Segway ES2 vs Segway E22: Is the New Generation Segway better?

Segway ranks among the most well-known and most respected scooter brands. The Segway Ninebot E22 and Segway Ninebot ES2 are among the most popular electric scooters the company offers. However, one is the “old” version (ES2) that has been around for years and one is the “new” version (E22) that was recently released. If you’re looking for the best electric scooter from Segway, the E22 and ES2 are both good models that should make your shortlist.

When you buy a Segway, you can rest confidently knowing you purchased a good product. That said, some Segway scooters are better than others, and some offer more value than others. In this Segway Ninebot kickscooter ES2 and Segway E22 review, we’ll compare the two scooters and explain which is the best choice.

While both scooters are great options, the right one for you will come down to your needs, budget, and other factors. Spending a bit of time now to compare the E22 to the ES2 will help you make an informed choice and could ensure a better experience.

A Segway Ninebot ES2 vs Segway Ninebot E22: A Head to Head Comparison

Head-to-head, the ES2 and E22 are generally quite comparable. They’re both midrange scooters with the good build quality and solid performance. The E22 is a newer model, however, Segway is always in continuous technological developments they can provide enhanced functionality on the newer generation of scooters.

They both have a sleek look but the E22 uses an integrated frame design and a matte coating process to provide an outstanding texture that’s pretty cool. It’s little touches like this that help Segway continually reaches new heights with their scooter lineup.

That said, across many specs, the ES2 seems to outperform the E22 on paper.

For example, speed-wise the E22 tops out at 12.4 miles per hour while the ES2 maxes out at 15.5 miles per hour.

Meanwhile, the E22 features a 13.7-mile range, while the ES2 can go for up to 15.5 miles on a charge.

Yet ultimately, the E22 adds up to more than the sum of its parts. A few key improvements, such as their next-gen tires which use new PU foaming material to make them non-pneumatic, solid tires.

They’ve also refined build quality which, in my mind, helps the E22 overtake the ES2. Further, the E22 often edges out the ES2 in real-world use.

The ES2 may occasionally outperform the newer E22. Yet the tiny lead in some performance metrics isn’t necessarily enough to warrant spending more. This is especially true given that the difference often disappears in real-world use. Further, the ES2 is a bit harder to find while the E22 is often in stock. This is primarily because the E22 is the next generation of the ES2.

We’ll dig into the differences more closely, but at the end of the day, the E22 is a better choice for most people.

For one, the E22 is substantially cheaper. Second, being a newer model, Segway’s engineers have had time to refine and improve the E22.

Segway ES2 vs Segway E22: Major Differences

Set the ES2 and E22 next to each other and at first glance, you might struggle to tell the difference.

That said, pay careful attention and you’ll start to notice that these scooters do, indeed, differ. The E22, for example, features upgraded 9-inch tires to the ES2’s 8-inch tires. Further, the E22 doesn’t offer shocks like the ES2. Many riders found the ES2’s shocks to offer subpar performance. On the other hand, many riders laud the E22’s large, durable tires with new PU foaming material. Many say they are better than common solid tires.

However, I prefer pneumatic tires over the new flat-free tires from Segway. I think because the E22 doesn’t have suspension they would benefit from using pneumatic tires to help absorb the shock of bumpy roads. One nice thing about solid tires is they require little maintenance.

Pick up the ES2 and the E22 and you may notice that the ES2 is a bit lighter. The ES2 also features a slightly smaller deck and it’s a bit more compact when folded up. Ultimately, while the E22 is a bit heavier, it’s also a bit larger and wider, offering more comfort for riders while adding only a small amount of weight.

A Segway launched the ES2 back in September 2018 while the E22 arrived in August 2021. Handling and riding the ES2 and E22, you can tell that through the Ninebot laboratory testing, Segway has worked hard to incorporate an enhanced riding dynamic for this device.

Let’s take a closer look at the individual traits of the E22 and ES2 so you can better understand how these scooters match up head-to-head.

Hill Climbing Abilities

One of the biggest reasons people buy electric scooters versus say a kick scooter or a pedal bike is to tackle hills. A pedal bike is easy to operate on flat ground but once you hit some hills, you may find yourself struggling.

The E22 scooter is rated for 15-degree hills, whereas the ES2 is only rated for 10-degree hills. Thus, the E22 has stronger climb capability and can tackle larger hills even in spite of the fact that it weighs a bit more. In practice, however, E22 often struggles with hills with a grade above 10 percent.

The E22 does edge out the ES2. That said, if you live in a very hilly area, you may want to consider a more powerful scooter. Otherwise, you could be stuck with a scooter that struggles to get you where you need to go.

Brake Performance

Fortunately, both the Segway E22 and ES2 come with both mechanical and electric brakes. Dual braking systems are always welcomed.

The electric regen brakes, who’s control is found on the handlebars, are often preferred by riders. Still, if you run out of charge, you’ll still be able to stop either scooter with the mechanical brakes. Plus, on the E22 you also have a rear fender brake.

