What should I look for when buying an electric scooter? Read this before you buy an electric scooter!

Whether you’re buying an electric scooter for the first time or if you’re a little more experienced, it can be difficult to know where to start when buying your new electric scooter. The large (and growing) range of different models from well-known and unknown manufacturers, with different specifications, can seem intimidating at first glance. I’m going to help you.

Before you buy an electric scooter, there are several specific questions that you need to answer for yourself to determine what the best electric scooter would be for you! I have put together a number of tips for you that have helped me when buying an electric scooter. You can also read what I think is important when buying a good scooter.

What do you want to use the scooter for?

The first question you should ask yourself is what you want to use your electric scooter for? Do you use the scooter in the city? Do you want to cover longer distances on your commute, as I do every day to work? Do you have to take it with you on public transport? What distance do you have to travel? Are you also looking for an electric scooter that can also handle off-road terrain? As soon as you know what you want to use the scooter for, you can go through the specifics below. 

The best electric scooters for commuting ← click here

The best electric scooters for Off-Road use ← click here

Build quality and finish

This is maybe obvious, but the best e-scooter start has a good build quality. Read the reviews carefully whether the scooter has a solid frame. Material that can take a beating is important. Some devices look cheap and have a lot of plastic parts. The electric scooter market is still developing. It is wise to get a scooter from larger, more reputable brands. That is not to say that smaller brands produce bad scooters, a little digging around can provide enough info on whether these smaller brands have good electric scooters. (Shameless plug) by reading the reviews we put on this website, you are a big step ahead in your research :)

Range

When you are planning to buy an electric scooter, one of the most important questions to answer is how far you can go with it. There are scooters for sale that can drive 10 miles – 16 kilometers. But there are also scooters that can drive up to 28 miles – 45 kilometers on a full battery. Your speed, the terrain (slopes, uneven bike lanes), obstacles (traffic lights, intersections), the weather conditions, and your own weight affect the range. The motor of an electric scooter (wattage) and the capacity of the battery also play a role. Most scooters have a battery with a capacity of 200 to 300Wh. When ordering an electric scooter, look carefully at how many miles/kilometers you can drive with it.

The best long range electric scooters ← click here

How comfortable is the scooter to ride?

Whether an electric scooter is comfortable to drive mainly depends on the terrain you ride on and your driving style. Electric scooters with (hydraulic) suspension and pneumatic tires provide the most comfort. As with other vehicles, tires help the suspension absorb the shocks. Wherever you live in the world, you most likely won’t encounter an even surface to ride on. An electric scooter with suspension and pneumatic tires is therefore my tip if you want a comfortable ride.

Wheels/tires

I have already mentioned the importance of choosing a scooter with pneumatic tires above. In addition to pneumatic tires, I thought it was important when buying an Electric scooter that there it had wide enough wheels. I have tested any scooter models and those that had small tires didn’t have such good handling characteristics. Bigger wheels provide stability at higher speeds, that’s why higher-end models have bigger wheels, like the Dualtron X2 which has 13” wheels, the same as a small town car.

Brakes

Almost as important as a scooter with a good motor are the brakes. Reliable brakes are needed to stop the electric scooter safely and, if necessary, quickly. Most E-scooters have both a front and rear brake. Stay away from scooters with only front brakes. While this type of braking system can bring a scooter to a stop, sudden braking can be dangerous. To stop quickly and safely, my tip is to buy an electric scooter that has double brakes and preferably disc brakes if it goes over 12 mph – 20 km/h. Braking via a handbrake on the handlebar is preferred.

Technical gadgets

Most e-scooters have a small screen to display the battery capacity and speed. Some electric scooters also have the option to connect via Bluetooth with an app on your smartphone. That app is informative because it keeps statistics about your average speed and miles/kilometers driven. But the app is also a necessary help for many brands, for example, to switch on the cruise control. Both a screen and an app are not a must have in my opinion. Most devices are limited to a certain maximum speed, so you don’t have to keep an eye on your speed. For keeping track of your battery however it is very useful if you have an app or a screen.

Cruise control

For those who drive long distances, you can’t do without cruise control. Without cruise control, you have to continuously press the throttle and that can lead to a less comfortable feeling during the long ride.

How fast is the Electric Scooter you want?

Most electric scooters sold today have a maximum speed between 12 and 19 mph – 20 and 30 km/h. Almost all of them have a 250 to 350 watt electric motor and that is more than sufficient. In general, the bigger the motor, the faster you can drive. In addition, the motor determines how easily you drive uphill on inclines and hills. A good electric motor makes almost no noise while driving, just a slight whisper.

The fastest electric scooters ← click here

How much weight can the scooter carry?

The motor of the electric scooter also determines how much weight it can carry. The heavier the driver, the harder the motor of the electric scooter has to work to move forward. Some lower-powered motors may not efficiently handle the weight of heavier drivers. So make sure that the electric scooter you buy can handle your weight. Most scooters are designed for drivers up to 200lbs – 90kg.

The best electric scooters for heavier adults ← click here

Foldable and portable (size)

For me, the foldable and portability feature was an important factor. I want to be able to easily take the scooter everywhere with me. This way I can take the scooter with me in the car or train, unfold it and ride the last part that I normally have to walk on the scooter. In addition, I want to be able to take the scooter indoors, so that I can charge the device under my desk at work. At home, I store it neatly.

An electric scooter must therefore not be too heavy and must have a solid folding system. Whether a scooter is collapsible and its weight should not affect the ride quality. I recommend a scooter that is not too big and is foldable and portable. My tip when buying an electric scooter is to read what the experiences are with the folding system. Buy an e-scooter that is the right size for safe riding, but that is also small enough to store when folded.

For the best portable electric scooters click here

Lighting

Finally, lighting on an electric scooter is very safe when you plan to ride it all year long. You can therefore drive in less favorable conditions, such as during the evening, night, and in weather conditions such as rain or fog. Lighting ensures that you see for yourself what is happening right in front of you and that other traffic also sees you driving. Most electric scooters you can buy these days have LED lights front and rear.

The best electric scooter?

Most electric scooters that are currently for sale differ from each other mainly in detail. One scooter can drive faster, the other scooter has a larger battery and the other is portable and light. It really depends on what you are going to use it for that will affect your choice. Go over all the different requirements above and see what fits you best, and you will make an informed decision.

Here are some of the best in their category:

The best electric scooter for heavy adults

The best electric scooter for off-road

The best electric scooter with a seat

Buying an electric scooter Q&A: