SXT MAX 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 anually). One can 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 MAX is the answer for those looking for a robust scooter with improved resistance to elements and high strength, meeting the German eKFV directive governing the use of small electric vehicles. If you think this scooter looks familiar – yes, you are right. This is the scooter used by the largest scooter sharing network Lime (the latest Lime Gen 3 model), being however adapted to the end user. Lime is present almost all over the world in more than 30 countries and more than 120 cities, operating more than 100 000 electric scooters. At Lima, they indeed know how to make a scooter that can last longer. Thanks to this, the SXT MAX is one of the most stable, most heavy-duty and most durable models that can withstand, for instance, running in the rain.

Power and range

The SXT MAX complies with the Germany’s eKFV directive, which is why its speed is electronically limited to maximum 20 km/h. However, a low top speed does not automatically mean low power, which reaches decent 690 W with this model, thanks to which the scooter is can climb uphill with a heavy rider. It is equipped with a 36 V 12.8 Ah lithium battery, which corresponds to 460.8 Wh of stored energy. This energy provides the scooter with a range of 40 km. It is charged with a 2A current and it takes about 6 hours to charge it from zero.

Comfort

Thanks to 10-inch wheels and dual front shock absorber, this scooter is more comfortable than it might seem on paper. It may be equipped with solid wheels and a fixed rear axle, however it does not reach speeds high enough for these factors to actually become a problem. Thanks to its large fenders, it can also handle riding on a wet surface. The kickstand and three brakes further contribute to comfort and allow you to ride the scooter without worrying whether you will be able to brake safely.

Safety

The SXT MAX is definitely one of the safest scooters on the market, which is given not only by its top speed being limited to 20 km/h but also thanks to its brakes. It is actually equipped with three brakes, definitely an above-standard feature. Two of them are drum brakes (one on each wheel) and the third one is an electromagnetic brake with the scooter’s motor assisting in braking. It is activated automatically when using mechanical brakes. If, for any reason, the front drum brake fails as well, the motor itself will continue braking. Naturally, this contributes to longer serviceable life of brake lining. The MAX is equipped with lights integrated into the scooter body and, in addition to them, with side reflectors that are mandatory in Germany under the eKFV directive. Thanks to solid wheels, you can’t get a flat tire and you do not have to check tire pressure. Moreover, these wheels provide relatively good grip. The dual front shock absorber further enhances safety by limiting the transfer of vibrations and impacts to handlebars, thanks to which you will always have your scooter under control. The scooter body is robust and all-metal (strong aluminum), which means that there are no plastic materials that would crack or wear down.

Improved resistance

There are hardly any electric scooter models on the market that would come with official water resistance. The manuals emphasize that electric scooters must not come into contact with water. We deal with drowned scooters in our service shop as the most common cause of malfunction. Repairing these scooters is sometimes expensive as these cases are not covered by manufacturer’s warranty. Given that the SXT MAX is based on a model designed for shared Lime scooters, it also benefits from improved water resistance as the shared scooters are often left standing in the rain. The control unit is IP67 certified – fully dust resistant and resistant to immersion into water to a 1 m depth. The battery is IP54 certified – which means resistance to dust and splashing water. This means that the scooter is not certified for immersion into water nor for high-pressure water stream (it can not handle a high-pressure water cleaner!), but it is resistant to normal rain. This is a huge advantage hardly any other scooter can boast officially. As a whole, the scooter has been built so that it can cope with the urban jungle and long travels through it for many years and without problems, both in terms of mechanical resistance, improved water resistance and with respect to resistance of the electronic components. However, you should not try to submerge this scooter under water. They already tested that for us in Scooterhelden Berlin where they threw it into a river for 5 minutes and it did not turn out well. So, we must wait a little longer for electric scooters designed for divers...

Use and practicality

With its weight of 23 kg, it is surely not the lightest powerful electric city scooter, as that category continues to be ruled by E-Twow. However, it is a reasonable hassle-free alternative with a quite comfortable chassis, mechanical front and rear brake, electric brake and, in particular, with greater emphasis on safety. The scooter is of robust and all-metal design, which naturally got reflected in its weight. However, it counterbalances it with the overall strength and hassle-free operation. The 10-inch wheels are an excellent choice for bad terrain, contributing to riding comfort. Unlike the Lime model, from which it was derived, the SXT MAX is foldable and allows easy transport in a car trunk or in a train as it takes up much less space when folded. The scooter’s great advantage is its high reliability contributing to the good feeling of the SXT MAX always taking you where you need to go.

Our rating

It is a sensible solution for those who are willing to accept more weight and low speed in exchange for better safety and hassle-free operation. 20 km/h is plenty enough for many riders. However, the decision on whether it is enough for you is only yours to make. This speed limit is required in Germany and is not caused by low power of the scooter itself, which can handle travelling uphill thanks to its 690 W motor. If an electric scooter is not your hobby but rather you consider it a practical means of transport, the MAX could be a good choice for you since it requires almost no maintenance, offers decent performance and range and, most likely, 20 km/h is enough for you to move around the city. Moreover, you don’t have to worry about it when it rains. The MAX can be also a good choice for companies that want to provide their employees with a modern mode of transport around the city while maintaining maximum possible safety. In addition to that, this scooter can handle rough treatment by riders who often do not treat it as their own, minimizing the necessary maintenance and prolonging its serviceable life.

Service

We are 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.

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 owner and we often visit the company in person. That is why we can confirm that in our own 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.