Ninebot Segway Air T15 Review

Built as the ultimate futuristic commuter scooter, the Air T15 is designed to be the lightest, most convenient, and most energy-efficient scooter in the market today.

The Ninebot Segway Air T15 is the latest release in Segway’s electric scooter line.

Segway claims that its team of experts took six years to create the Air T15 in an attempt to achieve the best and most stylish e-scooter for urban commuting. It comes as no surprise that the scooter has already scooped the CES 2020 Innovation Award. Segway has definitely set electric scooter design standards with the release of this model.

Ninebot Segway Air T15 Electric Scooter – The Lowdown…

Aside from its head-turning futuristic design, this scooter integrates exemplary and outstanding features with, an incredible attention to detail.

The scooter strikes a perfect balance between sleek aesthetic and high-end features, notably regenerative braking, Smart App Connectivity (Segway-Ninebot App), Bluetooth connectivity, and Bezel-less Dashboard embedded with LED nixie tubes.

While the Ninebot Segway Air T15 scooter is the perfect electric scooter for urban commuting, it’s not without faults that compromise its overall functionality. Here’s an in-depth Ninebot Segway Air T15 review. 

Ninebot Segway Air T15 Specifications

Ninebot Segway Air T15 Cons

  Slower speeds

  Relatively short range

  Small wheels and lack of suspension results in twitchy rides

  It’s an off-road scooter that’s not fully waterproof

  High price point for its average performance

Ninebot Segway Air T15 Summary

The Ninebot Segway Air T15 KickScooter is currently the most compact, lightweight, and energy-efficient electric KickScooter on the market. It’s tailored for seamless navigation within urban terrain and is suitable for last-mile commuting, carrying on mass transportation, and storing in restrictive spaces. The scooter’s sleek, unique and futuristic appearance makes it stand out in the now hugely competitive electric scooter market.

The Air T15 adopts a design-centric approach to battery-assisted kick scooters, keeping weight at the very minimum and featuring a unique folding mechanism that allows for hassle-free last-mile commuting. From the Sinclair C4-Esque external design language to the functional Segway-Ninebot App, the T15 embodies a sleek and stylish frame that transforms casual scooter commuting. The design comes with smooth finishing, without sharp edges and angles that are aesthetically pleasing.

The scooter’s exterior design feels like a flawlessly pieced puzzle, with no exposed wires, bolts, or gaps in the construction. It’s built with aluminium-magnesium alloy; therefore, it is super lightweight (10 kgs) plus folds up much easier than its counterpart entry-level electric scooters. It incorporates a unique folding system that locks at a 180-degree angle (a straight line) and measures only 22 centimetres when completely folded.

The T15 delivers a relatively stable, comfortable ride thanks to the impact-absorbing, polyurethane-foam-filled tires and an ergonomic design. However, the riding surfaces need to be smooth, as any varied terrain is immediately and jarringly felt.

The Air T15 is not a performance beast my any measure. It is rather a lightweight casual commuter, Its speed maxes out at 12.4 mph (20 km/h), which is relatively slow. Additionally, the 250W motor doesn’t produce sufficient power to tackle intense inclines. Worse off, it has a range of 7-8 miles (11.27- 12.87 km), which is rather low for a scooter at this price range. However, considering that it was designed for riding within close proximity urban settings, the 12.4 mph (20 km/h) top speed and 9 mph (14 km/h) standard speeds are perfectly functional for urban riders with shorter commutes.

In summary, the Segway Ninebot Air T15 is lightweight, highly portable, safe, comfortable to ride, that integrates superior technology. Notably, there is a trade-off in performance since it’s slower and lacks the power and range of its similarly-priced counterparts.

Performance Overview

Designed for a very niche urban lifestyle, the Ninebot Segway Air T15 is neither powerful nor predominantly fast.

With a top speed of only 12.4 mph (20 km/h). The scooter is powered by a 250W motor and comes with four riding modes: Pedestrian mode with a max speed of 3.7 mph (6 km/h), Energy-saving mode at 6mph (10 km/h), Standard mode at 9mph (15 km/h), and Sport mode with a top speed of 12.4 mph (20 km/h).

