The New Xiaomi 1S Electric Scooter

In the final days of April 2020, news has spread around the electric scooter communities on the web of a new Xiaomi e-scooter going on sale in China.  

In fact, it is true, Xiaomi has added a new model to their lineup of their classy, award-winning electric scooters.  It is called the Xiaomi Mijia 1S electric scooter.

Xiaomi Mijia 1S Electric Scooter Design

If you were expecting a completely new, redesigned e-scooter from Xiaomi, then surprise!  The 1S design isn’t new, nor is it different, but it doesn’t mean that the 1S will be a marketing flop.  In fact, it has a chance to outsell the standard M365.  Although this will ultimately depend on its price.

Upon a first look the 1S resembles a standard Xiaomi M365 with one practical upgrade in the form of a super useful dashboard seemingly taken from the M365 Pro.

The dashboard appears to have a “High temperature” and “System fault” indicators, which are also found on the M365 Pro dashboard.  It gives the rider a choice of 3 speed/riding modes and appears to have a power button that is waterproof, just like in the M365 Pro.

The aluminum alloy body frame has exactly the same dimensions as the M365.  It also comes in the same colors: black and white.

There has been no visible modifications to the folding mechanism used in the 1S.  Although, I wouldn’t be surprised to find a redesigned bolt in the hinge.

How Much Does the Xiaomi 1S Scooter Weigh?

According to the manufacturer’s specifications, the 1S weights approximately 12.5 kg (27.5 lbs). 

What is the Motor on a Xiaomi 1S Electric Scooter?

The 1S appears to have the same electric motor as a standard M365.  It is a 250 Watt (500 Watt peak) brushless, electric motor located in the front wheel.  

It may have minor internal modifications, but in my opinion it is unlikely.  If Xiaomi decided to upgrade the motor, the first thing they would do is either increase the power or the range of travel.

Xiaomi 1S Scooter Battery

The 42V lithium-ion rechargeable battery in the 1S appears to be the same as the one used in a standard M365.  

It is made up of thirty 18650 10A individual cells arranged in series and in parallel.  

It weights 1.5 kg and measures 4x7x32 cm, with a time to a complete charge of 5 hours, which is exactly the same as in the M365.

Xiaomi 1S Scooter Tires

The 1S sits on two 8.5 inch pneumatic tires, just like its predecessors.  There has been no word about the quality of the inner tubes.  So, I assume that the 1S will use the exact same inner tubes used in the M365.  

This is both good and bad.  On one hand, most riders are aware of the inferior quality of these factory-installed inner tubes and their predisposition to punctures.  On the other hand, we have all found ways of dealing with the problem.  So, applying these same principles will help avoid tire punctures in the 1S, as well.  No problem here.

Xiaomi 1S Mudguard and Taillight

Based on the appearance, it is unlikely that the mudguard and the taillight on the 1S are any different from the M365.  Which means that the wiring will be prone to water damage, while the mudguard will continue to break in the same spot.  

I can only wish that the Xiaomi designers will have surprised us all and addressed these issues by modifying these elements.  But it is highly unlikely, in my humble opinion. 

Xiaomi 1S Electric Scooter Price

The 1S scooter is listed at a Chinese online store for 1,999 RMB, which at the time of writing this article, is equal to 260 EUR or 282 USD.  However, when I visit the Chinese online store, the price defaults to my currency and effectively rises by about 65%, bringing the total cost to roughly the price of a brand new M365.

It is possible that this price increase is due to customs fees, although I did not find any mention of this.  It is also likely that the price for the world market is substantially higher than that intended for mainland China.

It is a pity, because when I first learned of a new Xiaomi scooter priced at under $300, I was expecting a competition killer.  However, with a price similar to the M365 and upgrades consisting of only the new M365 Pro dashboard, I can only expect a moderate success of the 1S.  I hope that I am wrong in my estimates and I wish that the 1S becomes a very popular electric scooter worldwide.

So, What is the Xiaomi 1S Scooter?

Based on the appearance and analysis of its specifications, it is very likely that the Xiaomi 1S is intended to be a replacement of the original Xiaomi M365.

It is an obvious move by Xiaomi, because the addition of the new dashboard, along with an additional riding mode, will make it more difficult for the competition to beat Xiaomi’s offering in the electric scooter market.

Replacing the M365 with the M365 Pro dashboard (also used in the Xiaomi 1S) is still a very common upgrade made by countless M365 owners.  The 365 Pro dashboard is inexpensive (roughly $25) and relatively easy to install.  

I find it hard to imagine current M365 owners upgrading to the 1S. It is more likely and quite obvious that potential new buyers will pick the 1S as their choice when purchasing their very first electric scooter.

Availability

At this time, the Xiaomi 1S electric scooter can only be purchased online.  It is available at Chinese online store: GeekBuying.com

The 1S is currently only available for shipping to the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, The Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom.

There is no word yet on its availability elsewhere in the world, but given Xiaomi’s previous product releases, we can expect the 1S scooter to be available worldwide in 3-6 months from now.

New 2020 Xiaomi Electric Scooter Models

Although the information is unconfirmed, there is some news of two more new Xiaomi scooter models that may be introduced to the market in July 2020.

They are:

• Xiaomi Electric Scooter Lite (3rd generation M365)
• Xiaomi Electric Scooter Pro 2

Unfortunately, no further information is available at this time.

Xiaomi 1S Electric Scooter Specifications and Comparison