‘Good for planet and pocket, and great fun too’: We test ride an electric scooter from NIU Hull

Simon Bristow on a NIU MQi+ Sport from NIU Hull

In a climate crisis and with fuel bills soaring, the case for greener, more affordable forms of transport could not be stronger. Simon Bristow tries out an electric scooter from NIU Hull, and finds it not just good for planet and pocket, but great fun too

In the heat of summer, there can be few more pleasurable means of transport than breezing about in the open air on a scooter.

Quick, manoeuvrable, and easy to ride, it certainly made for a refreshing alternative to my car, in which I have got used to sitting in traffic while trying to get around Hull.

And there was an added bonus too to the machine that was now whizzing past those lines of cars – it was fully electric, so friendly to the environment and noiseless as well, which meant I could hear the birds singing in the trees as I left the city and headed out into the countryside of the East Riding.

Tuneh Knott on a NIU MQi GT. Picture by Tony Knott

I was having a trial run on an MQi+ Sport from NIU in Hull, one of the wide range of electric scooters stocked at their store in Bond Street, city centre, in the landmark redeveloped K2 building.

There are faster and bigger scooters to choose from, but for someone who had only occasionally ridden scooters or mopeds while on holiday, it was more than enough for me. And Peter and Tony, the very helpful staff, soon made sure a novice like me understood the finer details.

The NIU MQi+ Sport has a top speed of 28mph, but it’s so responsive it still packs enough power to make you sit back sharply in the seat when you turn the throttle. I made a mental note to keep an eye on that as I motored away from the store, quickly feeling comfortable and at home on my new wheels.

A NIU MQi GT EVO in action. Picture by Matteo Ravenelli

Fully charged, it has a range of about 40 miles. And there was no need to worry about suddenly conking out – the remaining range is accurately displayed with just a glance down to the instrument panel.

So I was off, taking advantage of the bus lanes you are allowed to use to cut the journey time it would have taken by car, and then heading out through Cottingham and into Skidby, where I stopped to take in the view and reflect on how easy and enjoyable it had been to cover those few miles.

And then I was away again, heading through the hamlet of Eppleworth, keenly and pleasantly aware of how much more of the environment you get to see and hear on an electric scooter, and enjoying the sun and wind on my face. Past the rolling hills of Raywell I rode on to Swanland, zipped past the pond and then back into Hull through Anlaby and Spring Bank, switching on the cruise control on the straights to make the ride just about as effortless as it could be.

A NIU MQi GT in Queens Gardens. Picture by Tony Knott

There was one brief and unannounced stop at a friend’s in the Avenues, which impressed both of us the handlebars were narrow enough to get through his back gate. In keeping with the cutting-edge technology that makes it all possible, there’s a very handy extra security feature too – an app downloaded to your phone that alerts you if anyone tries to tamper with the scooter once parked and locked. It already has the secure steering lock and immobiliser you would expect at a minimum.

So I returned home with a smile on my face feeling like something of a convert. And the next stage of the NIU electric scooter experience dispelled any lingering doubts I may have had. Lifting the seat, I easily removed the battery and plugged it into a standard mains socket in my house to fully charge it for my next day’s riding.

Where could I go next? The answer was anywhere. There was nothing to stop me going up the coast to Bridlington or inland to York and then charging up again there. No fuel bills, good for the environment, fun and easy to ride – this has got to be the future.

• Click here to book a test ride or find out more about electric scooters from NIU Hull