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Razor E Prime III Review

This scooter is great for short commutes where carrying the machine is required
razor e prime iii electric scooter review
Credit: amazon.com
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Price:  $530 List
Manufacturer:   Razor
By Nick Miley and Austin Palmer  ⋅  Jul 23, 2020
66
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#7 of 12
  • Range - 25% 4.7
  • Power - 25% 6.8
  • Ride Comfort - 20% 7.3
  • Portability - 15% 8.9
  • Braking - 15% 6.0

Our Verdict

This scooter has great safety features as well as being easy to operate. While the travel radius is somewhat limited, and the recharge period is a bit protracted, this machine will be more than adequate for most commutes. Add to this a manageable weight that won't make it a burden to tote into an office, train station or lecture hall.
REASONS TO BUY
Light-weight
Easy to fold
Zippy
REASONS TO AVOID
So-so range
Slow to recharge
Struggles on steep hills

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razor e prime iii electric scooter review
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Overall Score Sort Icon
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Pros Light-weight, easy to fold, zippyLithium-ion battery, measured 22 mile range, 350-watt motor, fast and smooth rideEasily transportable, great range, good brakingDecent speed and range, cruise control feature, rear suspension, rear brake light and deck lights, regenerative braking is pretty powerfulPneumatic tires, cruise control feature, really solid safety latch
Cons So-so range, slow to recharge, struggles on steep hillsHeavier weight, long charge timeDolly wheels affect turning, poor handle design, not very fastSolid tires - harsher ride, carrying latch is complicated to work, heavier than averageCarrying latch failure, not very fast, limited range
Bottom Line This scooter is great for short commutes where carrying the machine is requiredA smooth driving, high-end electric scooter with an impressive range and a pep in its stepThis scooter has great features for commuters needing range and portability, though it lacks somewhat in powerA mid-priced scooter for longer distances and avid commutersA great budget-friendly scooter with unique upgrades rivaling some high-end models
Rating Categories Razor E Prime III Gotrax G4 Glion Dolly 225-22 Hiboy S2 Gotrax GXL V2
Range (25%)
4.7
9.0
9.3
7.6
3.9
Power (25%)
6.8
8.4
5.6
7.0
4.3
Ride Comfort (20%)
7.3
8.0
5.0
4.7
7.7
Portability (15%)
8.9
8.3
9.6
7.4
4.1
Braking (15%)
6.0
7.7
8.5
9.0
9.5
Specs Razor E Prime III Gotrax G4 Glion Dolly 225-22 Hiboy S2 Gotrax GXL V2
Measured Maximum Speed 18.4 mph 19.8 mph 13.9 mph 17 mph 12.5 mph
Measured Effective Range 8.2 miles 22 miles 24.5 miles 14 miles 7 miles
Measured Charge Time 6 hours 5 hours 50 minutes 5 hours 5 hours 40 minutes 4 hours 15 minutes
Brake Type Front electronic brake and rear fender brake Rear disc brake and E-ABS braking system Anti-lock electronic located inside rear wheel and rear fender brake Front regen
Rear disc
Front regen
Rear disc
Tire Type Pneumatic front
Solid rear
Pneumatic Solid (honeycomb) Solid rubber Pneumatic
Tire Size 8" 10" 8" 8.5" 8.5"
Lights Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Screen No Yes Battery indicator only Yes Yes
App No No No No No
Maximum Load 220 lbs 220 lbs 255 lbs 220 lbs 220 lbs
Bell No Yes Yes Yes Yes
Measured Weight 24 lbs 37.8 lbs 30.9 lbs 32 lbs 26 lbs
Battery Type Lithium Lithium LG Lithium Ion Lithium Lithium
Motor 250 Watt 350 Watt 250 Watt 350 Watt 250 Watt

Our Analysis and Test Results

What made the Razor E Prime III a standout in a class of scooters offering stiff competition is that it's an obvious fit for those who make short but frequent commutes that involve carrying the scooter. Obvious candidates are college students and urbanites that use a bus or train as part of their daily travels. The machine is light, easy to fold/unfold, and it has a smooth ride. So, when you're running a bit late, reach for this practical (and fun) machine as it won't let you down.

razor e prime iii electric scooter review - simple, lightweight, and effective. the razor e prime iii is a great...
Simple, lightweight, and effective. The Razor E Prime III is a great pick for the college crowd.
Credit: Laura Casner

Performance Comparison


To make accurate and reproducible assessments of the scooters reviewed here, we developed tests that reveal the products' strengths and weaknesses regardless of marketing hype or looks. These exhaustive tests cover common (and some not so common) uses of these products so you know what you'll be getting into before making a purchase. Below is an account of the testing process and the E Prime III's performance.

razor e prime iii electric scooter review - fleet, fun, and reliable. one tester making out for a spin.
Fleet, fun, and reliable. One tester making out for a spin.
Credit: Laura Casner

Range


For many would-be scooter commuters, range is at the top of the list of considerations. If you fall into this category, the 8.2 measured effective miles of flat ground cruising that the E Prime III delivers won't be all that impressive. Nor will its 46-minute runtime. If these limitations don't bother you, you might raise your eyebrows when you find out that it will take a whopping 6 hours to recharge a fully depleted battery.

