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A maker described converting a Razor A5 Lux push scooter into a drill-powered ride, using a Hercules 20-volt cordless drill to drive its front wheel. The builder reports a top speed of about 10 mph and around two miles of riding from a 5 amp-hour battery, but the account does not include independent testing or safety certification.
A maker has converted a Razor A5 Lux push scooter into a powered ride using a Hercules 20-volt cordless drill, according to a first-person project report. The builder says it reaches about 10 mph and travels roughly two miles per 5 amp-hour battery, offering a low-speed DIY alternative built from an existing scooter rather than a commercially manufactured electric model.
The project’s author says the scooter is mainly used to get around at autocross events while working on the course. Rather than buy an electric scooter and leave the existing one unused, the author added a drill-driven mechanism to the front wheel. The build combined a welder, a 3D printer and parts sourced from Harbor Freight, Amazon and McMaster, according to the report.
Power reaches the front wheel through a keyed shaft and one-way bearings. The bearings let the wheel turn freely when the drill is off. The author says the drill has substantial torque and is noisy; it must be run in its lower-speed setting. The scooter can slow on uphill sections, but the builder reports that the drill still manages the climb.
The original drill trigger was moved to the handlebars. Rewiring it proved more involved than expected because the trigger had many wires, which the author cut and extended. The custom front wheel was designed using a 3D scan of the scooter, then printed in three sections: an ASA wheel and a TPU tire. Bolts, nuts and keys hold the assembly together, while shaped internal surfaces help keep the tire from slipping, the report says.
A Low-Speed DIY Conversion
The project illustrates one way a maker can repurpose cordless power-tool hardware for small personal transport. Its reported speed and range give readers a concrete sense of the result, while the account also shows that conversion involves custom mechanical parts and electrical rewiring—not simply attaching a drill to a wheel.
The report is a personal build account, not a product test. It does not establish that the scooter is safe for general use, suitable for public roads, or compliant with local rules. The builder also says the trigger is unusually sensitive: when starting, the front wheel can spin before the scooter gains speed. That behavior and the drill’s strong torque matter to anyone evaluating the design as more than a workshop experiment.
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Why the Builder Reused a Scooter
The author says the idea came up in July while using the push scooter at autocross events. Seeing other people ride electric scooters prompted the project, but the author already owned a Razor A5 Lux and did not want to buy another scooter that might sit unused. The report describes the conversion as a hands-on project rather than a cost-saving purchase.
The builder explicitly says the work did not save money compared with buying an electric scooter, but that the project was enjoyable. The parts list included the drill, two one-way bearings, two standard bearings, shaft collars, keys, a keyed shaft, fasteners and wire. The author also says there are few build notes and photographs because the project began without a detailed plan.
““It can top out at about 10mph with me onboard.””
— The project’s author
Testing and Safety Details Missing
The supplied report does not give an independent speed or range test, explain the conditions used for those estimates, or say how the scooter performs after extended use. It also does not describe braking changes, a full electrical inspection, or any formal safety testing. The author acknowledges that the trigger wiring is not protected by wire loom yet, describing the unfinished wiring as something to address later.
It is not clear whether the builder has added further safeguards or made later revisions. The account does not establish whether this particular conversion meets regulations for use on public roads or paths. Its reported performance should be treated as the author’s experience with one custom build, not as a general result for other scooters or drills.
Further Build Updates Are Unclear
The report does not announce a planned production run, sale, or follow-up test. The author says wire loom would be a useful addition to protect the extended trigger wiring, but does not provide a timeline for that work. Any further changes, longer-term reliability results or additional performance measurements remain unreported in the source.
For now, the next meaningful information would be an update from the builder covering safety improvements, braking and repeated-use testing. Until then, the scooter’s speed and battery range remain self-reported figures from a personal project.
Key Questions
What powers the converted scooter?
A Hercules 20-volt cordless drill drives the front wheel through a keyed shaft and one-way bearings, according to the builder.
How fast and how far does it go?
The author reports a top speed of about 10 mph and roughly two miles per 5 amp-hour battery. These are figures from the builder’s account, not independent test results.
Does the conversion save money?
No, according to the author, who says the build did not cost less than buying an electric scooter. The stated reason for doing it was the enjoyment of the project and reusing an existing scooter.
Is the scooter certified or confirmed safe for public use?
The report does not mention safety certification or confirm that the conversion complies with local rules. It also describes a sensitive trigger and unfinished wire protection, so the account should not be treated as proof that the design is safe for public use.
Source: hn
