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A personal project report describes converting a Razor A5 Lux push scooter into a front-wheel-drive electric scooter using a Hercules 20-volt cordless drill. The builder says it reaches about 10 mph and travels roughly two miles on a 5 amp-hour battery, but the account does not provide independent testing or safety validation.
A maker has converted a Razor A5 Lux push scooter into a powered ride using a Hercules 20-volt cordless drill, reporting a top speed of about 10 mph and roughly two miles of riding from a 5 amp-hour battery. The account describes a personal build rather than a tested product, and it does not establish that the modified scooter meets road or safety requirements.
The builder said the scooter was used to get around autocross events while working on the course. Rather than buy a separate electric scooter, they adapted the push scooter they already owned. The conversion makes the scooter front-wheel drive: a keyed shaft and one-way bearings transfer power from the drill while allowing the wheel to free-spin when the drill is off.
Power comes from a drill mounted to drive the front wheel, with its original trigger relocated to the handlebars. The builder said the drill has more torque than the scooter needs and must be run in its lower-speed setting. The trigger is sensitive and difficult to feather, so the scooter can spin its front wheel briefly when starting. The rider’s usual approach is to kick-push once or twice before applying drill power.
The front wheel was assembled from a three-piece 3D-printed wheel and tire, using ASA for the wheel and TPU for the tire, according to the report. The parts were secured with bolts and keys, and the tire was designed to fit tightly against the wheel. The builder also listed bearings, a keyed shaft, collars and bolts among the components. They said extending the drill trigger wiring was more involved than expected and acknowledged that the exposed wiring still needed protective loom.
A One-Off Build, Not a Product
The project shows one way a common cordless tool can be adapted to move a small vehicle, but the report’s figures are the builder’s own estimates, not independently measured performance. A claimed speed of about 10 mph and range of about two miles may help readers understand the scale of this particular build; they do not establish what another drill, battery, scooter or rider would achieve.
The account also illustrates the trade-offs in repurposing a tool for vehicle control. The drill’s sensitive trigger and strong torque make smooth launches difficult, while changing the scooter’s drive system and adding electrical wiring introduces mechanical and electrical risks. Readers should not treat the description as a validated conversion plan or as evidence that this setup is suitable for public roads.
The builder said the project did not save money compared with buying an electric scooter, but that making it was enjoyable. That distinction matters: the report is best understood as a workshop experiment, not a cost-saving recommendation or a commercial launch.
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Why the Scooter Was Modified
The builder said the idea came during July, while using the Razor scooter to travel around autocross events. They were interested in electric scooters but did not want to purchase another vehicle that might sit unused. The report says the existing scooter was not designed for electric conversion.
The build combined a cordless drill with parts sourced from Harbor Freight, Amazon and McMaster, alongside custom fabrication and 3D printing. The author described starting without a detailed plan and said there were few build notes or photographs. That limited documentation makes it difficult to assess the design beyond the author’s account.
Performance and Safety Not Verified
The report does not say when the conversion was completed or provide detailed test conditions for the 10 mph speed and two-mile range estimates. It is unclear how results would change with rider weight, terrain, battery age or repeated use. No independent assessment, durability test or inspection is described.
The source also does not establish whether the wiring, modified wheel, drill mounting or braking arrangement was reviewed for safety, or whether the scooter can legally be used on public streets. The author acknowledges that the trigger wiring lacked protective loom at the time of writing. The account does not report an injury or failure, but it also does not document a formal safety check.
No Further Testing Reported
The source describes the project as a completed experiment but does not announce a follow-up test, a revised design or plans to sell a kit. The builder said they might add protective loom to the wiring, but gave no timeline. Any further performance figures or changes would need to come from a later update; none are included in the report.
For now, the confirmed development is the publication of a personal account describing the conversion and its reported results. Whether the scooter has since been modified, how long it remained in use, and whether it was evaluated by anyone else are not stated.
Key Questions
How fast did the drill-powered scooter reportedly go?
The builder said it reached about 10 mph with them onboard. The source does not describe an independent speed test.
How far could it travel on one battery?
The report estimates about two miles on a 5 amp-hour battery. It does not give detailed route, rider or weather conditions for that estimate.
How does the drill drive the scooter?
The build uses a keyed shaft and one-way bearings to transmit drill power to the front wheel while allowing the wheel to spin freely when the drill is off.
Did the conversion save money?
No, according to the builder, who said the project did not cost less than buying an electric scooter. They described the main benefit as the enjoyment of making it.
Has the scooter’s safety or road legality been confirmed?
No. The source does not report a formal safety review or confirm that the modified scooter is legal for public-road use. It also notes that protective loom had not yet been added to the trigger wiring.
Source: hn
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