The Inoa Sli5 50 from Nova Motors surprises with 3 kW of power and a range of over 100 kilometers. The e-scooter also has a lot to offer in other ways – both positive and negative.
Nova Motors Inoa Sli5 50: Technical data, price
Germans now spend an average of over 2800 euros on a new pedelec . That’s a lot of money for a bike with an auxiliary motor. E-scooters can be a more technically sophisticated, faster and in some cases cheaper alternative. No, not the small kick scooters, but the ones you sit on, with helmets and license plates required. One such model is the Inoa Sli5 50 from the scooter and electric vehicle dealer Nova Motors, which also has the Inoa Sli7 max and Inoa Sli10 models in its range. The single-track electric vehicle, which is suitable for holders of an AM driving license, offers a powerful drive and a decent range as well as a few nice features. At around 2400 euros, it is still fairly priced.
This price even includes the shipping of the scooter to the customer’s desired address. This is exactly how our test model was delivered, with the protective film from the factory still stuck to it. After these were removed and the supplied mirrors and insurance number plate were mounted, the Inoa was ready for use. Before you can set off, you have to turn the ignition key and press the P button on the right handlebar. The Inoa will roar off as quietly as a mouse at the first throttle command.
In the test: 4-hp engine
The drive is not only silent, but also pleasantly lively . The 60-volt Bosch motor integrated into the rear wheel delivers a powerful 3 kW/4 hp. Like the scooter, the driver in our case weighs just over 90 kilograms, which doesn’t seem to have much of an impact on the propulsion. It takes just over 10 seconds to reach the maximum speed of 45 km/h. When the battery is full, the digital speedometer occasionally even shows 50 km/h on a flat surface. Downhill, one or two km/h more is possible, while uphill the speed can sometimes drop below 40 km/h. As is usual in the 50cc class, 45 km/h is the norm . Up to that point, you can easily keep up with the cars. But the other road users are usually faster and sometimes react irritably when they have to follow. It would be welcome if environmentally friendly mopeds like the Inoa were allowed to drive a little faster, but the legislature has put a stop to this – to the annoyance of almost all road users.
About 100 km range for one euro
Moderate speed is of course good for the range. According to Nova Motors, the basic version with a 1.4 kWh single battery weighing around 10 kilograms can cover 60 kilometers. A second battery, which doubles the range, costs an additional 600 euros . In our case, we managed just over 50 kilometers on one battery charge in summer weather. So over 100 kilometers are possible with a second battery. The energy costs for 100 kilometers are therefore one euro – 36 cents per kilowatt hour and assuming charging from a household socket. Charging the removable batteries takes around 5 hours with the charger provided .
Inconvenient: Changing the battery
Although one battery charge can take you over 50 kilometers, as the charge level decreases it becomes increasingly difficult to reach the maximum speed of 45 km/h. If the level is very low, the speed is reduced even further. If the digital display shows 0 percent, you can still drive a few hundred meters at a good 10 km/h. Normally, however, you switch to the second battery much sooner. To do this, you have to stop briefly, fold up the seat and unplug the power cable from the empty battery to connect it to the second battery. It would be more convenient if both batteries were wired in parallel, like on the Yamaha Neo’s , but it is also much more expensive with two batteries.
Not a curve artist, quality can be improved
In terms of ergonomics, the Sli5 is more suitable for short than tall riders . Although it is easy to handle, the Inoa is not a virtuoso cornering artist. Left-right combinations are easy to ride, but not ambitious. The chassis with its small 12-inch wheels occasionally reacts harshly to bumps. The disc brakes on the front and rear wheels do their job satisfactorily. The generously sized display is not always easy to read in direct sunlight. Although the scooter makes a decent impression overall, the quality of the details still leaves room for improvement. We even found the fumes from the plastic and rubber parts to be annoying in the first few days.
Decent equipment including connectivity
Although not everything on the Sli5 is high quality, the equipment is impressive. The basic version offers an immobilizer with alarm function, which can be activated with a remote control integrated in the ignition key. There is a small storage compartment in the leg shield for a smartphone, for example, which can be fed with power from the traction battery via a USB cable . LED lights all around, fold-out footrests for the pillion passenger, a luggage hook and a main and side stand round off the equipment package. The driver can also connect his cell phone to a Bluetooth speaker integrated into the scooter and listen to stored or streamed music via the sound module. However, this simple connectivity solution does not offer any more options. The scooter is specifically designed to attract the interest of young users, for whom the Sli5 50 should also be interesting in terms of price.
Nova Motors Inoa Sli5 50: Technical data, price
For accuracy and reliability, all technical info is sourced instantly from the official websites of Nova Motors.
| Manufacturer’s Components | Specifications |
|---|---|
| engine and range | 60-volt electric motor from Bosch, 3 kW/4 hp continuous power, top speed 45 km/h.Battery: one or two lithium-ion battery packs with 1.4 kWh, range according to the manufacturer: 60 or 120 km, range in the test: 100 km, charging time approx. 5 hours |
| chassis | Telescopic fork at the front, single-sided swing arm at the rear, 12-inch cast wheels; tires 90/90-12 front and rear, single-disc brakes at the front and rear |
| equipment | 2 ignition keys with remote control, main and side stands, full LED lighting, large color display |
| dimensions and weights | Length 1940 mm, height 1330 mm, width 720 mm. Vehicle weight including 1 battery 93 kg, permissible total weight 240 kg |
| Price | 2399 euros or 2998 euros (2 batteries) |
Conclusion
The Nova Motors Inoa Sli5 50 offers an impressive combination of performance, range, and equipment at a very attractive price. With a lively 3 kW Bosch motor, a real-world range of up to 100 kilometers, and useful features like an immobilizer, USB charging, and Bluetooth speakers, it stands out among affordable e-scooters. While its chassis could be more refined and battery handling more convenient, these shortcomings are forgivable given the solid overall package. Ideal for young riders or urban commuters looking for a practical and economical electric scooter, the Inoa Sli5 50 delivers a lot of value for its modest price tag.