Thank you, Zero. We managed to end another review with a big smile. The Zero 9 lives up to its tough looks with the power hidden under the proverbial bonnet.
Within Zero’s range, the Zero 9 [aka Z9] falls in the mid-range in terms of price tag. Solid performance, for a reasonable price. Ride along through our review.
The Zero 9 for this review was provided by Zeroscooters.co.uk.
Long story short: who is the Zero 9 a good choice for?
The Zero 9 is also characterised as a ‘Travel’ scooter. The Z9 has this label due to its reliable range, solid traction and [relatively] good portability.
Do you want a sturdy electric scooter for daily use, which you can take with you on public transport and on which you can rely in terms of range? Then reserve a spot in your garage.
The main pluses and minuses of the Zero 9
| Plus points | Minuses |
| + Range of up to 50 kilometres | – Folding the scooter takes some practice |
| + Top speed of 50 km/h | |
| + Adjustable handlebars up to a height of 120 cm |
This is what you want to know
Acceleration: the Zero 9 has a maximum speed of 50 km/h and takes off quickly from standstill without the aid of a kickstart. Read more about acceleration.
Maximum range: depending on the battery type, the Z9 has a range of between 35 and 50 kilometres. Read more about the range.
Braking: the dual braking system ensures an impressively short braking distance, stopping within 1.77 seconds from a speed of 30 km/h. Read more about the The braking system.
Driving comfort: hitting the road with the Zero 9
Once you have received the Z9 at home and want to hit the road for the first time, there are a few things you need to do beforehand. These include inflating the tyres to the correct pressure (3.5 bar) and fully charging the battery.
Accelerating with the Z9 is smooth. Very smoothly. Whereas many e-scooters work with a kick start (acceleration is only possible after switching off), with the Z9 you can start from standstill. You could call it a flying start; with 600W of power, you quickly accelerate from standstill to the desired speed.
The shock absorbers, 9-inch pneumatic tyres and 18 cm high deck made us feel safe while riding. What also stands out when riding is the handlebar height. At 120 cm, this is higher than the average e-scooter. This gives extra overview while riding. Very safe.
Acceleration and speed: up to 50 km/h
Unlike a lot of other e-scooters, the Zero 9 lets you accelerate from standstill. This has its advantages and disadvantages.
The experienced rider will handle this well. But in our tests, we noticed that some caution is involved when accelerating.
Do you have no experience riding an e-scooter yet and are setting off on the Z9 for the first time? Then keep this in mind.
However, once you are comfortable with this, we have to admit that the Z9’s acceleration is very smooth. In our tests, we achieved the following results in third gear:
- From 0 to 30 km/h in 5.39 seconds.
- From 0 to 40 km/h in 8.67 seconds.
Switch between three gears
The Zero 9 features three different gears. These gears can be controlled via the ‘Mode’ button on the display. Each gear represents a different maximum speed:
- First gear: maximum speed up to about 30 km/h.
- Second gear: maximum speed up to about 38 km/h.
- Third gear: maximum speed up to about 50 km/h.
*The maximum speed may be affected by the driver’s weight. In our tests, the Zero 9 was loaded with 70 kg.
The lighting: striking through the dark
One thing is for sure: would you like your e-scooter to stand out in the dark? Then you’re in the right place with the Z9.
The scooter features four different light points:
- Two front lights
- Two rear lights*
- An LED strip on the front of the steering wheel
- Two LED strips under the deck
*The rear lights also function as brake lights when you squeeze either [or both] brakes.
The verdict on the LED lights is best summed up as ‘Hate it, or love it’. Some will feel like a fairground attraction when driving through the dark with this, while others will find it a great sight.
Whether you like it or not, one thing is certain; you will be highly visible to other road users.
Braking system: impressively short braking distance
For true speedsters, this may not be the most interesting topic to discuss. But from a safety perspective, surely not an unimportant feature: a good braking system.
Like a scooter, the Z9 has two hand brakes; a front and rear brake. The front brake consists of a disc brake, while the rear brake is a drum brake.
When either brake is pressed, the rear lights flash. This serves as a brake light, signalling to those behind.
In our brake tests, we clocked the following braking distances:
- Full stop within 1.77 seconds at a speed of 30 km/h
- Full stop within 2.14 seconds at a speed of 40 km/h
Good to know: our brake tests were carried out on an asphalt road surface.
