EV Rider Transport AF+ Mobility Scooter Review
Disclosure: Some links may be affiliate links. If you buy an item via links on our site, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
Some mobility scooters are simply monstrous, and while these are great if you require a scooter for long journeys, they’re not always easy to store.
Sometimes a compact and foldable mobility scooter is just the ticket. If you’ve been looking for something like this then the EV Rider Transport AF+ might be exactly what you need. Here’s our review on everything you need to know about this mobility scooter.
EV Rider Transport AF+ Specs
Comfort
When you’re looking at mobility scooters that are designed for travel, you might not expect quite as many comfort features as those that are intended for all-day use. Let’s take a look at what you can expect in terms of comfort from the Transport AF+.
Seat
The Transport AF+ has a reasonably sized seat measuring 15 inches by 12 inches. This isn’t the largest seat you’ll ever find on a mobility scooter, but it’s certainly standard for something designed for travel.
It’s important to note that the seat on the Transport AF+ has quite a low back. While it will provide support in the lumbar region, it’s not going to be ideal for people who need extra support at the top of the back or neck.
Moreover, this mobility scooter doesn’t have any headrest or arm rests. For all intents and purposes, it’s a very basic design and won’t work well for people with additional support needs.
You should also consider that the seat, while comfortably padded with an inch of foam padding, isn’t height adjustable. What you see is what you get. That said, if you’re using this for travel, perhaps moving through an airport or around a cruise ship, you might not need anything with any extra frills.
Legroom
Since the Transport AF+ is a compact scooter, you can’t expect great things when it comes to how spacious it is. That said, since the design is quite open, you will have room for your legs to rest comfortably on the base.
Do note that there is a lack of a swivel function so you will need to be able to get on and off the scooter with the seat facing forwards. Again, the open design should make this relatively easy for most users.
Weight Capacity
The Transport AF+ comes with a weight capacity of 250lbs. This is slightly less than some of the other travel mobility scooters we have seen. However, you have to consider that, for such a lightweight model, this is actually pretty impressive.
250lbs should be more than sufficient for most average adults especially for something so compact. The frame is strong and durable, which offers additional support and stability while you’re on the move.
Storage
One of the things that we feel lets the EV Rider Transport AF+ down is the lack of storage. Now, we know that you probably aren’t going to need masses of space for things like shopping, but a small basket would have been useful for your essentials.
Some other compact mobility scooters come with an option to add a basket on the front, but there’s seemingly nowhere to do this with the Transport AF+, which is a real shame.
Controls & Tiller
The Transport AF+ benefits from a T-shaped tiller, and while this isn’t usually a design we would suggest for people with limited strength or dexterity, it is one that’s designed with a range of users in mind.
Tiller
The T-shaped tiller on the EV Rider Transport AF+ has all of its controls centrally located. This means that, if you do struggle to reach, then that won’t be as much of an issue. Moreover, the tiller can be height adjusted so you can set it to a position that feels most comfortable to you.
Controls
It is super important to be able to easily control your mobility scooter and, as we have mentioned, the manufacturer has made it as easy as possible by keeping all of the controls at the center of the tiller.
Do keep in mind that the left and right turn paddles will require a degree of finger strength but the other controls should be easy to use by anyone. What’s more, everything is so simple that you can, in theory, operate the Transport AF+ with just one hand if you really need to.
On the display, you have an LED battery indicator light which is super useful for knowing when you need to recharge. You certainly won’t be caught out without power.
Portability
One of the most obvious plus points about the EV Rider Transport AF+ is that it is easily portable. It is designed to be used for travel and is airline approved. Whatever mode of transport you’re using, you’ll find this lightweight and compact mobility scooter such a lifesaver.
The Transport AF+ weighs just 44lbs, so it’s really easy to lift it into the trunk of the car or a luggage compartment on public transport.
While the Transport AF+ doesn’t come apart, it does have an automatic folding feature, which saves you the hassle of having to manually fold the scooter. For people who are physically unable to do so, the use of the button and remote control make life so much simpler. In mere seconds, the scooter will automatically fold away to a very compact size.
It is also fitted with wheels, which make moving it around whilst folded a breeze.
Manoeuvrability
One of the best things about having a compact scooter like the Transport AF+ is that you won’t ever have to worry about getting stuck in a tight spot; literally!
Turning Radius
This mobility scooter has a turning radius of just 31 inches which means you’ll have no problems moving in narrow spaces or around corners.
What’s more, the overall size of the Transport AF+ is just 33.5 inches by 16.5 inches, so it’s ideal for indoor use. That said, it’ll also function well as an outdoor scooter provided you are using it on even terrain.
