E-Twow Booster V - Powero City (Facelift 2020)

World’s best sub-1000€ ultra-light city scooter

The Booster V (Powero City) is an ultra-light urban model made by the European brand E-Twow. There can be no doubt that it is among the models providing the best weight / compactness / power / comfort / price ratio. The whole Booster series is a clear and sensible choice for the urban environment. Despite their fly-weight, these scooters can handle heavier riders (up to 125 kg) without problems and offer above-standard performance specifications. The sprung rear and front axle provide sufficient comfort that is complemented by extreme foldability thanks to the ingenious folding mechanism and handles. These scooters are maintenance-free and even feature a kinetic energy recovery system (KERS). The E-Twow Booster V - Powero City remains one of the best equipped models. Thanks to its great performance and high-quality strong battery, we recommend it to riders weighing up to 100 kg. In 2020, this model underwent a facelift, receiving a new silicone platform surface that can now be easily cleaned with a damp cloth, new reinforced folding handlebars that eliminate the problem associated with the occasional release of the safety pin and, most of all, a completely new folding mechanism that is much easier to operate. It can be handled by hand and its folding lever is secured by a magnet. If you weigh over 100 kg, or if you are planning to ride uphill or over longer distances and have a slightly bigger budget, have a look at its stronger brother offering 40% more power and 25% longer range – the Booster GT 2020.

Use and practicality

The scooters of Booster series are undoubtedly among the most practical scooters in the world. The single purpose of this model is to be the best solution for the urban environment and it achieves this goal one hundred percent. You can’t expect it to give you a comfortable ride over long distances out of town. Its off-road capabilities are almost non-existent. However, you will gladly sacrifice all that as you simply do not need any of it in the city. What counts in a city is low weight, manoeuvrability, foldability, resistance to bumpy roads and sidewalks. If you add sufficient power, range and fully maintenance-free operation, you get the Booster series, which has virtually no competition in this weight category. You can’t get a flat tire with tubeless wheels made of a patented material. Still, those wheels are sufficiently gripping and, most of all, they are sprung on the front and rear axle, which means that driving this scooter remains comfortable enough for urban distances. The ingenuity of the E-Twow Booster series is its compact storage space. The scooter can be folded in less than ten seconds (and later unfolded) to minimalist dimensions, thanks to which it is smaller than a small briefcase. You can put it under a chair in a café, under a seat in a bus or a train, and you can even fit several of these scooters in a trunk of an ordinary car. When folded, it is less than 15 cm wide, 33 cm high and it is about one meter long, meaning you can fit it almost anywhere. This cannot be said of any other electric scooter with sprung wheels and of similar parameters. The steering rod is very practical. It has an easily adjustable height and can be adapted to both short and tall riders within a few seconds thanks to its quick release mechanism. The latest facelift greatly boosted practicality by significantly improving the folding mechanism, which can now be also operated by hand, adding a new washable silicone platform surface and improving and strengthening the folding handlebars.

Power and range

The Booster Plus V (Powero City) is among the best-equipped models of the Booster series, offering a 500W motor, which is however excellent given the model’s fly-weight of mere 11.3 kg. The platform hides a 36V Li-Ion battery providing 10.5 Ah capacity, which translates to 378 Wh of stored energy. This combination of power and battery gives a range of 40 km, which is above standard given the scooter’s weight. Compared to the Plus S+, this model offers a significantly higher battery capacity, namely 21% more energy stored compared to the Plus S+ model. However, where price is not the single decisive parameter, we recommend that you also have look at the GT model. For a small extra, it comes with additional 33% battery energy and operates at a higher voltage, thanks to which it offers higher power of up to 700 W, which you can feel particularly when climbing uphill. Moreover, it features a kickstand and even a mechanical drum brake at the rear. With its parameters, this model remains one of the world’s best products and if you weigh 100 kg or less it will fully cover your needs. Given the excellent power and specs, we recommend the Booster V model to riders weighing up to 100 kg, for who this scooter will meet all their needs. The scooter’s performance allows reaching speeds of up to 36 km/h, which is more than enough in a city. It can carry heavy riders on a flat surface and is capable of handling small climbs with riders weighing up to 100 kg. However, if you need to frequently drive uphill, definitely consider the latest GT version. We recommend that you check the comparison table below where you can see the parameters of the entire E-Twow scooter family.

