Cruising the city with a scooter, hurrying to the supermarket and replacing short car rides with battery-powered e-scooters - does that work as well as it sounds? What can the nimble scooters really do? I bought the IO Hawk Sparrow Legal with ABE - and I try this promising, new form of everyday mobility and travel in my e-scooter test. A review. 

In the city centers of many cities throughout Europe you can already find them: e-scooters. The electric scooters are just standing around in the area and can be rented as needed. The sheer endless possibilities with these little speedsters made me sit up and take notice. You should be able to take the e-scooter to the fitness center, supermarket, to the park and as a substitute for any short journey in the city as well as for a relaxed cruise in the city without any problems. The electrified scooters can also be folded up and easily packed in the trunk of the car.

This makes the e-scooter a potential companion for trips on which you would otherwise have had to take the bike with you. Opportunities identified - ordered scooter - applied for insurance - attached sticker - and finally we rolled off. One of the first models on the market is the IO Hawk Sparrow Legal, which I bought for the e-scooter test. In this respect, our driving experiences only relate to this model - in my opinion, it is one of the best road-legal e-scooters currently available. Especially since the manufacturer IO Hawk comes from Germany and the support is correspondingly pleasant if something should happen with the scooter.

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The first impression in our e-scooter test – ready to go quickly, well made

Starting with the e-scooter is extremely easy: switch it on, stand on it, give it a little momentum with your foot and you can start rolling at the push of a button on the handlebars. This would explain the most important technology. The brake is located on the handlebars of the gadget like on a bicycle and works reliably. The second brake is the pedal brake, where you basically press the mudguard of the rear tire against the tire.

The IO Hawk Sparrow Legal weighs 12 kilograms and can be folded compactly. It can be easily transported using the included carrying strap. The first impression is therefore clear: incredibly exciting technology that is at the same time incredibly simple. I would be very surprised if e-scooters like the IO Hawk Sparrow Legal didn't catch on. And how does a current street-legal e-scooter drive?

E-scooter – new mobility on short journeys?

• the legal situation: Since 15. June 2019 e-scooters are approved to 20 km / h with ABE in Germany according to StVO
• the hope: the scooters with battery could relieve the traffic in the cities, because more people change from the car to nimble gadgets
• the fear: E-scooters could cause chaos on German roads, become a stumbling block for passers-by and an obstacle for motorists
• the reality: more and more providers of rental e-scooters are pushing for the German market - the scooters are being received very positively by users of all age groups, despite the relatively high rental costs of nine to 13 per hour
• the niche: So far, own e-scooters are only bought by a few road users, although much speaks for the acquisition of their own scooter and the purchase price in comparison to the rental costs paid off within a few weeks

Driving e-scooters is a lot of fun

And so the first round didn't take long to arrive. As soon as the insurance sticker was in the mail, things started right away. I used the e-scooter for the first time on the bike path in front of the house. I wanted to take a quick ride around the block. So put it on, picked up the momentum and stepped on the gas. I am immediately impressed by the driving characteristics of the scooter. Although driving at 20 km/h seems incredibly slow, you will still overtake most cyclists.

The little tour around the block immediately turned into a test drive halfway through Hamburg – once across the city center traffic. The e-scooter is almost tempting to put in a lot of kilometers with it, because driving is easy, intuitive, relaxed and really fun. On the first test lap, I completely drained the scooter's battery and raced across the city. I wouldn't have taken a tour like this into Hamburg city center in the late afternoon in rush hour traffic by car - at least not voluntarily without having to.

The IO Hawk Sparrow Legal worked fantastically. The scooter climbed inclines without any problems, the numerous bumps caused no problems and overall there were hardly any unpleasant interactions with other road users. After the first big tour, however, I had the feeling that the many bumps and road damage would take a toll on the scooter in the long run, increasing wear and tear and shortening the lifespan of the device. The first impression: Wow, the e-scooter exceeds my expectations, I am absolutely thrilled with the gadget!

