Electric scooters have become a huge part of our lives because they're so convenient; they make it a lot easier to get to work, school, or anywhere else we want to go. But which is the best electric scooter for you?
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After testing dozens of scooters for more than five years, ranging from models that cost less than $200 to ones that cost more than $1,500, I think the best electric scooter is the NIU KQi Air. It's very light ' around 26 pounds ' has a great range and power, and has antitheft features. It's not the most powerful scooter around, but it's more than enough for most people.
However, the KQi Air costs around $1,000, which is on the pricey side. If you're looking for something that doesn't hit your wallet as hard, NIU also makes my favorite budget scooter: The NIU KQi 100P costs less than $400, but if your needs are modest, it can get you around comfortably. Just don't expect it to perform well on hills, or take you for extra-long rides.
As part of our evaluations, I've ridden electric scooters for hundreds of miles, taken them up and down hills, on subways and trains, through cities and suburbs, to see how well they perform in a variety of conditions. Whether you need a scooter to get back and forth to school or work, a scooter that can go the distance, or a scooter that can help you haul groceries from the store, we have a pick for you. Below are our top choices for the best electric scooters for all types of rider needs, wants, and budgets.
The Quick List
The best electric scooter overall
(Image credit: Future)
The best electric scooter overall
Our expert review:
Size (folded):
21.3 x 46.7 x 18.9 inches
Size (unfolded):
21.3 x 46.7 x 44.9 inches
Weight:
26.5 pounds
Motor:
350W, 700W peak
Wheel size:
9.5 x 2.5-inch, pneumatic
Max speed:
20 mph
Range:
31 miles
Max rider weight:
265 pounds
Battery:
451.2Wh/48V
View at Best BuyView at WalmartView at The Home Depot+
Very light
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Great range for the size
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Smooth ride
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Antitheft features
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Turn signals on handlebars
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Latching mechanism could be easier to use
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Connecting scooter to app can be finicky
Buy it if:
' You want a portable, powerful scooter Thanks to its carbon-fiber chassis, the KQi Air weighs just 26 pounds, so even if you're small, you should have no trouble carrying it. Still, it's got plenty of muscle to get you around easily.
' You're afraid of losing it: The KQi Air has a few antitheft features, like an NFC card to unlock it and an alarm if someone tries to steal it. However, there's no Apple FindMy, as there is with some Segway scooters.
Don't buy it if
' You're on a budget: At around $1,100, the Air isn't cheap. You can find scooters with similar performance for less, though they won't be as light as the Air.
The Niu Kqi Air is a light scooter that still manages to offer lots of power and range. So, you can travel a good ways, and still be able to carry it up a flight of stairs with ease. That's because a number of parts of the Air is made out of carbon fiber, bringing its weight on a par with the Unagi Model One Voyager.
Aside from its weight, the Air has a few other features that elevate it above other electric scooters. Its 9.5-inch air-filled tires offer a smooth ride for a scooter that lacks suspension, and its 350W motor was able to get us up and down hills with few problems. Plus, a capacious battery can get you up to 31 miles on a charge ' though we saw something closer to 20 in our testing.
In addition, we also liked the Air's turn signals in the handlebars, as well as an electronic locking system and alarm that gave us greater peace of mind when riding and parking the scooter in a public space. Yes, at around $1,000, it's on the more expensive side, but it offers the best combination of performance, range, and weight that we've seen in an electric scooter. Its for all these reasons the NIU KQi Air was also given the Tom's Guide Award for best scooter in .
Read our full NIU KQi Air review.
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Best budget scooter
(Image credit: Future)
Buy it if
' You're on a budget At $349, this is a real bargain for a scooter, undercutting the competition by at least $50.
Don't buy it if
' You've got a long commute: With an advertised range of 18 miles ' much less in practice ' you're going to have to charge this scooter up every night if you have a ways to go between your home and office.
' You live in a hilly area: The 100P's specs are on a par with other scooters in its price range, which means that it's going to struggle on hills, especially if you're a larger rider.
With a starting price of less than $400, the NIU KQi 100P undercuts many comparable electric scooters by a good amount, yet doesn't compromise on features or performance.
Black with gray accents, the KQi 100P has a fairly clean design, as the scooter's cables are routed through its body. Its headlight was enough to illuminate my way home in the dark, but I wish it could have been brighter.
