EcoReco M3 Folding Electric Kick Scooter Review [VIDEO]

If you are looking for a portable and simple solution for your commute then you should definitely checkout the EcoReco M3 folding electric kick scooter.

The M3 can be a great solution when combined with other forms of transport like mass transit.

Electric bikes are definitely the focus of Electric Bike Report but I think it is important to introduce similar types of vehicles like the EcoReco M3 electric kick scooter because they have similar attributes to e-bikes.

Like an electric bike, an electric kick scooter can help get around pretty quick (20 mph), get some exercise (kicking when accelerating and climbing hills), go where bikes go, and just have fun!

Portability is one of the big advantages of the M3 and it can be a good solution for using multimodal transportation like a bus, train, subway, taxi, ferry, etc.  The M3 folds down to a compact size in about 5-10 seconds and it weighs 34 lbs.  The M3 can also be a good way to get around school campuses and large businesses campuses.

Simplicity and low maintenance is another big highlight of the M3 when compared to an electric bike.  There is no chain to oil, no gears to adjust, no chance of a flat tire, etc.

Make sure you check out part 1 of this review with a video, large detailed pictures and specifications of the EcoReco M3 Scooter to get familiar with this e-scooter.

In this second part of the full review of the EcoReco M3 Scooter, you will get an idea of the ride characteristics, range test, pros, cons, and overall thoughts on this electric kick scooter.

The EcoReco M3 Electric Kick Scooter is priced at $999.  If you were a backer of the Kickstarter campaign for the M3, EcoReco would like to offer you the same pricing.

What you can expect from the EcoReco M3 E-Scooter:

Here is a video with an overview of the features of the EcoReco M3 Scooter and some riding footage:

Aluminum and stainless steel are the materials of choice for the M3’s frame construction.  Overall the construction is very solid and well built.

For instance, the folding mechanism for the handlebar mast is well engineered and built with aluminum construction.  It is just one of the areas of the design that shows off the M3’s quality construction.

A 250 watt rear wheel motor provides the assistance and a 36V 8ah LiFePO4 battery is housed below the deck for good central and low weight distribution.

Because the tires are solid rubber, you don’t have to worry about flat tires!

Sizing the M3 to fit you is pretty easy; there are two different handlebar height options to choose from.

The LED display on the right hand side of the handlebars provides information like your current speed, trip distance, odometer, and battery level. There is a backlight on the display so you can see the information if you’re riding at night.

A trigger style throttle at the display allows you to add various levels of assist depending on how much you pull the trigger.

On the left side of the handlebar is the rear brake lever.  The M3 only has a rear brake.

It is very easy to fold the scooter; no tools are required. Once you get the rhythm down, it takes around 5-10 seconds to fold or unfold.

The M3 weighs 34 pounds and that allows you to move it short distances reasonably well.  Taking it on and off mass transit should be relatively easy.

I was able to lock up the M3 by putting a cable lock through the area between the suspension fork and front wheel.

 

Riding the EcoReco M3 Scooter

Yes, the M3 is fun to ride!  You can carve it similar to a skateboard or snowboard and I think it does make you feel like a kid again 🙂

The M3 does help you cruise around town at 20 mph on level ground.  It is a good way to cover ground quickly with a compact and relatively light weight electric vehicle.

The ride is definitely different when compared to a bike; but it is different in a fun way.  It is very agile and it can maneuvered in very congested areas with ease.

Compared to an e-bike it is a bit more twitchy, so you have to be more focused on holding the handlebars and making slow movements.

The small wheels are nice because it keeps the scooter relatively compact in size for portability, but the small wheels limit the obstacles that the scooter can roll over.  Surprisingly I was able to roll over a fair bit of gravel and some bigger cracks in the road than I initially thought I could.  When riding a scooter like this, it is a good idea to be constantly aware of what obstacles are around you and what is in front of you.

When riding on rough roads there is hollow rattling noise that is probably a result of the solid rubber tires and how the wheel is constructed.  I only noticed this noise on rough roads; on smooth roads it is quiet.

The M3 is very easy to get on and go.  Just step on, kick off, and grab a little bit of throttle using the trigger.  The throttle won’t kick in until you’re moving a few miles per hour.  That is a safety feature so that the scooter won’t take off if you accidentally grab the throttle at a stand still.  EcoReco states that can be changed easily if you want the throttle to engage right away.  Contact EcoReco for more info on that.

