8TEV B12 ROAM vs APOLLO Air 2022 - Premium Commuter Showdown or Overpriced Overkill?

Fast Answer for Busy Riders ⚡ (TL;DR)

The Apollo Air 2022 is the more convincing overall package for most commuters: it rides softer, accelerates stronger, adds real suspension and app features, and does it all for noticeably less money. The 8TEV B12 ROAM counters with beautiful engineering, bigger wheels, outstanding brakes, and wet-weather confidence, but asks a premium that its on-road performance doesn't fully justify.

Choose the Apollo Air if you want a comfortable, modern, well-rounded city scooter that just quietly gets the job done. Pick the 8TEV B12 ROAM if you are a design purist who values feel, big wheels and steel over gadgets, and you are willing to pay extra for that niche charm and weatherproofing.

If you care enough to compare these two, you deserve more than a spec-sheet verdict-read on, because the devil here really is in the details.

Electric scooters have matured enough that "just another black tube with wheels" is no longer good enough. Both the 8TEV B12 ROAM and the Apollo Air 2022 are pitched as grown-up commuters: sensible speeds, sensible range, but with a clear focus on ride quality and everyday usability rather than drag-race heroics.

On paper they sit in roughly the same performance band, but in the real world they couldn't feel more different. One is a steel-framed, big-wheel, maple-deck oddball that rides like a skateboard grew a motor; the other is a very conventional aluminium city scooter with proper suspension and a polished app layer. One whispers "mechanical craft", the other "modern consumer product".

If you're wondering which one deserves your money - and which one just looks expensive - let's break it down properly.

Who Are These For, and Why Compare Them?

These two live in the "premium commuter" bracket: faster and better built than rental toys, but still a long way from the hulking dual-motor monsters. Think everyday ranges that comfortably cover a typical there-and-back commute, topped speeds that sit roughly at or near legal limits, and weights that you can carry... if you have to.

The 8TEV B12 ROAM aims at the enthusiast commuter: someone who drools over frame welds, talks about geometry at parties, and quite likes the idea of a scooter that behaves more like a small bicycle with a throttle. The Apollo Air 2022 is squarely targeted at normal city riders who want comfort, stability and an easy life, plus a dash of tech polish.

They compete because from a buyer's perspective they answer the same question: "What should I buy if I want one really good, grown-up scooter for daily city use?" One tries to win with big wheels and overbuilt hardware, the other with suspension and modern features. Only one of them really lines up its price with what you get.

Design & Build Quality

Pick up the 8TEV B12 ROAM and it feels like a boutique frame builder has gone into scooters for a laugh. Chromoly steel chassis, TIG welds that actually look like someone cared, a maple deck that wouldn't be out of place on a premium longboard, and a beautifully tucked-away battery in a metal case under the board. It's slim, distinctive, and very clearly not another off-the-shelf Chinese chassis with a logo slapped on.

The Apollo Air 2022 takes a very different route: chunky aluminium frame, single-piece casting, clean internal cable routing, wide bars, rubber deck, integrated display. It feels more "consumer electronics" than "garage-built hot rod", but in a good way: no rattles, no wobbly hinges, no mess of cables at the front. Fit and finish are solid, if not exactly romantic.

In the hand, the ROAM feels exotic and slightly over-engineered; the Air feels sensible and well-sorted. The catch is that 8TEV charges like it's selling art, not a commuter tool. If you worship craft and niche design, the B12's charm might justify it. If you just want a robust scooter for Monday morning, the Apollo's simpler, more industrial approach makes a lot more practical sense.

Ride Comfort & Handling

This is where their philosophies really clash. The 8TEV B12 ROAM has no conventional suspension at all. Instead, it depends on those jumbo 12-inch tyres and the flex of the maple deck to filter road chatter. On smooth to moderately rough tarmac, it works surprisingly well: the deck has a subtle spring to it, the big wheels just roll over cracks that would have smaller scooters tripping, and the whole thing feels very surf-like. You stand wide and low, almost like on a longboard with handlebars.

