The Best Electric Scooter For Commuting (Review & Buying Guide) in 2024
Electric scooters are an inexpensive and ultra-fun way to get around the city
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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.
Segway Ninebot ES4 Electric Kick Scooter
Gotrax GXL V2 Commuting Electric Scooter
Segway Ninebot Max
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
Best Electric Scooter for Commuting: Reviews & Recommendations
The Segway Ninebot ES4 Electric Kick Scooter is a very popular option and for good reason. If you're looking for a great commuting machine from a reliable brand, you really needn't look any further. This scooter has an impressive range and power. The 800-watt motor gives out a top speed of 19 mph and a maximum range of 28 miles, making it perfect for city commutes. It's fitted with shock absorbers in both the front and back wheels, and it uses large, solid tires for increased comfort over bumpy roads. It can be folded in seconds for easy carrying and storing, and it has a nice LED screen that displays information like speed, riding mode, and battery level.
One downside is that the non-pneumatic tires don't offer much traction over grass and sand.
The Gotrax GXL V2 Commuting Electric Scooter is a great choice for anyone looking to get into electric scooting. It's easy to handle and is built sturdy with a reinforced frame. This scooter can take a lot of abuse despite its affordable price tag. Its 8.5-inch pneumatic tires dampen road imperfections with ease. The 250-watt motor offers a maximum range of 12 miles and a maximum speed of 15.5 mph. At 26 pounds, it's not the lightest scooter around, but it's definitely on the light side and is easy to carry for long distances.
While the range and speed of this scooter are good enough for most people, some (especially more experienced riders) will probably want something that offers more.
From a distance, the Segway Ninebot Max looks just like any other scooter available in the market, but it outperforms most. This scooter is built tough and offers a very impressive 40-mile range. It is equipped with front and rear shock absorbers, and it uses 10-inch, self-healing, pneumatic tires. These features working in tandem deliver a comfortable and confident ride over relatively rough terrain. It takes three easy steps to fold the scooter down, and it fits nicely in any trunk or tight space when folded. The LED display shows information like speed, battery level, and riding information, and this same display has an auto-dim feature for when you're riding in low-light conditions.
At 42.1 pounds, however, this scooter is definitely on the heavy side.
The Hover-1 Journey Electric Folding Scooter is another affordable option that doesn't scrimp on features. Indeed, this will be a great option for more heavy riders, given its 264-pound load capacity. Its 300-watt brushless motor offers a top speed of 14 miles per hour and a maximum range of 16 miles. The motor is also powerful enough to handle an uphill angle of 15-degrees with relative ease. It features 8.5-inch, air-filled tires that can handle minor bumps and road imperfections, and at only 27 pounds, it's easy to carry around, even up a flight of stairs.
For all this scooter's upsides, riders who are often in a hurry might find the 14 miles per hour maximum speed a little too slow.
The Gotrax XR Ultra Electric Scooter is a compelling choice, considering its very affordable price tag. The 300-watt motor offers a top speed of 15.5 mph and a maximum range of 16 miles. The 8.5-inch air-filled tires nicely dampen minor bumps on the road. The front motor's regenerative braking is powerful, and it also has a mechanical disc brake in the rear for added stopping power. It has a cruise control function for long straightaways and a bright headlight to keep you safe when riding in low-light conditions.
While this scooter will handle flat roads without a hitch, it will tend to struggle uphill.
The Hiboy Max Electric Scooter packs a lot of features and is a comfortable and practical option in the increasingly crowded market space of electric scooters. The 350-watt motor offers a maximum speed of 18.6 mph, and a maximum range of 17 miles. It has an attractive design and is made from reinforced aluminum. In terms of build quality, it's superior to a lot of scooters in its price range, and this makes it look more expensive than it actually is. The LED headlights are surprisingly powerful, and the 8.5-inch rubber tires can hold their own over rough terrain.
At 34 pounds, however, this scooter will be tough to carry around while folded.
The Gotrax XR Elite Electric Scooter is a long-ranged budget scooter that will tick most boxes. This scooter offers most of the features commuters need at a very compelling price. It features a 300-watt motor that boasts a max speed of 15.5 mph and a maximum range of 18.6 miles. It uses a dual-braking system that is both reliable and responsive. The 8.5-inch air-filled tires perform well on bumpy roads, and the wide 6.6-inch deck improves stability and provides ample room for both feet.
This scooter uses a convenient, one-step folding system which is nice. But it does weigh 35.75 pounds, which means carrying it around for extended periods will be a chore.
The Xprit Electric Scooter offers fantastic value for your hard-earned money. The sufficiently powerful 250-watt motor can deliver a maximum speed of 15 mph, as well as a maximum range of 15 miles. The motor is powerful enough to tackle 20-degree inclines, but the battery will drain much faster when going uphill. It's made from a high-grade aluminum alloy that feels premium to the touch. This same material is light, too, and the whole scooter weighs only 27 pounds, making it easy to carry around. The manufacturer boasts that it only takes two to three hours to fully recharge the battery, which is one of the fastest charging times we've seen on an electric scooter.
Riding this scooter over anything other than paved city roads, however, will be painful as it offers no suspension.
The Macwheel MX PRO Electric Scooter is a great option as it has a range of 25 miles and a maximum speed of 15.5 mph. The scooter features a 350W brushless hub motor, 8.5-inch non-pneumatic tires, and a 36V/10Ah high-capacity battery that holds a charge for six hours. One of the great features of this scooter is that you can monitor its performance using an app on your smart device. It allows you to check speed and battery life as well as control the headlight and lock/unlock the scooter. In addition, it features a quick, one-step folding design. It takes just seconds to fold it up and carry it on public transportation or down the street to your car or home.
One downside is the wheels are a bit hard, and it can be jarring when you hit bumps. Also, the deck is a little small if you have large feet.
The Razor E Prime Electric Scooter is easy to ride, easy to carry, and is a budget-friendly option that is worth your attention if it's a sleek, premium-looking scooter that you want. It features a 250-watt brushless hub motor that offers a maximum speed of 15 miles per hour and a maximum range of 10 miles on a single charge. Charging times are class-leading, and Razor claims it only takes 3.5 hours to charge the battery from zero to full. It's fitted with 8-inch, air-less and flat-free tires for increased comfort, and at 21 pounds, it's one of the lightest electric scooters in the market.
There's a lot to be happy about with this scooter except for the 10-mile range, which will be too low for some, considering there are others in the same price range that offer more.
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
Q: Is a scooter good for commuting?
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.
Q: How long can a scooter last?
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.
Q: Can an electric scooter be ridden manually?
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.
Why Trust Us
Our reviews are driven by a combination of hands-on testing, expert input, “wisdom of the crowd” assessments from actual buyers, and our own expertise. We always aim to offer genuine, accurate guides to help you find the best picks.
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