For a budget scooter, the KQi 100P offered a very smooth ride, thanks to its large 9.5 x 2.3-inch tires and front suspension, and it has a nice folding mechanism for when you want to store it. And, if you connect it with NIU's app, you can lock the scooter via Bluetooth, and set an alarm if someone tries to steal it.
Make no mistake: This scooter's specs are far more modest than the KQi Air as well as other models on this list. With 300W motor, a max speed of 17 miles per hour and a hypothetical range of 18 miles (I got about 10 in practice), this isn't a scooter designed for long distances or big hills. But, if you're riding on flat terrain, or looking for an electric scooter for your teen who's ready to graduate from one of the best electric scooters for kids, this is a pretty good option.
The KQi 100P unseated the Hiboy S2 as my favorite budget scooter. Both performed similarly in my tests; the Hiboy is lighter, so it's easier to carry around, but the KQi is significantly cheaper.
If you want something more compact ' and with turn signals ' you should check out the NIU KQi 100F, which costs $100 more, but has handlebars that fold down, and features flashers in the handlebars to let traffic know which way you're going.
Read our full NIU KQi 100P review.
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Best scooter for long distances
(Image credit: Tom's Guide)
Buy it if
' You have a long commute In our testing, we were able to get around 22 miles on the Max G2; while that's short of its advertised 43-mile range, we were riding it up and down hills, so it'll be able to take you the distance.
' You want safety and security The Max G2 has turn signals built into its handlebars, and is also equipped with Apple FindMy, in case it gets lost or stolen.
Don't buy it if
' You need to carry it: If you want a scooter with a long range, the one tradeoff you need to make is weight. This scooter tips the scales at more than 50 pounds, so unless you like a workout, you'll want something lighter if you have to carry it up or down stairs.
The Segway Ninebot Kickscooter Max G2 is an excellent upgrade to the original, featuring a longer range, more powerful motor, and some excellent new safety and security features.
For starters, the Max G2 has turn signals built into the handlebars that we found to be plenty bright ' at least to oncoming traffic (my body tended to block the signals from those behind me). You can also set an unlock code to help deter thieves, and Apple Find My is built in, should the scooter ever go missing. You should still get one of the best bike locks to be safe.
The G2's -Watt motor was more than powerful enough to get me up steep hills, and a capacious battery was able to deliver about 22 miles of range. That's shorter than Segway's advertised 43 miles, but still longer than most other scooters. And, thanks to dual suspension and thick 9 x 2.5-inch inflatable tires, I was able to ride around in comfort, too.
The one tradeoff: This scooter weighs a heavy 53.5 pounds, so it's not something you'll want to carry around. We didn't even attempt to carry it up stairs.
Read our full Segway Ninebot Kickscooter Max G2 review.
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Best electric scooter for commuters
Unagi Model One
(Image credit: Tom's Guide)
The best electric scooter when weight is a premium
Our expert review:
Size (folded):
37.8 x 16.5 x 15 inches
Size (unfolded):
43.3 x 37.8 x 16.5 inches
Weight:
26.5 pounds
Motor:
Dual 250-watt
Wheel size:
7.5-inch, rubber
Max speed:
20 mph
Range:
20 miles
Max rider weight:
275 pounds
Battery:
360Wh
View Black Friday at Amazon View at Unagi+
Sleek design
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Dual motors good for hills
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Clear display
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Very light
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Rougher ride than other scooters
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Expensive
Buy it if
' You need something really light Coming in at just 26 pounds, the Unagi is one of the lightest scooters we've tested, and was really easy to carry around town.
' You want something sleek The Unagi is the slickest-looking scooter we've reviewed; it has a unique carbon-fiber contoured stem and handlebars, and looks unlike anything else out there.
Don't buy it if
' You have to ride over potholes: With rubber ' not air-filled ' wheels and no suspension, the Unagi gives you a rougher ride over roads that aren't well maintained; we definitely felt the bumps more.
Thanks to its dual 250-watt motors, the Unagi Model One Voyager powers up hills with aplomb, zipping along twice as fast as other scooters with just a single motor. Using both motors (you can opt to use just one) causes the battery life to drop significantly lower than the scooter's advertised 20-mile range.
The Unagi also has a great display that's bright enough to easily see even in daylight; we also liked its intuitive controls and loud, electric-sounding horn. It has both head and taillights, the latter of which blinks rapidly when you hit the brakes.