Comfort

Many customers are afraid of scooters with tubeless wheels because of less comfortable ride. However, the entire Booster series uses solid tires made of a patented material. And although they will never be as soft as tires filled with air, they do spring a little and have a particularly good grip. These wheels greatly contribute to the overall comfort as they can not be pierced and, therefore, you can not get a flat tire. As a rider, you get much better confidence and enjoyment since you know that you will always arrive to your destination on time and you do not have to worry about your tire pressure or getting a flat tire. This alone is of great value as with 8-inch wheels punctures are very frequent in a city on models featuring air-filled tires. If you drive daily, these wheels can typically save you a puncture a month. Moreover, the Booster V (Powero City) model comes with a sprung front and rear wheel, which enhances both comfort and safety. Thanks to the sprung wheels, you won’t fall off the scooter should you accidentally hit a hole or a bump. The front and rear springs are easily replaceable and we keep them in stock. The recommended replacement interval is approximately 3000 km. The rear spring has an adjustable pre-load. This means that you can adjust it to the rider’s weight and thus change the scooter’s ground clearance. The features such as automatic, sensor-operated front light, well-arranged display, cruise control, extremely low weight and, above all, fully maintenance-free operation all contribute to enhanced comfort. You don’t have to worry about anything, just charge it and ride it. The brake is of electromagnetic type, which means that it does not require maintenance, adjusting, or replacing brake pads. It even recharges your battery when you brake. The riding comfort is above average in this weight category, although it naturally can not match models equipped with air or oil shock absorbers. However, no such models exist in this weight category. The comfort of ownership is ultimate with this scooter. It does not require anything, except for charging and occasional regular servicing. The height-adjustable steering rod contributes to better comfort. The scooter can be easily adapted to riders of different height, meaning that the whole family can ride it. As part of the 2020 facelift, it received a new silicone platform surface that can be easily cleaned with a damp cloth and also a completely new folding mechanism. It greatly contributes to the folding comfort as it can be operated by hand. The folding handlebars have been improved as well and are now stronger and more comfortable.

Safety

The Booster series boasts several safety-enhancing features. The integrated sensor-operated automatic light is a huge advantage. You don’t have to think about switching on the lights anymore. The lights are strong enough to be clearly visible even in twilight, not just during night hours. We consider tubeless tires to be an advantage as you can’t get a flat tire and you do not have to check them regularly as these tires last thousands of kilometres. The sprung chassis is a huge safety advantage as it protects you in situations that would undoubtedly lead to a fall when riding fixed chassis scooters. The chassis can handle small holes and bumps that you not always manage to notice when moving fast. However, it should be noted that it comes with specific safety disadvantages that need to be taken into account when riding the scooter. The manufacturer went for an extremely low weight while attempting to achieve maximum foldability and maintenance-free operation. In terms of low weight, these scooters hold the world’s first place. However, making the scooter lightweight had to manifest somewhere else. That is why the scooter does not feature any standard mechanical brake, which was replaced by an electromagnetic brake capable of braking the front wheel rather effectively while simultaneously recharging the battery. The braking effect is well controlled with a brake lever. However, it requires some practice and anticipation. That is why we recommend riding the first few kilometres with more caution until you get used to this way of braking. The rear wheel brakes by pressing your foot down on the fender. This braking method is surprisingly effective and you can easily lock the rear wheel completely. This again requires a bit of training. However, when you get used to it, it will come completely natural to you and you will be able to stop the scooter safely with a little anticipation and by riding sensibly. During our measurements, it was consistently able to stop from 20 km/h over a distance of 4.2 m and from 25 km/h over a distance of 6.3 m. It goes without saying that models with a mechanical front and rear brake can brake better and an experienced rider can always stop over a shorter distance with such scooters. However, such scooters are usually quite heavier and require more maintenance. Therefore, always keep a sufficient distance for braking when riding this scooter (as well as any other model). Slow down whenever there is a chance of a person crossing your path. In this electric scooter series, a rear mechanical drum brake is featured in the SXT Light Plus V eKFV model (limited to 20 km/h) and in the E-Twow Booster GT 2020 model. All other models are equipped identically to the Booster V model with a regenerative and foot brake.

