Scootering in the age of electrification

This story first appeared in the january issue of evtalk CLICK HERE to download the magazine FREE

The first thing to come out of visitors’ mouths when they enter the Electric Scooter Shop is “wow! Look at these”, shop founder and owner Jonno Leonard says.

A modern electric scooter is a splendid thing, and the store holds the most extensive range of e-scooters in the country.

For those whose experience of electric scooters is limited to an occasional ride on a rental, the notion of a twin-motor off-road scooter, a seated scooter, or an 8kg super-portable scooter is a genuine eye-opener.

For this business, the driving vision is to provide a test-centre environment with specialist knowledge on hand, so any visitor can ride a variety of makes and models, and see what works best for them.

The Electric Scooter Shop has demonstration models on the floor of each and every scooter they sell with around 20 models available.

Customers are encouraged to jump on them and take a spin.

“A customer visit involves some initial discussions about intended usage to establish a criteria match,” Leonard says.

Some factors at play when choosing an e-scooter include rider weight, range requirement, portability needs, the extent of any hills to climb (remembering that unlike e-bikes there is no rider input on a scooter and the motor needs to do all the pulling), and rider ability and agility.

The team can then shortlist some models, and the customer can test ride at their leisure.

Before a new scooter is handed over it is unboxed and assembled, tuned and test-ridden, even if it is being sent out by courier around the country.

The Electric Scooter Shop services the whole of New Zealand through its online shop and consults on requirements over the phone.

The true value of its offering comes from good old-fashioned personal service, demonstration and recommendation, which is best achieved in-store.

“We may be well into the digital and home-delivery age, but the belief here is there is no better way to guarantee the right product match and fit then by calling in and having a go,” Leonard says.

“I believe we are only at the very start of a long adoption curve for personal electric mobility.

“The forms will doubtless shift and develop, and perhaps one day the fabled flying hoverboard from Back to the Future 2 will make a real-world appearance.”

Leonard says that anyone who has taken up e-scootering and halved their commute time is very unlikely to go back to time sitting in traffic and spiralling car costs anytime soon.