At the beginning of last March we learned about the news of the electric scooters that the Segway-Ninebot company has prepared for this 2022. Well, weeks later we have already had the opportunity to try the most basic and the most economical new D series.
This is the Ninebot D18E, and although as we will see below the company cuts certain aspects such as the autonomy of the route or the power to climb slopes, choosing to maintain the quality of the components in the wheels, brakes and aspects that we consider key.
Design and qualities
- Lighter than other alternatives (less than 15 Kg)
- Color LED display to show information
- 10″ wheels with enough grip
The D18E, by its profile, stands out as the most versatile electric scooter to use on a daily basis when traveling, especially when you are forced to combine public transport and short distances to cover isolated areas.
This is usually the case for many students or workers who take the metro or bus daily, and then have to walk a distance to their university or their work located on the outskirts or in an industrial area.
It is in these situations that the D18E becomes a great ally, since it is the lightest model (14.8 Kg) without giving up a maximum speed of 25 Km/h (the one authorized by the authorities) with the possibility to travel long distances. 18km away.
The higher performance D28E and D38E have a heavier weight of 1 or 2 kg respectively, and it is already known that if you have to go up or down stairs with the scooter in your arms, this small difference is noticeable.
What the three Segway-Ninebot models have in common is the attractive design, combining black and red tones in the finishes to attract attention and be seen from afar.
They also share the use of generous 10-inch x 2,125 tires with an inner tube, a large size ideal for guaranteeing safety on most surfaces, whether asphalt or sandy roads, avoiding the cracks and potholes that appear on our roads. .
There is no typical suspension on the wheels in the D18E or any other D-series model, for which the Ninebot brand invites you to discover the range of scooters KicksSooter GT with suspension and hydraulic damping on both wheels. These are extras for which you will have to pay.
safety and braking
- Maximum weight of 100 Kg
- Luminaire and reflective elements
- Pedestrian driving mode
Another aspect for which you should choose one of the higher models and not the D18E is because of the maximum recommended weight, since in the scooter analyzed here it has the maximum recommendation of supporting up to 100 kg, while both others admit 120 kg
For convenience, the D18E’s foot platform is wide enough to carry both feet however you feel most comfortable, with measurements of 50 x 15cm, providing good comfort and grip thanks to to the rubber surface of the base. . We have used it on rainy days and the material provides good grab.
The same goes for its handlebar, which offers comfortable silicone grips to promote grip, while being easy to clean. After all, these are the points of contact you have with the scooter to ensure safety when using it.
Speaking of rain, the scooter offers IPX5 certified water resistance, so if one day you get caught in a storm on your way home, you’ll have nothing to worry about your scooter beyond staying watchful on wet ground.
For the braking of the D18E, we have the combination of the rear drum brake and the front electronic ABS brake, which are activated by a single control located on the handlebar. If you usually respect the maximum authorized speeds, this will be more than enough.
But if there’s anything this new D-Series stands out for, it’s because of the infinity of lighting and reflective elements the company has introduced across the range. In addition to the visible red colors, the front and rear lights will allow you to ride at night and be seen.
We also have E-Mark reflective elements throughout, both on the front and rear wheels, distributed on both sides. The 2.1W front light, strategically placed at the top of the handlebars, illuminates the course as long as you don’t make tight turns.
To end this section, the brand is fully involved in safety. The rear brake cable is coated to prevent it from being exposed to water or mud. In general, the NineBot D18E has good finishes and is very well finished.
The opening and closing system, although the brand claims to be able to do it with one hand, cost me personally after several days of use. This is also because the locking lever has an extra pin as an added safety measure to prevent accidental folding or vice versa.
Management, use and autonomy
- 250W motor
- 10% inclined slopes
- 5100mAh battery
We tested the 3 driving modes which go through “Ecological, Normal and Sport” and there is little difference between them, beyond the fact that the last guarantees higher power which translates into pleasure. This is common on scooters in this price range.
What we see interesting in the D18E is the pedestrian driving mode, a mode you can set if you’re going on foot to cross a certain area. The scooter will activate the lights in the form of flashing to gain visibility, in addition to facilitating one-handed pushing.