We were also enamored with the Unagi's sleek design; its carbon-fiber front post changes in geometry from a circle to a triangular shape, making for an intriguing look. No other scooter on the road looks quite like it.
All of this comes at a price: The Model One Voyager costs $1,490 ' and it's often on backorder. However, Unagi's scooter rental program lets you rent the Voyager for $69/month, or the Unagi Model One Classic for $39/month with an annual subscription.
Read our full Unagi Model One Voyager review.
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Best for hills
(Image credit: Tom's Guide)
This fun and fast electric scooter has turn signals
Our expert review:
Weight:
57 pounds
Wheel size:
10-inch, inflatable
Max Speed:
32 mph
Range:
43 miles
Max Rider Weight:
265 pounds
Motor:
500W, rear-wheel drive
Battery:
48V 20Ah
View at Apollo Scooters+
Very powerful
+
Great range
+
Fast top speed
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Turn signals on handlebars and chassis
-
Headlight could be brighter
-
Turn signal buttons should be on the left handlebar
Buy it if
' You live in a hilly area The Apollo City's powerful motor was able to muscle us up a steep hill at a good 17 MPH clip, better than almost every other scooter we've reviewed
' You have to ride in traffic With a top speed of 32 MPH, the City is able to keep up with most city traffic. Plus, turn signals in both the handlebars and the deck make you a lot more visible to drivers.
Don't buy it if
' You live in a walkup apartment: At nearly 60 pounds and almost 4 feet long, the Apollo City is a very big scooter. You'll need some real muscle to get it around.
The Apollo City has something most other electric scooters lack: Turn signals. It's a lot easier to let other drivers know you want to go left or right if you can switch on a light, rather than holding your arm out ' even better, they're on both the deck of the scooter as well as the ends of each handlebar, so it's even easier for cars to spot you.
Yet, the Apollo City is also a great scooter on its own; its 500-Watt motor let us roar up and down even the steepest of hills with ease, and its top speed of 32 miles per hour let us keep pace with most local traffic. We also liked its full suspension and puncture-proof tires.
Apollo's app even lets you customize the scooter's performance, and has a remote-locking function, which engages the scooter's brakes, so that others can't ride it.
Still, at 57 pounds, this is a pretty heavy electric scooter ' it's not our first choice if you have to carry it up a flight of stairs ' and its latching mechanism is more finicky than you'll find on many other electric scooters. But, otherwise, this is a fun and fast electric scooter with a good safety feature built in.
Read our full Apollo City review.
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Best electric scooter for kids
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Segway Ninebot Kickscooter C2 Lite
(Image credit: Future)
Best electric scooter for kids
Our expert review:
Size:
33.7 x 15.7 x 37.4"H
Weight:
17.2 pounds
Wheel size:
7-inch rubber
Motor:
120W
Battery:
56Wh
Max Speed:
10 mph
Range:
8.7 miles/70 minutes
Max Rider Weight:
110 pounds
View Black Friday at Amazon+
Attractive design
+
Multiple riding modes
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Long range
-
No side or front reflectors
The Segway Ninebot Kickscooter C2 Lite is the best electric scooter for parents who want to get a scooter for their kids to safely ride around town. It's easy to learn, with a simple thumb lever on the right to control acceleration, and a hand brake on the left to stop the scooter. Parents can set to max speed to either 7.5 MPH or 9.9 MPH, depending on the age of their child and experience (the recommended age range is 6-10 years).
We (and our kid testers) liked the C2 Lite's design, especially the color-changing LEDs on the bottom of the scooter, which make it look even cooler when it's dark outside. We just wish the scooter came in more colors than just blue.
While the C2 Lite has rubber wheels, it was still comfortable enough to ride over small bumps, and its 120W motor gave it just enough oomph for our test kids to enjoy the ride safely.
The C2 Lite has a rated battery life of up to 70 minutes ' you'll most likely see closer to 50 depending on how hard your kid decides to ride it ' but there's a big clear battery life indicator to let you know how much juice is left.
If your child is a little older, you might also want to check out the Segway C2 (ages 6-12), which has an even sleeker folding design and adjustable handlebars, but the same top speed as the C2 Lite; or the C2 Pro (ages 6-14), which has a higher top speed of 12.4MPH, and has a Bluetooth speaker built in.
For more options, be sure to check out the best electric scooters for kids.
