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A maker has converted a Razor A5 Lux push scooter into a front-wheel-drive electric ride powered by a Hercules 20-volt cordless drill. The builder reports a top speed of about 10 mph and roughly two miles of travel on a 5-amp-hour battery, but says the project did not save money compared with buying an electric scooter.
A hobbyist has converted a Razor A5 Lux push scooter into a drill-powered ride, using a modified front wheel and a Hercules 20-volt cordless drill to reach a reported top speed of about 10 mph. The builder described the project in an online report, saying it was undertaken to reuse an existing scooter rather than buy another one, though the conversion did not save money compared with purchasing an electric scooter.
The conversion drives the scooter’s front wheel through a keyed shaft and one-way bearings. According to the builder, the bearings let the wheel spin freely when the drill is switched off. The drill’s original trigger was moved to the handlebars to control power, and the maker says the scooter is usually started with one or two kick pushes before the drill takes over.
The builder reports that the drill has more torque than the scooter needs and must be used in its lower-speed setting. The trigger is sensitive and difficult to feather, causing the wheel to spin briefly when acceleration begins. The maker says the scooter can reach about 10 mph with a rider aboard and slows on hills, while a 5-amp-hour battery provides about two miles of riding. Those performance figures are the builder’s account; the report does not describe independent testing.
The custom assembly used a 3D-printed wheel in three pieces, with an ASA wheel and TPU tire, alongside bearings, shaft collars, keys and fasteners. The builder says the wheel was designed using a 3D scan of the scooter and fastened together with M6 bolts and nuts. Rewiring the drill trigger proved more involved than expected: the maker cut and extended its wires, and wrote that they should be protected with wire loom. The report describes the wiring as unfinished in that respect.
A Low-Speed DIY Conversion
The project shows one way a hobbyist combined existing equipment and custom fabrication to make a familiar push scooter self-propelled. Its reported 10 mph top speed and short battery range make the build a small-scale personal project, not evidence of a tested or commercially supported transportation product.
The details also show the trade-offs behind the conversion. A drill’s trigger is not designed as a scooter throttle, and the maker reports difficulty controlling acceleration. The project’s cost, build quality and ride performance were not independently verified. Readers considering similar modifications should treat the account as a description of one build rather than proof that the design is safe or suitable for general use.
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Why the Builder Reused a Scooter
The maker said the idea came up in July while using the push scooter to get around at autocross events while working on the course. Seeing other people ride electric scooters prompted the conversion, but the builder already owned a Razor A5 Lux and did not want another scooter left unused.
The source says the Razor model was not designed for electric conversion. The maker used a welder, 3D printer and parts sourced from Harbor Freight, Amazon and McMaster, among other components. The report offers a rough parts list but says there are few build notes or photographs because the builder began without a detailed plan and was unsure whether the idea would work.
The maker characterizes the result as a fun project, not a money-saving purchase. The comparison is the builder’s own: no detailed cost breakdown or comparison with a specific electric scooter is supplied.
“I didn’t save any money building this vs buying an electric scooter but I had fun.”
— The builder, in the project report
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Testing and Safety Details Missing
The source is a personal build report, and it does not provide independent speed or range tests, a full cost breakdown, or details about rider weight, terrain and conditions behind the estimates. It also does not describe braking performance after the conversion, handling tests, or whether the scooter was evaluated for repeated use.
The report notes that the trigger wires were extended and that protective wire loom was still something the builder should add. It does not explain whether other electrical protections were installed or how the wiring and battery were secured against vibration or damage. No information is given about any inspection, road-use approval or applicable local rules. Those omissions do not establish that the scooter is unsafe, but they leave its reliability and safe-use limits unclear.
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No Further Tests Reported
The builder’s report does not announce a formal testing program, a commercial release or plans for another version. The project’s next steps are therefore unclear. The maker mentioned adding wire loom to protect the extended trigger wiring, but did not say whether that work had been completed.
For now, the available account remains a description of a single custom conversion, with performance figures attributed to its creator. Any future update would be needed to establish whether the wiring was revised, whether the scooter underwent further testing, or whether the maker changed the wheel, throttle or drive setup.
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Key Questions
How fast does the drill-powered scooter go?
The builder reports a top speed of about 10 mph with a rider aboard. The report does not provide independent speed testing.
How far can it travel on one battery?
The maker estimates about two miles from a 5-amp-hour battery. The source does not specify the testing conditions or independently verify that range.
How does the drill turn the scooter wheel?
A keyed shaft and one-way bearings transfer power to the front wheel. The builder says the wheel can still free-spin when the drill is off.
Did the conversion cost less than buying an electric scooter?
No, according to the builder, who said the project did not save money compared with buying an electric scooter. The report does not include a detailed cost comparison.
Is the converted scooter a tested product?
The source describes a one-off DIY project, not a commercially tested product. It does not report independent safety, speed or durability testing.
Source: hn
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