WERHY H5 Electric Scooter Review: a no-nonsense commuter for short city trips

I’ve been using the WERHY H5 (the 8.5" / 15-mile / 19 mph version) for a bit as a daily run-around scooter: quick grocery runs, rides to the office, and random trips around the neighborhood. I’m not a scooter nerd, I just wanted something to replace short car rides and not spend a fortune. This one sits in that budget-to-mid range bracket, so I went in with realistic expectations: good enough for city use, not some high-end beast.

In day-to-day use, it’s pretty clear what this scooter is built for: short to medium commutes on mostly decent roads, not off-road adventures or crazy long distances. The 350W motor, 19 mph top speed, and about 10–12 real-world miles per charge (if you’re not featherweight) kind of define its limits. If you stay inside that, it does the job without drama.

What struck me early on was how straightforward it is. Out of the box, you screw on the handlebar, charge it, pair the app if you care about that, and you’re basically riding within half an hour. No weird calibration, no fiddly setup. That’s nice if you’re not into tech tinkering. It feels more like a tool than a toy.

It’s not perfect though. The solid tires with no suspension mean you feel every crack in the road, and the claimed 15-mile range is optimistic unless you’re light and riding slow. But for the price and the target use (college campuses, urban commutes, quick errands), it’s a pretty solid compromise, as long as you know what you’re actually getting.

In terms of value, this scooter sits in a sweet spot for casual commuters and students. You get decent speed, okay range, dual brakes, lights, app control, and a fairly light 24–25 lb frame. It’s not the cheapest scooter on the market, but it offers more power and better build than the ultra-cheap ones that feel like toys. Compared to some big-brand models with similar specs, you’re paying less mainly because you’re not buying a fancy logo.

Where the value really shows is if your use case matches what this scooter is built for: rides of 5–10 miles total per day, mostly flat routes, and someone who needs to carry the scooter up stairs or onto public transport. In that scenario, it does the job well without costing a fortune. The app features (lock, speed settings, cruise control) are a nice bonus at this price and not just gimmicks; I actually used the lock and speed modes regularly.

On the downside, you’re clearly making some trade-offs to keep the price down. No suspension, solid tires, and a small battery mean you’re giving up long-range comfort. If you’re willing to spend more, there are scooters with air-filled tires, better shock absorption, and double the range that will feel nicer on bad roads. So it’s not the best value for everyone, only for people who genuinely don’t need those extras.

For me, considering the specs, the user reviews, and my time with it, I’d say it’s good value for money as a practical city scooter. It’s not fancy, it won’t impress scooter enthusiasts, but for getting from A to B without draining your bank account, it makes sense. Just be honest with yourself about how far you ride and what your roads look like before hitting buy.

Design-wise, the H5 keeps it pretty straightforward. Matte black frame, some yellow accents (depending on style), fixed handlebar height, and a standard deck shape. Nothing flashy, which I actually liked. It doesn’t scream for attention when locked outside a store. The cockpit is minimal: central display with speed and battery, thumb throttle on one side, brake lever on the other, plus a bell. You don’t need a manual to figure it out.

The folding mechanism is a classic hook-and-latch style. You unlatch a lever at the base of the stem, fold it down, and it hooks onto the rear fender. After a few days, I could fold it one-handed while holding a bag in the other. It feels reasonably secure; I didn’t notice any scary wobble in the stem while riding, which is something I always watch for on cheaper scooters. There is a tiny bit of play if you yank it around, but nothing that felt unsafe.

The deck size is okay for an adult, but don’t expect tons of room if you have big feet. I could stand with one foot forward, one sideways without feeling cramped, but it’s definitely narrower than some bulkier commuter models. For short to medium rides, it’s fine. For a 40-minute straight ride, you’ll want to shift your stance occasionally. The grip on the deck is decent; I never slipped, even with slightly dusty soles.

One thing to note: fixed handlebar height. If you’re very tall (over 6'2" / 188 cm), you might find the bars a bit low. I’m around 5'10" and it felt natural. The scooter overall gives off a “functional, no-nonsense” vibe. You can tell it’s built to hit a price point, but it doesn’t look cheap or toy-like. Just don’t expect clever cable routing or super polished finishing like on more expensive brands.

The scooter uses a 36V / 5.2Ah battery, which on paper gives you up to 15 miles of range. In real life, that “up to” part matters. With my weight (around 190 lbs), mostly top-speed riding, and a mix of flat and slight hills, I was getting around 9–11 miles before the battery dropped low enough that speed started to sag. If you’re lighter and ride in a lower speed mode, you might get closer to the 13–15 mile claim, but I wouldn’t plan on it.

For everyday use, I treated it as a 10-mile scooter to be safe. That’s still fine for a lot of people: 3–4 mile commute each way plus a bit of extra riding, then charge at home. A few Amazon reviewers mentioned getting 2–3 days of use when riding 1–2 hours total per day, which roughly lines up if your rides are not all at full throttle and you’re on mostly flat ground.

Charging time is around 3–4 hours from low to full, which is reasonable. I’d usually just plug it in after work and it was ready again by evening. The charger is small enough to toss in a backpack if you want to top up at the office. The battery indicator on the display is a basic bar-style reading, but the app gives a slightly clearer percentage. It’s not super precise, but you get used to reading it after a few days.

My main point: don’t buy it expecting a true 15-mile, full-speed range if you’re an adult of average weight or heavier. Treat that number as best-case, light rider, eco mode, perfect conditions. For normal use, it’s a short-to-medium range commuter. If your daily round trip is under 8–10 miles and you can charge at home, it’s fine. If you need 15+ miles daily at max speed, you’ll want a scooter with a bigger battery.

