Lenovo, a tech company best known for their PCs and laptops, has hopped on to the alternative mobility game with their launch of M2 electric scooters in the Philippines. With the limited travel options and concerns over riding public transport these days brought by the ongoing pandemic, Lenovo’s M2 Electric Scooter provides a fun, compact and affordable two-wheeled option for Pinoy commuters.

While many people have turned to bicycles and motorcycles this the past year, electric scooters offer a smart alternative for personal mobility. 

First of all, driving an e-scooter has a faster learning curve and requires very little physical exertion compared to biking. Owners aren’t required to have a driver’s license and you don’t need to get vehicles registered like motorcycles. E-scooters are generally more affordable and eco-friendly because you don’t need to gas them up or undergo frequent maintenance.

At first glance, it may look like a kid’s toy, but don’t underestimate e-scooters. The Lenovo M2 has a top speed of 25 kph and can travel up to 30 km in one full charge. That’s just 5 km short of the distance from UP Diliman to Boso-Boso Highlands Resort and Hotel along the Marikina-Infanta Highway. For comparison, the average speed of urban cyclists biking at a relaxed pace is about 12 – 16 kph.

I had the chance to review the Lenovo M2 electric scooter for a couple of weeks, and here’s what I can share about this nifty gadget.

Design

Because of the novelty of electric scooters compared to more mainstream bicycles, they’re pretty eye-catching on the road. 

The sleek M2 was designed to match Lenovo’s laptops, with a matte black exterior and overall clean aesthetic. A few bright red accents add a bit of energy to the overall minimalist design. The scooter comes with a grey rubber foot mat and grips, along with 8.5-inch wheels and honeycomb tires, for a rugged touch. The e-scooter actually comes in a white variant as well, which might appeal more to the millennial crowd and women.

The scooter’s magnesium and aluminum alloy-made frame is stable enough to support a load of up to 120kg. It comes with an IP54 rating, making it suitable for riding under light rain or dusty terrain.

Measuring 1115mm x 1115mm x 515mm, the M2 electric scooter features a three-second one-step folding system. The two-wheeler travel companion becomes even more compact at 1130mm x 503mm x 515mm when folded.

Features 

The M2 features a simple digital instrument panel that displays basic information including speed, gear used, mileage, and battery life. It also comes with mobile app control and Bluetooth support, so riders can easily connect their scooter to other devices or accessories to track and map their rides.

To get started, all you need to do is switch a single button on the middle bar beneath the handlebars. The same button is also used to activate LED headlights and tail lights for night commuting.

With a little shove off the road to get the speed to 3 kph, you push down thumb-operated throttle on the right handlebar and you’re off. The non-zero start-up is an added security feature. On the left side of the handlebar is a brake lever, and bell.

The e-scooter also comes with a cruise control function that automatically maintains and controls constant speed while moving, so you don’t have to keep pressing down all the time to move forward. This can help lessen hand fatigue, especially during longer drives. The M2 electric scooter also supports speed shifting so users can quickly change gears.

Promising great performance with a focus on rider safety and protection, Lenovo’s electric scooter comes with a 350-watt motor and 7.5Ah high-capacity battery. The two-wheeler can achieve a top speed of 25 km/h and can travel up to 30 km, when fully charged.

To maintain optimum performance while on the road, Lenovo installed an intelligent battery management system that protects the electric scooter’s power unit against common issues like short-circuiting, overcurrent, overcharge, over-discharge, and extreme temperatures.

In terms of safety, Lenovo’s e-scooter has an innovative triple-brake system. Apart from the electronic brake, the scooter is also equipped with a disc and pedal brake for added protection against sudden accidents.

The electric scooter also comes with a triple-damping system composed of a hidden shock absorption, spring shock absorption, and honeycomb tire shock absorption to ensure stability and comfort while on the road.

