In the past decade, commuter scooters have grown in popularity as an alternate mode of transportation to automobiles. With their portable, durable, lightweight builds and low carbon footprint, it isn’t hard to see why more and more riders choose them for urban commutes.
There are loads of scooter brands on the market, but we’re taking a look at the Apollo City, an electric scooter with many standout features. We go over the good, the bad, and the ugly, so you’ll know whether it’s the right electric scooter for you or not.
Apollo City Review: At a Glance
The Apollo City boasts a decent top speed, a powerful motor, adequate range, and smooth ride quality. And we can’t help but gush over the scooter’s LED lights because they illuminate the scooter’s stem and deck. However, it isn’t the best electric scooter for steep inclines.
Pros:
- LED lights provide safer commutes at night
- Adjustable height
- Durable and lightweight
- Highly portable once folded
- Decent 25 mph top speed
- IP54 water-resistant
Cons:
- Inadequate off-road function
- Handlebars come loose after long rides
- The battery charge is a little long
Speed & Acceleration
The Apollo City electric scooter has very responsive acceleration, so riders can expect to hit speeds of 15 mph in under 5 seconds. Given that most electric scooters in the same price bracket take longer to get going, that’s a rare feat.
Propelling the Apollo City to its 25 mph top speed is a 600W brushless motor with a peak output of 800W. Riders can switch between 3 riding modes, capping the scooter’s top speed to varying degrees.
Battery
The Apollo City features a 48V 13.2Ah lithium-ion battery made by Dynavolt, a well-known manufacturer of electric motorbike batteries. This battery’s lifespan is incredibly long, equating to approximately 500 to 1000 charge cycles. When using the charger that comes with the scooter, it takes 5 hours to charge. However, using a fast charger reduces this time to 3 hours.
Extending the battery’s life is a smart power management system that protects it from short-circuiting, overcharging, and other electrical faults so that there’s no energy lost. The Apollo City also comes with regenerative braking, so battery power is conserved when it comes to a stop.
Range & Climb
When ridden in the default mode, the Apollo City provides a range of 22 miles on a single charge, which is fine for most urban commuters. Even better, switching the scooter’s ride settings to “eco mode” increases its range to 28 miles. Keep in mind that these distances may vary based on factors like the terrain and the rider weight.
Being a single motor scooter, the Apollo City isn’t built to tackle steep inclines. So, while Apollo claims the City is capable of scaling inclines up to 15%, manage your expectations with regards to its hill-climbing power.
Portability & Weight Limit
We can’t talk about the Apollo City specifications without discussing its folding mechanism that reduces the scooter’s dimensions in 3 seconds. Once folded, the scooter is incredibly portable and can be stored easily without worrying about any of its parts getting snagged against the storage area.
Also, its lightweight construction makes transporting the Apollo scooter an easy task, even on public transport.
On average, electric scooters within Apollo City’s price bracket can only carry a maximum load of 230 lbs. In contrast, the City can bear weights up to 260 lbs, making it a scooter that heavier-set riders can appreciate.
Brakes & Suspension
The Apollo City has a triple braking system consisting of a disc brake in the front of the scooter and a rear drum brake. It also has mechanical brakes on both wheels and a regenerative brake with the drum brake in the rear wheel to conserve its battery power.
Riders don’t have to worry about getting a brain massage when traveling over bumps and cracks in the road, as Apollo City offers the most comfortable ride possible. All thanks for that goes to the scooter’s front spring suspension system and dual spring suspension in the rear brake, which, together, provide a pleasant ride quality.
Notably, other scooters in the same price range as the Apollo City forgo spring suspension altogether and hydraulic suspension in particular. As such, this electric scooter earns extra points for including dual suspension to go with its dual mechanical brakes.
Wheels
The Apollo City has 8.5 inch pneumatic tires or air-filled tires, which provide a smooth ride quality when traveling through urban cityscapes. These tires also handle cracks and bumps on the road just fine and help with shock absorption.
Not to mention, they provide better grip and traction, with the rear tire working overtime to smooth out any vibrations rattling through the scooter.
However, being air-filled, these tires aren’t great for off-road travel, as they’re susceptible to punctures. This makes the City a little high maintenance compared to other scooters with solid rubber tires. So, it’s best to stick to smoother terrain when riding Apollo City.
