General
Buying Electric Scooters in Shanghai
One of the things I love most about Shanghai is how bicycle/scooter friendly the city is. There are designated lanes on most roads throughout the city, abundant parking with security attendants on every block, and a riding/driving culture geared towards bike-filled streets. When the weather is suitable, there’s nothing better than exploring the hidden alleys and quiet side-streets of Shanghai on a bike.
High Power Electric Scooter
But then the summer arrives. And bike riding feels like a linear rotisserie. You desperately want to trade pedal power for something motorized. Unfortunately, since an unlicensed Expat killed a Shanghainese woman with a gas scooter last year foreigners are actively discouraged from driving gas powered motorcycles, scooters, or bikes. Which leaves us with electric…
The only problem with electric scooters in China is they tend to look like they were designed by a sugar addict 12 year old with an unhealthy fixation on Transformers. Painful neon colored plastic molded into sci-fi wannabe design gone wrong. So when my friends and I began seeing cool electric scooters with a Vespa-inspired look we were thrilled. The only problem has been finding a place to purchase.
Well, after months of searching, we found a place. But it was far away from the city, and the guys working there were none too friendly. But hey - they had what we wanted, so we were semi-happy. Still, there’s something to be said for good customer service and a semi-professional work environment. When we asked these guys for a discount they laughed. We told them we’d send more customers their way they said “no thanks.” And they shoddy wiring job they did on Jung’s scooter resulted in it breaking down shortly after purchase.
Jung Scoots
Here’s my buddy Jung test driving one of the new rides. These things come factory-ready to hit a top speed of 35km/h, have a range of about 40km, and handle really nicely. You can upgrade the battery/motor combo so that the scooter will reach speeds up to 70km. Which, by the way, is NOT a good or necessary thing in Shanghai traffic.
We’re happy to say that after several weeks of heavy driving around the city these scooters are still fully functional, fun, and definitely turn a few heads. They cost almost nothing to operate, require very little maintenance, and best of all: you don’t need a license to drive one!
Shortly after purchasing we released we could do something to improve the service, quality, and accessibility related to these cool rides. So, we’ve decided to start our own scooter sales service, Spicy Motors. Our goal is to sell beautifully styled electric scooters to Expats living in Shanghai.
If you are interested in purchasing one of these great little rides, drop us a line here: spicymotors@ymail.com or check out the website www.spicy-motors.com
Tags: 48v, 500w, buy, electric scooter, electric vespa, expat, license, purchase, scooter, Shanghai, spicy motors, vespa Discussion
3 comments for “Buying Electric Scooters in Shanghai”
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Great info, so hard to find anything in shanghai without multiple attempts - thanks for posting. Can you share how much to pay for a scooter? Do you need a license? thanks!
Yeah, it wasn’t easy finding this place. But we’re happy we did. Our scooters are still going strong and haven’t been stolen. We love them!
Jung’s scooter did have one break-down: The wiring to the battery came loose and had to be re-attached. Make sure if you buy one you either demand they do the wiring right - or do like I did and open the thing up so you can do it right yourself. Again, this is partly why we’ve decided to start re-selling these ourselves - we can ensure everything is done right before you drive off.
As for cost: We are sourcing electric scooters in the same body style - but capable of higher speeds (45km/h), longer distance per charge (60km), and better braking (with front disc brakes). Pricing is available on request, email us at the address below.
You don’t exactly need a license for these things - at least not as an expat. Not sure about local Chinese though. But you should keep in mind that these are faster than normal electric scooters - and therefore slightly “illegal”. If that worries you, then you could activate the speed limiter (connect two wires on the motor “brain”) - but then, where’s the fun in that?!
If you are interested in purchasing one, let me know. We can set you up without all the mafan. Contact me here: spicymotors@ymail.com for more info! Also check out http://www.spicy-motors.com
yes, I WANT ONE!
and I hear you on the F U N part.
mei you mafan xie xie ni
everything fun is slightly illegal.
please let me know how you can set me up or point me in the right direction - again many thanks for all the good info, much appreciated.