Taiwan is a small island, but its streets are filled with scooters. This little country has more motor bike per capita than any other country in the world. Unfortunately most of these are gas-powered scooters, which is one of the major reasons why Taipei is a city dealing with poor air quality. With a burning need for more environmentally friendly transportation and the government support, it’s no surprise that Taiwan is the home of some of the best and most innovative personal electric scooters, like Gogoro or Qiewa.
Qiewa was founded in 2015, with head office located in Taiwan. With a mission to create an environmentally friendly way of transport, they have created a line of electric scooters that are a combination of cool and stylish design and innovative technology. Qiewa scooters have become very popular in Southeast Asia, and the company is now hoping to establish Qiewa scooters as a recognized brand of electric scooters in the rest of the world, providing a ride for everyone – from urban commuters, to families enjoying a fun outdoor experience to eco-conscious adrenaline junkies.
Qiewa Qmini
Features:
- 500W-48V Motor
- Range: 37miles
- Top Speed: 30 mph
- Front Dual Shock Suspension
- 45° Rear Dual Shock Suspension
- 2 Second Quick-Folding Design
- USB Mobile Phone Charging
- Chassis Height: 12cm
- Weight: 50 pounds
- IP65 waterproof
- Anti-Theft Alarm
- Drum Brakes
I was thinking about going from the smallest to the most powerful scooter, but I just have to start with the Q-Mini. This is one of the fastest, most versatile, most well-built folding electric scooters currently available.
More robust than EcoReco M5, more portable than UberScoot, more suited for adults than any of the Razors, more affordable than IMAX S1+, Qmini is fast, strong, with a surprising amount of power packed into such a compact design. With brushless 500W motor it can reach the top speed of 35 mph, which is faster than any similar size folding scooter. There are three gears on this scooter and in third gear you will be blasting really, really fast. So make sure you always wear helmet and preferably a set of pads.
48V 16Ah lithium battery has enough juice for traveling up to 38 miles. I don’t know if it’s due to the large capacity of the battery, or the quality of the charger, but is if the battery is completely drained it takes 8-12 hours for a full charge. However, the full battery gives you an excellent range, so you will almost never have to worry about battery if you charge it overnight.
Ride over bumps on the road is smooth thanks to the dual shocks on the front and dual shock suspension angled at 45° on the rear. 8 inch tires are solid, meaning you won’t have to worry about flat tires, or correct tire pressure. This scoter is sturdy and stable, so you won’t get any shaking or wobbling even at higher speeds.
Qmini is jam packed with features that make it a real high-end ride. Headlights and tail lights will provide better visibility on night rides, and there is a set of blinking, multi-color LEDs along the sides, that will make you look like a carnival ride.
There are couple of flaws, to be fair. First one are definitely the brakes. They will take you to a stop, but it takes some time to get used them. The charger feels very cheap, and just doesn’t match the overall quality of the scooter. And that rainbow blinking light-show along the sides of the deck is simply horrendous in my opinion, but I guess it’s a matter of personal preference.
If you have never had an electric scooters you will not be disappointed with Qiewa Qmini. If you have ever owned any of the mid-range or cheap electric scooters chances are you will fall in love with this scooter from the first ride, because there is truly nothing like it.
Qiewa Q1 Hummer
Features:
- Power: 800W
- Top Speed: 35 mph
- Max Range: 60 miles
- Battery: 26Ah 48V
- Tires: 10″ pneumatic
- Weight: 55lbs
This is another great scooter by the Taiwanese company. It is the most popular of the bunch, even though it is not cheap, the impressive features, and the performance, especially the speed, turned out to be the recipe for success. Everyone that sees this scooter are usually blown away by how sturdy it looks, and how strong and sturdy it is. But it is the quality of the construction needed that makes it feel stable and make you feel safe riding at speeds that this scooter reaches. The battery is a powerful 26Ah 48Volts 5C powered lithium one which ensures 25-30 miles of heavy throttle range, or up to 60 miles if you ride sensibly. There are three gears; gear one is for leisure ride, in gear 2 it goes to about 15 mph, which is fast enough for a bike lane, and in gear 3 the beast is unleashed and you will be able to go 35+ mph. And on a stand up adult scooter it feels unbelievably fast. The shocks are pretty beefy and together with 10” air-filled tires make for a smooth ride over bumpy roads, and ever more challenging paths.
The features are pretty cool, full suspension, headlights and taillights, side lights, keyless start with the alarm system. The horn is annoying enough to get the attention on anyone that is in front of you. Dual disc brakes work very well, and look pretty cool. The scooter is reasonably heavy, it weighs nearly 60 pounds.
Qiewa Qmini vs. Q1 Hummer
Many people that decide to get a Qiewa electric scooter face a dilemma: Qmini or Q1 Hummer. Which one is better? Is Q1 worth the higher price?
I can tell you that both scooters are beyond good. The question is which one will suit your needs better. To get to the answer to that question first you need to know where and how you will be using your new scooter. If you plan to ride on paved roads, on mostly flat surface, Qmini will be more than sufficient. However, if you need more power, for conquering hills or if you need something that can handle rougher terrain, than you might considering getting the Q1. Both provide plenty of range and speed for riding around town. One of the main differences are tires; Qmini has solid tires, meaning no flats, or worrying about pressure, while Q1 has pneumatic tires that ride much smoother on demanding terrain.
