Table of contents

• York’s s1-elite e-scooter in the driving report Test drive with a near-series prototype
• Recuperation in e-scooters is a marketing gimmick
• opinion poll
• E-scooter can be pulled and stands upright
• Technical data York’s s1-elite
• Conclusion

Svenja Faust

20th pictures

Svenja Faust

1/20
20 km / h doesn’t sound like much, but with the right acceleration it gets down to business quickly.

Svenja Faust

2/20
The Yorks s1-elite accelerates well and is stable in the curve. It’s really fun.

Svenja Faust

3/20
Disc brakes decelerate at the front and rear, the rear one is operated by a pedal and is very easy to adjust.

Svenja Faust

4/20
The brake light on the rear fender then lights up.

Svenja Faust

5/20
The e-scooter is also equipped with StVO-approved lighting at the front.

Svenja Faust

6/20
Extremely practical function for transport, for example on the train: fold up, fold down the handle, pull like a suitcase.

Svenja Faust

7/20
When folded, the Yorks s1-elite measures 93 cm in length, 18.5 cm in width and 40 cm in height.

Svenja Faust

8/20
Locking when folding: When the handlebar ends are folded in, you pull this lever so that the handlebars and handlebars are fixed.

Svenja Faust

9/20
Another clever function: the e-scooter can also be folded up vertically. The passengers in the S-Bahn are happy.

Svenja Faust

10/20
When turned upside down, the scooter is quite stable when folded up on the running board

Svenja Faust

11/20
The height of the handlebar can be adjusted continuously between 85-102 cm by turning it up and down.

Svenja Faust

12/20
At the front the very effective disc brake of the premium e-scooter and a small fold-out compartment under the Yorks logo.

Svenja Faust

13/20
Behind this is the charging cable, which is integrated into the e-scooter together with a fast charger (4A) – never forget the charger and don’t take an extra bag with you for transport.

Svenja Faust

14/20
Developed, designed, built – the prototypes were designed in the small Sindelfingen workshop.

Svenja Faust

15/20
For this purpose, the guys from the start-up Yorks have built their own e-scooter test stand.

Svenja Faust

16/20
It is not yet entirely clear whether the small on-board computer on the production vehicle looks exactly like this. However, he will have 3 driving modes, which are expected to result in a top speed of 6, 15 and 20 km / h.

Svenja Faust

17/20
The Yorks s1-elite should also achieve the permitted 10 percent upward tolerance in the production version with the 500 watt motor.

Svenja Faust

18/20
The 500-watt version of the e-scooter is expected to cost 1,800 euros. The s1-elite should bring 30 Nm.

Svenja Faust

19/20
1,500 euros are realistic for the 250 watt version, which, according to the manufacturer, gives you 18 Nm of torque.

Svenja Faust

20/20
The range should be at least 25 kilometers and the charging time should be 2.5 hours.

counselor

technology & future

York’s s1-elite e-scooter – test drive with a near-series prototype

York’s s1-elite e-scooter in the driving report
Test drive with a near-series prototype

The Yorks s1-elite e-scooter is a product of a Sindelfingen start-up. The premium e-scooter is due to hit the market in spring 2020 and will be produced in Germany. We were already allowed to drive the near-series prototype.

Dina Dervisevic

05/24/2019

“I beg your pardon? Between 1,500 and 1,800 euros, that’s how much it should cost? ”I don’t mind when Dominik Neyer, Marketing Manager at Start-Up Yorks, answers my question about the price. In fact, I only need a few minutes with the prototype to convince myself that the price for the Yorks s1-elite is absolutely justified.

Driving stability

The concept is smart, the construction is robust, the material is high-quality and it also has the potential to set benchmarks when it comes to driving behavior. Take driving stability, for example: Nothing rattles or shakes, I dynamically circle around parked obstacles, lie down noticeably diagonally in curves, move and offset my feet on the footboard without any restlessness in the small carriage. The ground clearance is suitable for curbs – but the running board is not too high, because that would in turn encourage nervous, wobbly handling. The running board is nice and wide and non-slip, the handlebars can be variably adjusted from 85 to 102 centimeters, the 10-inch pneumatic tires ensure comfort and safe rolling even on bumps.

Brakes

When it comes to brakes, Yorks relies on disc brakes – front and rear. Nevertheless, there is only one brake lever on the handlebar for the front brake, the rear brake is operated by a pedal on the footboard. You have to feel your way to the effect of the front brake, because it acts viciously. Anyone who is not an experienced motorcycle or cyclist and who regularly decelerates with modern disc brakes may find themselves standing next to the e-scooter instead of on the step after braking harder.

