Electric Scooter Overview
Back in the 90s, there was a huge craze for standing kick scooters and people, especially kids and teens were all seen riding them in low-traffic areas. The passion for riding scooters continued and companies kept on introducing new and advanced versions of scooters.
Now, electric or battery-powered scooters have taken over traditional scooters and this industry is thriving due to advances in battery technology, easy spare parts accessibility and the rising popularity of personal electric transport in general.
The point is, electric scooters are simple to ride, easy to maintain and ideal for kids, teenagers, and adults alike looking to either have a fun-filled evening with their neighborhood friends, joyride around the city, or even use it as a means of transportation to/from work or school.
Here are the best electric scooters:
1. Best Mid-Range Scooter: Razor Ecosmart Electric Scooter
This scooter is a refined, reliable yet practical upgraded version of the first-generation Razor. Although at first glance it may look like a basic standing kick scooter, it is certainly not. Razor has brilliantly been able to take that original kick scooter design and successfully apply it to its electric version.
The Razor EcoSmart Metro is unique in every sense. For one, it is probably the cheapest model on our list as recent price cuts on Amazon have reduced its price drastically and have brought it down to under $420. Despite its low price and simple-looking design, this Razor scooter is still packed with many great features.
It has a max speed of up to 18mph and can cover 10 miles per charge. So depending on the size of your city, it may or may not get you across town and back on just one charge, but it is still great for shorter commutes. And with that 18mph top speed, you can certainly cover lots of ground relatively quickly.
Weighing in at 67 pounds, it is not the lightest of scooters compared to others out there on the market, but it is still fairly portable and mobile. The recharge time takes an average of 12 hours to give full juice to the 500-watt motor. One thing to note is that this scooter has a max rider weight capacity of up to 220 pounds, which is average for an electric scooter of this size.
Original Retail $460
UPC 00845423002503
Model Ecosmart
Brand Razor
2. Best Ultra-Portable: Glion Dolly Electric Scooter
One of the best things about the Glion Dolly scooter is that it weighs only 26 pounds, and with this feature alone, it makes it a one-of-a-kind electric scooter. It’s lightweight, ultra-portable, and gets from point A to point B safely and quickly. This feature-rich scooter is extremely reliable and energy-efficient costing only $1 in electricity for every 500 miles ridden. Talk about saving money on your commute.
The quiet gearless hub motor on this Glion Dolly Electric Scooter is powered by a 250-watt, 36-volt 7.8 ah lithium-ion battery, and has a range output of 15 miles per charge at a max speed of up to 15 mph. This certainly allows for a commute across town at a safe and steady speed. Its frame is constructed from 6061-T6 aircraft-grade aluminum and is powder coated to resist corrosion, ensuring the scooter is long-lasting, and most of all, very durable.
Despite its lighter weight it can still handle a max rider capacity up to 250 pounds, which is the limit found on most of the electric scooters out there on the market. The recharge time is relatively quick with only about 3.5 hours needed for a full charge.
It comes with a number of bells and whistles too, like a handle extension that allows you to help maintain your grip and riding posture properly. It also has a kickstand allowing it to stand upright with ease, and small wheels on the back so you can roll it like a suitcase when folded up. An optional and sold separately cover completes this scooter and keeps it low-profile even when not riding it.
What you get feature-wise and performance-wise with the Glion Dolly Electric Scooter makes it well worth the $400-$500 price tag that comes with it. An ultra-portable reliable means of transportation and a fair price.
Original Retail $630
UPC 00743724189636
Model Dolly
Brand Glion
3. Best Versatile: Super Cycles Super Turbo 1000W Elite
Like its name suggests, this scooter model gives you a feeling as if you are riding a bike as it has a max speed of 26mph. It allows you to travel on tough terrain and uneven surfaces. Its key features include mono shocks, disc brakes, key-based ignition, twist throttle and wide tires.
It is a bit on the pricey side but this scooter can cover up to 18 miles per charge. It weighs 72 pounds, rechargeable time is up to 8 hours, and motor wattage is 1000-watts, and has a max rider capacity up to 300 pounds.
Original Retail $520UPC 00600210392881
Model Super Turbo
Brand Super Cycles
4. Best Comfort Scooter: Scrooser Pure Electric Scooter
Just wow! This machine is all around amazing with extraordinary features. With the hefty price tag, this scooter stands high and beats all with its power, strength, and endurance that it provides when riding. The Scrooser Electric Scooter has a max speed up to 15.5 mph and can cover 30 miles per charge. Weighing 123 pounds without the battery, the rechargeable time is 3-4 hours, with a motor wattage of 500, and has a max rider capacity of up to 330 pounds.
