Turbot V8 review | Technical Advisor

The Turboant V8 is the latest top-of-the-line scooter from the micromobility maker, boasting top-end features such as a 450W motor and a top speed of 32km/h, as well as unique features such as a dual-battery design that delivers an impressive range of 50 miles and reduces charging time. in half.

It’s a huge improvement over the Turboant X7 Pro without the associated price hike, meaning it’s more affordable than you might think.

Is this enough to compete with similarly priced Xiaomi Mi Pro 2 scooter counterparts? You may be surprised.

Design Features

• Clean, industrial design
• Dual battery design with removable battery
• Super fast folding system
• Unique display

The Turboant V8 is a combination of form and function with an industrial, angular look that goes against models like the rounded Reid E4.

That’s not to say it’s not a beautiful scooter, with a clean design largely devoid of the brake cables that plague most competitors. Where there are visible cables, the bright red coloration makes them stand out against the almost all-black body for added style.

Lewis Artist / Foundry

The deck is quite long and wide, measuring 500 x 175mm, and the grippy pattern texture helps you stay on the scooter even in wet conditions. Thanks to the official IP54 water resistance, it is able to withstand the rain, although I would avoid deep puddles if I were you.

The Turboant V8 has one of the simplest folding mechanisms with a single large latch on the bottom of the stem. When it’s time to fold, simply pull the lever from stem to deck and the entire front stem folds with it. Literally less than 3 seconds it is fixed on the board and ready to be carried.

At 1160 x 505 x 460mm, it’s compact enough to fit in the boot of a car when folded, although at 21.6kg it’s not that easy to transport on public transport. If you’re looking for a lightweight scooter, the Mycle Cruiser Pro is a great alternative.

Lewis Artist / Foundry

But why is the V8 so heavy? Sure, it’s quite bulky, but it’s much smaller than the 28kg Inokim Ox Super.

A lot of that has to do with the battery – or batteries – inside the V8. The Turboant V8 is one of the very few electric scooters on the market in 2022 that boasts a dual-battery design, with the fixed battery housed inside the deck and the removable battery in the stem. It’s also easy to remove; simply lift the latch on the stem to remove the battery.

There are huge range and charge time advantages, which I’ll get into in a bit, but the domino effect is that it’s a lot heavier than most of the competition.

Lewis Artist / Foundry

The Turboant V8 display is another notable feature, built into the center of the steering wheel for a neat finish. It displays the standard information you’d expect, such as speed, battery life, and lighting status, but it takes it a step further with tachometer-like graphics.

When you press the gas to accelerate and the brake to slow down, the pressure applied to each control will be displayed in real time, giving you a unique insight into how you are handling the scooter. It’s a nice touch that brings it closer to a car dashboard than a scooter and helps set it apart from most of the competition.

In addition to the display, the 505mm handlebar has strong grips at both ends, as well as one left-mounted brake lever and a right-hand throttle. Inside the throttle you’ll find a power button that doubles as a control to change ride modes and turn on the headlights – another nice change from the competition.

While most have a power button built into or near the display, the V8’s throttle button means you can easily adjust gear while riding without taking your hands off the wheel, a huge plus for driver safety.

Lewis Artist / Foundry

A 3W flashlight mounted on the top of the stem is more than bright enough to light up the ground right in front of you in the dark. There are four ambient lights on the sides that provide additional illumination when riding at night, and a bright LED taillight means you can be clearly seen on dark roads.

The only area where the Turboant V8 is lacking is in the applications department; without a companion app for iOS and Android, the V8 lacks smart features like remote locking, ride reviews, and the ability to adjust settings on the fly—features found on cheaper scooters like the Ninebot Kickscooter D38E.

Performance

• Speed ​​up to 20 miles per hour
• Excellent acceleration
• Still bumpy ride despite rear suspension

At the heart of the Turboant V8, you’ll find an upgraded 450W motor, 100W more than the company’s own X7 Pro and rival scooters from Xiaomi – and as you’d expect, it makes for a pretty enjoyable driving experience.

In fact, with a top speed of 20 mph (32 km/h), it’s one of the fastest scooters we’ve seen on Tech Advisor – second only to the Inokim Ox Super at 28 mph – though there are legal issues with it. In Great Britain. Electric bikes are limited to 15.5 mph and it is likely that this will be the case if (or hopefully when) scooters are legalized on UK roads.

It is also worth noting that, unlike the Inokima scooter, you cannot add a speed limiter yourself.

