Top 5 Things To Consider When Buying An E-Scooter

Published December 1, 2021

E-Scooters come in many varieties, so it can be overwhelming looking at your options as a first-time buyer. This guide will outline all of the most important things to consider when buying an E-Scooter, to make sure that you’re finding the perfect product for your needs here at Scooter Street.

1. Range

Of course, the most important thing is that your E-Scooter can get you where you need to go. Range means the distance a scooter can cover before it runs out of battery power. This can be affected by factors such as motor power, rider weight, weather, and the speed of your scooter.

Typically E-Scooters in the price range of £300-£600 are suited to shorter, casual commutes, with those in the £600-900 range working well for longer commutes. Anything above this price range tends to be heavier, making them more suited for off-road endeavours.

Another thing to consider when buying an E-Scooter is diminishing battery. As your E-Scooter ages, the battery life, like all batteries, will start to decline after a certain number of charges. This isn’t something you will need to worry about right away, but if you aren’t planning on replacing your E-Scooter after a few years it’s definitely worth taking into account. A cautious rule of thumb is to take the manufacturer’s provided range and divide it by two to see if it would still work for you.

2. Weight & Storage

Most E-Scooters typically weigh over 11kg. This is about twice as heavy as the average household vacuum cleaner. If you think you’ll be carrying your E-Scooter a lot, we recommend looking in the £300-£900 range. These scooters can get you where you need to go without any of the additional power that adds more weight to the scooter. If you think something heavier would be more suited to you, but will still need to carry or lift your scooter, there are straps and electric scooter bags available to help you carry the weight.

Are you aware that typical E-Scooters are not waterproof? If you live in the UK and want to use your scooter daily, without the risk of having to carry it if it starts raining, it would be best to look for a waterproof model.

In some cases, it may become necessary to carry your E-Scooter for part of your journey. You might just need to lift it into a vehicle for transportation. If you think any of this may apply to you, it’s important to check the weight of a scooter before making your decision.

Consider your commute. Will there be stairs, elevators, dedicated indoor space to store your scooter? Certain models will fold for easy storage. Electric scooter bags are a good option in these cases as well.

3. Ride Quality

There are a few different ride quality improvements you can consider when buying an E-Scooter. One important factor is wattage. The more powerful the motor of your E-Scooter is, the greater its wattage will be. For adults, you will generally want to look for a wattage above 250 to get you across flat surfaces and small hills. If your area has steeper hills, something in the 350-500 watts range will be more suitable. Larger motors also allow you to reach top speeds more quickly, which make them good for areas with lots of traffic.

Another aspect of ride quality is your tires. Generally, you will have two options: Solid tyres, and air-filled tyres. Solid tyres are a great, low-maintenance option that will survive through areas where there is a lot of sharp objects on the ground, such as thorns or more industrial materials like glass and nails. However, there is no shock absorption. Meaning that as you travel you will feel a lot of bumps and vibrations in rougher areas. Air-filled tyres give a much smoother ride but are more prone to damage and punctures.

It is recommended, regardless of wheel type, to have wheels 10 inches in diameter or more. Larger wheels are better for ride quality and less likely to get stuck.

Another feature you can look for is suspension. Suspension smooths out bumps in the road and improves ride quality. It is highly recommended for longer and rougher commutes. If you decide that you would prefer solid tyres, suspension can help mitigate some of the shock you would feel on bumpy terrain.

4. Safety

The most important thing to look for regarding the safety of your E-Scooter is the breaks. E-Scooters can have either mechanical or electronic brakes. There are three types of mechanical brake:

• Foot brakes – These are activated by pushing your foot down on the rear fender, which sits just above the wheel of the scooter. This causes the fender to rub against the rear tire, slowing the scooter down.
• Drum brakes – Generally low maintenance, and perform well in wet conditions.
• Disc brakes – These brakes are faster and lighter than the other mechanical options.

Electronic brakes are much weaker than mechanical brakes but do not require the maintenance that mechanical brakes do. We recommend scooters with a combination of braking systems, in the event that one might fail. The best brakes on E-Scooters will have a stopping distance of under 3 meters, but most are longer. Research the stopping power of your E-Scooter to ensure you are making a safe decision for yourself.

Another safety point to consider is lighting. If you are planning to ride your E-Scooter in the dark, you will want some form of light to announce your presence to others on the road. Because of the way they are designed, it can be difficult to see the built-in lights on E-Scooters, so we recommend a secondary form of light attached to your helmet, bag, or clothing to keep you safe at night.

5. Price

The most obvious hurdle when purchasing a new electronic is price. A higher price doesn’t always mean that a product will be better and more suited to your needs. This guide is a very general one as every E-Scooter brand is different, but it should give you an idea of where to start to find the features you’re looking for.

Under £300 – E-Scooters in this range are intended for very casual, recreational use. They have less powerful motors, making them unsuited to use in busy areas.
£300-£600 – These scooters are suitable for short, smooth commutes with little to no hills or bumps.
£600-£900 – This price range affords you a larger battery for more range and motor power.
£900-£1200 – Scooters in this range generally have an even larger motor, bigger battery, and better brake quality, but weigh more than their cheaper counterparts.
£1200 – £1600 – These scooters have some serious speed, ultra-long-range, dual motors, powerful lights, and turn signals.
Over £1600 – E-Scooters in the top price bracket are smooth sailors on most terrain, travel at speeds of up to 50mph(!), have powerful brakes, and can weigh over 30kg!

We hope our top 5 things to consider when buying an E-Scooter made your introduction to E-Scooters a little less intimidating. If you have any more questions, you can contact us here.