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Best scooter for carrying stuff
(Image credit: Tom's Guide)
The best electric scooter with a basket
Our expert review:
Size (folded):
37 x 12 x 8 inches
Size (unfolded):
48 x 45 x 24 inches
Weight:
38 pounds
Wheel size:
12-inch pneumatic
Motor:
500W (Peak 750W) geared brushless hub motor
Battery:
36V 10.5Ah
Max Speed:
17 MPH
Range:
20 miles
Max Rider Weight:
255 pounds
View Black Friday at Amazon View at Glion+
Has lights and turn signals
+
Side-view mirror
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Makes it easy to carry items
-
Not the most powerful
The Glion Balto is the best electric scooter for those who want something they can use to pick up groceries or carry things to and from the store. And, it can fold up on itself, making it much easier to store.
We also really like that the Balto comes with a side-view mirror, lights, and turn signals, which made us feel safer in traffic. And, the Balto's battery is removable, so you don't have to park the scooter near an outlet. As a bonus, you can also use the battery to charge your ' but you'll need to buy an adapter first.
If you're looking for another scooter with a basket, you should also check out the Razor EcoSmart Cargo; it has a bit more zip than the Balto and its basket can be swapped out for an extra seat, but it can't fold up, and its chain drive is a bit noisy.
Read our full Glion Balto review.
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Also tested
We've tested a lot of electric scooters at Tom's Guide, and unfortunately, while many are great, not all can crack our top list. Still, if none of the picks above satisfy your needs, you may want to check out these below.
NIU KQi3 Max (''''')
Our previous top pick, the KQi3 Max has everything: It got us up the steepest of hills, a range of up to 40 miles, a great design, and it's packed with all sorts of features, such as disc brakes and a remote electronic lock. However, it's a heavy 46 pounds, so it's not the best if you need to carry it up stairs.
Read our full NIU KQi 3 Max review.
Hiboy S2 (''''')
This is a great scooter for those on a budget. It has regenerative and mechanical disk brakes and lights, not just in the front and back, but around the sides of the scooter, too. The S2's 350-Watt motor proved up to the task for most situations, but like most budget scooters, I found it had trouble on hills. Its battery life is good for a scooter in this price range, but expect to charge it every few days if you plan on doing a lot of riding.
Read our full Hiboy S2 electric scooter review.
Apollo Go (''''')
While it's a hefty 46 pounds, the Apollo Go has an excellent range of up to 30 miles, a top speed of 28 MPH, dual 350W motors, big air-filled tires and full suspension, which gave us a long, comfortable ride. In addition, it has turn signals and an app that lets you customize the scooter's performance. Not bad for $1,299.
Read our full Apollo Go review.
Razor EcoSmart Cargo (''''')
The rear of this scooter can be configured with either a basket or a second seat, to carry two smallish people around. It's a lot of fun to ride, but its chain drive makes it a lot noisier than other scooters we've reviewed.
Read our full Razor EcoSmart Cargo review.
Razor Ecosmart Metro HD (''''')
While not quite as powerful as the EcoSmart Cargo, the Metro HD has a quieter motor that's still pretty strong. It typically sells for less than $500, has a large basket, and is comfortable to ride.
Read our full Razor EcoSmart Metro HD review.
Scooter specs compared
Here's a quick glance at the raw numbers for each of the electric scooters on this page; as a reminder, the max range figures are an estimate, based on ideal riding conditions. Based on our experience, you'll get about 60-70% of that figure.
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Row 0 - Cell 0
MotorMax rangeSpeedNIU Kqi3 Max450W40 miles23.6 MPHHiboy S2350W17 miles19 MPHUnagi Model One Voyagerdual 250W20 miles20 MPHSegway Ninebot Kickscooter Max G21,000W43 miles23 MPHApollo City 500W43 miles32 MPHRazor E100100W10 miles10 MPHGlion Balto500W20 miles17 MPHHow to choose the best electric scooter for you
How are you going to use the scooter?
How you plan to use your scooter will go a long way to determining the best electric scooter for your needs. If you're using it as a "last-mile" vehicle ' getting you from your home to the bus or train, and then from the bus or train to your office ' you'll want to prioritize an electric scooter that's small and light. Look for a scooter that weighs between 20 and 30 pounds.
You'll also want an electric scooter that folds quickly and easily. There's nothing worse than having to fumble with a latch when you're rushing to catch a train ' and your fellow passengers will appreciate it, too.