Ground Clearance
The Transport AF+ has a ground clearance of just 1.4 inches which isn’t the most generous. But you have to keep in mind that travel scooters aren’t typically designed to move over rugged or uneven ground so there’s really no need for a massive four or five-inch ground clearance. If that is something you’re looking for then there are some travel scooters like the Atto folding mobility scooter we reviewed here.
Gradient
Again, you have to remember that a compact mobility scooter designed for travel isn’t going to have such impressive features as the bigger models. This means that you won’t be able to tackle steep inclines. The Transport AF+ is able to move up hills of no more than 3 degrees. This is quite low but is also pretty standard for this type of scooter so we’re not complaining.
Tires
Your scooter tires are one of the first things you should look at when thinking about how easy the vehicle is to maneuver. The Transport AF+ is a four-wheel mobility scooter, but the layout of the tires is rather unique.
Instead of having the front tires spaced out at either side of the scooter, they’re very close together in the front center part. This gives the illusion of a three-wheeled scooter but also improves stability like a four-wheeled scooter. Moreover, this design makes turning corners a whole lot less challenging.
The Transport AF+ benefits from flat-free tires so you won’t ever have to worry about getting a puncture.
Also, note that the rear wheels are slightly larger than those at the front, which is another feature that ensures maximum stability of the scooter.
Operating Range
Since the Transport AF+ isn’t designed to be an all-day mobility scooter, the range on it is slightly less than what you might be used to if you’ve been using a full-sized scooter. You’ll get around 6.8 miles per charge which is still pretty generous. However, this largely depends on the type of terrain and the weight of the user. On average, people are getting just shy of seven miles out of each charge.
Speaking of charging, the EV Rider Transport AF+ takes between four and five hours to reach full capacity and features an on/off switch for power saving.
When you’re moving, the Transport AF+ will get up to around 3.8 miles per hour. This is around walking speed which is ideal for keeping up with your friends and family.
Safety Features
If there was one thing that impressed us about the EV Rider Transport AF+ it’s the number of safety features. You don’t always see such a wide range of safety features on a compact scooter, but this one has a few worth writing about.
For starters, there are anti-tipper wheels that add to the already stable design of the Transport AF+. If you’re moving over rougher ground, up slopes, or anywhere else that stability might be affected, this is a welcome feature.
You’ll also notice that the Transport AF+ has both front and rear LED headlights so you can see where you’re going, and others can see you even in low light.
The scooter benefits from an electromagnetic braking system which makes stopping much safer. When you release the throttle, the system kicks in and slows the scooter safely and effectively.
With the automatic folding system, there could be a risk of injury, but this won’t be the case thanks to the lock on the folding mechanism. Once everything is folded down, there’s no worry of it all coming undone again, at least not until you’re ready.
What We Like
It’s obvious that the Transport AF+ is the perfect scooter for people who are on the go and need something compact enough to fit in the car or on an airplane. But there are a lot of scooters out there that meet these criteria, so what makes the Transport AF+ extra special? Well, it’s that auto-folding feature.
For people who have limited strength or other physical problems, taking down a mobility scooter might be more hassle than it’s worth. But this innovative scooter does all the hard work for you, and that’s a real plus point.
We also love how many safety features the Transport AF+ has, especially when you consider that’s not something you always see on compact scooters.
We think that this is a brilliant scooter for tight spaces, and if you’re looking for something easy to manoeuver, then the Transport AF+ is well worth considering. Not only does it have a compact design, but the turning radius is also low enough to turn in tight spots.
What We Didn’t Like
There are a few things that didn’t get us quite as excited about the Transport AF+ although, on the whole, it’s a decent product.
We have to note the lack of comfort features. There’s no option to adjust the seat height and no head or arm rests. If you need extra support or just want to ride in luxury then this probably isn’t the right mobility scooter for you.
We have to note the lack of comfort features. There’s no option to adjust the seat height and no head or armrests. If you need extra support or just want to ride in luxury, then this probably isn’t the right mobility scooter for you.
The lack of storage is also a downside, especially if you want to take your essentials with you when you’re traveling.
Round-Up Review
For anyone that is looking for an easy-to-use, compact travel mobility scooter, the Transport AF+ by EV Rider might be what you’ve been searching for. The main thing that sets this scooter apart from the rest is the automatic folding function which is excellent for users who would otherwise struggle to put the scooter down and erect it again.
There are a few considerations when purchasing this scooter, such as a lack of seat height adjustment and some other comfort features. But since you’re only going to be using the scooter part of the time, this isn’t as important as when shopping for a full-sized scooter.
With amazing safety features and a super stylish design, the Transport AF+ would suit anyone who wants to get out and explore without being weighed down by a cumbersome mobility scooter.
