Apollo Light Electric Scooter Review

After covering more than 100 miles on the Apollo Light electric scooter, it is time for us to share our experience with you in this extensive hands-on review.

We'll talk about speed and acceleration, battery and range, suspension, portability, built quality, safety, and support and finally, we'll give you our full verdict on the Apollo Light overall.

If you're not much for reading, we've also have an in-depth video review below in which we touch on the same topics.

Speed & Acceleration

Considering the size of the Apollo Light, it packs a solid punch in terms of speed and acceleration. With a top speed of 20 MPH (35 km/h) and a stated acceleration of 0-15 MPH in just 6.2 seconds, this thing has some pull.

Now, whenever we test a electric hands-on at ERideHero, we perform our own tests to see how the product actually holds up in real life. Some companies over-estimate their numbers gravely, leaving customers disappointed but that story is entirely different with the Apollo Light.

Tested Top Speed

We tested the top speed at full battery and quite impressively, we were able to reach 23.6 MPH (38 km/h), which is well above the advertised top speed. It's nice to get more power than you expect for a change.

It should be said that we only occasionally hit 23.6 mph (38 km/h) and that was on a full charge, but even several miles into our test rides, we were still hitting 22.4 mph (36 km/h) most of the time, popping up to 23 mph (37 km/h) once in a while.

Tested Acceleration

In terms of acceleration, it is stated that you can reach 15 MPH in just around 6.2 seconds. I conservatively ran this test multiple times and I was able to go from a full stop to 15 MPH (25 km/h) in exactly 5 seconds which is way more impressive than the already solid stock numbers!

Tested Incline Ability

On their website, Apollo states that the Light can handle inclines of up to 10 degrees. During our tests, we found that it was able to handle a steady incline of 13.8 degrees when going full throttle in the third gear (footage available in our video review). This is quite an impressive feat.

This is the first time I've seen a 350W single motor e-scooter handle acceleration, inclines, and speed so well. I'm blown away at the ability of this motor and I assume it is a testament to Apollo fine-tuning, testing, and optimizing their products and components before release.

Here are the power-related numbers compared in an overview:

Battery & Range

In my opinion, the main thing that takes an electric scooter from being just a recreational toy to a proper transport solution for commuters is its battery and range.

Yes - some of the entry-level electric scooters may be able to reach decent speeds of 15 MPH (or more) but most of them suffer from very limited battery life and quality with rapidly degrading performance as the battery level goes down.

Batteries are often the single most expensive part of an electric scooter. It's not uncommon for the cheaper brands to cut their expenses on batteries to stay competitive which sadly results in a poor end result.

The Apollo Light is geared with a 48V 10.2Ah (489.6Wh) battery that should translate to a range of around 22 miles (35 km) per charge when riding in gear 1. Charging time is around 6 hours (3 with a fast charger) and Apollo uses Dynavolt cells as opposed to off-brand cells as their tests indicate better performance and longevity.

This sounds promising, so how does it hold up in the actual world?

Tested Battery Range

As I've ridden this electric scooter more than 100 miles, I've had my fair share of commutes and definitely given the battery a run for its money to see how it fares.

I did the same 20-mile commute five days in a row - always starting at full charge. Every single time, I was able to make it with just a little bit of battery left in the tank. During the commute, I was mainly riding in the second gear at full throttle (around 18 MPH / 29 km/h) while occasionally switching up to the third gear to handle inclines.

If I tried to ride it a little more "economically" by only going in gear 1, I'm confident I could push some extra range out of it so the 22-mile range on "eco" mode definitely holds up.

Tested Performance Drop-off

As I quickly touched on earlier, the cheaper e-scooters often suffer from a cut-off in top speed and acceleration as the battery level drops due to poor battery quality. It inevitably happens with any electric scooter as the voltage drops off but on the better ones, performance is less affected.

Once again, I was very pleased with how the Apollo Light seemed to hold solid performance even as the battery got pretty low. I managed to note down some of the key numbers from one of my test trips.

In the three months, I've been testing this electric scooter, the battery hasn't dropped in capacity or performance whatsoever. I attribute this to Apollo using Dynavolt cells (which compared very closely to more expensive LG cells over a 6-year simulated test-period). Overall, the battery seems super reliable.

Suspension

Suspension directly determines how smooth your ride will feel. Generally, you see two types of suspension in e-scooters. The tires can provide suspension if they're pneumatic and spring suspension can also help absorb shocks and road vibrations.

The Apollo Light uses an interesting combination of both. While the more expensive Apollo Explore has two air-filled tires, only the 8.5-inch front tire uses air on the Light. To compensate for the solid rear tire, they've installed a dual-spring suspension system at the rear while there's also a single spring at the front.

While air will always feel better to ride on that solid tires, having only one pneumatic tire comes with the advantage of fewer worries about punctures and air pressure. It's practically a zero-maintenance solution at the rear, so you only have to keep up with the air pressure at the front. This is an excellent way to go about it for people who want a working solution out-of-the-box with minimal maintenance.