Are you riding on hilly terrain?
Where you plan to ride your scooter should also help determine your purchase. If you live in a flatter area, a scooter with a 300W to 350W motor should give you all the power you need. If, however, you live in, say, San Francisco, you'll want a scooter with a stronger motor to get you around. Larger individuals should also consider electric scooters with more powerful motors.
Price: For many, the price of an electric scooter will be the starting point for any buying decision. Here's a quick rundown of what to expect at each price tier.
Battery life/range: After price, this will be the next deciding factor for many. It's a bit difficult to provide an accurate estimate of battery life and range, because it's dependent on a variety of factors, including the rider's weight, the temperature, and the terrain ' if you're riding on flat surfaces, you'll be able to go much farther than if you're riding up and down hills. Battery life is typically measured in Amp Hours (aH); the higher the number, the longer you'll be able to ride.
Speed: Most electric scooters will top out at around 15 to 18 miles per hour on a flat road. That's plenty fast for most uses, but there are scooters that will zip along at speeds in excess of 25 MPH.
Motors: The majority of electric scooters will have a single hub-mounted motor (meaning the motor is built into the wheel itself), and will typically have a power rating of 250 to 350 Watts. If you live in a particularly hilly area (or want to go fast) you'll want a motor with higher wattage.
Tires/suspension: There's nothing worse than a jarring ride as you bump over potholes and cracks in the road. To mitigate this, most electric scooters are now outfitted with air-filled (pneumatic) tires, which help cushion things. Others will have front or rear suspension (or both), which makes for an even more comfortable ride. Bigger tires also mean a more stable ride, too.
Lights: If you plan on riding your electric scooter in the early morning, at dusk, or among city traffic, it's worth getting a model with lights so you can see and be seen. Look for electric scooters with headlights and taillights ' the better ones will have taillights that flash when you apply the brakes. Unfortunately, turn signals are rare, so you'll have to look out when changing lanes.
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Scooter accessories you'll need
The majority of our picks on this page are for adult riders. However, if you're looking for something for your child, be sure to check out the best electric scooters for kids.
It's also important that you wear a helmet while riding a scooter. In the event of an accident, it could very well save your life, or prevent a traumatic brain injury. Our current top pick is the Giro Register MIPS, which is light, comfortable, and very affordable. For other options, check out our guide to the best bike helmets.
You'll also want to pick up one of the best bike locks to make sure that your scooter doesn't get stolen. Considering that it's a little tricker to lock up a scooter than a bike, a chain lock, like the Kryptonite New York Legend Chain & New York Disc Lock, might be your best option. It's heavy, but it's incredibly hard to cut.
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Electric scooters: Frequently asked questions
The vast majority of electric scooters are designed to travel at speeds of 15 miles per hour. More expensive models can reach speeds of up to 20 MPH. Others can go even faster ' we've seen (and rode) models that exceed 30 MPH ' but here, you're getting into a gray area when it comes to state motor vehicle laws and regulations.
A typical electric scooter will have a 250-350 Watt motor, which should be more than enough power for most city riding on level terrain. As you go up in price, you'll find scooters with 500 Watt and higher motors, which are helpful if you need to get up steeper hills. At the top end, you'll find 800 to 1,000-Watt motors, which not only make getting up hills a cinch, but can also scoot you at much faster speeds.
Most, if not all electric scooters will have some sort of reflective surface so that you'll be more visible when a car's lights shine on you. As you go up in price, electric scooters will have headlights and tail lights ' some tail lights will even blink when you apply the brakes.
Speaking of brakes, almost all scooters have some sort of handbrake; some will have a secondary brake that can be activated by pressing down on a scooter's rear fender.
Almost all electric scooters will also come with a bell or horn so you can warn others that you're approaching ' but this doesn't mean you should ride recklessly. And, it's important to always wear a helmet when riding an electric scooter.
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How we test
There are dozens of varieties of electric scooters on the market, but only a few are worth bringing home to ride.
To test electric scooters, we ride them around a New Jersey suburb and, if the scooter is light and small enough, we take it on a train and into New York City. As increasing numbers of people are bringing scooters on public transportation, we like to see how easy it is to lug a scooter up stairs, and to see how well it can be stowed under a seat.
Once in New York, we ride the scooter some more to see how well it handles potholes and other road obstacles. We also take each scooter up a street with a 6-percent grade, to see how well its motor performs under strain. More powerful scooters will be able to maintain a somewhat consistent speed, while lesser models will slow to a crawl.
