The influx of Chinese-made EVs have made e-scooters and e-bikes even more ubiquitous. For instance, Jonway, a company once known for making rather lackluster knockoffs of actual motorcycles, has recently ventured into the electric scooter game. Its latest offering, the Y2, seeks to take heavily urbanized cities in Europe by storm. You can buy one for just € 995, or the equivalent of just US$ 1,200.
However, like
it or not, Chinese tech has advanced leaps and bounds from the time this stigma
became the norm. Just take a look at the device you're reading this story from,
or any one of your numerous household appliances. Chances are you're going to
find a made-in-China sticker on at least one thing within your proximity. That
said, the fact that the Jonway Y2 is actually available in Europe means that it
has, in one way or another, passed European safety standards for road-going
vehicles.
The Jonway Y2 gets a 48V-20Ah lithium-ion
battery which promises a decent range of 50 kilometers on a single charge. A
500-watt electric motor drives the rear wheel, and propels the Y2 to a top
speed of 45 kilometers per hour. Tipping the scales at just 51 kg, the this
lightweight electric scooter is perfect for shorter riders, as well as those
with zero experience when it comes to piloting two-wheeled vehicles.
