‘Zeewho?’ we hear you ask. We’ll be honest, we hadn’t heard of them either when the call came in asking if we wanted to attend the European press launch of their new scooter range, but with the might of the Pierer Mobility Group (owners of KTM, Husqvarna and MV Agusta) behind them, it’s clearly a serious operation.
Zeeho is the electric scooter brand of Chinese giants CFMOTO, who are shareholders in Pierer Mobility and whose range of geared motorcycles share technology with the group’s European brands. The Pierer company also handles the sales, distribution and marketing of CFMOTO products in Europe (including these Zeehos) so, although this is a new name to us, there’s the reassurance of a well-established structure around the brand and its products.
And where CFMOTO is making good quality petrol motorbikes appealing mainly to existing riders, Zeeho is an all-electric manufacturer producing fun electric scoots for the next generation of commuter. We were invited out to the European press launch in Spain to check out a few of their products, including the AE6+, a middle of the range CBT-friendly scoot and the AE8S+, a more premium offering boasting more tech and power. We also had a quick spin on the moped equivalent C!TY SPORT, but as our experience was brief, we are going to focus on the AE range for the purpose of this review.
The budget one - AE6+
The AE6+ is the more affordable and relaxed model, with a style, price and power aimed at new riders. It comes in two forms, a single battery option at £2,899 and a dual battery option at £3,399 with a claimed range of 100km (62 miles). We rode the two-battery version, and found the range to be more like 80km, or 50 miles, which is still respectable and likely enough for its intended use. It comes in two colours, Liquid Black or State Grey, which are simple but stylish.
How does it go?
When it comes to power, the AE6+ produces 5.5kW, which translates to around 7-8bhp, with a 0-30mph time of 4.6 seconds and a top speed of around 60mph. I found the acceleration more than acceptable in a city environment, taking on most other petrol-powered scoots away from the lights. As soon as you’re on the rural roads and can stretch out the electric motor, you do feel slightly more vulnerable, losing that pulling power at the top end. Something I did love about these scoots was the immediate and progressive throttle response.
Affordable spec
For spec, it comes equipped with a combined braking system, which at this price feels acceptable. It performs well. Crunch down on the rear brake and the front does dive a bit but you can operate them semi-independently, giving a feeling of control on both ends. For suspension, it packs a preload adjustable monoshock on the rear, which you can dial in if you are carrying a passenger or heavy load. You will need a full licence to carry a passenger anyway, although it’s not really a bike for riding two up as you’ll struggle with a lack of power. On the road, it felt smooth and stable, though rather firm. It runs on small wheels, 12” front and 11” rear, making it a nimble machine, and dashing through traffic felt confident and effortless.
Storage-wise, the batteries stored under the seat take up a lot of room, meaning you can only just about fit an open face helmet inside.
Affordable tech
On the tech front, we see a 5” LCD digital display, LED lighting, app connectivity, over the air firmware upgrades and proximity guarding, which is a security feature. You also get two different power modes, Eco and Street, which adjust the power output and throttle response. Eco doesn’t give full performance but, in return, should maximise the range you get from each charge. The dash is clean, displaying only what you need to see, and the app allows you to adjust certain quirks as you see fit.
When looking at other e-scoots this end of the market, the AE6+ stands as a visually unique, well-built, budget friendly option for those in the suburbs and town centres but it may not appeal to those out in the sticks.
Zeeho AE6+ Specifications
Price: £2,899 (single battery) or £3,399 (dual batteries).
Colours: Liquid Black and Slate Grey
Battery: 69 V 27 Ah Lithium Battery
Power: 5.5 kW
Torque: 160 Nm
Suspension: Preload adjustable mono shock
Wheels: 90/90-12, 11/70-11
Tyres: CST
Brakes: Combined Braking System
Weight: 96 Kg
Wheelbase: 1260mm
Seat height: 735mm
Range: 100km (claimed)
Warranty: Two years
Contact: https://zeehoeu.com
The top line - AE8S+
Onto the flagship model, the AE8S+. Coming in at £4,699, this scoot is packed with more tech and spec, aiming at the more premium end of the CBT market. It is only available in a dual-battery form, with a claimed range of 100km but again, like the AE6+, this is more likely to be around 80km. You get the choice of two silvers, Starship or Eclipse. Both look great, although I personally would have liked to see something more outlandish as an option.
