Electric Scooters: A Fun Way To Travel Around Buying Guide

Electric scooters have become increasingly popular in recent years, and the surge in popularity can be attributed to people’s need to travel around quickly and easily.  Electric scooters provide people the chance to travel up to five times faster than walking, and they are a relatively cheap and easy way to get around.  They are also considered to be very environmentally friendly and space-saving which makes them popular with millennials and Gen-Z.  

The added benefit is that when you arrive somewhere using an electric scooter you will not be depleted of energy as you would if you travelled by bicycle or walking. Electric scooters can be used by adults and children. 

FACTORS TO CONSIDER WHEN BUYING AN ELECTRIC SCOOTER

There are various factors you should consider when buying an electric scooter, including:

• Weight 
• Range
• Cost
• Size
• Reliability 

All of these are important if you want to pick the best electric scooter for your body, budget, and location.  Arguably, one of the most important features to consider is the quality of the ride you will have.  Some electric scooters do not perform well on uneven surfaces and can lead to a bumpy and uncomfortable ride.  Anyone who travels by electric scooter will tell you that scooters with a bumpy ride are not easy to ride, and can be quite difficult to manoeuvre.  The last thing you want is a scooter which limits your freedom and mobility. 

The ride quality is affected by three main factors:

1. Wheel size: the size of wheels is important, if the wheels are too small or too big this affects the quality of movement and the quality of your ride.  Wheels under 8 inches in diameter should be avoided as the smaller wheels tend to get stuck in uneven surfaces and potholes. 
2. Suspension: the suspension is important because it will lessen the impact of going over bumps and bumpy surfaces.  Electric scooters with larger tyres that are air-filled will give you a much smoother ride overall than one with smaller wheels. 
3. Air-filled tyres or solid tyres: generally, air-filled tyres will give you a better quality of ride, it will be smoother and less jarring.  You can look after your tyres by using puncture protection fluid, but as a rule scooter tyres with a puncture are not easy to repair.  Usually, a new tyre is required, so it is always best to buy good quality scooters which come with good tyres.  Solid tyres will obviously fare much better and have fewer punctures, but the ride will not be as smooth as it would be with air-filled tyres. 

SPEED

The speed of your electric scooter depends entirely on the power of the motor, the weight of the rider, the tyres, and the surface.  All these factors combined will increase or reduce speed. The truth is, if you are looking for an electric scooter then speed should not be your top priority. An average of about 15 miles per hour is fine and matches the average bicycle speed of 14 miles per hour. 

SAFETY

As with any kind of scooter, safety is a big priority.  To ensure safety, you should consider the brakes and whether they are suitable for what you need. 

Electric scooters have 3 types of brakes:

1. Disk brakes: disk and drum brakes are the most reliable, especially if you want to break fast mid-movement.  However, they do tend to wear out over time. 
2. Electric brakes: these do not need a lot of maintenance but are not as effective as disk brakes. 
3. Foot brakes: to use the foot brakes you would need to stand on the mud-guard at the rear of the scooter.  This sometimes takes time to master but is an effective brake mechanism. 

You should always wear a helmet when riding an electric scooter.  Electric scooters can go as fast as, if not faster than, bicycles so you must be careful and buy a helmet and wear it.  In addition, you may need other accessories including a lock, phone holder, and lights for the front of your electric scooter for riding in the dark. 

RANGE

Most electric scooters are based on a person who weighs around 70kg, and the assumption is that they will be riding on a smooth and flat surface, with a fully charged scooter.  The truth is that the cheaper the scooter, the cheaper the battery, and the more you will have to charge it.  

Whilst the electric scooters are still fairly new to the market, the safest option is to always buy from a reputable brand, with a good warranty.  This way if there are any quality issues then you have some recourse. 

SIZE

When assessing size you should consider how the size will impact your ride, and how much space the electric scooter will need for storage.  Most scooters tend to fold down, which means they can be easily stored in the home, or outside in sheds.  Other size issues to consider are the deck size and the bar height and width and whether these will match your height and build.  You don’t want to be stooped down too low when riding, but neither do you want an electric scooter that is cumbersome and heavy. 

The weight of the scooter is important, because often at the start and end of your journey you may have to carry it around.  Electric scooters range from 12kg – 17 kg.  

LOAD

When making a decision about which electric scooter to buy, make sure you consider the maximum load it can carry.  Electric scooters have different maximum loads.  For electric scooters designed to be used in Europe, the maximum load is approximately 100kg.