Deck, Frame & Build Quality
Riders have a lot of room for their feet on the Apollo City’s deck. Also, it’s covered in grip tape cut in a geometric pattern, providing stability to the rider and the reassuring sensation of glued-in feet. You’ll find the scooter’s kickstand in the middle of the deck when you want to prop it up while stationary.
Additionally, the scooter’s forged aluminum frame is a sleek design, giving it solidity while making the Apollo City incredibly lightweight. The scooter also has a collapsible stem, which helps with its comfort, as it can accommodate different rider heights.
Handlebars
One of the standout features of Apollo City is its adjustable handlebar height. It gives riders greater flexibility in the ways they can adjust their riding posture. The Apollo City also features foldable handlebars, significantly reducing the space it takes up when folded.
Additionally, the handlebars on this electric scooter are spring-loaded with threaded interiors, making them easy to screw and tighten into position. Unfortunately, that means they do come loose when the electric scooter has been ridden over a long distance. So, you’ll have to tighten the handlebars before and after every ride.
Display
A QS-S4 display embedded between the handlebars of the Apollo City tells you everything you need to know about their electric scooter. You can monitor stats like battery level, distance, and speed. Additionally, these stats are presented in a bold, brightly-colored font and large image icons for maximum legibility no matter the weather or time of day.
Moreover, you’re able to tell which ride mode you’re driving in and switch to cruise control. In addition to saving battery life by riding in cruise control mode, you’re also able to customize settings, such as instant acceleration or kick and go. So, you tailor the scooter’s behavior to your exact preferences.
Lights
Lighting is where Apollo City stands out. The bright blue LED light strips along its stem and its under deck lighting render this electric scooter hard to miss in the dark. Accordingly, you can use the Apollo City as a commuter scooter during the nighttime.
This electric scooter also features bright dual headlights embedded into the handlebar, which help the rider to see the dark road ahead of them. At the rear of the scooter, there are other red dual headlights that signal to vehicles behind it that the rider is braking.
Water Resistance
The Apollo City has an IP54 water-resistance rating. Therefore, this electric scooter will fare well when driving in light rain or over shallow puddles.
However, this scooter can’t withstand heavier rainfall, storms, or snow. Given that the warranty on the Apollo City doesn’t cover damage caused by water, it’s best not to use it under such conditions.
Warranty & Support
The Apollo team offers a 24-month warranty on its City electric scooter. The warranty provides full coverage on any defects due to the manufacturing process discovered in the first year of purchase. And if you return the electric scooter for repairs or replacement, Apollo will cover the shipping cost, which can only be described as exceptional customer service.
Moving on, Apollo’s warranty offers coverage on a cost for parts basis for any issues that occur during the second year. This means the customer only has to bear shipping costs and the cost of the repairs. Apollo scooters usually come with generous warranties, and the warranty offered on this scooter is no exception.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Ride the Scooter During Winter?
It depends. If you live in an area that’s prone to heavy snowfall, then riding the scooter during winter won’t be a good idea. Also, low temperatures affect the battery’s ability to hold a charge. Though not a permanent issue, you’ll notice a reduction in the scooter’s range until the seasons change.
Finally, you might be prone to slips when making turns. Therefore, it’s better to wait until the temperature increases before venturing out with your Apollo City.
Is a Helmet Necessary When Riding Apollo City?
It isn’t mandatory to wear a helmet while riding an electric scooter like Apollo City. However, it’s advisable to do so for your safety. While not as fast as cars, electric scooters have high top speeds. In addition, even with a triple braking system, anything could happen.
Do You Need a License to Ride an Electric Scooter?
No, you don’t need a license when riding an electric scooter in the United States. This is because most States view electric scooters as being in the same category as electric bicycles, and the latter mode of transportation doesn’t require a license.
Does the Apollo City Connect to an App?
No, it doesn’t. The Apollo brand is yet to create an app for the City in either the App Store or Google Play store, and it doesn’t have Bluetooth capabilities.
Final Thoughts
Ultimately, the Apollo City electric scooter speaks for itself. The scooter’s powerful motor, rapid acceleration, and dual braking system of drum and disc brake are hard to come by in this price bracket. In addition, its folding handlebars add to its portability by taking up less storage space.
However, its standout feature is its lights, which run alongside the scooter’s body. They elevate this scooter in terms of design and also safety. And the icing on the cake is Apollo’s generous 24-month warranty, providing a replacement scooter for any manufacturing defects discovered. Overall, Apollo City is a decent budget scooter that urban commuters will love.
