Ninebot Segway E22E review: An upgrade that doesn’t quite cut it

Ninebot Segway and Xiaomi are the Apple and Samsung of the e-scooter world, and when one launches a new model it’s big news. The Ninebot Segway E22E is the latest in Segway’s bid for global dominance and it represents a significant step forward for the brand’s e-scooter range. Not due to some massive leap forward in motor or battery technology, but because it has more comfortable tyres.

One of the biggest gripes we have about the older Ninebot ES scooters is that they have solid rubber tyres, which make riding on uneven terrain very bumpy and uncomfortable. The E22E’s are still solid rubber, but this time they’re dual-density tyres that deliver a far smoother, more civilised ride.

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Ninebot Segway E22E review: What you need to know

The Ninebot Segway ES1 and ES2 could be upgraded easily by purchasing and attaching a bolt-on Ninebot Segway battery to its stem; and the E22E retains this unique feature. For £165 more, this battery will increase your scooter’s top speed by 5mph, boost the range to 28 miles, and improve your ability to climb hills.

Apart from this battery, the Ninebot Segway E22E retains many of the good features of the ES series, including three riding modes, regenerative braking and useful app-enabled features such as motor-lock and cruise control.

Sadly, apart from that, the E22E is not a massive upgrade in terms of looks, weight, design, motor or riding speed. I also miss the customisable under-deck LED lights that helped the ES series stand out from the competition, even though these are purely aesthetic.

Before I delve further into the review, I should make it clear that riding e-scooters is currently illegal on both roads and pavements in the UK. The government has recently legalised the use of rental e-scooters but private vehicles are only legal to ride on private land with the landowner’s permission. Users can be fined and receive points on their driving licence, although it’s unlikely you’ll be penalised unless you’re riding rashly.

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Ninebot Segway E22E review: Price and competition

The Ninebot Segway E22E costs £390 putting it in direct competition with the Xiaomi M365, which costs £349. Even though it has slightly larger wheels (9in vs 8.5in), the Segway lags behind the Xiaomi scooter for both top speed (12.4mph vs 15mph) and range (13.6 vs 18.6 miles). The E22E only comes in standard grey where the M365 is available in a range of 12 designs and it also lacks a mechanical hand-operated brake, instead relying on regenerative braking to slow you down.

The only aspects where the Ninebot Segway E22E beats the Xiaomi M365, in fact, are motor power (300W vs 250W) and charge time (3.5hrs vs 5.5hrs). It’s also worth bearing in mind that Xiaomi recently unveiled two new models: the Xiaomi Mi Electric Scooter 1S and the Pro 2. We don’t have the release date or price of these products yet but, the 1S has similar specifications to the M365 with the same top speed, range and motor wattage, making it another viable alternative to the Ninebot Segway E22E.

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Ninebot Segway E22E review: Setup

Setting up the Ninebot Segway E22E is very easy; to unfold the e-scooter, you push the rear fender down, then pull up the steerer tube until it snaps into place. Next, you need to attach the handlebar to the steerer tube using the Allen key and four screws provided. Finally, attach the bell that comes in the box to your left handle grip.

Folding the E22E away is easy but not quite as intuitive. You first need to ensure the kickstand is tucked in, then firmly kick the small pedal where the deck meets the steerer tube. Finally, you fold the steerer tube until the small hook on it locks onto the rear fender.

The Ninebot Segway E22E usually comes pre-charged but it’s a good idea to charge its 184Wh (5100mAh) battery before using it for the first time; you’ll find the charging point under a flap at the bottom of the steerer tube. When charging, the scooter’s LED display turns on and the speedometer indicates the battery charge as a percentage.

Once charged, and switched on, you’ll see a blinking Bluetooth icon on this display, the scooter’s power mode, speedometer (in km/h) and five bars at the bottom that indicate the battery charge.

As with most e-scooters, you set the scooter in motion by kicking with one leg, then gently pressing the accelerator throttle on the right handlebar and using the left brake throttle when you want to stop.

The scooter also has a headlight at the top of the handlebar that can be turned on by pressing the power button three times in quick succession. And I like the fact that the scooter has reflectors on the left and right side of the deck, steerer tube and rear wheel.

