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A maker says they converted a Razor A5 Lux push scooter into a front-wheel-drive electric scooter powered by a Hercules 20-volt cordless drill. The builder reports a top speed of about 10 mph and around two miles of riding on a 5-amp-hour battery, but the project was not presented as a tested or safety-certified design.
A maker has converted a Razor A5 Lux push scooter into a front-wheel-drive powered scooter using a Hercules 20-volt cordless drill, according to a first-person project report. The builder says it reaches about 10 mph and can travel roughly two miles on a 5-amp-hour battery, while also describing abrupt acceleration and a build that was not designed as a production vehicle.
The builder said the scooter was mainly used to get around at autocross events while working on the course. Rather than buy a separate electric scooter, they adapted the push scooter they already owned, using parts sourced from Harbor Freight, Amazon and McMaster, alongside a welder and 3D printer. The author characterized the result as a homemade project, not a commercial conversion kit.
Power reaches the front wheel through a keyed shaft and one-way bearings, allowing the wheel to spin freely when the drill is off. The builder relocated the drill’s original trigger to the handlebars for throttle control. They said the drill had excessive torque and the trigger was difficult to feather, causing the wheel to spin briefly during initial acceleration. Their usual approach was to kick-push once or twice before applying drill power.
The account lists a 200-millimeter keyed shaft, bearings, shaft collars, keys and fasteners among the components. The custom wheel and tire were 3D-printed in three pieces, using ASA for the wheel and TPU for the tire. The builder said the tire was designed to fit tightly and included teeth on its inner mounting surface to limit slipping. They also noted that wiring the relocated trigger was more involved than expected and that the exposed wiring still needed protective loom.
A Workshop Project, Not a Kit
The project shows one way a maker repurposed common power-tool equipment and a push scooter, but its reported performance should not be treated as a general specification. The 10 mph top speed and two-mile battery range are the builder’s estimates for this particular setup, with no independent testing described.
The account also highlights practical trade-offs that matter to anyone evaluating a similar conversion: abrupt throttle response, noise, reduced speed on hills and wiring that the builder says still needs protection. The author said the build did not save money compared with buying an electric scooter; the stated benefit was the enjoyment of making it. The report provides no evidence that the scooter was tested for road use or certified to safety standards.
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Why the Builder Modified It
The author said the idea came in July after watching other people use electric scooters at autocross events. The existing Razor A5 Lux already met the builder’s needs for getting around the event, but they wanted powered assistance without adding another scooter that might sit unused.
The conversion combined mechanical fabrication and electronics work. The builder used a 3D scan to help design the front wheel, then secured its two halves with ten M6 bolts and nuts, adding keys at the spokes. They described having few build notes or photographs because they began without a firm plan and were unsure the design would work.
“I didn’t save any money building this vs buying an electric scooter but I had fun.”
— The project’s author
Performance and Safety Not Verified
The report does not state the year the project began, provide independent speed or range measurements, or describe controlled testing. It also does not give the scooter’s total weight, the rider’s weight, terrain, battery condition or other conditions behind the reported figures, so those results may not apply to other builds.
There is no information about braking performance after the conversion, stability at speed, electrical protection, durability, or compliance with local rules for powered scooters. The author acknowledged that the trigger wiring lacked protective loom at the time of writing. The report does not say whether that issue was later addressed or whether the builder made further changes.
No Further Testing Reported
The source report does not announce a planned product release, follow-up test or additional build stage. The builder’s next steps are not specified; they said the wiring could use protective loom but had chosen to leave the project’s rough finish as it was for the time being.
Any further claims about range, reliability or safety would require additional testing and updates from the builder. For now, the available account documents a single homemade conversion and the author’s own experience with it.
Key Questions
How fast does the drill-powered scooter go?
The builder reports a top speed of about 10 mph with them onboard. The report does not describe independent testing or the conditions used to measure speed.
How far does it travel on one battery?
The author estimates about two miles from a 5-amp-hour battery. That is a reported estimate for this build, not a verified range figure for other scooters or batteries.
How is the drill connected to the scooter wheel?
The builder says the drill drives the front wheel through a keyed shaft and one-way bearings. The bearings let the wheel spin freely when the drill is not running.
Did the conversion save money?
No. The author said the project did not save money compared with buying an electric scooter, and described the enjoyment of building it as the payoff.
Is this a tested or safety-certified conversion?
The report does not say that the scooter was independently tested or certified. It also leaves questions about braking, electrical protection and local legal requirements unanswered.
Source: hn
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