In one look
Expert Rating
Benefits
- Impressive performance from the 500W motor
- Innovative security-focused features
- Dual brake controls
The inconvenients
- The mermaid is on the calm side
- Rear fender may rattle on uneven surfaces
Our opinion
The Zinc Velocity Plus is an electric scooter that not only offers top performance thanks to its 500W motor, but with an integrated cable lock and an NFC-based locking system, it is also secure.
As we get closer to the possibility of private electric scooters being legalized on the streets of the UK, British brands are starting to take the e-Scooter revolution seriously. One such manufacturer is Zinc, with a range of electric scooters suitable for potential UK regulations.
King of the collection is the 500W Zinc Velocity Plus, a £700 electric scooter that not only offers impressive performance but also a few safety-focused features not found on many cheaper electric scooters. The question is, does it justify the high price? Well…
Design features
- Quite heavy at 22 kg
- Integrated cable lock
- Unique NFC-based locking system
The Zinc Velocity Plus is a handsome electric scooter with a largely streamlined design, devoid of any visible brake cables running down the stem. Where the cables are visible, the black coloring helps them disappear into the scooter’s largely black body. The design is complete with Silver Zinc branding on the stem, adding to the overall premium look of the scooter.
Lewis Painter / Caster
The deck is quite long and wide, and the grippy textured pattern helps you stay securely on the scooter even when riding in wet conditions. It’s not the biggest on the market – that title goes to the Inokim Ox Super in my experience – but it’s still easy enough for me and my UK size 11s to stand one foot in front of the other.
One thing to note is that it does not officially boast of any kind of water resistance. I’ve ridden the scooter in wet conditions with no adverse effects, but I would avoid puddles and ride while it’s raining to be on the safe side.
Like most scooters, the Zinc Velocity Plus folds up in seconds, ideal for transport and storage. Although it measures 1164 x 550 x 1185mm unfolded, it can easily fold down to a more compact 1164 x 550 x 575mm. The folded stem attaches to the board via a small latch, allowing you to carry the folded scooter by the stem.
Lewis Painter / Caster
Keep in mind that at 22kg it’s definitely not one of the lightest scooters to lug around in your hand, but it’s still manageable.
The handlebars are comfortable to hold, featuring dual brakes (which I’ll discuss later), thumb throttle, indicator controls, bell and center-mounted display. The screen is very bright for use in outdoor conditions, displaying key information such as current speed, battery life and the mode you are currently using.
Lewis Painter / Caster
The power button also controls the integrated LED light which helps illuminate the ground in front of you when riding in the dark, and there are reflectors on the front and sides as well as a brake light to get you more visible at night.
While this is all pretty standard for an electric scooter, where the Zinc Velocity Plus really shines is in the safety department.
The first is an integrated safety lock, tucked into the stem of the scooter, allowing you to quickly lock it without having to carry a separate lock. It’s certainly handy when you’re on your way to the store quickly, although with a relatively thin cable it wouldn’t take a determined thief too long to break.
Lewis Painter / Caster
Equally impressive is an NFC-based lock feature that requires you to tap an NFC card or keychain accessory on the screen to unlock the scooter. If you don’t, you’ll find that the scooter won’t provide any acceleration and will constantly beep to draw attention to itself.
The latter is particularly interesting, although I would have liked the beep to be a bit louder – it’s barely audible on a busy road. An automatic brake lock would also have been a good idea as you can still push the scooter without any resistance when locked.
Lewis Painter / Caster
Still, it’s a great idea that I’d like to see developed further.
Performance
- Fast 500W motor performance
- Dual brakes provide excellent control over deceleration
- Bumpy on uneven surfaces
Inside the Zinc Velocity Plus is a powerful 500W motor – more than Xiaomi’s popular Turboant V8 and Mi Scooter Pro 2 – which, as you might expect, results in a rather speedy riding experience.
In fact, it’s clear in use that the Zinc Velocity Plus is capable of exceeding the top speed of 15.5 mph, with rapid acceleration bringing you to top speed before you feel the scooter slowing down, possibly with an automated braking system. It would have been nice to remove the limiter for use on private land to see just how fast the Velocity Plus can go, but it’s not possible.