Yet if the ES2 has one huge shortcoming, it’s the brakes. If you use both the electric regen brake and the mechanical rear brake, the scooter comes to a halt in about 17 feet. This is okay, but remember, you’re using two brakes, which can be a bit difficult. If you use just the regen brake, you may find yourself needing 30 or more feet to stop.

The E22 features a much-improved regen brake that will, on its own, bring the scooter to a stop much more quickly. This helps bolster safety and makes the ES2 easier to control.

With braking, the E22 clearly wins. While you may first be tempted to pay more attention to going fast, rather than stopping quickly, in practice braking is one of the most important factors for any scooter rider.

Acceleration & Maximum Speed

Both the ES2 and E22 offer good acceleration, as is common with Segway scooters. The ES2 has a bit faster top speed and a bit more pep overall. Acceleration-wise, however, you may not notice much of a difference between these two scooters.

That said, you will notice a difference in the top speed. The E22 tops out at 13.7 miles per hour, which is a bit on the slow side for an electric scooter. The ES2, on the other hand, achieves a maximum of 15.5 miles per hour. A few miles may not seem like much, but in practice, you’ll notice the difference.

As such, the ES2 comes away as the winner when it comes to speed and acceleration. Still, the E22 offers respectable numbers and people new to scooter riding may be better off with a scooter that’s a bit slower.

Also, some owners report flashing the firmware on their Segway S22, resulting in a higher top speed. While we don’t recommend flashing your scooter or otherwise messing around with the software, it’s possible that Segway may update the S22’s software in the future to allow for faster speeds.

You also have the option of purchasing an external battery pack for the E22.

Doing so will give you a maximum range of 27 miles and a maximum speed of 15.5 mph. While you won’t get faster acceleration from the external battery pack, consumers enjoy prolonged battery life, range and increased max speed.

Convenience and Portability

Both the Segway ES2 and E22 are relatively light, easy to carry scooters. That said, the Segway Ninebot ES2 is a bit lighter at 27.6 lbs to the E22’s 29.8 lbs. That might not seem like much, but you may notice the weight if you’re lugging this scooter upstairs and the like.

Segway scooters typically have larger stems than some other scooter brands. That’s because the batteries are stored in the stem. This helps protect the batteries and keeps them out of the way. However, some people may find the thicker stems less comfortable to hold and lug around.

The E22 can fold up with just the click of a button. The Segway ES2 is also quite easy to fold.

Both scooters do fold up and are relatively easy to carry. Since the Segway ES2 is lighter, however, it wins in regards to convenience and portability. That said, the ultimate difference is slight.

Range Testing: Best Long Range Electric Scooter

Both the Segway Ninebot E22 and ES2 offer respectable ranges. The Segway E22 is rated for 13.7 miles, while the ES2 is rated for 15.5 miles per charge.

Keep in mind, however, that these numbers represent on-paper maximums. Your own driving habits and localized factors, such as hills, may affect your range. If you’re tackling a lot of hills, you may not achieve the maximum range.

Further, many riders report not being able to achieve the max range on the Ninebot ES2. Some reviewers have found that the scooter gets a bit less than 10 miles to a charge. The E22, on the other hand, is reported to get a bit over 10 miles.

By the way, both scooters take about 3.5 hours to charge. So at least for charging time, the two scooters are more or less tied up. The ES2 has a slightly larger battery, so might need a few more minutes to reach full charge, but we doubt you’ll notice the difference.

On paper, the Segway ES2 edges out the E22 in regards to range. That said, even on paper it’s not much of a difference. In the real world, the E22 may also offer a longer range in many or most circumstances.

And, as mentioned, if you want more range (and higher maximum speed) then all you need to do is purchase an external battery pack for your E22 and you’ll get 27 miles of range and increased maximum speed of 15.5 mph.

Build Quality

High build quality and durability are among the key reasons Segway has established itself as one of the biggest brands in the scooter market. Companies looking for scooters to use on the job often turn to Segway first, and superior build quality is a big part of the reason why.

Both the E22 and ES2 are very well-built scooters. If you buy either scooter, you’ll likely be able to enjoy it for years to come. Both feature aviation-grade aluminum, splash/water resistance, and more.

Further, the ES2 carries an IP54 rating and the E22 offers an IPX4 rating. This means both scooters can resist splashes and water damage from any direction.

That said, the E22 offers a more refined, solid build in our opinion. In hand, the Segway Ninebot E22 simply seems to offer a tighter, better finish.

In particular, the ES2’s stem doesn’t inspire a ton of confidence whereas the Nineboth E22’s stem seems quite sturdy. Ultimately, we find the E22 to be a better put-together scooter, but by and large, build quality is good for both.

Ride Quality

Both scooters offer solid ride quality. That said, the E22 offers better ride quality owing to its larger foam tires.

The difference between 8-inch tires, as found on the ES2, and 9-inch tires, as found on the E22, may not seem like much. However, in practice, that extra inch along with the materials used makes a big difference.

