Aventura-X review: Classic Vespa vibes in a modern electric scooter
The Aventura-X EV29 has much of the feel-good charm that comes along with nostalgic Vespa rides, yet without any of the exhaust noise, smell of gasoline, or oily rag on your workbench. I spent a few enjoyable weeks riding this fun little runabout and felt almost like I was cheating, getting the fun vibes without paying the normal entry price of muss and fuss that goes with classic ICE scooters.
First of all, I probably shouldn’t call it a Vespa, even though it looks and feels like one. Aventura-X probably walks a fine line as it is, conjuring up old-timey Vespa vibes while maintaining just enough differentiation to avoid legal issues. It’s a common game these days, giving us old-school feels without blatantly ripping off a decades-old brand.
But those kinds of issues aside, this scooter still brings with it a classic-inspired ride that feels oh-so-good.
Check it out in my video review below, then keep reading for all of my thoughts on this fun ride!
Aventura-X EV29 video review
Quick, what are the specs?
You probably want to know the numbers right off the bat, so let’s hop to it.
The version I tested is the Aventura-X EV29. It has a 2,900 watt motor fed by a 72V 20Ah battery. There are actually two battery slots under the seat, so you could add an extra battery to double the range from 35 miles up to 70 miles (56 km to 112 km). If you don’t have an extra battery, like mine, then you’ve got some extra storage under the seat!
The current sale price of US $3,295 doesn’t include the extra battery, which is an additional US $799. You do get the keyless start from a wireless keyfob included for free though as part of a promotional add-on, so at least you’ve got that going for you!
Obviously this scooter is built for looks, though that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have some decent utility baked into it as well.
There is a small storage area in front of the battery compartment, but it’s more of a phone/wallet/keys/sunglasses-sized storage compartment. There’s also a larger storage compartment in the right rear fender that I was able to squeeze three of my riding cameras into as well as my microphone setup.
I know that’s not a normal unit of measure unless you’re a YouTuber, but I’d guess that the wheel well storage is around 1.5 liters or so. It’s also roughly in the shape of a water bottle. So for the Americans in the room, picture a 2L soda bottle and subtract a bit.
Then you’ve got the wicker basket on back, though that’s an add-on accessory. It’s also not exactly a high-security solution, but it does give you some extra storage and definitely looks classy. In fact, it’d be right at home riding to a picnic in your local park.
Now I think most people will agree that the scooter looks great, which is nice since it isn’t terribly fast. At 30 mph (51 km/h), people will get a good long look at you as you cruise by. Aventura-X also has 50 mph (80 km/h) models, but the one I’m riding is built for looks, not for speed.
Considering I was testing this in Florida, where 50 mph roads are just how you exit your neighborhood, that lower speed was a bit of an issue. I mostly stuck to smaller streets where I could and stayed in the right lane when I had to take faster streets.
I can absolutely see the wisdom in having more speed for keeping your options open in terms of road choice. Obviously a 30 mph top speed is going to impact where you can ride, and so I see this model being better for cruising along the beach roads than commuting on the highway, if that wasn’t clear.
But I guess that’s the beauty of multiple options. You can get the 50 mph scooter that Aventura-X offers if you want to ride on faster roads, or can save some dough on the slower scooter if you’re sticking to neighborhood streets.
And as a quick note on safety: You’ll notice in the video at the top of this article that I’m wearing my motorcycle jacket and usually my riding gloves on the scooter (though admittedly I did forget my gloves a couple of times). I’m also in full pants and boots. While I’m not going to be anyone’s mother here, I try to never get on a motorcycle without all of my protective riding gear, and that’s how I recommend riding. When it comes to scooters, the more laissez-faire nature of the ride makes it easy to accidentally (or purposely) push the thought of riding gear to the back of your mind. “I’m just going for a little cruise,” is a common enough thought, and I’ll admit that I’ve often heard the siren’s call of a romantic scoot alongside the lapping waves in nothing but a t-shirt and shorts. But ultimately, this is still technically a motorcycle and you can still technically cheese grater the skin off various parts of your body in a crash. So just consider that when choosing your ride outfit.