Power-wise, the AE8S+ runs on two removable 69V 27AH lithium batteries kicking out 12.5kW of peak power and 218Nm of torque. It’ll see a 0-30mph time of 2.6 seconds, which does feel fantastic, and a top speed of over 62mph.
What does that power mean on the road?
While we didn’t get to push much higher than 50mph on our ride in and around Barcelona, it felt like the motor had more go and wasn’t starting to taper off at the top end. I’d be very keen to have a go on the UK roads, as I feel this could start to bridge the gap for those who want to go electric but are living out in rural areas and require a higher top speed and range, without splashing out on a higher spec alternative. Again, a note here is the fantastic throttle response, with that low and high-end pulling power, it is a heck of a lot of fun.
Charging
When it comes to charging, it’ll take five hours for both batteries to charge up through a regular three-pin plug, which might seem long, but for those working the 9-5, you can rip them out and stick them under your desk while you work, conveniently charging both at the same time. If you can park up by a plug socket, you also have the option to charge through the bike’s onboard charger – removing the need to take out the batteries.
Premium price, premium equipment
The AE8S+ comes equipped with Bosch dual channel ABS and Brembo calipers, giving excellent braking feel. At no point did it feel like the ABS was intruding. You could really clamp down hard on the brakes and the bike would come to a stable and solid stop. For suspension, you get a preload adjustable shock on the rear, and unlike the AE6+, the extra performance means this one would go two-up without fear of damning power loss. In the city, the suspension was firm, but not bone jarring. Running on a 12” front and rear, it is surprisingly agile despite its slightly larger dimensions. Like the AE6+, it fits right into city environments, feeling nimble and light on its feet.
As for storage, you don’t get a whole lot. The batteries are housed under the seat, dominating the boot space, meaning you can only fit a half-face lid inside. You get a handy push-open glove compartment which can take a small pair of gloves or a smartphone, and a foldaway hook under the bars. You could do some light shopping but expect to bring a backpack with you.
Tech galore
This scoot is packed with all sorts of tech, including a 5” full colour TFT dash, three rider modes, Street, Sport and Eco, cruise control, proximity sensors, cushion sensors (for hopping on and off the bike), keyless start, LED lighting and app connectivity. The Zeeho app is probably one of the best budget electric apps I have ever used, giving you all sorts of details on your trip, customization options for nearly every single variable on the bike, remote monitoring, over the air software updates, and in-app ignition. For those into (sometimes over the top) technology, this is an interesting offering.
A great alternative
Overall, I think the AE8S+ presents a new option to those who want to go-green and commute outside of the traditional city stereotypes. The higher top speed in combination with a good range means those living in rural areas here in the UK can safely traverse A and B roads, without having to spend an arm and a leg on the beefier alternatives. Well worth a go for under five grand.
Conclusion
Zeeho might be a new name in the marketplace, but they have some serious history and credibility when it comes to making and selling powered two wheelers.
Their first models tick all the boxes and stack up well against other CBT-compliant electric scooters we’ve ridden, such as the SEAT MO 125 and NIU MQi GT EVO, and probably for the first time offer an electric alternative at a price comparable to a budget learner legal 125. Nice work!
ZEEHO AE8S+ Specifications
Price: £4,699.
Colours: Starship Silver and Eclipse Silver
Battery: 2 x 69 V 27 Ah Lithium Battery
Power: 12.5 kW
Torque: 218 Nm
Suspension: Preload adjustable mono shock
Wheels: 100/80–12, 120/70-12
Tyres: CST
Brakes: Brembo two-piston calipers, Bosch Dual Channel ABS
Wheelbase: 1380mm
Range: 100km (claimed)
Warranty: Two years
Contact: https://zeehoeu.com
