SXT Light Plus V eKFV

What is eKFV?

It is the Small Electric Vehicles Directive that came into force in Germany in June 2019, governing the use of small electric vehicles (such as electric scooters) on the public roads in Germany. It requires the vehicles to meet the following requirements, among others:

• they must be equipped with two independent brakes; if one fails, the other must continue braking with the compulsory force
• they must be equipped with compulsory lights meeting the specified visibility parameters
• they must have yellow reflectors on the vehicle side
• they must have at least one bell (horn)
• top speed must be limited to 20 km/h
• they must not exceed 55 kg weight and 500 W power
• they must be equipped with a holder for a miniature license plate that is issued along with the insurance

These vehicles must observe the same regulations as cyclists. A driver’s license is not required and the minimum age is 14 years. A helmet is not mandatory but recommended. In Germany, these vehicles should be primarily using cycling routes. If not available, they may travel on regular roads for cars. It is also possible to ride them on sidewalks, but they should not exceed walking speed (approx. 5 km/h) and they must not pose any threat to pedestrians. The vehicles must have compulsory insurance concluded (costing about €25 - €50 annually). One may receive a police fine of up to €70 for violating these regulations or for riding a vehicle not meeting these regulations in Germany.

The SXT Light Plus V eKFV is an ultra-light urban model made for SXT 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 entire SXT Light (E-Twow 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). Within this series, the SXT Light ranks among better equipped models and complies with the German eKFV directive. Thanks to its decent performance and high-quality strong battery, we recommend it to riders weighing less than 100 kg who need or wish to comply with the eKFV directive.

Use and practicality

The scooters of SXT Light 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, maneuverability, foldability, resistance to bumpy roads and sidewalks. Add to it sufficient power, range and fully maintenance-free operation, and you get this very SXT Light series that has virtually no competition in its weight category. You can’t get a flat tire with solid 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 riding this scooter remains comfortable enough for urban distances. The ingenuity of the SXT Light series comes mainly with its compactness. 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.

Power and range

The SXT Light Plus V eKFV is one of better equipped models in the Light series. It offers 500 W power, which is however excellent given the model’s fly weight of mere 12.3 kg. The lower deck hides a 36 V 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. Unlike the Light Plus model, this scooter operates at a higher voltage and has a noticeably higher capacity. To be precise, it offers 75% more stored energy compared to the Light model. However, where price is not the single decisive parameter and you do not need to comply with the eKFV, 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. However, do not get discouraged. By its parameters, the Light Plus model remains one of the world’s best products and if you weigh less than 100 kg, it will meet your needs.

Given the excellent power and specs, we recommend the Light Plus V eKFV model to riders weighing up to 100 kg, for who this scooter will be sufficient. Its top speed is electronically limited to 20 km/h, which is enough for a city. Naturally, it is being necessitated by the efforts to comply with the German eKFV directive. It can carry heavy riders on a flat surface and is capable of handling small climbs with riders weighing up to 100 kg. 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 solid wheels because of less comfortable ride. However, the entire Light series by SXT uses solid tires made of a patented material. And although they will never be as flexible 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 in 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 SXT Light Plus V eKFV model has 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-stress. 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 comfort. You don’t have to worry about anything, just charge it and ride it. The front 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. This model features rear drum brake, which means that once or twice a year (depending on your riding style) you will need to have your brake lining replaced. 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 your whole family can ride it.