While I’m wearing my Dianese mesh motorcycle jacket in this video since I was travelling, I’ve been more frequently wearing my Beyond Riders motorcycle gear for my pleasure/commuter riding since it has all the protective qualities I’m looking for but looks like typical street clothes. I just got a new flannel shirt from them that has hidden armor and a pair of khaki pants that get the same treatment.
So I’m not saying you have to suit up, but I am saying I’d recommend it. Ok, safety rant over.
I’m glad to see both a side stand and a center stand included on the scooter, since they’re useful in different situations. The side stand is great for quick stops like hopping off and running into a store, while the center stand gives more stable parking, especially when parking on a hill or looser terrain like grass. It’s rare to see motorcycles or scooters that offer both. My daily rider – a Gogoro – has both, and I use them both often.
With cute little 10″ wheels and a faux leather seat, the scooter definitely looks the part of a vintage getup. Even the handlebars almost look like they could be from several decades past, skipping the big gaudy plastic molded parts of today’s scooters and putting as much metal as possible on those bars instead. I have a ’69 Honda Sports Cub and the bars/switches/mirrors, etc. all actually look quite similar to those on the Aventura-X. The rubber end grips take away from the retro vibe a bit, but not too much.
However, the body panels don’t get the same classic treatment. While they look the part, they’re actually plastic. That is fine from a few steps back since you’d never know from a glance. But if you grab hold of the front shield and shake it, it feels like a plastic panel.
That’s not really an issue per se, but it means you might want to be careful with your parking so you don’t crack a panel that would have merely dinged if it had been steel or aluminum.
As for the ride, I’ve long been a scooter fan. I’m a daily scooter rider myself. Since my wife and I went car-less a while back, an electric seated scooter is our main form of conveyance. And so the wide foot area of the Aventura-X feels at home to me, as does the convenient bag hook for carrying various odds and ends along for the ride.
In fact, as much as I like my motorcycles, I generally opt for my scooters when I’m actually commuting or running errands since the extra foot space makes it easier to carry things with me or do the occasional shopping trip.
The feel will be familiar to any scooter rider, even if the wheels are a tad bit smaller than on some of my other rides. The long bench seat is comfortable, the large front shield keeps you largely weather protected from splashes and road debris, and you get all the joy of being part of the environment (instead of watching it go by through a window) yet without the complex feelings that many people have towards true motorcycles. Basically, it’s all of the fun without the baggage.
Ultimately, I’m not exactly sure what I expected of the Aventura-X, but it definitely left me smiling and satisfied. It’s a fun, retro ride that seems to bring joy to just about everyone who sees you go by.
At the same time, though, you’re paying a premium for those feel-good rides. At its current price of $3,295, this is obviously not the most affordable way to cruise around at 30 mph. And speaking of which, that 30 mph speed is definitely limiting, leaving you barely faster than an electric bicycle yet on a vehicle that looks very out of place in the bike lane.
In fact, you almost certainly shouldn’t be using it in the bike lane, unless your local laws allow it. When I spent a year in Boston back in 2018, I actually could legally ride my 30 mph electric moped (a Genze 2.0, RIP) in the bike lane. Yet even with the law on my side, cyclists who saw me were pissssssed about it. That meant I rarely actually used the bike lanes unless it was to briefly skip a line of traffic, and even then I was always extra cognizant of any actual cyclists around me. I’m not sure many places would allow an Aventura-X in the bike lanes these days, or if Boston even still allows mopeds in, and so you’ll need to plan your own local trips accordingly.
There’s definitely a place for a ride like this, and I’m glad vintage-inspired electric scooters exist. I would certainly consider springing for the extra 20 mph though, as it opens up many more possibilities for where you can ride. But if you’re in a sleepy neighborhood or laid-back beach town, zipping down to that sea breeze coast at 30 mph on a scooter that looks like a blast from the past might be the perfect ride indeed.