Svenja Faust

Disc brakes slow down both front and rear. It’s best to feel at the front, because the brakes slow you down a lot. The rear is braked with a foot pedal – very effective, but less snappy.

So, consciously include the rear brake. And why is it operated with the pedal on the footboard? This has a design advantage because the brake cable does not have to be routed from the handlebars to the very rear. The fewer cables in the pipe, the better. “Because a broken cable on the folding mechanism is the most common reason for complaint with most e-scooters,” says Dominik Neyer. And the Sindelfingen-based company would like to prevent this by considering the problem not only in the choice of high-quality materials, but also in the construction.

Recuperation in e-scooters is a marketing gimmick

Many currently available e-scooters brake electrically at the front and thus advertise a recuperation function at the same time, says Dominik Neyer: “In our opinion, recuperation is a marketing gimmick for e-scooters. Some manufacturers use this as an electric front brake. For safety reasons, we use disc brakes at the front and rear. ”If the battery is empty, the electric brake will no longer work. Then, depending on the model, the rear is decelerated with the disc brake or even with the fender brake, which is not recommended for safety reasons.

opinion poll

Are you considering an e-scooter as a means of transport for short distances??

Voted 1685 times

Yeah sure why not.

No, an e-scooter won’t get under my feet.

I’ve been driving one for a long time.

Safety on an e-bike level

By now it is clear to me at what level the prototype of the York s1-elite e-scooter is on the road and Dominik Neyer comes back to the price: “When it comes to safety and the use of materials, we are at e-bike level. And with an e-bike, nobody looks strange when it comes to prices around 1,800 euros. ”That’s right. He explains this with the fact that many people often associate the new vehicle category of e-scooters with the inexpensive scooters or kickboards that young people and adults used to ride in the 90s. The more e-scooters are now entering the market, the faster consumers and drivers will recognize them as a vehicle class in their own right.

Responsiveness, acceleration, top speed

Speaking of fast: The developers of the Yorks e-scooter are still optimizing the response behavior, because there is currently a small but noticeable pause between the gas pulse on the thumb throttle and the actual acceleration. “The response behavior is purely a matter of coordination, we can get it under control,” says project manager Tom Kohler. Turbo lag, so to speak. Because after that it is really turbo-like with 30 Newton meters. The 500 watt motor cracks properly. So it’s good that you can not only hold on to the solid handlebars, but also have room for a stable lunge on the large running board.

It feels like the e-scooter accelerates both vigorously and linearly to its top speed, with the Yorks fully exhausting the 20 km / h limit including the ten percent tolerance. It seems credible that the e-scooter can even roll a 100-kilo man up a serious incline at 22 km / h.

Range, charging time, integrated charger

Driving style and weight are noticeable elsewhere, namely in the range. The Yorks give it as 25 to 35 kilometers, whereby they communicate the 25 kilometers as a safe minimum: “We have never come below that in our tests – regardless of weight, driving style or outside temperature.”

Svenja Faust

The charging cable and quick charger are integrated in the Yorks e-scooter. There is no need for an extra bag for the charger and it is impossible to forget the charger.

The developers specify 2.5 hours for the charging time of the premium e-scooter, with the quick charger and charging cable integrated in the vehicle itself. This means that electricity can be drawn anytime and anywhere without the driver having to take the charger with him to work in his backpack, for example. Prerequisite: the employer agrees.

E-scooter can be pulled and stands upright

In contrast to bicycles or e-bikes, the area of ​​application of an e-scooter is usually not an alternative to local public transport, but rather a supplement: the focus here is on the folding mechanism, weight, portability and pack size.

Svenja Faust

Extremely practical function for transport: When folded, the premium e-scooter can be pulled by the handle like a suitcase.

Folding mechanism: The Yorks s1-elite can be easily folded and opened again, including the handlebar ends (see video). When folded, it is 93 cm long, 18.5 cm wide and 40 cm high. What makes it absolutely suitable for the S-Bahn: it is also vertical.

Svenja Faust

In addition, the Yorks s1-elite can also be folded up vertically. The passengers in the S-Bahn are happy.

Weight: The prototype currently weighs 17 kilos, “We have set ourselves the goal of 15 kilos for the series vehicles and we will definitely manage that”, Tom Kohler and Dominik Neyer agree. Since not everyone wants to or cannot carry 15 kilos across the platform, they came up with a nice detail for the Yorks: The lever on the front wheel can be folded down and then acts like a handle on a trolley case (see video). And while we’re on the subject of weight: the e-scooter can take loads of up to 120 kilograms.