Range: up to 50 kilometres on a full battery
The Zero 9 comes in two different versions; the 52V 13Ah and the 48V 10Ah. Judging by the technical specifications, the 52V battery achieves a maximum range of 50 kilometres. The 48V variant has a maximum range of 35 kilometres.
Experience shows that the range is very dependent on driver weight and average speed. Nevertheless, in most situations the Z9 will lend itself well to daily driving [for example] to and from the office.
For a battery with a maximum range of 50 kilometres, the Zero 9 has a pretty smooth charging time. In fact, an empty battery is fully recharged within 4-5 hours.
Portability: to take with you in public transport
Like the bulk of modern e-scooters, the Z9 is also foldable. This makes it possible to take the scooter with you on the bus or train. Folding is as follows:
Folding the Z9 takes some getting used to at first. But, once you get the hang of it, it folds up completely within 15 seconds.
Once folded, the Zero 9 measures 100 x 59 x 120 cm and you can lift it by the handlebars.
Although the Z9’s folding system makes it possible to take the scooter anywhere, this will not be easy for everyone. This is because the total weight of the scooter is 18 kg.
This is a few kilos heavier than the average ‘budget’ e-scooter, but lighter than the average high-end electric scooter. And judging by its build and performance, the Z9 can rightfully blend in with that.
Technical specifications of the Zero 9
| Zero 9 | Specs |
| Maximum speed | 25 – 45 km/h* |
| Maximum range | 45 km |
| Loading time | 4-5 hours |
| Weight | 18 kg |
| Maximum load weight | 100 kg |
| Maximum slope | 22° |
| Wheel size | 9″ |
| Tyre type | Pneumatic tyres |
| Presence of front and rear lights | Yes |
| Type of lighting | Led |
| Dimensions collapsed | 100 x 20 x 39 cm |
| Voltage | 52V 13Ah or 48V 10Ah |
| Motor wattage | 600W |
| Rear brake type | Drum brake |
| Battery type | LG/Samsung 52V/13ah or 48V/10ah |
The handlebar and display: sturdy and functional
The Zero scooters are characterised by the sporty-looking handlebars and eye-catching display. The handlebars are adjustable and have a minimum height of 93 cm and a maximum height of 120 cm. With an overall width of 59 cm and sturdy handles on both sides, you have a firm and solid grip while riding.
The display is attached to the right side of the handlebar. Thanks to the LED lighting incorporated in the handlebar, you can easily read the maximum speed even in the dark. Using the ‘power’ and ‘home’ buttons, you can control a myriad of functions. These are the three most important ones:
- Switching the Z9 on and off: press and hold the ‘Power’ button for 1 second
- Switching between gears: press the ‘Mode’ button once each time
- Switching the lighting on and off: press and hold the ‘Mode’ button for 2 seconds
The tyres: nine-inch and air-filled
The tyres of an e-scooter have a big impact on the riding comfort of an e-scooter. The beloved riding comfort of the Zero 9 is therefore partly made possible by these tyres.
The Z9 is equipped with sturdy 9″ pneumatic tyres. Together with shock absorbers at the front and rear wheel, these air tyres ensure limited vibrations in the handlebars while riding. The tyres have a bicycle valve and can be inflated with a normal bicycle pump.
The valve is practically placed on the outside of the rim. This makes it a simple job to add new air to the tyres.
The deck: fitted with anti-slip strips
The deck of the Z9 features non-slip tread. This can come in handy in wet weather, or when wearing shoes with slippery soles. It prevents you from sliding off the deck when braking.
At 58 cm long and 19 cm wide, the deck has enough space to accommodate your feet. The deck hangs at a height of 18 centimetres.
If you plan to take the Z9 on an off-road ride, you will experience the convenience of the high deck. You won’t get stranded on every random branch or bump because of it. How convenient!
Final verdict
The moment of truth: is the Zero 9 worth buying? Yes. So who is the Z9 most suitable for? For the person who wants to use a reliable e-scooter on a daily basis.
The Z9 has a solid build, has a competitive performance and, above all, looks sleek. With that said, the Z9 gets a matching 9 as a final grade from us.
With a price tag of between £743,77 – £965,130 [depending on battery type], this e-scooter is priced a tad higher than the well-known Xiaomi’s and Segway’s. But here you also get a few ticks more in return.