Push into really broken surfaces, though, and you do start to meet its limits. Deep potholes and sharp edges still come straight through to your legs, and there are times you're reminded you've essentially bought a very refined rigid scooter, not a suspended one.

The Apollo Air 2022 goes the opposite way: smaller 10-inch tyres, but an actual front suspension fork on top. Combined with its air-filled tyres, the front end genuinely glides over rough city asphalt. Expansion joints, patched tarmac, and brick paths are significantly softened. After a few kilometres of neglected pavement, your knees and wrists are simply less annoyed on the Apollo than on the 8TEV.

Handling-wise, the ROAM is wonderfully stable once you're rolling. The long wheelbase and big wheels give it a calm, self-centering feel; carving wide turns feels natural and predictable. It's very hard to knock it off its line. The Apollo counters with wide bars and a stiff stem that give you easy steering and a planted front, albeit with a slightly more "scooterish" upright stance.

On pure comfort over typical city surfaces, the Apollo has the edge. The B12's big-wheel, wood-deck magic is lovely, but it doesn't fully replace well-tuned suspension unless your roads are unusually kind.

Performance

The spec sheets tell a misleading story here. The ROAM is "only" a 250 W scooter on paper, peaking much higher in reality, while the Apollo Air sits in that pragmatic mid-class motor bracket. On the road, you feel that difference straight away.

The Apollo Air pulls away from lights with a confident, easy shove. You're quickly up to a pace that matches typical city cycling flow and then some, without any drama. Throttle response is smooth and predictable; there's no awkward dead zone followed by a kick, just a linear build of power. In stop-start traffic that matters a lot: you can creep, you can thread through pedestrians, and when you want to go, it simply... goes.

The 8TEV B12 ROAM, by contrast, has a slightly odd personality. Once moving in its sportiest mode, it actually feels punchier than you'd expect from the modest rating, and it will happily run at a brisk commuting pace. But there's a noticeable lag when you first press the thumb throttle from a standstill, and a little stutter in low-speed control that never completely disappears. You do adapt, but for dense urban starts and awkward junctions, it's not doing you any favours.

Climbing ability follows the same pattern. The Apollo will tackle typical urban hills with respectable composure, especially for average-weight riders, and keeps a usable pace without constant embarrassment. The B12, thanks to its higher peak power and 48 V system, refuses to die on inclines and will grind its way up surprisingly steep stuff - but it doesn't feel dramatically stronger at sane gradients, just competent.

Braking is one area where the roles flip. Apollo's front drum plus rear regen setup is low-maintenance and surprisingly effective, but it's clearly optimised for ease of ownership rather than outright bite. The ROAM's dual hydraulic discs are in a different league: plenty of power, very fine control at the lever, and enough margin to actually use that big-wheel grip when you have to stop hard. Here, the 8TEV feels like it belongs in a higher class - which makes the somewhat modest motor all the more of a head-scratcher at this price.

Battery & Range

Both scooters live in the same real-world range ballpark: plenty for a typical there-and-back city commute with some detours, but not "ride to another town for lunch" territory.

The 8TEV B12 ROAM runs a higher-voltage pack with a bit more capacity on paper, and, in practice, it does hold its own very nicely. Even when ridden briskly, you can realistically plan on a solid day's riding around town without nursing the throttle. The power delivery also stays impressively consistent as the battery drops; there's less of that "oh, we're slow now" feeling in the last third of the charge.

The Apollo Air 2022's battery is fractionally smaller but still generous for its class. In mixed riding - some fun, some eco, a few hills - its real range isn't far behind the ROAM at all. The catch is that classic 36 V behaviour: once you're down into the low battery region, you do feel a gentle softening of acceleration and top speed. Not catastrophic, but noticeable if you like to keep things zippy all the time.