In addition, we evaluate each scooter to see if it can reach its advertised top speed, and how close its range comes to the company's estimates. Spoiler alert: Most electric scooters will get around 60% of their advertised range.
As part of the testing process, we also evaluate a scooter's brakes, lighting, and design, as well as its price.
For entry-level and commuter scooters, we primarily consider things such as portability ' how easy it is to fold up to bring on the bus or other types of public transportation, or how light it is to cart up a long stretch of stairs ' along with range and top speed.
Commuter scooters don't need to be the fastest things around, but it helps if they can manage at least 15 MPH for a sustained time so that you're not holding up anyone in the bike lane. We also looked at braking mechanisms, including hydraulic disc brakes, which are the best for stopping quickly and safely at top speeds, and mechanical disc brakes, which are considered the second best for their reliability. Extra features like headlights, reflectors and available speedometer also factored into our commuter picks.
For the performance-based, higher-end rides, we consider range, speed and braking mechanisms, but we also looked at suspension. If you're paying upward of $1,000 for an electric scooter, it should be comfortable to ride and able to scale curbs, hills and bumpy roads.
For our picks for kids, electric scooters in this category don't offer the same bells and whistles as commuter models. For instance, many of the child and preteen picks don't fold up for portability, so we considered overall weight and size for kids with longer rides to school. We also stuck with scooters that topped out at 15 mph for utmost safety. And like our commuter and high-performance picks, we pored over reviews from parents where accessible.
For more information, check out our how we test page for Tom's Guide.
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Electric scooter deals
Not sure you're in the right place? We have lots of other guides.
This is the definitive guide to electric scooters. It is a starting point for all information about their history, different components, commuting, laws, safety, maintenance, and scooter sharing.
A typical adult electric scooter weighs under 50 lbs, has a 350W ' 500W hub-mounted motor, a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, a top speed of 15-20 mph, a range of 10-20 miles, and a price between $500-$800.
Adult electric scooters are the most common type of scooter available on the market. They differ from electric scooters intended for children because they have larger weight capacity, typically around 220 lbs (100 kg), more powerful motors, larger battery, larger deck, and a taller stem. Electric scooters intended for adults also tend to cost at least $300 whereas an electric scooter intended for children can typically be had for under $200.
Though most companies are making electric scooters for adults, some companies ' notably Razor ' are targeting the kids and young teen market.
Scooter sharing has increased the general public awareness of micromobility and driven the growth of the personal market. The explosion of the personal market has led to the import of hundreds of different models of electric scooters by a huge number of different brands.
Recently, there has been an enormous surge in interest for scooters ' mainly driven by their notorious overnight introduction into cities by scooter sharing companies such as Lime and Bird.
Though the majority of scooters are intended to be ridden while standing on the deck, some scooters can be converted into seated electric scooters with optional accessories.
Electric kick scooters, like the Razor kick scooters of the s, have two wheels, a platform called a deck, and handlebars for steering. They differ from the unmotorized kick scooters of the 90s due to the addition of a battery, electronics, larger (often air-filled) tires, and an electric motor.
Note: Larger or taller teens should use an adult electric scooter because a kids scooter will likely be too small and underpowered.
A typical children's electric scooter weighs around 20 lbs, has 150-watt motor, 100 watt-hour battery (either sealed lead acid or lithium-ion), a range of 3 miles, and costs around $200.
It is worth noting that children's electric scooters aren't typically much more than toys and should be used as such. They shouldn't be used for riding on public roads or ridden by adults.
Electric scooters intended for kids or teens are typically smaller, lighter, and less expensive than their adult counterparts. They are often made of less durable materials such as plastic, have weak motors, and may even contain low energy density lead-acid batteries.
If you have a need for a scooter with a seat, then you might consider an electric bicycle instead. Electric bicycles are typically easier to ride, faster, and more comfortable for longer distances. You can't fold them up for easier carrying ' but neither can you fold a seated electric scooter.
A hallmark of the modern e-scooter is its ability to fold ' making it both portable for carrying and convenient for storing. This is the main advantage of folding electric scooters, compared to electric bicycles. When a seat is added to an electric scooter, this typically eliminates its folding ability and, in our eyes, reduces many of the advantages of folding e-scooters.
