see latest price Our hands-on experience with the Unagi Model One E-Scooter Design, materials & build quality Acceleration? Fuggetaboutit! When one floors the Voyager’s throttle off the line, 1000W of peak power push you like a bat out of hell, leaving other bikes and scooters in the proverbial dust. Oh, and feel free to thank us when you’ve made it to the meeting on time. Ultimate portability And while the Model One straight up Bartleby'd me on even modest hills in single-motor mode ("I'd prefer not to!"), dual-motor mode was able to get me up most of the steeper hills around my neighborhood. I did have to floor the throttle to get it to go about 7 mph up a 20 percent incline, and I'm guessing that anyone bigger than me (a 5' 2" female) would probably have trouble going uphill. In a world where lots of scooters have gotten faster, more complicated, and heavier, Unagi has held the line–keeping its focus on ease-of-use, peace of mind, and short-distance rides, and that means keeping things premium, simple, and lightweight. Physically, the Model One Voyager looks every bit like the Model One Classic, which is all well and good. No one needs to reinvent the wheel – unless, of course, the wheels just aren’t cutting it, which is the case here. It also inherits the Classic’s 7.5-inch solid tires, which to their credit, are puncture-proof due to their nature.

Mode two is ideal for daily riding or commuting and has a top speed of 12 mph. Its balanced throttle means you can keep the scooter at a steady pace. Want to meet other Unagi aficionados such as yourself? Join our Unagi Scooter Club! The Unagi Scooter Club is a community Facebook hub you can use to connect with other riders and access helpful resources! The batteries powering the Unagi Model One come from LG. As such, you can rest assured that they’re high quality. They’re durable, reliable, and built to be long-lasting. As a result, you can enjoy the fact that the Model One should require very little (or even zero) maintenance. However, they are for people who want a portable urban commuter they can take into the coffee shop or leave on display in their living room.

Brilliant Motor

There are both front and rear electric brakes, as well as a rear fender brake. There’s some conjecture about whether electronic brakes are as good as mechanical ones but the Model One’s brakes are a solid example of how good they can be. You need to get to work every day but don't have access to a car (or don't want to pay for one), what options do you have? Hands down, an electric scooter is the number one choice for urban commuting.

If you’re in need of a scooter that can scale steep hills, look no further. This electric scooter can climb up hefty grades with ease—making previously tiresome commutes a total walk (or glide) in the park. RangeThe model we tested is the Unagi Model One E450 Dual Motor. This name signifies its total power, since it has 225W motors in both wheels. There’s also a single-motor 250W model, aptly named the Unagi Model One E250, but this isn’t currently available. The display is bright enough to read easily, even outside during the day; the controls are ergonomic, and the rubberized grips on the handlebars are high-quality silicon rubber. LED lights Mode one is suitable for beginner riders, or eco riding to maximize battery performance, with a top speed of 9 mph. Here, there is a gentle acceleration curve that enables you to feel in control. One thoughtful detail we welcome is the dedicated driving mode button, which can be found above the throttle. It’s small, very similar to the horn button, but it’s easy to press and does make changing driving modes during rides a less stressful affair. Instead of you having to let go of one handle, so you can press the power button that usually moonlights as the driving mode button (at least on other e-scooters), you literally just reach for it with your thumb, much like you would to press the throttle. It’s brilliant.

As you might expect, the trade-off is that dual-motor mode drains the battery much faster. To achieve the best combination of speed, comfort and battery life I found that using the scooter in Intermediate and with only one motor activated was the best option. Switching to dual-motor mode is easily done when you notice a hill ahead but, otherwise, I found it best to preserve the battery’s already-limited range.The Unagi Model One Voyager electric scooter is a poetic masterclass of engineering design, but it isn’t without its faults. The downside of such a sleek and elegant scooter is that it isn’t as robust as larger models. This lightweight ride is rated for riders up to 220 lb. (100 kg), which will fit the majority of us but still precludes more riders than many other larger e-scooters. The manufacturer claims that the scooter has a braking distance of 13 feet (396 cm) on a dry road. However, real-world tests show that the dual electronic brakes have a braking distance of 800 cm – quite suitable for electronic brakes. Additionally, when combined with the rear foot brake, the braking distance reduces to 510 cm. The benefit of airless tyres is that they’re completely puncture-proof. However, you do sacrifice a good degree of comfort over pneumatic tyres. While the Model One electric scooter rides superbly on flat, smooth tarmac, when you’re on paving slabs or any surface that’s less than perfectly smooth, you can feel all the lumps and bumps through your hands and feet. On the handlebars, you'll find the simple console. A power button turns the scooter on and off. A thumb paddle on the left controls the brake; a thumb paddle on the right serves as the accelerator. There's also a small tab to toot the most annoying horn on the planet. The tinny, high-pitched electronic squeak sounds like the noise an iPhone would make if it had a "you're on fire" alert. Another small tab on the handlebars toggles between the ride modes: beginner, intermediate, and advanced. The Unagi Model One also has an electric braking system, as opposed to disc brakes. Though this exhibits superb stopping power, it’s so effective that on several occasions I found it too abrupt, jerking me forward unexpectedly.