You’ll find big differences between the three D-series models here. And we’re testing the entry-level model, which results in lower battery capacity with proportionally much more limited range.
The motor of the D18E is 250 W against 300 and 350 W of the other models. For all intents and purposes, the power on the climbs will come on slower and you’ll have less pick-up when exiting a lower gear.
The 5100 mAh battery allows us to cover distances of up to 18 km (hence the name of each scooter), since the D28E has a 7650 mAh battery to cover 28 km, and the D38E has a 10,200 mAh battery to exceed 38 km of autonomy before being recharged.
As they say, the option analyzed here is the most conservative, but also the least burdensome. Based on testing, we were able to fully charge the battery in 3.5 hours, which isn’t bad for a quick charge every few days.
In addition, the distance to be traveled with a charged battery will depend on a number of factors, including the weight of the driver, the speed, the type of route to be traveled or the mode of operation used, so performance may vary.
To give you an idea, a half-hour ride with an asphalt course and slight inclines (never more than 10%) yielded power consumption of only 26% of the battery charge.
Based on this, the D18E can guarantee long journeys that you need to cover on a daily basis without having to worry about running out of battery. While charging, the color display shows the charge percentage.
The LCD panel we have verified that under certain circumstances can be difficult to read and interpret, particularly when sunlight is shining directly onto the scooter’s screen.
Fortunately, we can always resort to using the mobile application, where we can see data such as the remaining charge and autonomy, the kilometers traveled and a whole series of aspects related to the scooter.
It is also possible to save the route with the driving session, using the GPS of the smartphone for this. Continuing with the safety factor, the application allows you to activate an electronic lock with which if someone touches the scooter, it will emit an alarm sound.
Price
the Segway Ninebot D18E Scooter It has an RRP of $359 and includes manuals in Spanish, an adapter to inflate the tires, as well as a power charger for the battery. A small stamp is also included, manda tory in many countries to allow circulation.
If you need to cover greater distances or want to be able to count on greater autonomy, know that the Scooter D28E is priced at $439, while the Scooter D38E is increased to $509.
This Segway-Ninebot D series begins to compete in price and performance with very prestigious models such as the Mi Essential Electric Scooter from Xiaomi. For the price they evolve in the same range, but the one analyzed here sets up standard lights and reflective elements for your safety.
Take a look at our current ranking of the best electric scooters of the year, where you will find shopping advice according to your preferences. You will also find a mini comparison of Xiaomi scooter models.
Verdict
The Ninebot D18E is one of the lightest electric scooters you can find. I’m struck by how the company manages to keep aspects of more expensive models in their cheaper version, which no doubt translates into extras to consider.
Folding is quick and intuitive, and charging the battery to 100% in just over three hours ensures that you can count on high availability from the scooter if you are one of those who use it daily.
After all, therein lies the essence of this scooter model, in the fact that it can be used daily to cover small distances on which we would otherwise have had to spend much more time. It is an all-terrain vehicle if you plan to combine it with public transport, which will not prevent you from carrying 14.5 kg.
Undoubtedly, this remains a clear disadvantage compared to the possibility of using bicycles in urban travel. The 250W motor isn’t one of the most powerful, but it does reach top speeds of 25km with an 18km range.
If you value portability over power, the D18E is a serious option, although you’ll have to be prepared to compromise on more power.
specifications
- Magnesium-aluminum alloy frame
- One color LED panel
- Segway Simply Moving Mobile App
- 250W motor
- Maximum speed of 25 km/h
- Autonomy of 18 km
- 10″ x 2.125″ tires
- 10% climbing gradients
- 4 driving modes (ecological, normal, sport and pedestrian)
- 100 kg user weight
- Rear drum brake and front ABS electronic brake
- Front and rear light with E-Mark reflectors
- Bell and kickstand
- IPX5 certification for water resistance
- 183Wh battery
- 3.5 hour charge time
- Dimensions open: 1140 x 480 x 1160 cm
- Dimensions closed: 1140 x 480 x 500 cm
- weight 14.82kg
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