A: Electric scooters require minimal maintenance: you should check the battery, brakes, and tires regularly. Additionally, keep the scooter clean and regularly inspect for any damages or wear and tear. For more information about maintenance and repair, see our post here A: At a minimum, you should consider investing in a lock and a helmet for your electric scooter. Other accessories, such as reflectors, mounts, and headlights can be especially helpful as well. Learn more about scooter accessories at our post on the 10 Best Electric Scooter Accessories A: Prices for electric scooters can range from as low as $300 for basic models up to several thousand dollars for performance scooters. Prices will vary based on range, speed, suspension, and other features. Generally, whatever your budget, you can find a great scooter at an affordable price.A: Riding an electric scooter requires the same safety precautions as riding a bicycle; therefore, riders should always wear a helmet while operating an electric scooter. Different jurisdictions have different rules, so it is important to be aware of and follow the laws in your area. What kind of helmet should you get? See our guide to learn more about electric scooter helmets and visit the Rider Guide electric scooter helmet database A: The best way to store an electric scooter is to place it indoors in a cool, dry area. If the scooter needs to be kept outdoors, be sure to invest in a scooter lock for added security and try to keep your scooter covered and out of the rain.A: The range of an electric scooter can vary depending on the model and battery life. An average electric scooter can travel between 10-20 miles before needing to be recharged.A: It depends on the battery size and manufacturer. Generally, the smaller the battery, the shorter the range. Some batteries can last up to 40 miles on a single charge, while others last only a few miles. Learn more about electric scooter batteries here A: Rules and regulations on electric scooters vary by city or state, so it is important to contact local authorities for more information. See this Comprehensive Electric Scooter Laws article to learn more about specific laws for every state in the U.S.A: This depends on the city or state regulations. Generally speaking, electric scooters should be ridden on bike lanes, trails, or roads with the flow of traffic. It is also important to make sure that you keep your electric scooter away from pedestrians and make sure it is not blocking any public pathways. See Comprehensive Electric Scooter Laws to find out where and when it might be safe and legal to ride on the sidewalk.A: Most electric scooters are considered safe if ridden responsibly on roadways that allow them, and in accordance with the speed limits in your area. Additionally, wearing a helmet and other protective gear is always a good idea while operating an electric scooter. See our Ultimate Guide to Scooter Safety for more.A: Some electric scooters are designed for off-road use, but it&#;s important to check with the manufacturer to make sure the scooter is designed to handle off-road terrain.A: That depends on the scooter. Please see our post on Best Electric Scooters for Riding in the Rain to learn more about which scooters function best on wet roads and how to navigate bad weather on your scooter.
These are the headline stats that most riders will notice when looking for a long-range electric scooter.
A model&#;s maximum range, as indicated by the manufacturer, refers to its mileage when ridden under best-case conditions. Typically, this includes a 165 lb rider, flat terrain, and riding in the slowest setting. While these figures are useful for comparing performance, they don&#;t paint the full picture.
As a result, I reported on how each scooter performed under real-world conditions &#; including me as a 190-197 lb rider, periods of fast acceleration, cruising, and multiple stops. This data was then used to assess range relative to price to identify the top performers for different budgets.
Based on my tests, as well as third-party data, the real-world range typically equates to 60% of the maximum.
Electric scooters with the longest range in each price category invariably have the largest batteries relative to their peers. To determine the size of each scooter&#;s unit, I reported on their voltage (V), amp-hours (Ah), and watt-hours (Wh).
The voltage of a battery refers to the strength of its electrical charge. Amp-hours, meanwhile, indicate how much electricity can be supplied from the battery to other electrical components (like the motors) in an hour. And finally, watt-hours are used to measure battery capacity &#; it&#;s calculated by multiplying voltage by amp-hours.
In general, the higher the voltage, amp-hours, and watt-hours, the bigger the battery&#;s capacity for stored energy. Here, a higher figure typically equated to a longer range.
Further Information:Learn More About How Battery Power is Measured
Not all electric scooter batteries are made equal. A scooter&#;s long-term range (i.e. over the course of years) is largely determined by the quality of its battery cells. To address this, I reported on the brand and type of cells used.
FST batteries, for example, are relatively standard units, but while they perform well in the short term, their performance degrades over time (as to be expected). Higher quality batteries made by LG, Samsung, Dynavolt, and Panasonic, on the other hand, can perform at their optimum for up to 500 charge cycles. By comparison, FST batteries typically deliver 200-300 cycles at peak performance. The difference between the two can equate to years of use depending on how often you charge your scooter. Other factors can cause a battery to degrade, too, but charge cycles are one that you have greater control over.
Further Information:Learn More About Different Types of Batteries
Battery management systems are crucial for regulating the flow of electricity. By protecting against over-voltage, low-voltage, over-discharge, over-current, and over-temperature, they keep batteries operating within safe parameters.
They also report key information back to the scooter's display, allowing you to view things like battery level, temperature readouts, and error codes that correspond to certain issues.
You will get efficient and thoughtful service from Future Electric Vehicles.
With the above in mind, I made sure to only select the scooters that had battery management systems.
Further Information:Learn More About Battery Management Systems
Long-range rides can deplete your battery, so a fast recharge time (within reason) is preferred.
To assess how long this takes, I considered the manufacturer&#;s specs, alongside my calculations where I divided each battery&#;s amp hours (Ah) by the amperage (A) of the included charger.
Expert Tip: If you opt for a scooter that has a battery bigger than 15Ah then you may want to purchase a fast charger to significantly reduce the charge time.
Ride quality is fundamental to the appeal of a long-range electric scooter.
Aside from testing each scooter hands-on to garner insights into their comfortability and handling, I also conducted several assessments to determine how the geometry and shock-absorbing profile of each influenced their riding experience.
To do this, I first measured their handlebar width, usable deck space, and deck-to-handlebar height. The wider the handlebars, the greater the control. The bigger the usable deck space, the larger the room to find a natural riding stance. And, the higher the deck-to-handlebar height, the better your posture (this also allowed me to identify the suitability of each scooter for riders of different heights).
Then, to assess each scooter&#;s ability to soak up shocks, I tested their rebound and compression rates, the balance of shock absorption across the front and rear of the scooter, the amount of travel that the swingarms and suspension provided, and whether there was any bottoming out. All of this coalesced into a shock absorption rating out of 10 &#; where 1 was extremely stiff and 10 was extremely soft.
Tires are just as important as shock absorption &#; especially for scooters that don&#;t have a suspension system. To assess performance in this area, I paid particular attention to agility and traction.
The final assessments were made on how well each scooter responded to different inputs (i.e. is the throttle smooth or jerky, can you carve from side to side, is there a cruise control feature and if so how effective is it at maintaining speed, etc).
Imagine it: you&#;re on mile 25, in the middle of nowhere, when you hear a pop. Flat tire. Disaster! Reliability is crucial for long rides, so the tests that I conducted took into account durability.
Here, I reported on the quality of the tires (i.e. their ability to prevent punctures), the rigidity of each scooter (i.e. checking for vulnerabilities that could cause structural issues such as stem wobble), and the protection against wet weather (i.e. IP ratings). All of these factors were considered relative to price.
Further Information:How I Test Build Quality
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