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Ninebot Segway E22E review: Features and mobile app

The Ninebot Segway E22E has three riding modes that can be toggled by pressing the power button twice. The Speed-limit mode tops out at 10.5mph but provides the best range. You’ll know you’re in this mode if there’s no S on the handlebar display.

The other two modes provide more power at the expense of range. Standard mode is denoted by a white S beside the speedometer, while Speed mode is denoted by a red S. While both these modes have a top speed of 12.4mph, acceleration is faster in Speed mode, which also comes in handy when tackling inclines.

One of the best features of the Ninebot Segway E22E, along with other Segway and Xiaomi e-scooters, is the Bluetooth connectivity. Install the free Segway-Ninebot app (available for both Android and iOS) and pair it with the E22E to view remaining range, battery percentage and total distance travelled (in km) on the screen of your phone among other things.

You can also use the app to lock the scooter’s wheels, which is handy if you’re leaving your scooter unattended for a few seconds pop into a shop, for example. And the app is where you activate the scooter’s cruise control. In this mode, the scooter senses when you’re travelling at a constant speed for more than five seconds, beeps, then maintains your speed without the need for you to hold your thumb to the throttle.

Other app features include the option to set whether you want the backlight to always remain on, come on only when braking, or always remain on and flash when you’re braking. And you can also alter the minimum speed that your scooter needs to reach before you can accelerate. By default, this is set to 4km/h, but this can be adjusted between 0km/h and 5km/h. The app also has a social feature called Moments that lets you upload photos and videos to your account for other users to like and comment.

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Ninebot Segway E22E review: Comfort and performance

The Ninebot Segway E22E has some things going for it, but it isn’t my favourite, for a number of key reasons. First, its steerer tube is thick and makes it difficult to grasp with one hand. Other e-scooters weighing much more are more ergonomic to carry because they have slimmer steerer tubes. And, while it is possible to use the handlebar to roll the E22E on its front wheel, I prefer carrying it.

Another major disappointment is battery life. In Speed mode, it dropped from fully charged to zero in less than two hours. Although it’s advisable to ride at lower modes to conserve battery, I preferred to keep the scooter in Speed mode for the extra responsiveness and top speed it provides, and I imagine this is the mode owners will use most of the time.

The motor tends to struggle with inclines, too, even in Speed mode, and Ninebot advises you not to ride it in puddles and rain either. If you’re looking for an all-weather e-scooter, then the new Pure Air Pro makes a better choice.

On the positive side, its wheels have good grip, even on uneven terrain. While I can’t say it’s the best e-scooter with solid rubber wheels – that goes to the Reid E4 Plus – it’s certainly much more comfortable than Ninebot’s ES series.

The scooter reaches its top speed in six seconds and brakes in less than three seconds, which is excellent and on par with the M365. The front brake has KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery System), which means that whenever you use it, the vehicle will feed part of its kinetic energy back to the battery. To brake faster, you can also step on the rear fender. On most other e-scooters, doing this merely drops your speed slightly, but the E22E’s foot brake is very effective.

I’m also a big fan of the scooter’s thick rubber grips, which are supremely comfortable; and the fact that it’s easy to change modes while riding, due to narrow handlebars. Despite appearing very small, the headlight does a good job, illuminating the road around ten metres ahead of you when riding in the dark. Pressing the power button three times in succession to toggle it on and off while riding can be uncomfortable, though, so you should turn on the headlights before you set off.

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Ninebot Segway E22E review: Verdict

The Ninebot Segway E22E isn’t a bad e-scooter, at all. It rides smoothly on tyres that won’t ever puncture and it has some useful features, particularly cruise control. However, it’s undermined by two major shortcomings: it’s uncomfortable to carry for more than a few seconds and it has disappointing battery life.

Sadly, aside from the improved tyres, this e-scooter isn’t a big enough upgrade over the Segway ES series to challenge the best in its price bracket. The best e-scooter for under £400 is still our best budget e-scooter – the Xiaomi M365.

Ninebot Segway E22E: Specs

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