It’s been a while since our first last electric two-wheeler review, but this latest one is worth the wait: Say hello to the Zeeho AE8, from the electric subsidiary of the brand CFMoto.
Unlike the smaller e-bikes we test, the AE8 is a full-blown small motorcycle, with top speeds reaching up to 111kph. Click play on the video above for the full review, where we also answer the question, “Kaya ba niyan sumibak ng big bike?”
Chapters
0:00 Intro
0:25 Zeeho AE8 powertrain and battery specs
2:00 Zeeho AE8 design
3:18 Zeeho AE8 features
4:55 Zeeho AE8 riding impressions
6:40 Zeeho AE8 running expenses
8:00 Pros and cons, score
Presenter: Leandre Grecia
Editor: Teddy Garcia Jr.
Videographers: Teddy Garcia Jr., Sharleen Banzon
Dig cars?
Read more about cars and motoring here: http://www.topgear.com.ph
Like us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TopGearPH
Tweet us: http://www.twitter.com/TopGearPH
Follow us on Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/TopGearPH
Join us on Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@topgearph
#topgearph #zeehoae8
LE2HYZPFFHHQ7AI9
034TMU44WAQIWAEK
AARYQZBMJESG7YQE
ODMOJXQOCVOXEYTD
Unlike the smaller e-bikes we test, the AE8 is a full-blown small motorcycle, with top speeds reaching up to 111kph. Click play on the video above for the full review, where we also answer the question, “Kaya ba niyan sumibak ng big bike?”
Chapters
0:00 Intro
0:25 Zeeho AE8 powertrain and battery specs
2:00 Zeeho AE8 design
3:18 Zeeho AE8 features
4:55 Zeeho AE8 riding impressions
6:40 Zeeho AE8 running expenses
8:00 Pros and cons, score
Presenter: Leandre Grecia
Editor: Teddy Garcia Jr.
Videographers: Teddy Garcia Jr., Sharleen Banzon
Dig cars?
Read more about cars and motoring here: http://www.topgear.com.ph
Like us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TopGearPH
Tweet us: http://www.twitter.com/TopGearPH
Follow us on Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/TopGearPH
Join us on Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@topgearph
#topgearph #zeehoae8
LE2HYZPFFHHQ7AI9
034TMU44WAQIWAEK
AARYQZBMJESG7YQE
ODMOJXQOCVOXEYTD
Category
🚗
MotorTranscript
00:00 [whoosh]
00:01 What do riders really want in a scooter?
00:03 A good design, a good price, or a cheap one?
00:06 Whether it's any or all of the three for you,
00:08 here's something that you might find interesting.
00:10 The Zeeho AE-8.
00:12 It differs from the typical scooters you see on the streets.
00:16 This one is fully electric.
00:18 [music]
00:20 [whoosh]
00:25 Let's dive right into the spec sheet.
00:27 The AE-8 packs two 69V 32Ah lithium-ion batteries
00:31 that enable a maximum range of about 190km on one full charge.
00:35 Of course, like other electric two-wheelers,
00:38 that range is gonna depend on the load and the riding behavior.
00:41 The battery powers the mid-mounted liquid-cooled electric motor
00:44 that generates 16.76 hp.
00:47 Wheel torque is listed at 250Nm,
00:50 so it really doesn't come as a surprise
00:52 how fast this will jump off the line.
00:54 But we'll talk about that later.
00:55 First, let's talk about the batteries.
00:57 Like what I said, there are two of them,
00:59 both of which are found under the seat.
01:01 It is also easy to access,
01:03 unlike the e-cooter A5 that we reviewed before.
01:06 Let's take them out.
01:09 There.
01:13 Charging time for these take about four hours with the standard charger.
01:18 There is a fast charger available that cuts it down to two hours.
01:21 There is also an adapter that can be plugged in to charge both of them.
01:25 However, the fast charger and adapter are not yet sold here.
01:29 We'll update you guys once they're available and how much they cost.
01:32 As for charging options, you can plug it in like this
01:35 and plug it directly into the wall socket,
01:37 or you can just plug it in here and plug it directly into the outlet.
01:40 It's more advisable to come here
01:42 because these are heavy, of course.
01:44 Each of these weighs 10kg.
01:46 So if I were you, I'd only remove these if there's no other choice.
01:49 You're in a condo and there's no charging in your parking area.
01:52 To answer one of the golden questions,
01:54 how much are the spare batteries?
01:56 Well, you can buy two of these and they cost Php 100,000 per pair.
02:00 Now, let's talk about the design.
02:02 In case you aren't familiar, Zeeho is a sub-brand of CFMoto.