Charging is an overnight affair on both. The B12, with its larger pack, actually charges at a slightly quicker rate relative to its capacity than the Apollo, but we're talking "have breakfast" versus "have breakfast and read the news", not a life-changing difference.

In short: range really shouldn't be your deciding factor here. Both are perfectly adequate for normal urban use; neither is a touring scooter. The 8TEV is a bit more robust against voltage sag, but you pay for that advantage elsewhere.

Portability & Practicality

On the scales, the two sit very close. In your hands, they don't feel quite the same.

The Apollo Air 2022 is - ironically, given the name - not a featherweight. Lugging it up several flights of stairs every day is a full-body workout. The folding mechanism is sturdy but mounted low, which means you have to crouch to latch it, and the handlebars do not fold inwards, leaving you with a fairly long, wide package that's awkward in tight train aisles and narrow hallways.

The 8TEV B12 ROAM is similar in mass, but those 12-inch wheels and long wheelbase make it feel bulkier still. Folded, it's more "compact bike" than "fold-and-forget scooter". Again, the bars don't magically vanish, and the big wheels add height and length. If your dream is to tuck a scooter under a café chair, neither is your friend - but the ROAM is definitely the more cumbersome of the two in cramped spaces.

Both are fine if your routine is mostly "ride from home to office, park it in a corner, maybe one flight of stairs". If your day involves multiple trains, buses and elevators, they will become tedious very quickly. Between the two, the Apollo is the slightly more cooperative commuter companion; the 8TEV feels like it was designed under the assumption that you have a garage, a lift, and strong forearms.

Safety

Safety is one area where both brands clearly tried - just with different priorities.

The 8TEV B12 ROAM scores heavily with those hydraulic brakes and its huge tyres. Stopping power is genuinely excellent for a scooter of this weight, and the big contact patches give you bags of grip, especially in wet and dirty conditions. Add the very stable steering geometry and you get a scooter that feels calm and predictable when something unexpected happens. Its water protection rating is also far above the usual commuter fare, so you're much less worried when the sky decides to ruin your morning.

The lighting on the ROAM is adequate for being seen and passable for seeing, though not what I'd call "country lane friendly" - but that's hardly its mission anyway.

The Apollo Air 2022 relies more on stability and simplicity. The wide bars and front suspension do a lot to keep the front tyre stuck to the road, which in itself is a safety feature: a bouncing front wheel is a wheel that can't steer or brake. The drum plus regen arrangement is good enough for its performance envelope, and very, very low-maintenance - a big plus if you're not the type to tinker with brake pads.

Its water resistance is fine for drizzle and damp streets, not "pressure-washer proof" like the 8TEV. Lighting is usable in city conditions but underwhelming for properly dark paths; many owners sensibly add an extra headlight.

If your riding includes a lot of wet weather, slippery leaves, and questionable surfaces, the 8TEV's combination of big rubber and strong brakes definitely feels like the safer bet. If your commute is mostly dry bike lanes and city streets, the Apollo is absolutely safe enough - just bring a better light if you ride at night off main roads.

Community Feedback

Price & Value

This is where things get uncomfortable for the 8TEV.

The B12 ROAM sits in a price bracket where you can buy faster, stronger, longer-range scooters with decent brand names. 8TEV's argument is that you're not buying speed; you're buying geometry, materials, and a certain feel. Which is fair - up to a point. The problem is that, outside of enthusiasts, most commuters are not thrilled to pay a big premium for a 250 W-class scooter, however nicely welded, when the competition is cheaper and, frankly, more capable in key daily aspects.

The Apollo Air 2022, while hardly cheap, does at least line up its price with its capabilities: proper suspension, solid power, good range, app tuning, and a very refined ride, all at well under four figures. In pure euros-per-smile terms for a typical urban rider, it makes a lot more sense.

If you look at total long-term ownership, the 8TEV's higher-end components and better water sealing may pay off, but only if you ride a lot and keep it for years. For most riders, the Apollo delivers a more obvious "I got what I paid for" feeling right out of the box.