Compared to other electric scooters in the same price range, the Air T15 is quite sluggish and not ideal for daredevils. This e-scooter seems to struggle at tackling even moderate inclines past 15 degrees, and also has a hard time on varied and bumpy terrains. 

Top Speed & Acceleration

The Segway AirT15 was designed to only be a last-mile scooter with a top speed of 12.4 mph (20 km/h). This speed makes it safe to ride the scooter in most public spaces. It’s really quite a good cruising speed for urban settings, enabling you to control your e-scooter around traffic, bicycles, pedestrians, and parking. 

For the acceleration, you can choose from 4 different riding modes enabling you to efficiently control your speed at any given time by simply toggling the power button embedded into the rear fender. The scooter was definitely not designed for speed but instead for riders that want to cover short distances at low and controlled speeds.

Battery Life & Range

When it comes to the battery, the AirT15 is equipped with a 21700 automotive-grade lithium-ion battery that is just enough to power the low voltage output motor. Segway claims that Air T15’s battery is the same one used for New Energy Vehicles; thus, it’s pretty sustainable. Better still, the scooter integrates Segway’s Smart Battery Management System to protect it from electrical faults such as overheating, short circuit, over-current, over-discharge and over-charge. 

The Li-ion battery has an average capacity of 4000 mAh and a max charging voltage of 42 VDC, resulting in an average charge time of approximately 4 hours. The battery has approximately 600-800+ charge cycles meaning it would last you about 2 to 3 years before the need to replace it.  You can keep track of the battery life on the LED display embedded on the handlebar stem.

The Air T15 offers a relatively low range of approximately 7-8 miles (11.27- 12.87 km). Like most electric scooters, this range is just on paper. Expect less rang if you’re always riding at full speed, weigh more than the recommended limit, or riding up a hill. In such conditions, the range could decline to as little as 5 or 6 miles. Nonetheless, considering that this scooter was designed for a casual urban setting, it’s safe to say that you won’t be needing an electric scooter with long-range capabilities. The range of the Air T15 could therefore be perfect for all your needs. 

Motor Configuration

As mentioned earlier, the Ninebot Segway Air T15 electric scooter comes with a 250w hub motor made with magnetic and silicon steel.

The motor has an innovative temperature-control capacity ensuring it stays safe and sturdy for durability. Besides, the scooter comes with a brushless motor controller that protects the motor from low-voltage, over-voltage, and disconnection.

By incorporating these configurations, the motor performs averagely, and it’s relatively safe. 

Construction & Build Quality

Segway has a reputation for manufacturing quality electric scooters and hasn’t disappointed in this model either. The AirT15 is of stellar build quality boasting a solid frame & award-winning design. The aluminium frame is lightweight yet evidently robust, supporting up to 100 kg (220 lbs), just over 9.5 times its weight. 

Besides, the frame is built to withstand physical conditions, including rain, the sun, and the wind. Again, other parts of the scooter, notably the caps on the front wheel and at the rear deck, are finished in impact-resistant plastic, thus quite durable. Durability is further enhanced by the Battery Management System (BMS), which protects against electric faults ensuring longer battery life. 

To complement the high build quality, Segway offers a limited warranty on official purchases, protecting you against any quality issues.

Suspension

The largest caveat with the Air T15, is that it does not have a built-in suspension system, and solely relies on the tyres to soak up the bumps. This does definitely reduce the comfort level of riding, but this is after all, a comfort short-range urban commuter. If you don’t try to perform out of character manoeuvrers, then you should be fine.

Ride Quality

The Air T15 is relatively comfortable to ride. It’s ergonomically designed for your comfort. For smooth riding, the scooter comes with radial hollow tires with a tread pattern design for better ground grip and stability, even when negotiating turns.

The tires are also highly resilient, with internal shock absorption capabilities further enhancing the ride quality. Better yet, the deck is reasonably spacious and offers sufficient grip to prevent a rider from falling over while riding. The handlebar provides quick access to the thumb controls; the right for acceleration, the left for braking, and simultaneous use activates the horn.

