Welcome to the future of electric scooters.
Today we are reviewing the very unique, very stylish OjO (pronounced oh-joe) Scooter. This isn’t your typical electric scooter; this thing seems to blow everyone else out of the water.
Partly because the company behind this awesome product had one question in mind, “If Tesla or Apple was to develop a scooter, what would it look like?” This question lead to a series of ideas, drawings, and ultimately what you see today.
Created at the headquarters of OjO in Santa Monica California. The company sought out to construct a scooter that was built for the bike lane and offered a “unique combination of style and performance for a fun, safe and clean transportation solution.”
When asked in an interview with Autoweek about how the OjO Scooter went from idea to reality, the company president, and co-founder Dale Seiden replied,
“There are a lot of scooters out there, but they’re all toy like: They fold, they’re unstable, they’re kind of like last-mile type of things… They’re Razor-type products. We said, ‘If Tesla or Apple was to develop a scooter, what would it look like?”
Well, Dale… we think you nailed it.
Pick one of these bad boys up by clicking on the “Buy The OjO” button below:
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Product Overview
The OjO’s patented arc design is fabricated from all-welded heavy-gauge lightweight aluminum to promote ergonomic sitting/standing, maximize comfort and maintain strength. It is rated to hold up to 300 pounds, however, Seiden told Autoweek that the chassis could probably hold up to 600 pounds.
There is a huge 48-volt lithium-ion battery that goes up through the middle of the chassis base to provide power to the entire unit and all other functions. The battery is also completely waterproof, as is the controller. On a single charge, the OjO can go 25 miles.
One of our favorite features is the patented onboard charger with a retractable cord, so you can plug-in and get power from any 110v outlet.
A powerful 500-watt HyperGear hub motor is also behind the smooth ride of the OjO and sends you moving along at a top speed of 20 mph. The motor was custom designed for this scooter and has been tested for durability and optimal power. Plus, the company went and did something that you might not even find in modern motorcycles—disc brakes on the front and back tires. This means you get safe, controlled stopping.
The tubeless pneumatic tires are all-weather, although, you might not want to cruise through rain and snow, the OjO scooter wouldn’t mind either way.
Let’s Talk About The Ride
When I first received this scooter I didn’t realize how big it was. I normally drive to work and when it came in the mail I was expecting to pop it in my trunk and be on my way. However, it wouldn’t fit! So I ended up having to ride it back to my house. I live 7-ish miles away from work, and according to Google, it would take me around 48 minutes to get home. I thought it would be fun so I didn’t mind the extra commute time.
Well as it turns out…. it wasn’t just fun. It was the hands down the BEST COMMUTE I’ve ever had. And I am not exaggerating here. Where I live you can’t really walk anywhere. You have to drive everywhere. I drive to work every day. I didn’t realize there was another way to get to and from work. It was such a different change of pace I didn’t expect to enjoy it so much.
I ended up taking a longer way home so I could ride it longer. If it was feasible to ride this to work every day I would, but unfortunately, that is not the case.
And riding is only half of the charm. You can even play music through dual Bluetooth speakers. Between the handlebars is a non-glare digital LCD dash with a capacitive screen, so you can control everything on the OjO with just a touch of your finger. If you want to plug in your phone to keep it alive, the dashboard also features a USB outlet.
Lastly, this isn’t a cheap product. Not only do you get a wireless key FOB for on/off and alarm activation to ward off theft, but it can also be used to locate the scooter in a busy parking lot.
For night time riding, the OjO has front and rear LED lights that maximize your night vision to help you get home safely, as well as a brake light.
What is a LEV?
So, if the OjO was built for the bike lane, has a seat, and operates on an electric charge, it’s certainly not your average scooter. It’s not a moped. What is it? The OjO Scooter is actually considered a Light Electric Vehicle aka LEV. LEVs are popping up everywhere. From electric bikes to electric skateboards LEVs are taking the nation by storm.
Who came up with the term LEV?
Turn your attention to LEVA or the Light Electric Vehicle Association.
LEVA was created by, Ed Benjamin, who saw potential as more and more LEVs, like the OjO, were being created. In 2008, Benjamin started the LEVA alongside Sid Kuropchak and took four years to build up the association to be able to provide education, information, and benefits to the members.