Original Retail $6000Model Scrooser
Brand Scrooser
5. Best High-End: Giga Groove Electric Scooter
This scooter more or less seems like a motorbike, but still is just an electric scooter. The best thing about this scooter is its 35 mile-per-charge traveling range that it provides, which is huge as it doesn’t restrict you to short travel journeys. The Giga Grove Electric scooter has a max speed of 20 mph. It weighs 180 pounds, has rechargeable time of 6 hours, a motor wattage of 750, and has a max rider capacity up to 250 pounds.
Original Retail $1400Model Groove
Brand Giga
Electric Scooter Buying Guide
The Rise of Electric Scooters
As cities and towns become more and more dense, transportation becomes a bigger and bigger issue. Traffic becomes too much for some people, and most start looking for affordable solutions to their commutes. Not to mention the growing concern of climate change and pollution Enter, the rise of the electric scooter.
It’s hard to ignore the popularity of scooters in the urban setting. In fact, they’ve been downright controversial almost everywhere they go. Despite all this, they continue to become more popular. With companies like Lime, Bird, and Uber getting in on the growing need for affordable, eco friendly, and comfortable transportation. However, it’s not practical to rely on 3rd party services like Bird or Uber to provide you a scooter at a moments notice. This is why more and more people are purchasing them for themselves.
Cost of Living and Savings
Electric scooters offer commuters and travelers alike an affordable and eco friendly mode of transportation. Being that a new car can cost you tens of thousands of dollars, and a new scooter can cost a few hundred to a few thousand, it’s easy to see why people have begun to consider the ladder. Not to mention that you’re not required to insure your scooter the same way you must insure your car. Unless you live in Rhode Island of course, but for the rest of the continental United States, this can be a massive savings.
Environmental Impact
The environmental implications of driving a gas vehicle are heavy. The EPA estimates that nearly two thirds of all carbon monoxide pollution is caused by cars. Now imagine what it’s like to breath all of that sitting in a traffic jam. This isn’t good for the planet, and it’s definitely not good for your health. An electric scooter gives you the option to zoom right past all that and get you to your destination quicker. Switching to an electric scooter might be the simplest way for you to help the planet with the least amount of effort.
Key Points to Consider
What am I using the scooter for?
Electric scooters vary in their ability to quickly charge, distance traveled per charge, affordability, and comfort. It’s important to take these factors into consideration when looking for a new Electric Scooter. Are you looking for a commuter that can get you to and from work? Or, are you just looking for an easy way to get around town on the weekends
How far am I traveling?
Your electric scooter’s range can vary between 12 and 80 miles on a single charge. There’s nothing that can change from the ultimate convenience to the ultimate dead weight as a scooter without a charge. Trust me, the last thing you want is to be 20 miles from home, and need to call someone to come and pick up you and your scooter because you let the battery die. Make sure to buy a scooter with the appropriate amount of charge per your use.
What features do I need?
If you’re going to be riding in short bursts, you probably wouldn’t mind an electric scooter that you stand up on. It’s classic and its traditional. When most people think of an electric scooter, this type of scooter is what comes to mind. However, what if you need to ride that scooter for 15 miles or more? You might want to consider buying a model with a seat so that you can sit down.
Electric Scooter Features
Speed
Of course, you’re going to want to consider the top speed of your scooter. We all want to get to our destinations as quickly as possible. Because of this, You’ll want to be cruising down the road like a bat out of hell. It’s important to research your local laws before you buy the fastest scooter on the market. If you’re riding on the sidewalk at 15 miles per hour and take out a pedestrian, you might as hell have done it in a moving vehicle.
Suspension
Whether you’re traveling long or short distances, you’re going to want some decent suspension. Your tires might be able to withstand some of the variables in the road, but an active suspension system will work wonders to keep you from wearing down your back and arms. Let the scooter do all that hard work and save yourself the pain of a bumpy road.
Tires
An electric scooter will come with a choice of two tire options. The first being a solid rubber tire which is designed for heavy usage. Solid rubber tires may last you longer in so many ways, but are generally considered to be the poorer of the two choices. An air filled tired will always provide you with the easiest and most comfortable ride.
Maintenance
You spent all that money on the best electric scooter your money could buy. Do not let it degrade by not keeping up with maintenance. You’ll need to make sure the battery is well taken care of, your tires are always filled to the appropriate pressure, and all those chains or gears are lubricated. If you take care of your electric scooter, it will more than take care of you.