Seated electric scooters are primarily for adults and made to make longer rides more comfortable. Most electric scooters do not come with a seat, but many have optional seat attachments that are sold as separate accessories.
Electric scooters have a handful of different parts, but the major ones are: batteries, brakes, controller, deck, handlebars, lights, motor, stem, suspension, and tires.
Batteries are rated in watt-hours, abbreviated Wh, which is a measure of their capacity. Battery capacity is one of the important factors that determine electric scooter range. A typical budget scooter will have a capacity of around 250 watt-hours while monster scooters can have capacities of almost 3,000 watt-hours.
Most electric scooters will have a battery pack comprised of lithium-ion battery cells, though some electric scooters for kids and other inexpensive scooters actually have lead-acid batteries.
Batteries are the 'gas tank' of an electric scooter. They store the energy that is consumed by the electric motor and other accessories, including lights.
Electric scooter battery packs are made up of many individual cells that are assembled together.
Many scooters will have a combination of both electronic and mechanical braking systems. For safety reasons, we recommend scooters that have at least two braking systems in case one fails.
Typically mechanical braking systems will offer much stronger braking than electronic systems. However, electronic systems benefit from not requiring any periodic adjustments or maintenance.
Electronic braking systems rely on using the motor itself for braking and include strictly electronic and regenerative braking systems.
Mechanical brake systems are those that rely on a physical mechanism to slow the scooter down and are: disc, drum, and foot brakes.
Like those on a car or bicycle, brakes are what slow the electric scooter down. Electric scooter brakes can be broken down into two categories: mechanical and electronic.
A quality braking system, such as the disc brake picture above, is essential for staying safe and in control while riding an electric scooter.
Controllers are one of the most under-appreciated parts of the electric scooter because they quietly do their job most of the time. They can be a huge source of headache (or make the scooter unsafe) when things go wrong. On some poorly designed scooters controllers are known to fail or malfunction.
Controllers are rated based on the voltage and current they are able to regulate. Scooters with more powerful motors will have controllers with higher max voltage and higher max current ratings.
The speed controller is an electronic component buried deep inside of the scooter that controls the flow of current from the battery to the motor. They typically look like rectangular metal cans with many wires coming out of them. The metal enclosure serves as a heat sync. The controller receives inputs from the accelerator and (electronic) brake controls and translates that into a current that is sent to the motor.
The typical scooter deck size is 14' by 5' inches and gives a few inches of ground clearance.
Most decks have some type of textured finish that provides better grip between your shoes and the scooter. Some scooters, like the Rev pictured above, have a sloped deck that gives you more space to place your feet.
The electric scooter deck ' like that of a skateboard ' is the thing you stand on. Some electric kick scooters have the battery pack built into the deck.
The deck is the platform you stand on while riding. Many are rubberized to provide better traction.
Unfortunately, its not just the low-end scooters that suffer from poor stem folding mechanisms. The high-end Dualtron scooters are notorious for this issue, despite their otherwise immense quality.
Nearly every scooter has a folding mechanism built into the stem to allow easy carrying and storage. In our e-scooter reviews, we often spend a lot of time focusing on this unsuspecting part. Yet, this is for good reason. The folding mechanism can be difficult work or worse it can be loose or unstable. When you apply force to the handlebars, you'll notice the whole stem rocking back and fourth ' a condition we call stem wobble. This is one of the huge downsides to folding electric scooters.
The stem or neck of the electric scooter is the long tube that is connected to the front wheel and extends up to the handlebars.
The stem is the folding metal tube that connects that handlebars to the front wheels. On some electric scooters the folding mechanism is a source of frustration due to instability.
A budget electric scooter will have a 350W ' 500W motor; an intermediate scooter will have a 500W-W motor; extreme performance scooters can have motors of anywhere from W ' W and above.
Electric motors are rated based on their power consumption which is express in units of watts. More powerful motors will have greater wattage.
Electric scooters have brushless direct current (BLDC) electric motors that are built into the hub of wheels. All electric kick scooters have at least one motor while more powerful ones will have two.
Adult electric scooters have hub motors built into one or both wheels. The Hover-1 Journey Max above has dual 350-Watt motors.
Unfortunately, many electric scooters have sorrowfully weak lights. This is why we nearly always recommend additional lighting for safely riding at night.
Swag and deck lighting are good for increasing visibility and cool factor of your scooter, but no substitute for powerful headlight and taillights.