Specifications of the IO Hawk Sparrow Legal

• E-scooter made of aluminum
• collapsible
• 12.5 kilogram weight
• Extra long tread
• Start-up mode for comfortable starting
• Display with speedometer, battery indicator and three speed levels (6 / 15 / 20 km / h)
• two brakes (mechanical precision disc brake and additional foot brake)
• LED headlights
• maximum speed 20 km / h
• Range 25 to 28 kilometers (in driving practice around the 20 kilometers)

IO Hawk Sparrow Legal: the strengths and weaknesses of the e-scooter

The e-scooter is a solid, well thought-out one Gadget, which is quick to use and intuitive to use. Strengths and weaknesses usually arise in the interaction in traffic. Thus, it is often not clear if there is a problem with the scooter or the environment in which it moves. For example, bumpy roads can have a negative effect on the range, while the scooter creates more kilometers on level surfaces.

One of the scooter's strengths is that it's easy to set up: buy it, have it delivered to your home, screw it together in ten minutes, apply for the insurance sticker online and one or two days later you can start happily scootering. The driving experience is intuitive, works from the first minute and you can get started straight away. The speed of the e-scooter can be infinitely adjusted. So you can start slowly and increase over time. You feel safe on the device at all times, the 20 km/h seemed very slow to me. A helmet is of course recommended and should be worn on every ride. What specifically concerns the IO Hawk Sparrow Legal: The workmanship of the device is very high, it is easy to use and driving fun is guaranteed in any case.

One of the weaknesses of the e-scooter is definitely the legal limit of 20 km/h. You notice that the scooter is locked and would actually like to go faster. However, at 20 km/h it stops. In some cases you would like to explain this to the driver driving closely behind you. However, the 20 km/h is obviously faster than the perceived speed. With the exception of bicycle couriers and real hardcore cyclists, you can overtake all two-wheeled cyclists with the IO Hawk Sparrow Legal.

You can also drive faster at the traffic lights with an e-scooter. On inclines you can easily pass struggling cyclists. However, at least in Hamburg, the road conditions are problematic. I'm worried that they won't do the e-scooter any good in the long run and will shorten its lifespan. As far as the IO Hawk Sparrow Legal is concerned specifically, the associated app does not work at all, at least with my iPhone. It connects the smartphone and scooter without any problems, but does not transmit any data at all. We can really look forward to a future update here.

Power

• Getting started is easy: order a scooter and apply for insurance, and you're ready to go
• intuitive driving that works from the first minute - instruction was not necessary
• high quality of workmanship of the IO Hawk Sparrow Legal
• different driving modes of e-scooters
• innovative new mobility concept for short distances up to 10 kilometers

weaknesses

• the scooters are slowed down and limited by law to 20 km / h
• Road conditions can make driving difficult
• partly low acceptance among other road users
• the IO Hawk app needs a revision (at least when used on an iPhone X - as of August 2019)

E-scooter in the test – initial findings in continuous operation

In the meantime, I have already gained initial insights for my e-scooter test from daily continuous operation of the electric scooter. And they are consistently positive: the e-scooter is simply unbeatable, especially for short distances of one, two and up to five kilometers. On these short journeys, the gadget is just as useful in practice as it is imagined in theory. I can cover the 1,5 kilometers to the fitness center much faster on a scooter than by car or on foot, and I can also get to the supermarket. The e-scooter can also be used for longer distances, but you do have the feeling of being on the road for a long time. However, in rush hour traffic, the e-scooter is likely to beat the car by a long shot. I've often cycled past a traffic jam on the bike path.

In the meantime, the e-scooter has been in use for almost five weeks. And has established itself as a serious replacement for the car. Especially on all distances between one and four kilometers, the electric scooter is ideal - often faster in rush hour than the car. I have already saved several hundred kilometers of driving the IO Hawk Sparrow Legal - and since the scooter is charged with 100 percent green electricity, this should have a very positive effect on my energy balance. However, I have to say that the use of your own e-scooter is very different from the rental scooters. If I had to hire a rental scooter for each trip, I would probably have continued to drive.  

Plates with the e-scooter - and directly repaired yourself

The first flat tire on my e-scooter, however, I have already retracted. This is of course once annoying and annoying, but the bottom line was not a broken leg. The front wheel with motor of my IO Hawk Sparrow Legal could easily be removed. Then I simply swapped the tube in the front tire as in the bicycle. All in all, maybe an hour's work for someone who is not very good at changing tires - like me. If you do not feel like changing the tire yourself, you can safely go to the bike dealer you trust with the new hose to get rid of the e-scooter plates. 