Here you can see the table with comparison of main features of both scooters. Have a look at the details compared to understand how one compares to another.
Q-Start Lightweight Easy Fold Scooter
Features:
- Motor Power: 350W 48V
- Range: 12-15 miles
- Top Speed: 18 mph
- Font and rear shock suspension
- USB mobile phone charging function
- 2 Second Quick-Folding
- IP65 waterproof
- Rear wheel drive
- 18650 lithium battery
- Electronic brakes and Foot brake system
Q-start is the smallest in the Qiewa lineup right now. It is an upgraded version of Q3. This little scooter features 350W motor in the rear wheel and a 38V 18650 Lithium battery. This setup sounds capable of reaching the advertised to speed of 18 mph, although the real top speed is probably closer to 12mph. The range you can expect from this scooter is 12-15 miles, which is more than enough for short urban commutes. It has three riding modes ECO, NORMAL and MAX
Q-start is easily portable, it folds quickly and weighs only 8.5 kg, or about 18 lbs, so you can pick it up with one hand. If you don’t feel like carrying your scooter, there are two skate-like wheels in the front that allow you to drag it behind you like luggage. Weight limit for this scooter is 330 lbs, definitely suited for heavier adults.
Despite its compact size and weight, this scooter boasts some awesome features like front and rear shocks, LED headlight, a kickstand and an USB for charging your phone. Moreover, it is rated IP 56 waterproof, which means you can even ride it in the rain. Just make sure not to ride too fast on wet surface.
Qiewa Q-Sway 500W
Features:
- Motor Power: 500 W
- Battery: 5C 48V 13Ah 18650 lithium battery
- Range: 28 miles
- Top Speed: 28 mph
- USB mobile phone charging function
- Headlights and Tail Lights
- Front Dual Shock Suspension 2 Second Quick-Folding
- IP65 waterproof
- 8 inch Pneumatic Tires
- Disk brakes
- Weight: 37 lbs
One step up from Q-Start is the Q-Sway. 500W motor and 48V battery makes for an electric kick scooter that is on par with a lot of full sized electric bikes and scooters. This setup allows it to reach top speed of 28 mph and range of about 25 miles. Because the Q-Sway uses 8” pneumatic air-filled tires, it rides comfortably and the suspension also contributes to the quiet operation.
Another thing I liked about Q-Sway was the steady disc brake and the brake-activated LED tail light. This scooter folds easily, just like the others. However, it weighs 37 pounds, which is still not too heavy to pick up, but it can be a hassle if you have to carry it around. Unlike the Q-Start, it doesn’t come with a useful set of luggage wheels that allow you to haul it behind you. It does include some nifty features such as mud guards on the front and on the back, kickstand and a USB port that can be used to charge portable electronic devices. Overall it is a nice, well-build scooter with perks of its own, but considering the price difference between Q-Sway and Qmini, and general performance and features, I would go with the latter.
Qiewa Q-Power – Off Road Scooter
Features:
- Double Motor Power: 2400W(2x1200W)-60V
- 60V / 26 Ah lithium battery
- Max Range: 50 miles
- Max Speed: 30 mph
- Weight: 94 lbs
- Max load: 550 lbs
- Dual shock suspension
- Double hydraulic brakes
- 2 Second Quick-Folding
- IP65 waterproof
- Headlight and brake light
- 11 inch off-road tires
One step up from Q-Start is the Q-Sway. 500W motor and 48V battery makes for an electric kick scooter that is on par with a lot of full sized electric bikes and scooters. This setup allows it to reach top speed of 28 mph and range of about 25 miles. Because the Q-Sway uses 8” pneumatic air-filled tires, it rides comfortably and the suspension also contributes to the quiet operation.
Another thing I liked about Q-Sway was the steady disc brake and the brake-activated LED tail light. This scooter folds easily, just like the others. However, it weighs 37 pounds, which is still not too heavy to pick up, but it can be a hassle if you have to carry it around. Unlike the Q-Start, it doesn’t come with a useful set of luggage wheels that allow you to haul it behind you. It does include some nifty features such as mud guards on the front and on the back, kickstand and a USB port that can be used to charge portable electronic devices. Overall it is a nice, well-build scooter with perks of its own, but considering the price difference between Q-Sway and Qmini, and general performance and features, I would go with the latter.
Should You Buy a Qiewa Electric Scooter?
It’s worth mentioning that all the Qiewa scooters can be ordered with a seat for a more comfortable ride. They all come with one year warranty. There is a local maintenance factory in the United States, so any service you need will be done there. However, if you need any of the spare parts you need to contact the manufacturers, and the best thing to do that is via their Facebook page.
It’s a shame that brands offering high-end product like Qiewa, have issues connecting to the US market, mostly because of the language barrier. I believe that Qiewa scooters deserve to be placed side by side with the more popular brands like Swagger, Glion Dolly or Inokim. I hope that we will see more and more of them on the streets in the future.