Nearly every electric scooter comes with at least one LED headlight and a brake-activated tail light. Additionally, many scooters are also including multi-colored LEDs that wrap around or shine from under the deck. We like to call this type of lighting swag lighting.
Good scooter lighting is important for seeing and staying visible at night. Unfortunately, many of the scooters we test have lackluster built-in lighting.
The most portable electric scooters will have folding handlebars that greatly reduce their width and get the scooter down to a very transportable and storable size.
The handlebars are your main connection with the scooter. They are fitted with all the controls, including the accelerator, brakes, speed/settings display, and power buttons.
Many electric scooters have no suspension, while many, like the Fluid Freeride Vista pictured above, have front and rear suspension.
The suspension of the electric scooter, like that on a motor vehicle or bicycle, helps to improve ride quality and dampen bumps in the road.
There are three main types of suspension systems that are typically found on electric scooters: spring, hydraulic, and rubber suspension. Scooters with the best suspension will have some combination of spring and piston ' a combination called coil-over-hydraulic or coil-over-air.
Many scooters forgo suspension in favor of large pneumatic tires that provide damping effects. Large pneumatic tires can offer be a better form of suspension that cheap spring suspensions.
Tires given you traction to accelerate or brake in an emergency. Airless tires, like those pictured above, do not perform as well as pneumatic tires.
Tires are your connection to the road and influence ride quality, traction, range, and braking performance of your electric kick scooter.
Tires come in basically two types: pneumatic (air-filled) and airless. There are a few varieties of airless tires and these include: honeycomb, polymer-filled, and solid.
We typically recommend pneumatic tires because they give better ride quality (with or without suspension) and their supple rubber performs much better in adverse road conditions.
For deeper dive into scooter tires, read our technical guide.
Purchasing an electric scooter can be a formidable challenge ' there are an overwhelming number of choices, a quality electric scooter is easily $500 and can cost upwards of $2,000.
Throwing a wrench into the matters are numerous dubious 'review' sites and reviewers that have never touched a scooter in their life.
We have personally tested and developed unbiased written and video reviews for electric scooters at all price ranges, so that you can find the one that best fits your needs.
Commuting by electric scooter is all part of the new trend in micromobility that solves the so-called last mile problem. The last mile problem refers to the last leg of a trip ' whether it be walking from bus station to your office or exiting a freeway in a car to go to a specific destination.
Paradoxically, the leg of a trip tends to be the slowest and most difficult despite being the shortest. This is because public transit systems and roadways are all optimized for connecting big population centers separated by larger distances. Think about it ' multilane highways connect major cities separate by tens or hundreds of miles. At average freeway speeds, you can go 60 miles in an hour or about a mile a minute.
However, once you've exited the freeway, your last mile or so could take 15 minutes or more!
This is where electric scooters, bike sharing, electric skateboards, etc ' all forms of micro-mobility ' come into play. They make traveling the last mile of your trip faster, easier, and more environmentally friendly.
If you have to commute just a few miles to work or have to walk from a bus stop or transit center, then an electric scooter is the perfect option for you.
Compared to bicycles, electric scooters are more portable, less prone to theft, and require less physical effort than a bicycle.
They allow you to get to your destination at speeds around 15 mph with no physical effort. You can arrive at your destination more quickly, fold up the scooter, and carry it inside. Because they require less physical effort than powering a bicycle, you won't be as sweaty as you would if you were to ride a bike (and can get there faster on many scooters).
Electric scooters also have some disadvantages which might make bicycles a better option in some cases. These are: ability to bring inside, stability and cost.
If you aren't physically able or not allowed to bring your electric scooter inside then a bicycle may be better. Locking an electric scooter up on the street for a prolonged period of time is not optimal ' they seem to be more prone to theft, vandalism and are more difficult to lock due to lack of locking points.
Bicycles, due to their geometry and larger tires, are more stable and better on rough roads. Adult scooters have relatively small tires that do not roll over bumps easily. They also have a more upright steering angle which makes them inherently less stable and more prone to wobbles that have sent many a scooter rider down.
Finally, adult electric scooters are more expensive than a quality entry-level bicycle. An entry-level bicycle will run you around $300 and be much more durable. Crashing on a bicycle is unlikely to harm most whereas many scooters, particularly budget ones, can be rendered completely inoperable after a crash.
For more customized electric motorcycleinformation, please contact us. We will provide professional answers.