Difficulties with e-scooters in traffic

Unfortunately, there are actually a few small issues with e-scooters. The bike paths are partly covered by heavy damage and holes, the same applies to the lanes on which you have to drive with the e-scooter if there are no bike paths. In addition, you are facing the same problems as cyclists with the scooter: bike paths lead to nowhere, just stop or end in a dead end.

In addition, there is a fairly low acceptance of motorists. For example, I was honed because there was no bike path and I was driving on the street. The car driver said that it could not be that you could drive with these toys on the road. I explained to her that I should not only do it but also because there was no bike path. Overall, one is with the e-scooters, however, very harmonious and peaceful on the road, which is mainly due to the upright posture while driving. Cyclists are noticeably more stressed.

E-scooters with street approval - more and more models with ABE

Gradually, more and more new street-legal e-scooters are coming onto the market. And the users are likely to slowly approach the practical, nimble scooters. Interested people can buy e-scooters on the Internet and in the electronics store. The e-scooters with ABE, however, are partially visually indistinguishable from those models that are only approved for private use. Therefore, you should look into the dealer details before buying an e-scooter. The most important brands for the scooters are IO Hawk, Xiaomi, Ninebot by Segway, City Blitz and the luxurious Metz Moover.

Alternative means of transport – car, city bike, subway, etc.

The e-scooter enters an ecosystem that is currently undergoing major changes and is demanding more and more alternative means of transport that are actually practical, especially in large cities. The Moia shuttle service is available in Hamburg, and the taxi alternative Uber is also launching. The big cities in Europe are getting more and more city bikes, which can be rented cheaply everywhere. In addition to the subway and cars, the e-scooter is likely to soon play an important key role in this transport mix. Because every form of mobility has its advantages and disadvantages - the basic rule is: the simpler, faster and more practical the transport, the more likely it is to be used by travelers. And this is where the e-scooter clearly scores points, with which you can travel flexibly and quickly.

With the e-scooter while traveling and on vacation

With its almost 1,23 meter length, the IO Hawk Sparrow Legal can be easily stored in the trunk of the car or in the back seat. This means you have the option of taking the e-scooter with you on vacation. I drove to Scharbeutz on the Baltic Sea coast with a practical gadget. Big point for the scooter: While I would have to laboriously strap a bike onto the roof rack or fold down the benches, the nimble e-scooter is quickly stowed away and ready to go at the destination just as quickly.

This makes the scooter a real bicycle alternative on vacation. At least all travel destinations in Germany and the surrounding area that can be reached by car can be visited by scooter. I'm now even considering taking the IO Hawk Sparrow Legal with me on my next trip abroad on the plane - but that's still in the planning stages and it remains to be seen whether the e-scooter can actually be taken abroad. If taking it with you proves to be practical, the scooter will quickly become one of my most important holiday gadgets and an essential piece of travel equipment. I'll keep you updated on this in a separate post.

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E-scooter test – does the IO Hawk Sparrow Legal get you going?

Honestly? I love my car – both in the country and in the city. I drive it everywhere, it's the most convenient alternative for getting around. I come from a small town, where from the age of 18 it was common practice to have my own car and drive around in it. You could safely forget about public transport. But times are changing - and anyone who has not yet understood that new mobility concepts are needed to protect the climate and protect cities from traffic collapse can no longer be helped.

My personal experience: In the first week of my e-scooter test alone, I saved around 30 kilometers of driving in city traffic. The car sat completely for three days - with identical and sometimes even greater comfort than if I had driven the car. I didn't expect it in this form before. The IO Hawk Sparrow Legal is a real fun vehicle that also has very serious and practical uses.    

The manufacturer IO Hawk is a pioneer in the field of battery-powered means of transportation - from the hover board over the e-scooter to e-bikes. Over time, many other exciting scooter models will also be launched by other manufacturers, such as new e-scooters from Xiaomi, City Blitz and Segway. The e-scooter price is already relaxed: from 549 Euro you can get an e-scooter with street legal and ABE. 

I completely paid the IO Hawk Sparrow Legal for the E-Scooter test myself. The test is therefore completely independent and is based entirely on my experience with the product. 

Do you already own an e-scooter or are you considering to buy a model? Share your experience in the comments.