Mobility solutions in the form of electric scooters have already invaded our streets, and in some cases the sidewalks. That is why NIU, which has always been at the forefront of this type of device, has decided to bet heavily on providing an alternative in the mid-range of electric scooters for all audiences.
We analyze and value this NIU KQi3 Sport, the intermediate version of the range with great autonomy, a lot of speed and some important details. Discover with us all its characteristics, why you should get one of them and, above all, what its most negative points are.
Technical characteristics
This NIU KQi3 Sport has a motor with a nominal power of no more and no less than 300W, this means that we are "above average" in this regard. However, we must never forget the fact that in Spain, the country where we have tested and analyzed this electric scooter, the maximum speed of this type of device is limited to 25 kilometers per hour, that is, a speed much lower than the device would be able to navigate easily.
It offers through its application (which we will talk about later) up to four different driving levels, although in our analysis we have focused on the standard mode and the low consumption mode, the two that are predetermined by the single button control that controls the small screen of this electric scooter whose price is below 500 euros.
The battery capacity is 7,8 Ah and its motor, although in terms of performance it may not seem like anything to write home about, is mainly focused on offering reliability and, above all, durability. Thus, NIU promises smooth climbs on slopes with an incline of up to 15% and a life expectancy of at least ten years, an extreme that they obviously do not guarantee by extending the warranty, so we will not be able to go beyond its advertising objective.
We have been able to observe that in ambient temperature conditions the engine has heated up considerably, although not conspicuous, which can worsen in summer. This should not affect performance very negatively if we take into account that the battery is located in another location, so it is not an overwhelmingly negative detail.
tires and battery
We have 9,5-inch tubeless pneumatic wheels specifically, although they are advertised as 10-inch. The lithium-ion battery has a capacity of 365Wh, Or what is the same, 7,8 Ah approximately, for a total voltage of 46,8V.
These NIU batteries are well proven in other devices of the brand and have served to earn a name in this type of electric mobilities such as mopeds, motorcycles and scooters.
In short, we are offered up to 40Km of autonomy in the Sport version, an integrated intelligent battery management system that we have not been able to decipher, and around five hours if we need to fully charge the battery of our electric scooter.
Charging is carried out through a proprietary card port and a power supply that has a traditional plug at the other end. This external power supply takes some weight off the device but is tedious to transport, so we have to imagine that it is primarily intended for charging at home or in the garage.
All the autonomy information is found within the official NIU application, so we will not have any problems in this regard. In this way, although it marks 40Km of autonomy, this will occur in specific conditions, and our tests have produced a very close figure, but not exact. I can certify that with our daily use we have reached 35/37 km of autonomy, more than enough.
The 9,5-inch tubeless tires allow us to roll with relative comfort and consistency. They are of quite high quality and are somewhat thicker than what other brands are used to mounting, another quality detail from NIU. We will be able to circulate through the most common terrains without problems thanks to its diameter.
Being tubeless They help a lot with cushioning, absorbing well the irregularities of the terrain.
Design and materials
We find a classic design, made of aluminum and specifically sizing certain areas of the scooter to provide it (in theory) with greater stability. Thus, the handlebar has a length of 54 centimeters and an angle of inclination of 75 degrees to accommodate the needs of the user, which directly influences its driving.
- IP54 resistance
- Size: 1173 mm x 541,5 mm x 1202 mm
- Weight: 18,4 Kg
The support surface has grown (60×17 centimeters), Although both feet do not fit together, at least those of a standard adult man, they are quite comfortable. The total weight of the scooter is approximately 18,4 Kilograms, promising to support between 100 and 120 Kilograms of weight in total.
This support surface is made of a fairly quality non-slip rubber that is comfortable, one of the hallmarks of NIU's identity and quality.
security and application
We have had a scare, because the brake has failed us in normal conditions, in our case the cable has been "loosened" by the pin, which will not necessarily be a problem of the brand, since it is solved by tightening the nut, but rather from this test unit that NIU gave us. Nevertheless, a single front brake seems completely insufficient to us, since it has given us forward on occasion.
- Rear brake light.
- High-power Halo Headligt on the front: We have been surprised by its lighting power, up to 20 meters with 5W.
- Mechanical bell, classic and lifelong.
The NIU app is very easy to set up, It offers us the possibility of adjusting regenerative braking parameters, geolocating and blocking the scooter, and it even has a driving mode that transmits data in real time, a real blast.
Editor's opinion
We find this NIU KQi3, a scooter with great autonomy features, details that make the difference and some other deficiency as in the case of the braking system. Otherwise, a competitive price below the $500 in most points of sale, the decision is now yours.
Pros and cons