a hill.

A very modest autonomy on the fast lane

The Segway eScooter E300SE is powered by two batteries of 1.99 kWh each and promises a range of 85 km. Although it is realistic, it is only achievable in economy mode and in town. On the fast lane, the autonomy drops by half, and struggles to exceed 40 km, which is quite low for a 125 cc. Fortunately, it is possible to acquire a third battery as an option to extend the autonomy up to 130 km, bearing in mind that this significantly reduces the space available under the saddle and does not allow put a helmet in it.

When it comes to charging, you have two options: plug the scooter in directly and charge the batteries simultaneously, or extract them to plug them in individually. On this last point, Segway is very late compared to the competition, in particular because it is necessary to extract the batteries individually, which is not easy. You first have to open the scooter saddle, pull on a lever located under it to open the floor hatch and put it next to you, because it does not have a retention mechanism.

Once this delicate operation has been completed, you must disconnect the batteries, lift the first, then slide the second, before replacing the hatch. If you have a third battery, you must remove the seat pan, disconnect it and then lift it. It is much too complicated for a task to be carried out frequently, so direct charging from the mains should be preferred. Fortunately, the batteries are easy to handle, weighing only 12.6 kg and having adjustable handles.

Unfortunately, the difficulties do not stop there, since it is necessary to use an adapter to recharge the accumulators. This one is bulky, noisy and can only charge one battery at a time, which complicates things if you plan to take advantage of off-peak hours. The recharge is however quite fast, since it takes about 3 hours per accumulator, which remains reasonable, especially if you charge them in the office.

Final test score

The Segway eScooter E300SE has almost everything to please: excellent performance, modern and reliable connectivity, numerous security options such as ABS and TCS, a modern design, and above all a particularly attractive price. It has charmed us with its particularly refined driving pleasure, whether in terms of acceleration or braking, but also the little extras it brings in terms of handling and comfort on the road.

However, it is not without flaws, starting with recharging the batteries which is extremely complex, unless you plug it directly into an outlet or terminal. Its autonomy also leaves something to be desired, since it is around 40 km on the expressway, or half of what it can cover in town. However, we will be consoled by the possibility of adding a third battery to increase the autonomy if necessary.

Aside from these few flaws, it is one of our favorites this year and we can only recommend it to those looking for an affordable scooter, without necessarily moving towards the entry level. Older kids will have to get used to the riding position, though, and those who don’t have the ability to plug the scooter in directly may not appreciate having to recharge their batteries.

For these two scenarios, do not hesitate to take a trip to the dealership to try it out and judge for yourself.