Service & Parts Availability

Both brands have better reputations than the usual nameless online sellers, but their strengths differ by region.

8TEV, being a smaller British outfit, offers a very personal touch: actual humans, quickly answering questions, and a sense that the engineers are within shouting distance of the support desk. For UK and some EU riders, that's reassuring. The flip side is scale: parts availability and dealer network are naturally more limited than with bigger players, and you are betting on a much smaller brand's long-term stability.

Apollo, meanwhile, runs a more established infrastructure: warehouses, official partners, a big user base, and lots of community-generated troubleshooting content. In Europe, you're usually dealing with distributors rather than Apollo directly, but in practice, tracking down common wear parts and help is easier simply because there are more of these scooters out there.

For day-to-day practicality, Apollo has the edge on broad support and parts flow. 8TEV compensates somewhat with quality components that (in theory) need less attention, but when you do need something specific to the frame or electronics, you'll be grateful if you live somewhere they're well represented.

Pros & Cons Summary

Parameters Comparison

Final Verdict - Which Should You Choose?

If you strip away the marketing and just look at what each scooter is like to live with, the Apollo Air 2022 comes out as the more sensible choice for the average rider. It's easier to ride fast in comfort, easier to control in traffic, and feels like a thoroughly modern commuter scooter rather than an expensive engineering project. You get proper suspension, stronger everyday acceleration, app tuning and a much friendlier price tag.

The 8TEV B12 ROAM is harder to recommend broadly. It's beautifully made, rolls wonderfully on its big tyres, stops like a champ and laughs at the rain - but you pay a serious premium for those qualities while accepting quirks you don't really need to in this price class. If you know exactly why you want big wheels, steel, and that board-like stance - and the cost doesn't make you wince - it can be a very satisfying "enthusiast's commuter". For everyone else, it's a bit like buying a hand-built track bike when all you really do is ride to the office.

So: if you're a practical urban commuter who just wants a comfortable, capable, future-proof scooter with minimal drama, go Apollo Air 2022. If you're a design nerd with a soft spot for over-specced frames, love riding in the wet, and don't mind paying more for character than for raw performance, the 8TEV B12 ROAM will scratch that very specific itch.

Numbers Freaks Corner

These metrics look at how efficiently each scooter turns money, weight and electricity into performance and range. Price-per-Wh and price-per-km show how much you're paying for energy and usable distance. Weight-based metrics hint at how "dense" the package is in terms of battery and performance. Wh per km tells you how thirsty the scooter is. Power-to-speed and weight-to-power describe how much shove you get relative to the machine, and the charging speed figure is a simple way of seeing how long you'll be tethered to the wall per unit of energy.

Author's Category Battle

Overall Winner Declaration

In the Numbers Freaks Corner, the 8TEV B12 ROAM scores 5 points against the APOLLO Air 2022's 5. In the Author's Category Battle, the 8TEV B12 ROAM gets 20 ✅ versus 21 ✅ for APOLLO Air 2022 (with a few ties sprinkled in).

Totals: 8TEV B12 ROAM scores 25, APOLLO Air 2022 scores 26.

Based on the scoring, the APOLLO Air 2022 is our overall winner. Between these two, the Apollo Air 2022 is simply the scooter I'd trust more to keep most riders happy day in, day out: it rides softer, feels more eager, and doesn't make you justify its price tag to yourself every time you plug it in. The 8TEV B12 ROAM has a certain mechanical charm and composure that enthusiasts will adore, but it asks a lot in return - in money, in practicality, and in forgiveness of its quirks. If you love character and craftsmanship above all else, the ROAM will tug at your heart; if you just want a scooter that quietly improves your commute without drama, the Apollo is the one that will actually earn its place by the door.

That's our verdict when we try to stay objective – but hey, riding is mostly about emotions anyway, so pick the one that will make you look forward to your commute every single day.