The Segway E22 offers a smoother, softer ride. While the E22 doesn’t offer built-in shocks, like the ES2, the tires still offer a much softer ride. As such, the E22 wins this category. Ultimately, superior ride quality is a big part of the reason why we believe the E22 scooter is better.

Bluetooth App

Both the Segway E22 and ES2 use the same Segway app. Segway’s app continues to improve and is emerging as one of the better apps in the industry. That said, the app is a work in progress and you may also notice some differences in features and capabilities.

Ultimately, smartphones are important for both of these scooters to function. You use the app, for example, to set the cruise control. If you don’t have a smartphone or your phone runs out of charge while you’re driving around town, this could hinder your scooter’s use and performance.

Since both scooters use the same app, they pull a draw in this category.

Pricing and Value for Your Money: E22 Takes the Prize

If you’ve been following our full Segway E22 versus Segway ES2 review, you’ve probably noticed that this is a neck-to-neck race. And when it comes down to the best value and price, it’s a photo finish. Still, the Segway ES2 is a bit more expensive. The difference in price isn’t huge, but it’s fair to wonder if you’re getting anything to justify the extra money spent.

Yes, the Segway ES2 offers a faster top speed and perhaps a slightly longer range. It’s also lighter, but only by a tiny bit. And that reduced weight may be due to more ample use of plastic parts.

The Segway E22 offers good speed, range, portability, riding comfort, and more. While the Segway Ninebot ES2 may edge out the Ninebot E22 on some metrics, it’s not by much.

Ultimately, the E22 offers better value than the ES2. This is mostly due to the lower price tag. The E22 also offers substantially better brakes and better ride quality. Even if both scooters were selling for the same price, head-to-head we’d give the E22 an edge over the ES2.

In our opinion, the better brakes, smoother ride, and refined build quality make the newer Segway Ninebot E22 a better ride.

OTHER SCOOTERS TO CONSIDER

SPECIFICATION, COMPARISONS, and REVIEWS

MODELSTOP SPEEDRANGEWEIGHT
Razor Electric Scooter T2515.5 mph18 mi27 lbs
GoTrax Apex15.5 mph15 mi32.1 lbs
GoTrax XR Elite15.5 mph18 mi31.88 lbs
GoTrax GXL V215.5 mph9-12 mi 26.4 lbs
GoTrax G420 mph25 mi36 lbs
Hiboy S2 Pro19 mph25 mi 33 lbs
The Kugoo M2 Pro20 mph18.6 mi34 lbs
Segway Ninebot ES418.6 mph28 mi30 lbs
Segway ES1 L12.4 mph12.4 mi24.9 lbs
Segway E4518.6 mph28 mi36.2 lbs
Segway Ninebot E2212.4 mph13.7 mi29.8 lbs

Final Words- Here’s Why the Segway Ninebot E22 Takes First Place

Segway makes great scooters, and both the Segway Ninebot kickscooter e22 and ES2 are excellent scooters that offer a good range, performance, and value. You won’t go wrong choosing either of these scooters.

On paper, the ES2 may seem to edge out the E22. However, in practice, the scooters typically offer much closer performance than you might expect. For example, while the ES2 has a longer range on paper, many riders may go further with the E22.

Where the ES2 really falls short (or perhaps “long”) is braking. Unfortunately, the ES2 doesn’t offer good breaking, especially if you try to rely on the electric regen brake. You may need 30 feet or more to stop. The E22 can be brought to a stop in roughly half that distance. This is a big, important difference and a key reason why we favor the E22.

Finally, throughout our Segway Ninebot ES2 Versus Segway Ninebot E22 review, we found that the E22 offers a bit more modern, refined feel. Quite simply, it often feels better put together. And we believe this refinery translates to real-world performance in regards to speed, handling, and more.

Frequently Asked Questions

Most frequent questions and answers!

Who has better braking performance?

With braking, the E22 clearly wins. While you may first be tempted to pay more attention to going fast, rather than stopping quickly, in practice braking is one of the most important factors for any scooter rider.

Does the ES2 or E22 offer the best value?

Ultimately, the E22 offers better value than the ES2. This is mostly due to the lower price tag. The E22 also offers substantially better brakes and better ride quality. Even if both scooters were selling for the same price, head-to-head we’d give the E22 an edge over the ES2.

In our opinion, the better brakes, smoother ride, and refined build quality make the newer Segway Ninebot E22 a better ride.

Are the tires better on the E22 or ES2?

The Segway E22 offers a smoother, softer ride. While the E22 doesn’t offer built-in shocks, like the ES2, the tires still offer a much softer ride. As such, the E22 wins this category. Ultimately, superior ride quality is a big part of the reason why we believe the E22 scooter is better.

Does the ES2 or E22 have better hill climbing ability?

The E22 does edge out the ES2. That said, if you live in a very hilly area, you may want to consider a more powerful scooter. Otherwise, you could be stuck with a scooter that struggles to get you where you need to go.

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