Lewis Painter / Caster
This depends on UK law, with rental e-scooters and e-bikes limited to 15.5mph, and it is widely believed that this will also be the case with private scooters if they are legalised.
That said, the performance offered by the Velocity Plus is impressive. This quick acceleration means it’s quick to take off at the green light, and the powerful motor makes it quick to work on slopes of up to 15 degrees. Not once during my testing did I feel that the Velocity Plus lacked the power to get me where I was going.
As with most scooters, there are three riding modes to choose from. Eco mode limits speed to 6.2mph and slows acceleration, but in return provides the best possible range from the scooter. You can crank it up to 12.4 mph in Drive mode, or if you’re like me and want the best possible performance at the sacrifice of battery life, Sport mode offers snappy acceleration and top speeds of 15.5 mph.
In fact, the only thing really missing is cruise control, which allows you to lift your finger off the accelerator after a few seconds of driving at the same speed. It’s a small omission, of course, but one that is noticeable on long journeys.
Stopping power is just as important as acceleration, and the Velocity Plus doesn’t disappoint there either. Rather than offering single brake control like many popular options, it features dual brake controls that you find on standard bikes.
Lewis Painter / Caster
It’s a much better option than a single brake system which doesn’t really provide much control over braking, making it harder to stop safely. The dual controls, meanwhile, allow independent control of the front and rear brakes for better control both during deceleration and during emergency stops.
It’s a feature that consumers tend to overlook, but it’s Phone an important aspect to consider.
Elsewhere, the combination of a 9.3-inch air-filled front tire and twin-fork suspension helps reduce buffeting on uneven riding surfaces, but with a solid rear wheel devoid of any kind of suspension , it’s still not the smoothest ride ever, particularly on the patchwork of tarmac that is London’s roads – and the rear mudguard can rattle on uneven roads at times.
Lewis Painter / Caster
That’s pretty standard among most of the alternatives available in its price range. In fact, you’d have to shell out almost double on the likes of the $1,650 / £1,299 Inokim Ox Super for proper e-scooter suspension and a super-smooth ride.
The powerful motor on offer also allows heavier riders up to 120kg (about 19 stone) compared to the 100kg (about 16 stone) average of most competitors.
Battery life and charging
- Up to 31 miles on one charge
- Full charge in about 6 hours
Hidden within the deck of the Zinc Velocity Plus is the 36v 13Ah (468Wh) lithium-ion battery that helps power the responsive performance offered by the scooter.
As for range, you should expect the battery to deliver a maximum of 31 miles on a charge – but expect less if you’re going full speed, as the estimate is based on usage eco mode. As with all scooters, this will also depend on rider weight, road incline and even temperature, so mileage can – and will – vary.
That said, it’s still more than enough to get around my area without rushing for a charger, comfortably managing around 15-20 miles at fairly fast speeds. If you’re looking to get the most range possible, the 50-mile Turboant V8 and its dual-battery system might be a better fit.
Lewis Painter / Caster
Charging is a little slow at around 6 hours on average with the bundled kit, although it should still go from flat to full during a standard working day if you want to use the scooter for commuting. The charging port itself is hidden at the bottom of the stem behind a waterproof cover, keeping it nice and protected when riding in the wet.
Price
Considering the combination of performance and features offered by the Zinc Velocity Plus, it comes in at a pretty decent price of $840 / £699.99. It’s still pricey, but there’s definitely value to be had here.
If you’re tempted, you can buy Zinc Velocity Plus direct from Zinc in the US and UK, as well as from Currys and Amazon in the UK.
If that’s a little too expensive for your budget, take a look at our selection of the best electric scooters for tempting options at all price ranges.
Lewis Painter / Caster
Verdict
The Zinc Velocity Plus is an awesome electric scooter that does everything you expect from an electric scooter and more. The built-in cable lock is a handy feature, but the NFC-based locking system is my favorite. I just wish the siren was a bit louder to deter would-be thieves.
Safety features aside, the 500W motor delivers brisk acceleration and top speeds of 15.5mph, although I suspect this was speed limited and is capable of higher speeds high. The 31-mile range is decent, the ride is consistent, and the dual brakes put you in full control when you want to stop.
It may be more expensive than some popular options on the market, but there’s a lot to like about Zinc Velocity Plus.
Table of Contents