Design

The design of the entire Booster series is strictly subject to functionality – minimum possible weight and compactness. That is why the scooter sacrificed certain design features, uses basic shapes and comes with an industrial look. The minimalist dimensions and weight necessitated minimalist design featuring basic shapes. Nevertheless, these shapes create a comprehensive feeling, to which one quickly gets used to. The cabling is integrated into the scooter chassis, being led inside the steering rod and inside the scooter body, which means that the minimalist design is not disturbed by loose cables. The display, its controls and headlights are elegantly positioned in a manner so that they are always at hand while driving. Thanks to its compactness, the scooter is incredibly small and looks truly elegant when folded. That is why it looks great in a restaurant or café where it fits nicely and does not look inappropriately or improperly. With its design, it actually looks lighter than it really is. The average observer does not even notice at first glance that this is a powerful, self-propelled electric scooter. People rather consider it belonging to the family of classic motorless scooters. As part of the new facelift, the Booster V (Powero City) model received a beautiful new silicone platform surface, a newer folding mechanism and new foldable handlebars, thanks to which it now looks more compact and elegant than before the facelift.

Our rating

All models made by E-Twow are among our most popular and, at the same time, best-selling scooters. They are undoubtedly the world’s best ultra-light electric city scooters. There are no other scooters that would beat them in this weight and performance category. Hundreds of manufacturers failed to surpassed them and will probably not surpass them any time soon. E-Twow has been specialising in ultra-light scooters for ten years and that is why they possess the best expertise in this category. Unlike other brands, they are focusing on what they do best. That is why we believe that they shall reign in this category for a long time. The Booster V is the best ultra-light sub-1000€ electric scooter in the world. However, as the comparison table shows, the GT model has even better specs, which are worth every extra penny. The absence of mechanical brake is a huge advantage in terms of maintenance, which is practically zero with this model. On the other hand, it requires slightly better riding skills and the rider’s ability to anticipate and engage the rear wheel brake when needed. With these scooter series, we keep hundreds of spare parts in stock and we know this scooter by heart. So, by buying this scooter you can be sure of a quick repair should something happen to your scooter. The original accessories come as a big advantage as they are tailored to the scooter, such as a practical holder for easier transporting of items, wheeled backpack for carrying the scooter on the back (it can be pulled like luggage), practical pocket installed on the steering rod (for instance, for a charger or wallet), and a mobile phone holder. You can also buy the second charger, allowing you to have one at home and the other at work. The quality of this scooter series is also evidenced by the fact that other brands have been purchasing these scooters from E-Twow and re-selling them under their own brand as they’ve been unable to manufacture scooters of such specifications by themselves – e.g. SXT (Germany), Uscooters (USA), Zoom (Asia), Powero (Central Europe). With us, you will always receive an original E-Twow product with all the latest improvements as we deal directly with the manufacturer and we are the exclusive dealer of this brand. The same applies to the Booster V model, which we are offering with the latest facelift, including a new silicone platform surface, new handlebars and, in particular, a significantly improved folding mechanism.

Service

We are the exclusive distributor and dealer of the E-Twow brand in Slovakia, Czechia and Ukraine. We provide direct warranty and post-warranty servicing, which is arranged at our stores in Prague, Brno, Bratislava and Uzhhorod. We keep most spare parts in stock and we are the only certified provider of warranty and post-warranty repairs. Therefore, when buying this scooter, you do not have to worry about servicing or availability of spare parts. Thanks to directly representing the manufacturer, we can handle difficult repairs and diagnostics. We maintain excellent and above-standard relations with E-Twow and our technicians are trained directly at the production plant, which is why we can provide fast warranty and post-warranty service. Moreover, the scooters do not have to be sent for inspection half-way across the globe.

About the brand

E-Twow is one of the oldest electric scooter brands in the world. They’ve been producing electric scooters for ten years. It is one of the few brands based in Europe, namely in Germany (near Stuttgart) and also in Romania. The brand was founded by Dr. Sorin Sirbu who continues to personally supervise the production taking place in China (which is also the case with other scooter brands). The amazing thing about E-Twow is that even after ten years they keep pursuing their original goal – to produce the best ultra-light electric city scooters. It is perhaps thanks to the fact that they didn’t get lured into new segments and keep improving their scooters that with each passing year these scooters get always a little better and more reliable. By gradual evolution, they came up with models that have no competition in the world and are unbeatable in terms of weight / performance / comfort / foldability ratio. They are sold in more than 40 countries, while the company also focuses on environmental aspects of its production. We have maintained excellent relationships with E-Twow for many years and we see them working with enthusiasm and conviction to achieve environmental-friendly personal electromobility that makes sense.