Buying an Electric Scooter? Here's What to Look For

Minimizing your carbon footprint can be difficult at first, but the more time and effort you devote to the idea, the easier you'll find it becoming. One easier way to do your part is by using environmentally-friendly modes of transportation. In particular, many are turning to electric scooters as a method of transportation that is healthy for our planet (and let's be honest, tons of fun).

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Given the growing popularity of electric scooters, it's no wonder that there are so many different makes and models available. As the micro-mobility movement continues to grow more and more cities are opening up their roads to electric scooters, even more providers are offering electric scooters for sale.

It's easy for a newcomer to the electric scooter world to be overwhelmed by all the different options laid out before them. The following will explore the different factors you need to keep in mind if you're considering buying an electric scooter.

The Speed You Want (And The Speed You're Allowed)

When shopping for an electric scooter, one of the first things you're going to realize is that these versatile vehicles come in a wide variety of speed options. Most electric scooters will have a maximum speed somewhere between 15 and 40 mph—that's quite a big difference, especially if you plan on driving every day. Before you decide which speed you want, it is worth looking into the regulations in your town, city, state, or county. Different places have different laws regarding how fast electric scooters are allowed to go.

The Braking System

Just like how electric scooters come with a variety of maximum speeds, they also come with a variety of braking systems. Some scooters have disc brakes, while others use foot brakes, while others have electrical braking systems. Depending on your comfort with these different systems, you might be able to rule out a whole bunch of options and focus your search. MyProScooter reviewed best electric scooters and kept a note of the different styles of brakes each option uses. If you're unsure which braking system you'd prefer, you might want to go to a provider and test drive the different options to see what suits you best.

Battery Range

If you've noticed the pattern here, you'll be able to guess that electric scooters also come in a wide variety of battery ranges. The battery range is the distance that the scooter can travel with one fully charged battery. There are both long-range and short-range scooters available depending on where and why you're planning on driving.

As a side note, most of the time, the advertised battery range is going to be a little on the optimistic side. Often the stated range is the furthest the battery could make the scooter go (with ideal terrain and body weight). Don't let yourself be too surprised if you find your battery running low a little sooner than advertised.

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With the above considerations kept in mind as you shop, you'll be able to navigate the endless sea of electric scooters available on the market. It is a good rule of thumb to test drive a vehicle before you buy it to make sure that you are comfortable and happy with the way it handles. Never drive anything that does not feel safe to you.

Lesley Montoya

Update 07 September 2020