Safety

The SXT Light series boasts several safety-enhancing features. The integrated sensor-operated automatic lighting is a huge advantage as you don’t have to think about switching on the lights anymore. Moreover, the eKFV model features additional front light that meets the new German directive. The lights are therefore strong enough for you to be properly visible even in twilight, not just during night hours. We consider solid 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 kilometers. The sprung chassis is a huge safety advantage because it protects you in situations that would undoubtedly lead to a fall when riding scooters with no suspension at all. 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 a standard mechanical front brake, which was replaced by an electromagnetic front brake braking the front wheel rather effectively while recharging the battery at the same time. 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 kilometers with more caution until you get used to this way of braking. However, the rear wheel of the eKFV model is equipped with an additional independent mechanical drum brake, which is controlled by a larger brake lever on the handlebars, similar to a bicycle. This braking method is surprisingly effective and you can easily lock the rear wheel completely. This means that you can always stop the scooter safely with little anticipation and sensible riding. The braking effect on the rear wheel is controlled much more comfortably than with other models of this SXT scooter series. The additional rear brake on the eKFV model partially eliminates the disadvantages of other models of this series that do not feature any standard mechanical brake. It goes without saying that models with a mechanical front and rear brake can brake better and an experienced rider can stop over a shorter distance with these 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 also featured in the E-Twow Booster GT 2020 model that reaches speeds of up to 40 km/h and offers better performance and greater range. All other models are only equipped with a regenerative brake and a foot brake.

Design

The design of the entire Light series is strictly subject to functionality – minimum possible weight and compactness. That is why the scooter sacrificed certain design features, using basic shapes and coming with an industrial look. The minimalist dimensions and weight necessitated minimalist design utilizing basic shapes. Nevertheless, these shapes create a comprehensive feeling, to which one quickly gets used to. The Plus V model in eKFV version has additional front lighting, reflectors and a brake, which means it comes with little more visible cabling. The rear fender is more massive so that a miniature license plate can be fitted to it. 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 out of place. 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. The Light Plus V eKFV model has side reflectors integrated into the scooter body and also additional yellow side reflectors that, combined with extra lighting and brakes, give this scooter more of a "road" look compared to other models of this series.

Our rating

The entire SXT Light series and 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 surpass them and will probably not surpass them any time soon. E-Twow has been specializing 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 SXT Light Plus V eKFV is a well-equipped model featuring decent battery and power, capable of handling riders weighing up to 100 kg and mild inclines. However, as the comparison table shows, higher-end GT models have a little better specs, which are worth paying extra penny. If you need or want a model that complies with eKFV, this one is among the world's most practical ones. If you give up top speed and do not need to whizz down the road at more than 20 km/h, you get even better safety and more comfortable braking. With this scooter series, we keep hundreds of spare parts in stock and we know these scooters 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.

Service

We are the largest authorized importer and dealer of the SXT brand in Slovakia, Czechia, Hungary 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 certified provider of warranty and post-warranty repairs. Therefore, when buying this scooter, you do not have to worry about servicing or unavailability of spare parts. Thanks to representing the manufacturer directly, we can handle difficult repairs or diagnostics. At the same time, we are the exclusive importer of the E-Twow brand, which manufactures the whole Light series for SXT, which means we have available spare parts and support directly from the manufacturer with whom we maintain good relations and our technicians are trained directly at their production plant.

About the brand

Established in 2005, the SXT is one of the oldest electric scooter brands in the world. It is one of just few brands based in Europe, namely in Germany close to the southern border with Switzerland. The SXT headquarters is in the German city of Rheinfelden where the sales department, design team and the central service shop and warehouse are located in the company-owned building spanning total area of over 3 000 m². The SXT’s strategy is to establish local representations so that customers always have at hand the advice and service in their own region and local language and do not have to solve every issue remotely via the Internet. Voltride is the largest representation of this kind in Central Europe, operating a network of stores in Bratislava, Prague, Brno, Uzhhorod and also an e-shop in Hungary. The production itself takes place in 9 factories located in China that have been carefully selected by SXT to provide high standard and quality of production. They manufacture more than 10 million units per year. SXT ensures regular inspection and presence in the production process so that the high demands are met, as required by SXT from its suppliers. All SXT products meet the European standards (such as CE, ROHS, IQC, IPQC and FQC) and are regularly checked by internal audits so that you can rest assured that by buying genuine SXT products you get a high-quality scooter. SXT warrants it by its own name. Voltride only offers genuine SXT products coming from the European central warehouse, which is why we are able to guarantee their originality. We have established good relationships directly with the SXT's owner and we often visit the company in person. That is why we can confirm that, in our experience, the SXT brand is serious about personal electromobility and believes in the future of this mode of transport with the same passion and enthusiasm as we believe ourselves.