From my experience, this suspension system is plenty for a scooter of this caliber. If you're just doing city riding and light terrain such as trails, you're good to go. If the top speed was higher, I would probably prefer a pneumatic tire at the rear but in this spectrum, it feels like a good solution that balances convenience and comfort nicely.

Portability

One of the main things you want to consider before eyeing an e-scooter is your needs in terms of weight and portability. If you live in an apartment with lots of stairs, you want something lightweight and compact that you can easily bring up with you. On the other hand, a light electric scooter won't have the same punch or power, so finding the right balance for you is crucial.

The Apollo Light weighs 37 pounds (17 kg) which is fairly lightweight considering the battery capacity and power it packs. There are definitely lighter scooters out there but they come at the expense of less range and/or a less comfortable riding experience.

The Apollo Light folds together into a compact size both at the base of the stem and at the handlebars, which means it doesn't take up very much space. Carrying it up a few flights of stairs here and there or putting it in and out of the trunk is definitely fine, but if you'll be walking with it in your arm all the time, you may want to look for an ultralight solution instead.

Built Quality

The overall built quality of the Apollo Light is solid. Apollo uses forged aluminum throughout their electric scooter range which is superior in strength to the die-cast aluminum you often see on other brands.

Thanks to a triple inspection quality control and pre-shipping calibration, the scooter ran smoothly right out of the box.

There hasn't been any stem-wobble whatsoever and the foldable handlebars have locked in tight which is pleasant because some similar models suffered from them loosening mid-ride.

The Apollo Light uses a single drum brake at the rear which you activate from the left handlebar. It works together seamlessly with the electric re-generative motor brake which helps increase overall range and brake smoothness.

The brake did feel a little choppy when I was trying to make small brake adjustments but it was very responsive which is the most important part of it. I was able to bring the scooter to quick stop safely while always in control thanks to the brake systems in place.

The max load this scooter will comfortably handle is 220 pounds (100 kg).

Lastly, the Apollo Light has landed an IP54 water resistance certificate which means it is tested and approved for riding in light rain and on wet surfaces.

Safety

When we talk about electric scooter safety, there are many aspects that play into the equation but many of them are in regard to built quality which - as previously stated - a was really happy with.

Another thing that is often overlooked is the lighting setup you have. In several places, having proper lighting and reflexes equipped is demanded by law - even during daytime. Not only is it paramount for other people's safety - it's also important for yours.

The Apollo Light has a dual white LED light setup at the front with a headlight above the wheel and two red LED lights at the rear as well. The rear lights will blink when braking which is excellent for keeping you visible at night.

In my opinion, the Light probably could do with some type of reflexes on each side to further improve visibility, but these can always be purchased separately as they don't require any wiring or power.

Personally, I would consider getting a strong headlight to either place mid-stem or at the handlebars that'll illuminate the road in front of you better if you ride at night. The default lights are fine for keeping you visible to others but the headlight won't do much in terms of lighting up the road in front of you for your own convenience.

Support & Warranty

Backing a brand that has solid support and a good warranty is a must. If anything breaks, you want to be able to quickly and easily get in touch with the brand to get the issue resolved. When you buy an Apollo Light, you back a Canadian-based company with a showroom and warehouse in Montreal known for swift support and quick problem resolutions.

While some companies can be tough to get a hold on, Apollo offers support 7 days a week (9 AM to 9 PM) and they even have a phone line (833 640 0090) you can reach them on during business hours.

Throughout this whole reviewing process, the replies from Apollo have been both swift and precise. They're always easy to get a hold on - even in busy times.

What really sets Apollo apart from most competitors is their market-leading warranty lasting up to 24 months on selected parts. Below you can see what parts are covered for how long.

Overall, this is a much better warranty than practically any competitor, which most only offering 12 or 6 months limited warranty.

Overall Pros & Cons

To quickly sum up our experience, we decided to note down the main pros and cons of the Apollo Light. In all honesty, we feel like most of the cons are nitpicking as they are not not major problems, just minor annoyances.

Pros

• Impressive power and range
• Very foldable and compact
• Solid built quality
• Smooth riding experience due to dual-spring suspension at the rear and pneumatic tire on the front
• Market-leading warranty
• Excellent support with swift responses

Cons

• Could do with a pair of reflexes on both sides to improve side visibility
• Rear mudguards feel a little weak

Who Should Buy The Apollo Light?

The Apollo Light is an excellent electric scooter for people who want power and range without carrying around a monstrosity.

It's a solid balance between convenience, riding quality, and price which makes it an ideal option for city commuters or e-scooter fanatics who want to take it a step up from entry-level scooters without breaking the bank.

The amount of value you get with the Apollo Light is incredible and you're backed for 24 months by a reputable company that has quickly established themselves as one of the best in business.

*These specifications are based on my own tests as opposed to the specifications given by retailers/distributors of the scooter.

Full Specifications