The rear brake does a pretty good job of slowing you down. If you have to stop quickly, it is a good idea to move your weight to the back so the brake can have as much effect as possible without skidding.

There is a humming sound from the motor and it is most noticeable when climbing a hill.  When compared to the loud and obnoxious gas kick scooters, the M3 is much quieter!

The deck provides a fair amount of traction but it would be nice to have a little more grip on the deck.  It would be pretty easy to add a little skateboard grip tape if want.

The Ride Test Results:

Here is information on EcoReco’s stated range:  “The stated range of 23 miles is for a 170lb rider riding on a flat ground at steady speed of 13MPH.  If a heavier rider constantly reaches top speed, brakes frequently, and takes occasionally slopes, the range would be reduced to more modest 10-13 miles.”

Here is the real world information on the EcoReco M3 electric scooter range test:

Range: As you can see from the GPS info that I recorded, the EcoReco M3 Scooter traveled 9.2 miles and did a total elevation gain/loss of around 600 ft. Considering that I weigh 190 lbs and I kicked very lightly this is decent range for a 36 Volt 8 ah LiFePO4 battery pack (288 Watt Hours) with a 250 watt motor.

Watt hours are the total energy in a battery pack and it is based on the volts x amp hours of a pack. This is a way to compare the size of the “gas tank” of electric bikes/scooters.

Please keep in mind that if you kick more, weight less than me, ride slower and/or you use the scooter in terrain that is not as hilly you will get more range. These results are from tough testing.

As you can see my range results are inline with their range information.

Speed: The EcoReco M3 Scooter can get up to around 20 mph on flat ground.  It helps you climb hills with the electric assist but you will still need to do some kicking to maintain speed on steep hills.

Weight: This scooter tips the scales at 34 lbs.

The weight distribution of the EcoReco M3 Scooter is pretty balanced because the battery weight is distributed across the scooter frame.

Pros

Simple:  It is really nice how simple the M3 is.  You really don’t have to worry about maintaining anything.  There is no chain to oil, no gears to adjust, no tires to go flat, etc.

Portability:  Folding the M3 takes around 5-10 seconds once you have the rhythm down and at 34 pounds it is relatively easy to transport on and off mass transit (or your car).

Quality Construction:  The quality of the materials and overall construction appears to be good.  The aluminum and stainless steel frame are well engineered and built.  The 36 Volt 8 ah LiFePO4 battery pack is a nice feature when compared to other scooters that come with lead acid battery packs.

Cons

Motor Noise:  It would be nice if the humming sound from the motor was a little quieter when climbing hills.

Front Wheel Noise:  When riding on rough roads there is a hollow rattling noise that probably is a result of the solid rubber tires and the way the wheel is constructed. This was only noticeable on rough roads though.

Grip: It would be nice to have the M3 come stock with a grippier surface on the deck.  It is easy to add some skateboard grip tape if you want the additional grip.

Conclusion

Overall, the EcoReco M3 folding electric kick scooter is a cool option for a portable and low maintenance commuting solution.  Using the M3 as your “first/last mile solution” with mass transit makes a lot of sense.

If you are looking for a simple and portable way to get around you then should definitely checkout the M3.

Please keep in mind that this is a relatively short term test. This testing can’t really give you the long term review of durability and reliability. My thoughts on the quality of this scooter are from previous experiences with similar bikes/scooters. If you own this scooter and have some input on the long term durability, please share your comments with the Electric Bike Report community below.

The EcoReco M3 Electric Kick Scooter is priced at $999.  If you were a backer of the Kickstarter campaign for the M3, EcoReco would like to offer you the same pricing.

Where to buy the EcoReco M3 Scooter? Check with EcoReco.

Also, if you want to read more about the EcoReco M3 Turbo Bob did a review of the scooter as well.

Do you have any questions about the EcoReco M3 Scooter?  Please share your thoughts in the comment section below.

Thanks!

-Pete

Review Note: Each company pays a fee for a review on Electric Bike Report because of the considerable amount of time that it takes to provide an in-depth review of each eBike. A lot of time is spent on the full range test with distance & elevation profile, the wide variety of detailed pictures, in-depth video, and the write up with the specifications, ride characteristics, pros, cons, and overall thoughts. The reviews on Electric Bike Report are focused on providing you with a detailed “virtual” look at each eBike to help you determine if it is the eBike for you or not.

P.S. Don’t forget to join the Electric Bike Report community for updates from the electric bike world, plus ebike riding and maintenance tips!