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Environment
EcoFlow members can save up to 65% on power stations while supporting disaster relief during the 2025 Member’s Festival
Portable power station specialist EcoFlow is kicking off its third annual Member’s Festival this month and is offering a unique new rewards program to those who become EcoFlow members. The 2025 EcoFlow Member’s Festival will offer savings of up to 65% for its participating customers, and a portion of those funds will be allocated toward rescue power solutions for communities around the globe through the company’s “Power for All” fund.
EcoFlow remains one of the industry leaders in portable power solutions and continues to trek forward in its vision to power a new tech-driven, eco-conscious future. Per its website:
Our mission from day one is to provide smart and eco-friendly energy solutions for individuals, families, and society at large. We are, were, and will continue to be a reliable and trusted energy companion for users around the world.
To achieve such goals, EcoFlow has continued to expand its portfolio of sustainable energy solutions to its community members, including portable power stations, solar generators, and mountable solar panels. While EcoFlow is doing plenty to support its growing customer base, it has expanded its reach by giving back to disaster-affected communities by helping bolster global disaster response efforts the best way it knows how– with portable power solutions.
EcoFlow and its members look to provide “Power for All”
Since 2023, EcoFlow has collaborated with organizations worldwide as part of its “Power for All” mission. This initiative aims to ensure access to reliable and timely power to disaster-affected communities across the globe, including rescue agencies, affected hospitals, and shelters, to support rescue and recovery efforts.
This fund most recently provided aid for communities affected by the recent Los Angeles wildfires, assistance to the Special Forces Charitable Trust (SFCT) in North Carolina following severe hurricanes, and support for non-profits engaged in hurricane preparedness in Florida and the Gulf Coast. Per Jodi Burns, CEO of the Special Forces Charitable Trust:
In the wake of devastating storms in Western North Carolina, reliable power was a critical need for the families we serve. Thanks to EcoFlow’s generous donation of generators, we were able to provide immediate relief, ensuring these families and their communities had access to power when they needed it most. We are so impressed with EcoFlow’s commitment to disaster response through their ‘Power for All’ program. It has made a tangible impact, and we are deeply grateful for their support and partnership in helping these families recover and rebuild.
In 2024, the US experienced 27 weather and climate events, each causing losses exceeding $1 billion, marking the second-highest annual total on record, according to National Centers for Environmental Information. The increasing frequency and severity of natural disasters underscore the critical need for reliable and timely power solutions during emergencies, much like EcoFlow and its members are helping provide through the “Power For All” initiative.
To support new and existing EcoFlow members, the company is celebrating its third annual Member’s Festival throughout April to offer a do-not-miss discount on its products and donate a portion of all sales to the “Power for All” fund to provide rescue power to those in need in the future. Learn how it all works below.
Save big and give back during the 2025 Member’s Festival
As of April 1st, you can now sign up to become an EcoFlow member to participate in the company’s exclusive 2025 Member Festival.
As a member, you can earn “EcoFlow Power Points” by completing tasks like registration, referrals, and product purchases and tracking your individual efforts toward disaster preparedness and recovery.
Beginning April 4, EcoFlow members will also be able to take advantage of exclusive discounts of up to 65% off select portable power stations, including the DELTA Pro Ultra, DELTA Pro 3, DELTA 2 Max, DELTA 3 Plus, RIVER 3 Plus, and more. However, these sale prices only last through April 25, so you’ll want to move quickly!
Click here to learn more about EcoFlow’s “Power for All” campaign. To register for EcoFlow’s 2025 Member Festival in the US, visit the EcoFlow website. To register as a member in Canada, visit here.
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Tesla is losing another top talent: its long-time head of software, David Lau, has reportedly told co-workers that he is exiting the automaker.
Tesla changed how the entire auto industry looks at software.
Before Tesla, it was an afterthought; user interfaces were rudimentary, and you had to go to a dealership to get a software update on your systems.
When Tesla launched the Model S in 2012, it all changed. Your car would get better through software updates like your phone, the large center display was responsive with a UI that actually made sense and was closer to an iPad experience than a car.
Tesla also integrated its software into its retail experience, service, and manufacturing.
David Lau deserves a lot of the credit for that.
He joined Tesla in 2012 as a senior manager of firmware engineering and quickly rose through the ranks. By 2014, he was promoted to director of firmware engineering and system integration, and in 2017, he became Vice President of software.