Exceeds legal requirements

Since the Yorks s1-elite will not be launched on the market until spring 2020, it will at least meet the legal requirements, but probably also exceed them in many areas. The author is certain that this e-scooter will be able to ride right at the top, especially in terms of braking distance and driving behavior. For example, braking without a motor: The Small Electric Vehicle Ordinance stipulates that if the motor fails, at least one braking system must still function and ensure at least 44 percent of the prescribed braking effect (3.5 m / s²). Since the front and rear of the Yorks are mechanically decelerated via the disc brakes, 100 percent of the braking effect is always available. As described in the ordinance, the lighting equipment conforms to the StVO.

And speaking of driving without a motor: the wheels roll easily, there is no resistance whatsoever. In addition, the running board height allows sufficient ground clearance, but at the same time is not too high, so that mechanical pedaling does not lead to thigh burns. The trick here is to hit the center right. Of course, it also helps that the footboard itself is as low as possible – without compromising on stability, of course.

Availability, price, versions

For various future conceivable sharing systems, the Yorks s1-elite will also be available in a version without a folding mechanism. A 250 and a 500 watt version are expected to come onto the market

Technical data York’s s1-elite

Dimensions folded up (L x W x H)	93 x 18.5 x 40 cm
Handlebar height (from the footboard)	85-102 cm
Tire type	10-inch pneumatic tires
Flooring	for asphalt & suitable for unpaved ground
Brakes	Disc brakes front and rear
light	StVO-approved lighting
bell	on the handlebars
Resilience	120 kg
Weight	17 kilos (prototype); Production model should weigh 15 kilos
Battery type	Lithium-ion 18/65
Battery capacity (variable)	354 Wh – 10s3p (475 Wh – 10s4p)
Range	25 – 35 km
System voltage	48 V
Charging time	2.5 hours
charger	Integrated fast charger 4A
Charging port	Euro plug, two-pin
Engine type	Gear motor
Engine power (variable)	250 W or 500 W
Torque	18 Nm / 30 Nm
Speed ​​levels 3 modes:	6 km / h, 15 km / h, 20 km / h
Duty regulation	Thumb throttle on the handlebar
Freewheel	Can also be driven without an electric drive
Market launch	Spring 2020
estimated price	1,500 euros / 1,800 euros

Start-Up Yorks – made in Germany

Yorks GmbH was founded in 2018. However, the developers began ordering, testing and unscrewing all available e-scooters 2.5 years ago in order to find out what their product had to be able to do in order to meet their high standards.

Behind the start-up is the Fele company (based in Sindelfingen), a medium-sized engineering service provider whose main customer is BMW Motorrad. The focus here is on the development of on-board electrical systems. On the other hand, there is the Rettinger company (in Pfitztal) that produces plastic parts – primarily for the automotive sector, but also in the medical technology sector. Yorks’ idea was to combine the skills of Fele and Rettinger in one product. “We are very good at development, and also manufacture plastic parts – now it’s time we build our own vehicle and bring it onto the market,” said a spokesman for the start-up.

The series model of the e-scooter will then be produced in the Pfinztal near Karlsruhe. For this purpose, extra tools have been and are being developed and manufactured. The batteries and the battery management system also come from the “Landle”, namely from Schorndorf near Stuttgart.

Conclusion

The Yorks s1-elite is not only defined as a premium e-scooter by its price. The electric scooter, which was developed in Germany and will also be produced in Germany in the future, stands out from the crowd thanks to many clever details: It saves space and is easy to fold, then stands horizontally or even upright. A lever on the front wheel can be folded out when folded, with which the scooter can be pulled like a wheeled suitcase. The charger with cable is also integrated in the e-scooter. The materials used made an extremely high-quality impression on us, the processing quality is very solid – optimal gaps, nothing wobbles or rattles, no sharp edges or protruding cables.

In terms of driving dynamics, there is a lot going on with the Yorks s1-elite – except for the initially delayed throttle response, which should be resolved in the next development stage at the latest. The acceleration is full and linear, 22 km / h uphill absolutely believable. Even with slight bumps or when adjusting your feet in an inclined position, the e-scooter is stable in the curve and quickly gives the inexperienced driver confidence in the vehicle. When operating the front brake, feel is required: If you are not used to modern disc brakes on bicycles or motorcycles, you should take it easy first. With a little practice, however, thanks to the disc brake on the rear wheel, you can achieve very short braking distances with stable braking behavior at the same time.

This small electric vehicle is not only a lot of fun, but also gives the impression that it can withstand quite a lot for a long time.

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