I was lucky enough to get my hands on the ZINC Velocity+ electric scooter and take it for a test ride. I’ve tried lots of scooters (usually lightweight rentals when on holiday) but was keen to try something a bit more powerful with some smart features.

My job is to write about products, but often in a way that highlights their benefits. But for this review, I’ll give you an honest account of what I found – both good and bad. I’ll try and be as balanced as anyone can while riding an electric scooter. So let's find out what the ZINC Velocity+ offers...

Set up

I’m no DIY enthusiast, but I actually found it easy to put together. In fact, it was only after I’d assembled it that I dug into the box and found the instructions. But in a nutshell: Just remove the packaging, unfold the scooter and put in the screws to fix the handlebars in place with the included tool. I only had a problem getting in one screw. There’s always one.

Good looks

Once assembled, there’s no denying that it’s a great looking e-scooter. I was given the black scooter to try, but it also comes in a silver grey too. The aluminium frame is really smart and sturdy. You’re not going to confuse this with a tourist scooter. It’s a clear step up.

The LED headlights and backlights are bright and clear and there are even left and right indicators which you can switch between. Probably less useful for riding on private land (which is the only place you can take your e-scooter under current government rules) but a great future proofing feature if the law changes and we can take electric scooters on public highways.

The Velocity+ is made for older teenagers and adults. So, at 22kg, it’s not as lightweight as some but the trade-off is that you get more power and a far more comfortable ride.

Smart scooting

Next, I downloaded the ZINC Velocity Plus app. It connects up to the scooter via Bluetooth and you get a handy display with loads of useful info. It also tracks things like speed, distance travelled and battery life. You can switch between speed modes (more on those in a minute) and you can even turn lights on and off by tapping the button on the app.

Whenever I powered up the scooter, the headlight seemed to come on. It was easy enough to switch off, but it’s something I had to do every time. Perhaps with a bit more time, I would have found a solution on the app or LED screen.

Security

Because you’re paying for premium, you’ll want to keep it safe. And the ZINC Velocity+ comes with several ways to lock it. To start it up, you’ll need the included NFC card which unlocks it with a tap. But you can also lock your scooter from the app.

And to secure it in place, you get a combination lock and retractable cable built into the scooter. As a cyclist, I was impressed by how smooth the lock was to use. That said, the cable seems a bit thin. So, if you were going to lock it in a public place, you’d probably want a secondary lock too.

Get scooting…

Putting on my helmet, it was time to give it a ride! I took off the kick stand, gave it a push and I was off. The thumb throttle was on the right handlebar and was very responsive, so I could go slowly even in the highest power mode.

If you haven’t been on an electric scooter before, I’d recommend finding your feet in a lower power mode at first. The Zinc Velocity+ comes with three power modes: Eco mode to save power, Comfort mode and Sports mode – which will take the e-scooter up to its top speed of 15.5mph.

My partner gave it a go and found the acceleration of Sports mode a bit too fast but was happy with Comfort mode. But that’s the good thing about having different options.

You can switch between modes on the scooter’s LED screen or you can toggle it on the app. Obviously don’t be fiddling with your phone when you’re mid-scoot though.

Plenty of power

First impressions? The Zinc Velocity+ is a great ride. While its 500w motor gives a great burst of speed, the foot board is wide and you really don’t have to worry about balancing. So, I found it very stable and comfortable to ride without a hint of a wobble. This hasn’t been my experience of electric scooters up until now!

What keeps the ride smooth is the front dual arm suspension, as well as the 10-inch rear solid and front air-blown filled tyres. They’re also puncture proof, which is a huge plus.

Going the distance

On a 6-hour charge, the Zinc Velocity+ gives you a 31-mile maximum range – when you’re in a lower power mode. But because I was using a private road to test it out, I wasn’t going that far! I spent the time getting to grips with acceleration, maximum speed and brakes.

To brake, there’s front and rear handlebar brakes. These work just like a bike so I found it all very intuitive. The brakes are really smooth and responsive – and even have rear e-ABS – so it was easy to come to a stop or do a turning circle.

When I was riding an electric scooter through Barcelona, stopping for obstacles or people meant I often just had to get off my scooter. The braking and stability just wasn’t there to be able to make subtle manoeuvres without interrupting my ride. But I felt the Zinc Velocity+ could have handled that situation easily. You can slow down to a crawl and manoeuvre while still feeling really well balanced.

If you’re looking for an electric scooter for kids, this probably isn’t the one. But if you’re searching for an electric scooter that’s a smooth ride and has a lot of oomph, I’d recommend giving the Velocity+ a go. For now, it’s just great fun. In the future, it could be a really useful vehicle for commuting to work or getting around town.

I’m done with tourist scooters!