Lau listed the responsibilities of his team on his LinkedIn:
- Vehicle Software:
- Firmware for the powertrain, traction/stability control, HV electronics, battery management, and body control systems
- UI software and underlying Embedded Linux platforms
- Navigation and routing
- iOS and Android Mobile apps
- Distributed Systems:
- Server-side software and infrastructure that provides telemetry, diagnostics, over-the-air updates, and configuration/lifecycle management
- Data engineering and analytics platforms that power technical and business insights for an increasingly diverse set of customers across the company
- Diagnostic tools and fleet management, Manufacturing and Automation:
- Automation controls (PLC, robot)
- Server-side manufacturing execution systems that power all of Tesla’s production operations
- Product Security and Red Team for software, services, and systems across Tesla
Bloomberg reported today that Lau told his team he is leaving Tesla. The report didn’t include reasons for his stepping down.
Electrek’s Take
Twelve years at any company is a great run. At Tesla, it’s heroic. Congrats, David, on a great run. You undoubtedly had a significant impact on Tesla and software advancements in the broader auto industry.
He is another significant loss for Tesla, which has been losing a lot of top talent following a big wave of layoffs around this time last year.
I wonder who will take over. Michael Rizkalla, senior director of software engineering and vehicle firmware, is one of the most senior software engineers after Lau. He has been at Tesla for 7 years, and Tesla likes to promote within rather than hire outsiders.
There are also a lot of senior software execs working on AI at Tesla. Musk has been favoring them lately and he could fold Lau’s responsibilities under them.
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Kia’s electric SUVs are taking over. The EV3 is the best-selling retail EV in the UK this year, giving Kia its strongest sales start since it arrived 34 years ago. And it’s not just in the UK. Kia just had its best first quarter globally since it started selling cars in 1962.
Kia EV3 is the best-selling EV in the UK through March
In March, Kia sold a record nearly 20,000 vehicles in the UK, making it the fourth best-selling brand. It was also the second top-seller of electrified vehicles (EVs, PHEVs, and HEVs), accounting for over 55% of sales.
The EV3 remained the best-selling retail EV in the UK last month. Including the EV6, three-row EV9, and Niro EV, electric vehicles represented 21% of Kia’s UK sales in March.
Kia said the EV3 “started with a bang” in January, darting out as the UK’s most popular EV in retail sales. Through March, Kia’s electric SUV has held on to the crown. With the EV3 rolling out, Kia sold over 7,000 electric cars through March, nearly 50% more than in Q1 2024.
The EV3 was the best-selling retail EV in the UK in the first quarter and the fourth best-selling EV overall, including commercial vehicles.
Starting at £33,005 ($42,500), Kia said it’s the “brand’s most affordable EV yet.” It’s available with two battery packs, 58.3 kWh or 81.48 kWh, good for 430 km (270 miles) and 599 km (375 miles) of WLTP range, respectively.
With new EVs on the way, this could be just the start. Kia is launching several new EVs in the UK this year, including the EV4 sedan (and hatchback) and EV5 SUV. It also confirmed that the first PV5 electric vans will be delivered to customers by the end of the year.
Electrek’s Take
Globally, Kia sold a record 772,351 vehicles in the first quarter, its best since it started selling cars in 1962. With the new EV4, the brand’s first electric sedan and hatchback, launching this year, Kia looks to build on its momentum in 2025.
Kia has also made it very clear that it wants to be a global leader in the electric van market with its new Platform Beyond Vehicle (PBV) business, starting with the PV5 later this year.
Earlier today, we learned Kia’s midsize electric SUV, the EV5, is the fourth best-selling EV in Australia through March, outselling every BYD vehicle (at least for now). The EV5 is rolling out to new markets this year, including Canada, the UK, South Korea, and Mexico. However, it will not arrive in the US.
For those in the US, there are still a few Kia EVs to look forward to. Kia is launching the EV4 globally, including in the US, later this year. Although no date has been set, Kia confirmed the EV3 is also coming. It’s expected to arrive in mid-2026.
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