02:06 And if you're familiar with those brands,
02:08 you know that some of those are actually pretty stylish.
02:11 Now, this is stylish as well, but it can also look pretty ordinary at the same time,
02:15 if that makes any sense.
02:16 If not for these ultra-sleek DRLs, you'll really mistake it for a typical scooter.
02:21 But for me, if you lattice it, you'll learn to appreciate the bike a lot better.
02:26 These fairings underneath look pretty unorthodox,
02:28 and that fender below looks pretty quirky as well.
02:31 If you go to the rear, the design is very aggressive.
02:34 The rear fairings and the grab bars actually match these fairings up front.
02:38 And the taillights are hidden inside.
02:40 And I'm pretty sure I've never seen those signal lamps in any other scooter before.
02:44 So I like the decals on the sides.
02:46 They aren't included in the paint finish, but they add a lot of texture.
02:50 And it's nice that the footpegs are hidden on the sides.
02:53 In terms of dimensions, the AE-8 measures 1,900 mm long, 735 mm wide, and 1,090 mm tall
03:02 with a 1,380 mm wheelbase.
03:04 Note that these figures remain the same even for the AE-8 S+ variant,
03:08 but more on that other variant later.
03:10 This scooter sits on 12-inch wheels shod in 180 front and 127 rear Pirelli tires.
03:17 Now before we start up this scooter, there are a few things I want to show you first.
03:21 First, the small cubby underneath.
03:23 Cellphones, wallets, and other cards or cash can fit in there.
03:27 And the USB-A and USB-C charging ports are hidden here as well.
03:31 Yes, USB-C charging ports on the scooter.
03:33 That's a win.
03:34 Then, we all know that it has a gulay board, but it also has a hook-in-the-middle caparis underneath.
03:39 For your bags, groceries, or even your helmet.
03:42 Another thing is this compartment under the seat.
03:44 Even with the batteries here, you can still fit a lot of things in here.
03:48 The helmet won't fit, but your bags, clothes, and of course, the battery chargers will.
03:54 Now before we go for a ride, here's another feature that you should also check out.
03:59 The cushion sensor.
04:00 There are typical scooters that have a kill switch on the side stand
04:03 that won't start the engine when it is down.
04:05 This one, when there is no one sitting on it, it won't start.
04:08 Sure, the system will start, but the electric motor won't start when there is no one sitting on it.
04:12 Here's how it sounds.
04:14 When you hear that, you're good to go.
04:16 You can press this, and the ready button will pop up, and you can go for a ride.
04:20 But, if the ready button is still off, you'll be able to use the push and reverse assist.
04:27 Just press and hold these buttons here to move forward or backward slowly.
04:30 That's going to be helpful especially in tight spaces like parking areas, for example.
04:35 Okay, before we hit the road, let's listen to this scooter first.
04:38 Because we can do this. We have a center stand.
04:41 Let's put it in Sport mode.
04:44 To the boost.
04:48 When it comes to performance, my goodness, I'm really impressed.
04:59 Even the lowest Eco Mode feels very, very torquey.
05:03 Even more so when it comes to Street and Sport modes.
05:06 The initial acceleration when you press the throttle,
05:09 you will feel the difference from one ride mode to another.
05:13 Now, if I'm being honest, the Eco Mode is enough if you ask me.
05:17 Since the top speed is 60 km/h on most of the Metro Manila roads.
05:21 But, the Street and Sport modes still help a lot when you hit the road or when your bike is heavy.
05:27 It's also fun to use the higher ride modes if you need a slight boost for overtaking.
05:32 Speaking of boost, this scooter also has a mode that you can use in Sport mode and full throttle.
05:37 From 97 km/h, your top speed will increase to about 111 km/h.
05:41 Personally, I don't think you'd need it for a bike this size.
05:44 It's too much power to be used on most roads outside our expressways.
05:48 As for the handling, this one is as nimble and sporty as the design suggests.
05:52 Like any light gasoline-powered scooter, this is easy to avoid on the road.
05:57 Thanks to the grippy tires underneath, it has confidence even when cornering.
06:01 It is also easy to get stuck even when the floorboard is wide.
06:05 Add to that the Brembo brakes, the stopping power is solid.
06:09 Actually, they are fin-lexed at the front.
06:11 As you can see, the fender is open so you can see that it is equipped with Brembo brakes.
06:15 What's missing in the standard AE-8 variant is the dual-channel ABS available in the S-Plus.
06:21 For a scooter that can go this fast, you really need ABS.
06:25 Another thing that I will change is the shocks underneath.
06:28 The suspension is lacking in play, which is why it is a bit hard on bumpy roads.
