Choosing an Electric Scooter

TRANSPORT · GLOBAL

Choosing an Electric Scooter

Motor and brakes, tyres and suspension, build quality and the legal position

Electric scooters vary enormously in quality, and the differences that matter are the ones affecting whether you can stop and whether the machine stays together.

Brakes come first

Look for a proper mechanical or hydraulic disc brake, ideally on both wheels. Electronic regenerative braking alone is not adequate, particularly in the wet or downhill.

Test the brakes at low speed before riding in traffic, and check pad wear regularly.

Tyres

Pneumatic tyres grip and absorb bumps far better than solid ones. Solid tyres never puncture and transmit every imperfection to the frame and to you, which is uncomfortable and harder on the machine.

Small wheels are unforgiving of potholes and kerbs, which is how most injuries happen. Larger diameter is safer.

Motor and hills

Rated power rather than peak power is the comparable figure. Hills and rider weight both reduce range and speed considerably, so check reviews from riders of similar weight on similar terrain.

Build quality and the folding mechanism

The stem clamp and folding hinge are where cheap scooters fail, and a loose stem is a common cause of falls. Check it locks solidly with no play, and re-check it periodically.

The legal position

Rules differ enormously by country, covering speed caps, minimum age, insurance, registration and whether private scooters may be used on public roads at all. Some countries prohibit them entirely outside rental schemes.

Check with the national transport authority rather than relying on a retailer's description, since a machine sold legally may not be legal to ride.

Riding safely

A helmet, lights front and rear, and keeping off pavements. Slow down for wet leaves, painted lines, tram rails and ice.

Maintenance

Check tyre pressure, brake pads and the stem clamp before every ride, and tighten anything that has worked loose. Vibration undoes fasteners on these machines faster than on bicycles.

Keep water away from the battery compartment and charging port, and dry the machine down after riding in heavy rain.

Carrying it

Most scooters are heavier than they look, and the folded weight is what you carry up stairs and onto trains. Check the folded dimensions against the luggage rules of any train or bus you plan to use.

Insurance and liability

Check whether insurance is legally required where you ride, and whether your home contents policy covers theft of the machine away from the property. Third-party cover matters, since a collision with a pedestrian is a real possibility.

Battery

Use the supplied charger, charge on a hard surface while you are awake, and never block an escape route with a charging scooter.

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