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Whether you need one for commuting or just want one to have fun, an electric scooter is fast becoming a preferred mode of transportation. After all, they’re inexpensive, fun to ride, eco-friendly, and easy to use. Battery technology is developing at an astounding pace, so the crop of electric scooters available on the market is also getting better. Just about everyone wants to get one these days.
With so many options available, however, deciding on what to get can be a little challenging. To help you avoid decision fatigue, here’s a list of what, in our opinion, are the best electric scooter for commuting.
Summary List
- Best Overall: Segway Ninebot ES4 Electric Kick Scooter
- Best Value: Gotrax GXL V2 Commuting Electric Scooter
- Premium Pick: Segway Ninebot MAX Electric Kick Scooter
- Best for Heavy Riders: Hover-1 Journey Electric Folding Scooter
Also Consider
- Gotrax XR Ultra Electric Scooter
- Hiboy Max Electric Scooter
- Gotrax XR Elite Electric Scooter
- Xprit Electric Scooter
- Macwheel MX PRO Electric Scooter
- Razor E Prime Electric Scooter
Best Electric Scooter for Commuting: Reviews & Recommendations
Best Overall
Segway Ninebot ES4 Electric Kick Scooter
Best Value
Gotrax GXL V2 Commuting Electric Scooter
Premium Pick
Segway Ninebot MAX Electric Kick Scooter
Best for Heavy Riders
Hover-1 Journey Electric Folding Scooter
Honorable Mention
Gotrax XR Ultra Electric Scooter
Honorable Mention
Hiboy Max Electric Scooter
Honorable Mention
Gotrax XR Elite Electric Scooter
Honorable Mention
Xprit Electric Scooter
Honorable Mention
Macwheel MX PRO Electric Scooter
Honorable Mention
Razor E Prime Electric Scooter
Our Verdict on the Best Electric Scooter For Commuting
Our best overall pick when it comes to the best electric scooter for commuting is the Segway Ninebot ES4 Electric Kick Scooter. Its 800-watt motor offers impressive range and power. For a more inexpensive yet feature-rich option, go for the Gotrax GXL V2 Commuting Electric Scooter.
Benefits of Electric Scooter For Commuting
- Portable. Electric scooters are a very portable form of personal transport. Most can be folded and are light enough to be carried, or stored away inside a trunk or in a small space. Some are heavier than others and are less portable, but most if not all have a small enough footprint.
- Affordable. Electric scooters are a very economical form of personal transport. Not only are they affordable enough for most people to purchase, but they also run on a battery and are therefore inexpensive to use. Electric scooters don’t need as much maintenance as other forms of transportation, too, and any damages to it will be relatively cheap to fix.
- Eco-friendly. Naturally, one of the biggest advantages of using an electric scooter is its small carbon footprint. They run on electricity and don’t produce CO2 or other polluting emissions, which means they are a sustainable and environmentally-friendly form of transportation. Indeed, as the battery recycling industry develops, electric scooters will have an even more decreased ecological impact.
Types of Electric Scooters For Commuting
Budget
Electric scooters in this category are suited for short-distance traveling over paved city streets. Their motors will offer decent power and range but will struggle on steep inclines and rough terrain. These scooters will be extremely portable, however. They will typically be foldable, weigh between 20 to 40 pounds, and be easy to carry around.
Commuter
Compared to budget electric scooters, these electric scooters will have a more powerful motor, offering more speed and range. They will also have more features, making them well-suited for more demanding city streets. There will be a compromise on weight, however, because of their larger batteries, but they will still be relatively easy enough to fold and carry around.
Performance
Electric scooters in this category will have very powerful motors. As such, they can propel riders to very high speeds and will offer ranges beyond 25 miles. Some will even have a maximum range of beyond 80 miles. They will typically be fitted with an expensive suspension system, and have tires that can handle rough roads. Of course, with all these features, they will be heavy and won’t be very portable.
Electric Scooter For Commuting Pricing
- Under $300: These electric scooters are light and portable but will be underpowered for more experienced riders. However, they will be good enough for short-distance commutes over paved city streets.
- Between $300 to $1,000: Most electric scooters will be around this price range. They will typically be built from quality materials and their battery will be able to handle long distances, making them great for everyday commuting.
- $1,000 and up: Electric scooters at this price range will have a ton of features that will make them capable of handling more treacherous terrain. They will also offer ranges of up to 30 miles and beyond.
Key Features
Power
Motor power is one of the things to consider when purchasing an electric scooter. Budget scooters will typically have a motor that can produce 250 to 300 watts of power. This will be strong enough for most people, but you might need something more powerful if your commute requires you to be tackling sharp inclines.
Range
Your choice of electric scooters should also take into account the range you need to cover on a regular basis. Some budget scooters offer a maximum range of 15 miles under optimal riding conditions. Depending on your commuting needs, this might be good enough. Of course, the higher the range, the better.
Suspension
If you only ride over smooth and paved city roads, then you won’t really need your electric scooter to have a suspension system. That being said, a scooter that does have one will definitely be more comfortable to ride. These can be in the form of shock absorbers in the front and rear wheel, or pneumatic tires to dampen pockmarks on the road.
Other Considerations
- Weight. Your electric scooter will, at some point, have to be carried around by you. This is why weight is an important factor to consider when choosing an electric scooter. Budget electric scooters will weigh somewhere in the vicinity of 25 pounds. Typically, the more powerful the motor (the more expensive the scooter), the heavier the scooter gets. Anything beyond 40 pounds can be considered heavy.
- IP Rating. The IP rating of an electric scooter will tell you how resistant to water it will be. It’s never advisable to ride an electric scooter under the rain, but if you really have to, then we recommend that you get an electric scooter with a rating of at least IPx4. Scooters with this rating will be resistant to water splashes and can run under light rain.
Tips
- Always wear protective equipment. At a minimum, this includes a helmet for your head and pads to protect your knees and elbows.
- Check your tires before getting on your electric scooter. Make sure they have the right pressure and aren’t damaged in any way. Doing this before every ride will not only help you avoid accidents, it will also prolong the life of your tires.
- Refrain from riding your electric scooter under the rain, or through puddles. Even if it’s rated water-resistant, water might still manage to get in, ruin the circuitry, and make it inoperable.
- Always equip your scooter with proper lighting, especially if you intend to ride at night or in low-light conditions. You also want your headlight to illuminate a good distance in front of you.
- Be on the lookout for bumps or pockmarks on the road. As far as electric scooters are concerned, these are the most common causes of road accidents.
FAQs
Depending on your commuting requirements, an electric scooter is generally a great way to travel in and around the city because it’s safe, reliable, and inexpensive.
The life of an electric scooter will depend on a lot of things, including the model and manufacturer. A properly maintained scooter from a good brand, however, will typically last 2 to 4 years before something will need to be replaced.
Depending on the model, most can be ridden manually. Those that can’t be ridden manually can still be pushed. Dual-electric scooters are made to easily switch between manual and electric riding, but the mode will need to be selected from the control panel.