Further hurting the Razor's standing in the range assessment is the fact that the scooter's top speed and power tapered gradually as the battery charge drained. As a result, the top speed for the majority of the range test was approximately 12 mph. This is a far cry from the max speed of 18.4 mph observed in the power tests (see below).

razor e prime iii electric scooter review - the battery charge indicator letting you know that you have plenty...
The battery charge indicator letting you know that you have plenty of power left to cruise.
Credit: Laura Casner

Power


As with the Range assessment, the power tests render less than impressive results that landed the Razor E Prime III at the bottom of the class. It wasn't all bad, however. When fully charged, this model will cruise at 18.4 mph, which is well above the class average. Additionally, the scooter will work its way up hills as steep as a 3.5% gradient at approximately 5 mph.

Okay, bright spots aside. The Razor's top speed is not maintained throughout the battery's charge and started decreasing around mile 2 in our battery test. By 50% battery life the max speed was around 12 mph. Additionally, the steeper of our test hills which averages a gradient of 10.5 % stopped the E Prime III dead in its tracks.

razor e prime iii electric scooter review - there are loads of great electric scooters on the market for...
There are loads of great electric scooters on the market for commuting, running errands, or simply getting out and having fun.
Credit: Laura Casner

Ride


No one likes a bumpy ride. That's why we use one of the worst roads in town to run the scooters here reviewed up and down to test the feedback from bumps and cracks. The Razor E Prime III sports a pneumatic front tire (great for shock absorption) and a sold rubber rear tire. Solid tires are nice as they require little to no maintenance but they tend to create a rattly ride.

We use a crack and bump-riddled section of street near our lab to test the smoothness of the ride. This road is traversed on all models more than once and allows testers to comparatively assess the scooters. The Razor's unique combination of a front pneumatic tire and a solid rubber rear tire shows that the front tire is the most important for shock absorption as this tire carries the most weight and is in direct line with the hands and forearms which suffer the most from cracks and bumps.

razor e prime iii electric scooter review - life is full of bumps in the road. the front pneumatic tires and...
Life is full of bumps in the road. The front pneumatic tires and suspension will help keep you rolling.
Credit: Laura Casner

Braking


The Razor E Prime III uses both an electric brake in the front and a fender brake in the rear. Fender brakes are simple friction brakes and have proven to be effective for rapid stops. While the E Prime III manages to maintain safe and comfortable speeds while descending our 15% test slope, it delivered a lackluster performance in the flat ground stopping tests.

The flat ground stopping test is repeated three times and the stopping distances are averaged. The tester throttles the scooter to approximately 12 mph and at a preset mark engages the vehicle's brakes. The E Prime III averaged 22.7 feet to stop. This is significantly above the average for models with fender brakes.

razor e prime iii electric scooter review - the electric front brake is paddle actuated and easy to opperate.
The electric front brake is paddle actuated and easy to opperate.
Credit: Laura Casner

Portability


The Razor E Prime III gave a stellar performance in the portability evaluation. As the name suggests, this metric evaluates all things dealing with the ability to transport the vehicle when it is not being ridden. As such, the model's feather-weight 24 pounds, hassle-free folding mechanism, and easy to grip carrying handle make this model a standout for the commuter that will be regularly carrying the vehicle.

Most electric scooters collapse the steering column across the standing deck for transport and storage. This is convenient but also poses safety concerns if the steering column isn't properly secured. As such, the safety latch is a focal point in the portability evaluation. Happily, Razor has come up with a slick design that incorporates a secondary locking mechanism into the primary latch that is undone with a simple twist.

razor e prime iii electric scooter review - the innovative and effective folding mechanism makes carrying and...
The innovative and effective folding mechanism makes carrying and riding a breeze. The scooter is light, too.
Credit: Laura Casner

The only knocks against the E Prime III are that the steering column/carrying handle is a bit big, potentially making it difficult for those with smaller hands to grip for prolonged periods. Additionally, the scooter is fairly long at 41 1/4" folded. Besides these minor issues, we found this model to be a great fit for the campus commuter.

Value


The Razor E Prime III offers consumers a good, but not great, value.

Conclusion


In the above review, we have taken a deep dive into the performance of the Razor E Prime III. Specifically, we have looked at the range, ride, power, braking, and portability of this machine. Our testing and analysis revealed this model to be economical, of high-quality while offering innovative safety features. Additionally, we found that this scooter is particularly well-suited to short-range commuting where carrying the vehicle is frequently required.

Nick Miley and Austin Palmer
 
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