In pedestrian mode, the rider is able to limit their speed and keep the tail lights flashing, which is a neat feature for night rides, light showers, or foggy weather.  However, the lack of suspensions and narrow handlebars seems to have quite a few commuters complaining about reduced riding comfort.  

Braking

The Ninebot Segway Air T15 features a dual braking system featuring a front brake lever and a rear foot brake. You can slow down by simply pushing down the rear fender or pressing down the left handlebar’s thumb-controlled button to initiate the front electric brake. T15’s lightweight 23 lb. frame and slow speed significantly contribute to its precise braking. 

Further on braking, the T15 is among the forerunners in implementing regenerative braking. This innovative technology comes in handy to prolong the scooter’s battery life by recharging it while using the brake. Thanks to the regenerative braking, the Air T15 is energy sustainable using both electricity and recycled energy from riding. 

Portability

Arguably one of this e-scooters stand out features is its portability. Measuring 1167 x 472 x 534mm when folded and weighing only 23 lbs (10 kg), the T15 is super portable. Segway’s designers did a remarkable job in refining the aspects of the T15’s folding function. Unlike other foldable electric scooters in the market, the AirT15 folds in half like paper. With just a single pull of a lever, the scooter collapses immediately. The handlebars fold down parallel to the frame, and the kickstand retracts into the deck. 

You don’t have to switch off the scooter when folding since it integrates an automatic shutdown function when folded. The built-in sensor determines the steering column’s positioning and automatically turns off power when it’s lowered.  Once the scooter is folded, it becomes flat and compact, with the stem and deck positioned in close proximity.

As such, it can effortlessly be lifted (using the steering rack) and stored whether it’s aboard a bus, train, in your car boot, or your sizable school/gym locker. Alternatively, you can wheel it from place to place. The scooter also implements a clever storage solution, where it converts to a vertical stand that doesn’t eat up much space.  

Lights

The Segway’s Ninebot Air T15 integrates a premium set of lights to stay visible and safe while riding at night. Besides, the lights add to the scooter’s aesthetics. Apart from the rear red lights that wrap around the fender, the scooter features an ambient LED-coloured strip, which runs vertically down the front steering column. 

The LED light is a distinguishable feature of the T15’s design. Riders can customize the front LED light or the groovy strip, using their phone App via Bluetooth. There’s also an option to set up lighting effects on the strip with fantastic options such as ‘dynamic breathing’ and ‘full-colour breathing’.

The scooter also comes with a front headlight fully recessed on the top edge. The headlight offers a wide-angle, and it’s relatively bright with a range of 5-10 meters.   

Tyres

The Air T15 comes with a 7.5″ front rubber tyre and a 6″ rear one. The tyres are filled with PU (polyurethane) foam which steps in for the scooter’s lack of suspension.

Considering that the tyres are relatively small, the T15 is not suited for rough, bumpy terrains or anything other than flat asphalt or floor. The small tires are clear evidence that the scooter was exclusively intended for use in an urban setting for casual commuting.

Deck

The deck with a rubber mat is 17 cm wide and 45 cm working length. Its bow and stern are slightly tapered and raised, making it look sort of like a hoverboard.

However, compared to most electric scooters, the deck is relatively low to the ground. This puts riders at the risk of scrapping the deck’s underside on more off-road or bumpy terrains. 

Riders have complained that the deck could have been larger, but seeing as this electric scooter was designed for quick urban commuting as well as aesthetics, riders will unfortunately just have to get used the lack of space.

Controls & Display

The Ninebot T15 has a completely sleek, refined, and well-thought-out cockpit. There are absolutely no exposed cables and the button controls and display are pleasingly minimalist. The only buttons on the cockpit is the left thumb control for regenerative brakes and the right thumb throttle for acceleration.

We have honestly never seen such a beautiful and bezel-less dashboard. It’s fantastically modern, making you wonder if this is the future standard.

Unfortunately, the display is not very easy to read – especially in direct sunlight. The speedometer is displayed in a large and bold font, the max battery level is 4 bars, which starts to flash when your charge drops to around half a bar.