Specifications

• Model: M2
• Weight: 15 kg
• Tire size: 8.5 inches
• Max speed: 25 km/h
• Travel distance (fully charged): 30 km
• Battery: 36V-7.5Ah
• Max load: 120 kg
• Max include: 15°
• Motor: 350W
• Damping system: hydraulic + hidden + tire absorption
• Braking system: electronic + disk + pedal brake
• LED display: Speed, mileage, gear, time
• Light system: LED headlight, 8m long range
• Charger rate input voltage: 110-220V
• Charging time: 3-4 hours
• Size (folded): 1130m*503mm*515mm
• Size (unfolded): 1115mm*1115mm*515mm

Field Test Notes

Like segways and unicycles, electric scooters are still a bit of a novelty these days and are very eye-catching on the road. Kids tend to point and get excited when they see you riding by on one. You also feel a slight air of superiority just zipping past people walking along the road and cyclists huffing away, when all you have to do is press on a button.

The compact size of the EKS makes the Lenovo M2 ideal for condo dwellers in urban areas who may not have garages or enough space at home for larger vehicles like bicycles. You can easily wheel this up ramps to enter buildings and bring it into elevators. For those who commute to work, bringing it inside the office and stashing it under a desk during the day shouldn’t be a problem. 

According to Lenovo, the shock absorbers on the M2 guarantee a smooth ride. However, I really felt all the humps, potholes and zebra crossings around the neighborhood while I was riding it around. Perhaps those living or working in areas where roads are better maintained like the BGC area or Makati would appreciate it more. It makes sense to just slow down or dismount and wheel it over over patches of rough roads.

I normally use a bicycle for short errands, but I found that the e-scooter was a pretty fun way to get around. If you need to pick up food from a restaurant or go on quick errands nearby just 10 to 15 kilometers away, this nifty gadget will get you where you need to go without you breaking a sweat. It’s pretty easy to maneuver and you can easily carry it up sidewalks or bring inside establishments if needed. 

One concern I had was I wasn’t sure how to lock it up and I didn’t want to leave it unattended, so I just tried to keep it close and keep an eye on it at all times. During the review period, only al fresco dining was allowed, so it was easy enough to bring to restaurants, but I’m not sure how the reception would be inside malls and enclosed spaces in the future. But apparently you can lock it electronically using your phone by installing the app.

While the M2 was pretty fun to ride around as long as roads were paved and flat, carrying it up buses or up stairs (like flyovers) can feel a bit tough because the M2 weighs around 15 kilos.

Price 

The Lenovo M2 electric scooter is officially priced at P19,995 and is available at official resellers and exclusive stores nationwide starting March 27, 2021. Lenovo is currently offering it a discounted launch promo price of just P16,995 through the Lenovo Mobile Flagship Store via the Lazada app.

Verdict

E-scooters are one of the allowable forms of private transport during the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) period in the Philippines and it could be a safer option for personal mobility and errands among those who don’t know how to ride bikes or are still too afraid to learn how to drive a motorcycle.

An electric scooter can be a great option for those who never learned to ride bikes growing up, because learning to ride on an e-scooter is much easier than learning to ride a bike as an adult.

Electric scooters are designed to be smaller, lighter and easier to manage than e-bikes. Since e-scooters are lower to the ground in a standing position, riders are able to easily hop on and off, which can be easier than dismounting bicycles, especially in high-traffic situations.

I’d say having an e-scooter is ideal for those living 5-10 kilometers from their workplace who want something to use for daily commuting and don’t have secure bike parking on their premises. You can easily bring this to work and stash it while it’s not in use.

An added appeal for women and office workers is that you can wear pretty much anything while riding an e-scooter since you’re in an upright standing position the whole time. Girls can wear skirts or dresses while riding this or you could be dressed in formal office attire and not really break a sweat, making it a good choice for those heading to office.

Lastly, there’s not a lot of fun stuff you can do these days in cities because of the ongoing pandemic, and going around on an e-scooter to rediscover nearby destinations for urban sightseeing and for errands can inject a bit of fun and adventure in your everyday routine.  

The affordable price, low maintenance cost, great portability and storage, and the fact that you don’t need a license and registration to own an e-scooter makes it a good mobility option for Pinoys looking for an alternative to biking, roughing it out with public transportation or walking.