We have tested the oZ-o 8.5 electric scooter for you. And we have interviewed exclusively by Marco Castellucci, owner of the brand based in Teramo.
An interesting one came out of it three hundred and sixty-degree chat about electric scooters, ecology, safety and more.
The oZ-o electric scooters
To find out more about oZ-o, an Abruzzo company that produces and imports electric scooters, we had a telephone conversation with Marco Castellucci, head of the company.
When the Z-o is born
First of all it is worthwhile to dwell on brilliant naming intuition: a capital zeta and a dash between two or lowercase letters, which create a graphic sign similar to a stylized scooter.
Castellucci explains to me that the idea of oZ-o materialized in the first months of 2020. The definitive impulse was given by the approval of the law converting the “milleproroghe” decree-law. From March 1, 2020, the new rules on scooters came into force, which until then had not been codified (at least in Italy).
The legislation on scooters
Electric scooters have therefore been equated with cycles, a splendidly démodé name that identifies a category that also includes bicycles.
It therefore means that the scooter, to be such, must have some technical characteristics: do not exceed 25 km / h (6 in pedestrian areas), have a motor of 500 watts maximum and must not have a seat. Scooters that exceed this mileage and power must be registered.
They can be driven by people over 14 years old, minors must wear a helmet and their circulation is only allowed on urban roads.
oZ-o and Covid
The production and import of oZ-o electric scooters, thanks to this legislation, began in April 2020. The idea is to act as a practical and ecological alternative to public service, which for prevention reasons worked with reduced strokes and capacities. Also because scooters, as well as bicycles, benefited from the incentives of the so-called mobility bonus.
However, the blocking of shipments from China postponed the first large supply for months, which arrived only in January 2021.
Today the staff of oZ-o (an offshoot of a larger commercial reality) is made up of four people. And it is anxiously waiting for this third wave of Coronavirus to loosen its grip, in order to be able make a strong start in promoting its scooters and other future surprises in favor of urban mobility.
In the meantime, the appreciation of Italians towards this means of locomotion is constantly growing.
The electric scooter oZ-o 8.5
Together with the scooter they were delivered to me a helmet, a notebook backpack with the company logo and a half-liter can of extra virgin olive oil of the Sant'Ilario Estate in Pineto (Teramo). Because? Because “every motor vehicle has always had its own can of oil. And traditions must also be defended with electric motors ”, as stated in a recent post that appeared on the company's Facebook page.
Electric scooter oZ-o 8.5: technical data
Model 8.5 (where the number refers to the centimeters of the wheel radius) it is the smallest of the three products from the Abruzzo company, which also sells on 10 and 20.
The easily foldable oZ-o 8.5 weighs 13 kilos and has anti-puncture wheels. It guarantees up to 25 kilometers of autonomy, depending on the driving style and the driver's weight (which can reach up to 120 kilos).
It has three gears: up to 6 km / h (the maximum in the pedestrian areas), up to 15 (the most economical one) and up to 25. It recharges in 6-8 hours, has front inertial and rear disc brake, front and rear light, kickstand and bell. An intuitive display indicating gear, speed, mileage and battery level, it is operated with a single button.
The test
Considering the not quite standard measurements of the writer (192 centimeters in height and 46 of foot) it took a couple of days to find the right driving position and the feeling with the accelerator and brake.
After that, the oZ-o 8.5 electric scooter proved to be a fun ally for short trips. Its low speed allows, while driving, a healthy break in the open air. And if used on cycle paths or in any case in safe conditions, it allows you to relax your eyes and - why not - give breath to an innocent childish fun.
Scooters and the question of safety
Precisely on the issue of safety, I listened to Marco Castellucci's point of view. Who told me about "negative semantics" applied to electric scooters, to which several factors contribute.
In the meantime, of course, the sometimes indiscriminate use of those who drive them. And to say that the booklet of the oZ-o 8.5 is full of instructions, accompanied by images, for its correct use.
Then, the objective fact for which such a small means of locomotion, which exposes the entire body to possible impacts, must be guided with particular care.
Finally, the far from perfect bottoms of many of our urban streets.
But all these points have a common solution: By driving the electric scooter with common sense, the risks of accidents are reduced to a minimum. It is one of those cases in which it is necessary to brush up on the ancient motto: it is not a good or bad thing but of the use made of it.
Electric scooters and micromobility Buy on Amazon
Why the electric scooter?
This is the question I asked Castellucci last. The owner of the oZ-o responded by explaining how electric scooters, especially small and agile ones like the 8.5, are the ideal travel companions for the last mile. They fit in the trunk of the car, or if you travel by train they are considered luggage (unlike the bicycle) and therefore do not require additional costs.
Here then, for those who travel in urban contexts, the electric scooter represents a fun, economical and ecological means of transport.
Safe too? That depends on us.