And here is where Segway have dropped the ball a bit. The rest of the indicators are very difficult to read because their font size is tiny, and on top of this, there is the matte finish over the display, which is intended to reduce glare, but it makes it difficult to read what is going on.

Water Resistance

The Segway Air T15 has an IP rating of IPX4, which means it’s resistant to splashes in any direction. In general, an IPX4 rating is average, and not the most immune to water.

An IPX4 rating gives you a bit more protection when the ground’s a bit wet, but it’s still not recommendable to ride through deep puddles and rain.

Reliability, Warranty & Customer Support

The Segway Air T15 might not be your typical performance monster, but it’s reliable as a last-mile commuting scooter.

It’s lightweight, ultraportable, comfortable, and facilitates safe riding. In addition, it incorporates superior technology encompassing a regenerative braking system, Mobile App & Bluetooth connectivity, customizable LED ambient light, cruise control, an LED dashboard, and more. The Ninebot Air T15 is definitely a top pick for urban and inner-city commuters. It’s suitable for anyone looking for a high-end lightweight and compact electric scooter.

The Ninebot comes with a one-year warranty. This includes your scooter’s body, battery, the deck, wheels, and handlebars.

Maintenance

Like most e-scooters, the Segway Air T15 electric scooter requires minimal maintenance. It has PU (polyurethane) foam tires and easy to clean deck and handlebars.

To say the least, the T15 is an ideal scooter for urban residents for seamless commuting without worrying about maintenance. However, the scooter is also incorporated with a maintenance alert feature that notifies riders via the LED display on the handlebar stem.

Known Issues

The Segway Air T15 has several issues which compromise its overall quality and reliability.

For a start, the scooter’s deck is too close to the ground putting riders at risk of scraping the deck’s underside on less well-maintained pathways. The handlebars are evidently shorter and narrower than what you typically get with other electric scooters. As such, it won’t make the ride more comfortable.

Another issue is that the LED display isn’t very visible under direct sunlight; therefore, can be pretty annoying.

Is this E-Scooter value  money and is it worth buying?

The Segway’s Ninebot Air T15 implements a fresh and never-before-seen design that brings a revolutionary outlook on scooter aesthetics. The manufacturer has put considerable effort into piecing together, arguably one of the most aesthetically pleasing electric scooters in the market today. The scooter’s chassis is constructed of lightweight and highly durable aluminium-magnesium alloy, which makes the portability factor second to none.

Impact-resistant plastic covers the front panel on the steering rack, the front fender, and the deck’s back.  The manufacturer furthered the modern look by tucking away all of the scooters’ cables. Any would-be visible wires are tucked behind the sturdy, plush-looking plastic cover, complementing the sleek finish.

From the top, the scooter features ergonomically shaped handlebars made from silica material, providing maximum comfort while driving. In-between the handlebars, you’ll spot the cleverly-concealed dashboard. The LED dashboard is bezel-less and rendered in the same sleek, dark style as the rest of the handlebars. To say the least, the LED dashboard is really cool and sets the scooter apart from the rest in the market.

The price is the deciding factor here… There are many e-scooters which offer much better value for money – in terms of speed, range, rider comfort, and tighter control. However, if you are prepared to shell out a fair chunk of cash more, then you will own a real eye-catching and incredibly beautiful scooter, that design wise, is a good few years ahead of the competition.

Ninebot Segway Air T15 Accessories 

The Air T15 comes with a vertical stand and horizontal stand, which you can use to store your electric scooter when not in use. It also doubles as a charging port for maximum convenience. Both stands are made from Expanded Polypropylene (EPP) which is recyclable. Of course, you can also choose to charge the typical way through cable chargers (also included in the package). Some accessories you can buy together with the scooter include:

• Segway Ninebot 5-Digit Combination Cable Lock
• Segway Ninebot Bike Helmet
• Segway Ninebot Waterproof Storage Bag
• Sleek Socket Ultra-Thin Electrical Outlet Cover

Other Similar Electric Scooters

• Xiaomi M365 Pro Electric Scooter 
• Unagi Model One 
• Fluid Free Ride Horizon 13 
• Segway Ninebot E22 
• GoTraxx XR Elite