Keeway EZI Hypevolt-R: 3 reasons to buy and 2 reasons to skip it

The Keeway EZI Hypevolt-R is a premium step-through electric scooter that arrives in India as a CKD product, sold through Benelli and Keeway dealerships. It is the first product from EZI, Keeway’s electric sub-brand, to reach our market. In our time with the scooter, we found it to be a genuinely capable product with some real strengths, but also a few areas that need attention.

Reasons to buy the Keeway EZI Hypevolt-R

Genuinely strong performance

The Hypevolt-R’s most pleasant surprise is how quick it is. With a 12kW motor and a 5.04kWh dual-battery pack, it manages the 0-80kph sprint in 7.49 seconds and 0-100kph in 13.05 seconds in Sport mode, which is genuinely impressive for an electric scooter. Three riding modes – Eco (45kph), Normal (81kph) and Sport (115kph) – give it useful versatility. Normal mode is the sweet spot for everyday use, offering enough punch for overtakes while preserving range. In our testing, riding mainly in Normal mode, we covered 125km on a charge.

Striking design, premium build quality and a practical package

The Hypevolt-R makes a strong first impression. The arrow-shaped side panels, motorcycle-style handlebar and large 14-inch wheels give it a distinctive stance, and the overall fit and finish is impressive for the price. Switchgear feels premium, disc brakes with dual-channel ABS are fitted at both ends, and the 27 litres of underseat storage is enough for a half-face helmet and the provided charger. This is complemented by 4.6 litres of front compartment storage. USB Type-A and Type-C charging ports are also included.

Comfortable for longer rides

The seat is excellent and even after covering around 70km in a day, there was no discomfort. The 770mm seat height isn’t particularly tall, and the raised floorboard allows for a relaxed riding position. The broad proportions mean shorter riders may find themselves on their toes, but for most riders the ergonomics work well for extended use. The suspension handles city speeds competently, and the Yosun tyres offer good grip in both wet and dry conditions.

Reasons to skip the Keeway EZI Hypevolt-R

Battery compartment sealing is a concern

After extensive use in the rain, we found a significant amount of water, dirt and muck inside the battery compartment when we removed the batteries. Beyond being unpleasant to deal with, the compartment is also difficult to clean. Each battery also weighs 17.3kg, making them cumbersome to remove for home charging. The charging cable itself is quite short, which could be inconvenient depending on socket placement.

Electronics are feature-rich but unnecessarily complicated

The Hypevolt-R is loaded with technology like traction control, adjustable regenerative braking, blind-spot detection with a reverse camera, cruise control and Bluetooth connectivity, but the way it’s all integrated makes it harder to use than it should be. There is no range estimate on the TFT display; you have to check the app on your phone instead. Riding mode selection, traction control settings and regeneration levels are all managed through the app rather than the instrument cluster. Lastly, the keyless system requires you to press the unlock button on the fob first rather than unlocking automatically on proximity. For a scooter at this price, the electronics should be more intuitive.