By Jimmy Dinsmore, Able Travels Publisher
“I’m not a salesman for this scooter, but I sure could be.” Every time I travel, whether it’s on a cruise, like my recent one on Norwegian Cruise Line Epic, or a trip to the zoo, people stop and ask me about my mobility scooter. And that’s always my response. “I’m not a salesman for it, but I sure could be.”
Eight years ago, I made the single best investment for my personal life. I bought the EV Rider Transport scooter for around $1500. At the time it was money I had set aside to finally make the plunge. My body was telling me it was time to slow it down and get into a mobility scooter.
All of a sudden, I enjoyed things again. Prior to this, a trip to the zoo would exhaust me. Sure I could walk it, but it would take everything out of me and honestly, I just mentally didn’t have it in me a lot to do that. And before the scooter, forget about taking a cruise! I was missing out on adventures and living life to the fullest.
So I put my pride aside and bought the EV Rider Transport. As an automotive journalist I am used to driving big horsepower vehicles or luxury SUVs. And regardless of what vehicle I’m driving each week, I review it from the perspective of “does it do what it’s supposed to do.” So I brought that exact same perspective to the mobility scooter world. But when you’re talking about personal mobility, utility takes on a whole different meaning. It means freedom.
So I did a lot of research back in 2018 before choosing the EV Rider Transport.
I wanted a scooter that was portable, reasonably lightweight and had an FAA-approved battery. And I also wanted to stick to my budget of under $2000. This scooter checked all those boxes.
Here in 2026, there’s a newer version of my scooter, EV Rider’s TranSport Plus is the equivalent and what that scooter offers is basically the same as my older (now discontinued) version, known as the Transport. Let’s take a look at the current iteration of this scooter that’s truly been the best investment in my personal life.
Design and “Curb Appeal”
First off, let’s talk looks. The TranSport Plus isn’t trying to be a spaceship. It’s got a clean, sleek frame that comes in some sharp colors like Metallic Blue, Burgundy, and Copper (my scooter is copper and it’s almost orange/copper and I really liked that color). But the real “wow” factor here isn’t the paint; it’s the fold.
This isn’t one of those scooters that requires a Ph.D. and a toolbox to take apart. It’s a manual folder, meaning you can collapse it down in seconds into a package that fits in almost any trunk. If you’re a traveler, this is your ticket. At 46 pounds (without the seat and batteries), it’s light enough to manage without throwing your back out, and it’s airline-safe with its sealed lead acid (SLA) batteries.
Under the Hood (So to Speak)
The TranSport Plus is powered by a 4-pole, 270-watt rear-wheel-drive motor. In car terms, that’s not going to win you any drag races, but it delivers a steady top speed of 4 mph. That’s a perfect walking pace for keeping up with the grandkids or navigating a crowded cruise ship deck.
What impressed me most was the range. Depending on how much “cargo” you’re carrying (it has a 250 lb. weight capacity), you can get between 10 and 15 miles on a single charge. For a portable unit, that’s a lot of mall trips or museum tours before you need to find an outlet.
The Drive Experience
Navigating tight corners is where this thing shines. It has a turning radius of just 32.3 inches. I’ve driven subcompacts that couldn’t dream of being this nimble. It uses a digital “wig-wag” throttle control, which is just a fancy way of saying it’s intuitive—pull one side to go forward, the other to go back.
Safety-wise, it’s got an electromagnetic braking system. The second you let go of the throttle, it brings you to a smooth, controlled stop. No jerking, no rolling. It also sports front and rear LED lights, which I appreciate. Being seen is just as important as seeing where you’re going.
Final Thoughts
Is it a luxury sedan? No. It’s got solid rubber tires and no suspension, so you’ll want to stick to relatively smooth surfaces—don’t go off-roading in the backyard. The only real downside is that the lower profile and smaller wheels mean uneven surfaces, gravel, mud and of course sand will leave you struggling or have misadventures.
But as a consumer-focused tool for someone who wants to keep their independence while they travel, the TranSport Plus is a winner.
It’s simple, it’s reliable, and it folds up like a lawn chair when you’re done. You can drive it right up to the airplane and gate check it like a stroller on the tarmac. This means you don’t need wheelchair assistance at the airport and can maintain more of your independence.
After eight years and many, many trips, it has held up, although there are some cracks and scratches, due to driver error. As that old commercial for Timex used to say, takes a licking and keeps on ticking. That’s how well this scooter has held up for me.
I’ve not made a single better purchase of anything in my life that has improved my life more than this scooter.
Please note that I have not been compensated, sponsored, or paid by EV Rider for this review, nor was I provided with a unit for testing.
Specs at a Glance:
- Top Speed: 4 mph
- Range: Up to 15 miles
- Weight Capacity: 250 lbs.
- Total Weight: 70 lbs. (approx. 46 lbs. stripped for lifting)
- Turning Radius: 32.3″
- Ground Clearance: 2.4″
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