AirWheel Z5 review - megalopolis transport

Once again, falling into a dead traffic jam, we look enviously at cyclists passing by and make a promise to join the environmentally friendly two-wheeled transport tomorrow.
But most motorists will never reach the store and will not buy a bicycle, making a list of reasons in justification. There is nowhere to put it, protection is needed for it, somehow you need to move with it and park somewhere at work. In addition, pedaling in a shirt and trousers is not so simple, and by the end of the working day, paranoia about stealing a bicycle from a parking lot will quietly turn into an unobtrusive psychosis.
The scooter is much better suited to the title of universal urban transport, especially when it is electric. Our AirWheel Z5 is just that, with carefully thought-out ergonomics and a classic rear wheel drive. Compact, maneuverable, with a range of 20 km and extremely easy to learn for a beginner.
Contents of delivery
AirWheel Z5 is completely ready to use “out of the box” and does not require any tools for assembly. It is enough to bring it into working position and connect the complete battery, after which you can hit the road. The scooter also comes with a branded charger with grounding and a brief instruction manual.

Appearance and design
Externally, distinguishing an AirWheel Z5 from a simple scooter is quite difficult. Classic 8 inch wheels with a unified swap nipple, side fenders, an aluminum frame and a telescopic steering rack - from the last and begin a visual inspection.

Ergonomically shaped handles are installed along the edges of the steering wheel, made of modern elastic materials, guaranteeing a reliable grip during active driving. No extraneous odors and harsh notches that interfere with comfortable use. A standard mechanical bell is installed near the left handle, as well as a cable mechanism for the rear drum brake, like on a regular bicycle.

On the right is a control unit with a gas lever and a charge check button, with three LED sections. All three LEDs indicate a full charge, two LEDs indicate an average level, and one red hints at the last 5 kilometers.

Closer to the center of the steering wheel are two spring clips, pulling which, you can quickly fold it along the rack.

To fold the wheel of the scooter along the body, you need to pull the wide cone base all the way up, lower the rack and fix it with a special groove, similar to a hanger. We also note the USB-powered LED flashlight mounted on the front plug.

The massive AirWheel Z5 frame is literally “wrapped” with electric motor components, so two folding steps are arranged for the legs. Under the left is a tiny stand for parking the scooter on a flat surface.

The rear wheel is almost completely covered by a protective cover that protects the electric motor from mechanical damage, and the wearer from splashes flying from the tire. At the rear there is also an LED brake light that lights up when braking.

The massive block in front of the frame contains all the control electronics and a removable battery. By pulling the lock located on the left sidewall, you can easily replace the battery, or take it home, leaving the scooter, for example, in the trunk of a car.

Despite its impressive size, the lithium-ion battery weighs only 1.33 kg. On the front side there is a power button, a connector for a proprietary network memory and a USB output with a current of 2.1A, to which you can connect a flashlight, or charge any gadget.
Technical part
The AirWheel Z5 scooter becomes technologically advanced thanks to a 350 W motor mounted on the rear wheel with the use of neodymium magnet No. 45 - thanks to its efficiency we get fast acceleration to 20 km / h and confident traction. The drum brake is integrated into the wheel disc, the pads are pressed by a cable drive from the handle on the steering wheel. One-piece rear tire - for a softer ride.
On the front wheel of the scooter is an inflatable tire - with a camera and a standard automobile swap nipple. The fork is equipped with oil shock absorbers with springs, which reduce the impact on the steering wheel when driving on bumps.
| Technical specifications Airwheel Z5 | |
| Max. speed | 20 km / h |
| Range | 18-22 km |
| Motor power | 350 watts |
| Weight | 13 kg |
| Battery | removable lithium-ion, 162.8 Wh |
| Temperature mode | From -5 to + 35 ° С |
| Maximum load | 100 kg |
| Cost | 31 990 r |
Mobile app
Like any technological gadget, the electric scooter AirWheel Z5 is equipped with an on-board computer with the ability to synchronize data with a smartphone via Bluetooth 4.0. The brief instructions clearly describe the process of connecting to a smartphone on iOS or Android, and here we emphasize the ability to set the limit at maximum speed and view data on the current mileage and speed. In addition, the application displays the battery level in percent, and the speed is measured up to a tenth.