Comfort is where the scooter reminds you it’s budget-focused. There’s no suspension and the wheels are solid rubber, so every crack, manhole edge, and rough patch comes through to your legs. On smooth pavement or well-kept bike lanes, it’s actually pretty nice. The ride is stable, you feel in control, and you can cruise at 15–18 mph without feeling sketchy. But the second you hit broken asphalt or brick, you’ll know it.

For my use, which is mostly city streets, parking lots, and campus-style paths, it was acceptable. I did a few 20–25 minute continuous rides and didn’t feel destroyed afterward, but I definitely wouldn’t choose this for long tours on rough surfaces. If your daily route has a lot of potholes or cobblestones, this will get tiring and a bit annoying. You won’t die, but you’ll swear at the road more than usual.

The ergonomic grips are actually decent. They’re not squishy, but they’re shaped well enough that my hands didn’t go numb. The fixed handlebar height worked fine for me, and the stance on the deck felt natural after a couple of rides. I liked that the scooter feels stable in a straight line, and I never got that wobbly feeling you sometimes get with ultra-light scooters at higher speeds.

Noise-wise, it’s pretty quiet. Just a bit of motor whine and the usual sound of solid tires rolling. No squeaks or rattles developed during my testing, which is a good sign. Overall, comfort is fine if your roads are decent and your rides are under half an hour. If you’re picky about smoothness, you might want air tires or built-in suspension instead. This one trades comfort for low maintenance.

Build-wise, the aluminum frame feels solid. There’s no obvious flex in the deck, and the stem didn’t wobble on my unit. The solid rubber wheels are a big plus for durability: no punctures, no checking tire pressure, no random flats on your way to work. The downside, as mentioned, is less comfort, but from a durability angle, they’re low maintenance and should last a long time if you’re on normal roads.

After regular use, I didn’t notice any major rattles developing. The folding joint stayed tight, and the latch still locked firmly. The brake cable and wiring are somewhat exposed, but not in an alarming way. It’s pretty standard for this price level. I wouldn’t throw it around or drop it down stairs, but normal loading into a car trunk and carrying up stairs didn’t cause any issues.

The brake system held up fine in my testing. No fading, no weird noises, just consistent performance. Since it’s a drum brake at the back, it’s generally more protected than a disc. Pads will wear over time like any brake, but that’s normal maintenance, not a defect. The electronic front brake doesn’t have anything physical to wear out in the same way.

WERHY offers a 180/365-day warranty depending on parts, which is okay but not outstanding. It’s at least something if you get a dud. Given the Amazon rating (around 4.3/5 with over a thousand reviews), it seems most units hold up decently for everyday users. I’d still treat it as a budget commuter tool: store it indoors, don’t ride it through deep puddles, and don’t expect it to survive heavy abuse like a rental scooter. Used with some basic care, it feels like it will last a few years of regular city use.

The 350W motor is stronger than the numbers suggest, at least on flat ground. I was hitting around 16–18 mph pretty consistently on level roads, with occasional nudges towards the claimed 19 mph depending on battery level and wind. Acceleration from a standstill is smooth, not brutal, but enough that you don’t feel like a sitting duck at intersections. For urban traffic and bike lanes, the speed is totally fine.

Where you feel the limit is on hills. On mild inclines, it slows a bit but keeps going. On moderate hills, I dropped to around 9–11 mph at my weight (about 190 lbs). It still made it up without me kicking, but you’re not flying. If you live in a really hilly city, this isn’t your dream machine. It’s clearly tuned for mostly flat urban use, which matches how most people will ride it.

The scooter has three power/speed modes you can tweak via the app or on the display. I mostly stayed in the highest mode because the lower ones felt too slow for real commuting, but they’re handy if you’re lending it to someone new or want to save a bit of battery. There’s also cruise control, which kicks in after holding a steady throttle for a bit. That’s actually nice on longer straight stretches, so your thumb doesn’t get tired.

Braking performance is solid. The rear drum brake plus front electronic brake combo gives you enough stopping power without throwing you off the deck. From full speed, you can stop in a reasonable distance as long as you’re not on wet, slippery surfaces. I liked that the brakes felt predictable, not grabby. Overall, performance is good for city commutes and fun rides, but if you’re expecting hardcore torque or strong hill climbing, you’re looking at the wrong price range.

On paper, the WERHY H5 is a 350W brushless motor scooter with a max speed of about 19 mph, a 36V/5.2Ah battery, and a listed 15-mile max range. It has 8.5-inch solid rubber wheels, dual braking (rear drum + front electronic brake), a headlight, taillight, and a basic display on the handlebar. It folds in one step and weighs around 24–25 lbs, so it’s on the lighter side compared to chunkier scooters with big batteries.

In the box, you get the scooter mostly pre-assembled, charger, a small tool, and the manual. I had to attach the handlebar with a few screws and that was it. Took about 5–10 minutes and didn’t require any skill. No loose cables hanging, no weird rattling out of the box. The package itself is compact enough to throw in a car trunk without needing to rearrange your entire life.

The brand pushes a few things: app control (Vicont), light weight, and that dual braking system. The app lets you lock/unlock the scooter, change speed modes, enable cruise control, and see battery percentage. It’s not mandatory, but it’s actually useful if you like tweaking stuff. I used it mostly to set my own top speed and to lock it when I parked outside small shops.

In practice, the scooter feels like it’s aimed at students, city commuters, and casual riders. The 264 lb weight limit is decent, and it did move me fine around 190 lbs, though hills obviously eat into speed. It’s not a performance monster, but it’s clearly ahead of those cheap toy-like scooters that crawl up hills at walking pace. If you expect it to replace a car for 20-mile round trips every day, you’re pushing it. If you want a reliable 3–6 mile each-way commuter, it fits better.