Specs and Key Features
[wpsm_tabgroup]
[wpsm_tab title=”Performance”]
TOP SPEED 20 mph (32.2 kph)
RANGE 25 miles (40.2 km)
DRIVING MODE Sport mode (High performance) Economy mode (Range maximizing) Easy mode (New rider orientation)
BRAKES & TIRES Powerful mechanical brakes and 4PR tubeless tires[/wpsm_tab]
[wpsm_tab title=”Battery”]
BATTERY TYPE Removable Li-Ion battery pack
VOLTAGE 48 VDC at max charge
CHARGER INPUT POWER 110V AC, 5 amps
ADDITIONAL CHARGING POWER On-board patented charger with cord and plug
EMISSIONS ZERO[/wpsm_tab]
[wpsm_tab title=”Motor”]
MOTOR TYPE Brushless HyperGear hub motor
CLIMBING PERFORMANCE Up to 15% grade
WATTAGE 500 watts
BUILD Built for long lasting durability and optimal power[/wpsm_tab]
[wpsm_tab title=”Structural”]
FRAME Welded aluminum frame
SUSPENSION Mono front shock and dual rear shocks
CURB WEIGHT 65 lbs. (29.5 kg.)
CARRYING CAPACITY 300 lbs.
WHEEL BASE 45 inches (1143 mm)[/wpsm_tab]
[wpsm_tab title=”User Interface”]
TOUCH SCREEN DISPLAY The touchscreen monitor controls speed modes, the LED headlight, and the audio system. It also provides information on trip time, mileage, and battery life along with notifications for incoming calls and riding-related data.
BLUETOOTH SPEAKERS Dual waterproof speakers for enhanced audio
SECURITY Motion-activated alarm. Wireless key fob[/wpsm_tab][/wpsm_tabgroup]
Pros
Here are the positives to the OjO Commuter Scooter:
- Super fun to ride – not only is the seat comfortable, the design, features, and overall level of comfort makes the OjO a wonderful way to commute;
- Sleek, eye catching design to make you the envy of all LEV riders;
- Engine is powerful enough to take rolling slopes without losing speed;
- All-weather capabilities mean that it won’t sway in the wind, fishtail, or skid in the rain;
- Easy to plug-in for a quick charge whenever you make a pit stop at Starbucks or during work hours, then you are on the road again;
- The touch screen is very user-friendly and intuitive, so you can easily access anything you need, even while riding. Even those who wouldn’t call themselves tech-savvy are finding the OjO to be extremely accessible;
- Brakes are responsive, not sticky or jumpy like other scooters;
- Accelerates using a thumb switch to swiftly go up to a zippy 20 miles per hour, the maximum allowed for bike lanes;
- The three-speed modes (sport/high performance, economy/longer range, easy/new rider orientation) allow for those not yet comfortable with maximum speed to get used to controlling the OjO. For example, you can switch between “Economy mode” and “Sporting mode” to lengthen the amount of time you have on a single charge since the fastest mode sucks the battery down quite rapidly. In economy mode, you go around 16 miles per hour. Usually, this gets you about 17 miles in before the battery needs to be recharged.
- Incredibly convenient – no more waiting for gas, waiting for traffic lights, and early morning or evening rush hour congestion;
- The packaging of the scooter is impervious – you will unbox the fully assembled OjO and find it in pristine condition. You never have to worry about unboxing the scooter to find it scratched, dented or dinged.
- A wide range of colors so everyone can ride in style.
- The scooter is lightweight and small enough to keep inside your studio apartment or store inside the trunk of your car;
- A LEV has environmental and financial benefits that allow you to get a return on your investment over time. Your carbon footprint will be reduced drastically by using an OjO commuter scooter, and you won’t have to put out large amounts of maintenance and gas bills on your car. For those who don’t have a driver’s license, one isn’t necessary for operating an OjO. All you need is a helmet.
Cons
Though the OjO is a masterful design, there are some negatives that you should consider before purchasing:
- The charge time. Should the battery be reduced to zero or close to it, a charge might take anywhere from 6-8 hours. Of course, this can be mitigated by recharging the battery in frequent clips, especially when traveling around town. That way, you never have to worry about the battery dipping too low while on the move.
- The seat may be too narrow for wider or larger riders. Though the weight capacity is said to be 300 pounds, the seat is not designed for an individual of that size. Also, it needs to be REALLY tight to not slide around when riding.
- Slightly pricey when compared to other competitors in the market. (But definitely worth the investment)
Summary
The OjO is an absolute stunner. We were blown away by its maneuverability, impressive long range, and the ridiculously awesome patented onboard charger with retractable recharge cord (seriously who thought of that?).
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With the OjO, your days of high-stress commutes are over. The design of the scooter, the breadth of features, and the ease of use have transformed the OjO into a revolutionary piece of technology that is going to delight you from the time you open the box to years from now when you are still zooming down the bike lane. Anyone who wants a reliable form of transportation is going to love the ease of use and style this epic scooter offers.