Go!
Getting started on the AirWheel Z5 is as easy as starting on a regular scooter. Lean back the steps, rest with one foot and push off with the other.
In principle, on a scooter, you can safely move around the city without a battery, but it’s much more interesting to give in to gas and rush forward. The electric motor thrusts easily enough to undermine up to 10 km / h in just a couple of seconds, just a moment - and now you are confidently moving at a speed of 18-20 km / h, maneuvering the steering wheel and body. The sensations of a silent electric traction cannot be compared with anything, and even if you are a large man weighing under 100 kg, the AirWheel Z5 accelerates you as fast as a 13 year old teenager.

Maneuverability and ease of landing at altitude, but what about the suspension and brakes? Riding on a smooth park pavers does not cause discomfort, but you should be more careful with pits and irregularities, reducing speed to 5 km / h and avoiding obstacles above 3 cm. A significant advantage of the scooter over monowheels and gyro scooters is that it is easy to overcome any curb by lifting technique behind the wheel for a couple of seconds. The rear disc brake with a cable drive is average in efficiency, forgives inexperienced owners sharp braking at speed, and the braking distance from 20 km / h is about 12 meters - depending on the weight of the rider. But you can always brake with your foot and not worry about falls, like on a bicycle.

Through city traffic jams
Riding the AirWheel Z5 on Sunday and feeling the fresh headwind is great, but are you interested in the convenience of everyday use? Despite the similarity in size with an ordinary scooter, ours is much faster and more maneuverable, and therefore we will compare it with a bicycle. The very same bike that does not fit in the passenger elevator and requires a separate ticket in the train, and in the subway can only be with the front wheel unscrewed and in the case. Add to this the physical exertion of pedaling, sweaty clothes from riding in the heat, and big questions about parking in the office.

The scooter is much more practical in terms of storage and carrying, so the AirWheel Z5 can be safely carried with you into the subway car and any public transport, taken with you to the office and put in the corner of the locker room, or parked in a cafe by the table. People around him are loyal to him, but if you stand on the Z5 and give in to gas, the looks of those around you surprised by the speed are guaranteed.

I would also like to emphasize the convenience of mixed movement: by car, public transport and AirWheel Z5. In this situation, you can safely park the car in an intercepting parking lot, with a breeze, get to the nearest metro station, and then just as quickly get from another station to the right place.
We can say that AirWheel Z is not inferior to a city bike in terms of speed of movement in the metropolis, but it is more maneuverable and does not require much physical activity, allowing you to save energy for important tasks.
Nutrition
We told almost everything about the AirWheel Z5, but never mentioned the battery. Here, a quick-detachable battery with lithium-ion batteries from a DP with a total capacity of 4500 mAh (162.8 W / h) is used. A full charge of the battery from a branded charger lasts only a little more than two hours. When traveling at maximum speed, this is enough for the declared 20 km of track. On average, you should count on 1-1.5 hours of engine operation with the trigger pulled, and it is up to you to decide at what speed you will move.

Conveniently, without pressing the gas, energy is practically not consumed, but on the AirWheel Z5 you can move around like on an ordinary scooter, leaving 10-15% of the charge for lifting uphill.
Eventually
A scooter with an AirWheel Z5 electric motor is a maneuverable and technological transport that will fit well into the life of a modern resident of a metropolis. It is more compact and more convenient than a bicycle, more comfortable when moving than a regular scooter, more universal than a scooter or a unicycle, and allows you to build flexible routes in contrast to moving on a car. Yes, the amount needed to buy it is hardly always in the pocket of an ordinary person - but this “investment”, it seems to us, will pay off with interest - by saving time, effort and money on the road.
Advantages:
- folding platform for legs;
- Steering wheel height;
- quick-detachable battery;
- effective lighting and brake light.
Disadvantages:
- on-board computer through the application;
- a lot of protruding metal elements.