Lewis Artist / Foundry

However, if you don’t live in the UK or plan to ride your scooter on private land, this is a fantastic experience.

The 450W motor starts up quickly, with great acceleration and a higher top speed than most competitors, making it incredibly fast to get from point A to point B. It will even take you up hilly 15-degree slopes, albeit with a little less speed than usual.

As with most scooters, there are three riding modes to choose from – Eco, Comfort and Sport.

Eco mode is the most economical way to travel, but it comes at the expense of acceleration and a top speed limited to just 6 mph. Comfort mode gets you up to 9 mph, while Sport mode runs everything in high gear with a top speed of 20 mph and quick acceleration – although, as you’d expect, at the cost of overall range.

Features like automatic cruise control make long trips more comfortable by eliminating the need to constantly hold the gas pedal, and the combination of air-filled 9.3-inch tires and a rear suspension system should negate bumps and cracks in the road – anyway , in theory.

In practice, the Turboant V8 is still quite bumpy when riding on anything but perfectly paved surfaces – probably due to the lack of proper suspension on the front wheel that the stem connects to. It takes the edge off compared to scooters with no suspension at all, but not as smooth as it could be.

Lewis Artist / Foundry

The good news is that even at these high speeds, the dual braking system (a combination of disc brake and electronic brake) brings the scooter to a halt very quickly.

The powerful engine also allows the scooter to accommodate larger riders with a maximum weight limit of 125kg.

Battery life

• Up to 50 miles per charge
• Can charge built-in and removable batteries at the same time
• Fast 4 hour charge

As mentioned earlier, the Turboant V8 is one of the very few scooters equipped with dual batteries, with not one but two 36V 7.5Ah batteries in the stem and deck of the scooter.

The V8’s 15Ah (720Wh) total output means it can deliver up to 50 miles (80km) of range on a single charge – nearly double that of similarly priced scooters like the Xiaomi Mi Scooter Pro 2.

Lewis Artist / Foundry

Of course, it goes without saying that true range will be affected by factors such as rider weight, speed and acceleration, road inclines, and even weather, but it certainly reduces battery concerns during research.

While the battery in the deck can’t be removed, the battery in the rack can, meaning you can charge both batteries at the same time, going from dead to full in just four hours – a big difference from the usual 7-9 hours from long-range scooters.

The scooter comes with two identical chargers in the box and a removable battery dock that you can sit in while charging. You can, of course, charge both batteries inside the scooter itself, but this will substantially double the charging time.

Lewis Artist / Foundry

Price

With premium features like a 450W motor and 50 miles of range, it’s no wonder the Turboant V8 isn’t an entry-level scooter, although it’s priced a lot more affordable than you might expect.

The Turboant V8 is available for $649 / £540, making it equal to Xiaomi’s Mi Scooter 2 Pro but superior in most areas. It’s only available directly from Turboant and comes with a 12 month warranty, though you’ll have to ship it back to Turboant yourself to make a claim.

To see how it compares to the competition, take a look at our selection of the best electric scooters.

Lewis Artist / Foundry

Verdict

The Turboant V8 is an impressive scooter, perfect for getting around the city. The 450W motor is more powerful than the competition, delivering a top speed of 20 mph and quick acceleration, making getting from point A to point B quick and easy, though it’s still relatively bumpy despite the rear suspension system.

However, the real standout feature of the V8 is its dual battery design. It features two 36V 7.5Ah batteries – one built-in and one removable – that combine to provide up to 50 miles of range on a single charge, reducing battery worries on long journeys. You can even charge them in tandem thanks to the second battery dock, which cuts charging time down to 4 hours.

Throw in nice touches like on-display brake and throttle gauges, a multi-function button built into the throttle and one of the simplest folding systems we’ve ever seen, and you’ve got a capable scooter at a fairly affordable price.

Specifications

• Unfolded: 1160 x 505 x 1155 mm
• Folded: 1160 x 505 x 460 mm
• Weight: 21.6 kg
• Maximum load: 125 kg
• Aluminum alloy frame
• 9.3″ pneumatic tires with tubes
• Waterproof IP54
• 3W LED headlight
• Red LED Taillight + 4 Position Lights
• 450W motor with front hub
• Three driving modes (Eco, Comfort and Sport)
• 15 degree tilt support
• Dual brakes – disc brake and electronic brake
• 2 batteries 36V 7.5Ah (combined 15Ah) – one removable
• range 50 miles
• Simultaneous battery charging
• 4 hours of charging