What distance are they capable of?
Depending on the rider’s weight and terrain, up to 80km. Similar to a petrol powered vehicle, the harder you ride it the less distance you will get from it. In typical conditions where there are slight inclines, expect 50-70kms. On the flat, going on a consistent slow speed setting, expect 70-80kms
See more detail here: Range & Speed
How do I charge the Cruiser S?
1. Use the round shaped key to turn in keyhole behind front wheel - which will pop open the trapdoor /plastic panel on footboard
2. Lift the battery slightly and unplug cable from base of battery
3. Remove battery fully or leave sitting on scooter
4. Plug Charger into wall, then plug battery into charger using the SMALL ROUND PLUG
5. Charger should have a fan sound and 2 red lights (if there is an issue with charging i.e. no fan sound, do not leave charging unattended)
6. When charged one light will go green, and fan will stop
7. Plug battery into scooter and replace trapdoor
8. Insert key and turn 1 or 2 clicks (1 click = running light, 2 clicks = full headlight)
9. The lights on the HUD will light up the first one is always red, the others are green, as you use up battery the green lights will flicker and turn off as you ride
NB: the process is similar with the Cruiser & Mini except you just directly plug the charger into the charging port behind the front wheel of the scooter (as the battery is fixed not removable)
SAFETY MESSAGE
**LI-ION ARE POWERFUL BATTERIES STORING A LOT OF ENERGY- BEST PRACTICE IS TO CHARGE LARGE LI-ION BATTERIES WHILE ATTENDED AND HAVE A WORKING SMOKE ALARM AND FOAM EXTINGUISHER HANDY, AND ALWAYS MAKE SURE CHARGER HAS AIRFLOW AROUND IT WHILST CHARGING**
How long do they take to fully charge?
Cruiser S (with removable Battery) - Around 6-8 hours. (8 hours from dead flat).
Cruiser and Mini - Around 4-6 hours. (6 hours from dead flat).
From a standard 240v NZ power plug with the provided charger
--You will know when fully charged as one of the red indicator lights will go green--
See more charging battery care and safety instructions here: Battery Care
SAFETY MESSAGE
**IF YOU HAVE ANY ISSUES WITH CHARGING
I.E. FAN NOT ACTIVATING OR BATTERY NOT HOLDING CHARGE
- UNPLUG AND CONTACT SUPPORT
- DO NOT JUST 'LEAVE IT ON'**
What is the power output?
1200W Motor
72 Volt / 20Ah Battery
Tyre Pressure - what should it be?
Keep the tyres between 16-20psi (front and rear the same) - at the lower end the ride will be a little softer but it will reduce range slightly, can fill at local gas station
Tyre Puncture - what do I do?
Bound to happen at some stage, you will need to pop into a local tyre repair shop that has the ability to fit small diameter wheels - some car tyre shops cannot though some will happily help out - in Auckland we go to Scootling in Grey Lynn, or our local tyre shop in Henderson - they generally charge less than $20. Hot Tip - carry a can of tyre sealant on longer trips - simply fill the tyre and ride away this can get you several kilometres safely (beats pushing).
If the tyre is not repairable, or you need a new one - we always have new tyres in stock so contact us and we will be happy to help.
Where is the battery?
It’s hidden under the footrest, shielding it from the elements and keeping a low centre of gravity. It’s also easily removable
What’s the cost of a new battery and how long should it last?
$490 (12ah), $790 for the 20ah - and around 1000-1200 charge cycles. Charging daily for 3-4 years (dependent on the climate (temperature / humidity etc.) you use and store the scooter in).
Where is the motor?!
The motor is inside the back wheel, referred to as a “Hub Motor”. Also shielding it from the elements
What is the top speed?
40-50 Km/h depending on riders weight, load, terrain, surface, gradient
What are the 3 speed settings?
L(Low) = 25Km/h, D(Drive) = 35Km/h, S(Sport) = 45-50Km/h
What maintenance is required?
Basically none! Apart from checking tyre pressures, brake fluid and brake pads occasionally, Storm Cruisers offer hassle-free, electric fun!
What is the ground clearance?
15cm/6 inches (model dependent)
Can they handle steep hills?
They can handle slopes up to 30 degrees. If it gets too steep just stand-up and kick it along with one foot like you would an old kick-scooter! - if you feather the throttle lightly you can easily walk up a steep hill beside the scooter
Is it road legal?
Despite meeting all practical / purpose-based criteria of appropriateness as a Mobility Device the NZTA is taking the position that as they 'don't believe that the designers were primarily thinking of mobility usage when they were designing it' that it cannot be classified as a Mobility Device in NZ.
Yes, it apparently does not matter if it works perfectly as a mobility device, and meets all published criteria i.e. motor size and design appropriateness
- it matters what the NZTA ' thinks' the designers were 'thinking'
We are not particularly happy with that decision, but apparently you cannot challenge NZTA directly on a decision. Instead it goes to the police to see if they want to enforce it, and then on to court to decide. This happened with Segway and Segway won - hence the highly ambiguous wording on the NZTA website regarding Segways being mobility or not.
So we officially sell all Scooters/Products as for Off Road/Private Land use only.
NZTA links:
https://www.nzta.govt.nz/vehicles/vehicle-types/low-powered-vehicles/