06:32 It is okay when you are inside a CBD, but when you are in the low parts of EDSA, you will really feel the bumps.
06:39 So before we sum things up, let's first look at its fuel consumption.
06:45 Well, I mean battery consumption rather.
06:47 So I listed down one of my recent trips.
06:50 So I rode from Mandaluyong to Taft, that's 11 kilometers in total, and I used up about 12 percent.
06:57 So basically, let's round off.
07:00 One percent is to one kilometer.
07:02 So if you are using 100 percent, that's 100 kilometers.
07:05 So you have two 69-volt 32-amp-hour batteries, and in total, you're gonna need about 4.4 kWh to charge.
07:13 Let's say that the Merale Curates is at Php 10 per kWh, then that means you need Php 44 to charge both batteries.
07:20 So if you use Php 44 for 100 percent, 1 percent is doing more math.
07:25 Let's divide by 100.
07:27 You're spending Php 0.44 per kilometer.
07:31 Now, let's compare it to a gasoline-powered motorcycle.
07:34 Let's say that it uses 50 kilometers per liter.
07:37 Let's base it on that to make it easier.
07:39 And let's say that gasoline is Php 60 per liter.
07:41 That means, well, you're spending about more or less Php 42 per 50 kilometers on a gasoline-powered motorcycle.
07:50 Here at Zio AE8, you're gonna spend about Php 22 per 50 kilometers.
07:55 So you'll save a lot, right?
07:57 So that plays into one of the pros of this electric scooter.
08:01 First, the savings.
08:02 Because you'll save a lot.
08:04 Sure, you still need to register regularly just like any other regular motorcycle,
08:08 but you can save Php 20 per 50 kilometers.
08:12 That's a lot.
08:13 It's gonna add up to your daily riding.
08:15 Think about it, if you're already at 1,000 or 10,000 kilometers,
08:18 your monetary savings is already a lot.
08:20 The second pro is performance.
08:23 It is just like the other two.
08:25 Let's use the favorite word of Filipino riders, "sibak."
08:29 They'll ask, "Can an underbone or any other scooter ride a sibak?"
08:35 I'm gonna tell you, a big bike can ride a sibak.
08:37 It just jumps off the line.
08:39 It's stupidly quick, I'm telling you.
08:41 Then, speaking of performance, the third pro is the different ride modes.
08:46 For me, it is a big deal because you have eco, you have street, and you have sport.
08:50 Eco is the first.
08:51 You can save on battery, but you won't be beaten on power because it can still go up to 60 km/h.
08:57 You also have street and sport that you can use when you have a lot of luggage,
09:00 when you're on a trip, or simply when you're overtaking.
09:02 Speaking of convenience, that is another pro here.
09:05 The overall ease of use.
09:07 It doesn't have a key, right?
09:08 You just tap it to turn it on or off.
09:11 Then, you have this step-through floorboard.
09:13 And if you've ridden any scooter, you know how easy it is to mount or dismount a motorcycle like this.
09:19 You can add features like cruise control, push and reverse assist.
09:23 When it comes to day-to-day use, like I always say, they really are gonna add up.
09:27 Lastly, for me, the price is a pro.
09:29 You might say, "It's a bit expensive, Php 209,900."
09:33 Just think of it as a higher-displacement scooter.
09:35 Don't buy it like the 150cc or 175cc scooters that you see on the market.
09:41 It has better performance.
09:43 Actually, so much better in terms of performance.
09:45 It has the looks and it has all these features that can, like I said, make day-to-day use a lot more convenient.
09:52 Of course though, this is not just a pure comparison.
09:55 We also have some cons that need to be addressed.
09:57 And number one is the suspension.
09:59 More often than not, you're gonna be out there on EDSA, on C5, on major thoroughfares that as we all know aren't exactly properly paved.
10:07 Me, personally, I live in Laguna.
10:09 Most of the roads there are kind of okay.
10:12 But if you're gonna use this for your daily commute in the city, it's a bit painful.
10:16 Another con, of course, is the lack of ABS.
10:19 I don't usually ask for ABS in small scooters, but for something that goes this fast, is something this powerful,
10:26 you're gonna need ABS.
10:28 This S+ variant is already available, but it's not yet available.
10:31 We're talking about the base AE8 variant.
10:34 It's not a deal-breaker, but it's something that you should put into consideration.
10:37 Last con, the price of the spare batteries.
10:40 Sure, I said that Php 209,900 is a pretty solid deal for this electric scooter.
10:45 But almost half that price for the two batteries under the seat?
10:50 It's just too painful to carry.
10:52 But anyway, if I'm gonna give this a score out of ten, it's still gonna get a pretty solid nine.
10:57 [Music]