Electric scooters buyer's guide: Everything you need to know

Once considered a niche form of transportation, electric scooters are now everywhere in the form of services like Bird and Lime, and that’s prompted some people to look into buying their own. This guide will help you decide whether an electric scooter makes sense, what to look for when shopping for one, and issues to be mindful of, such as maintenance and legality.First, what is an electric scooter?

Electric scooters come in two main varieties.

The first is a sit-down style, best exemplified by something like the Vespa Elettrica or Ninebot eScooter E200P. Sit-down electric scooters are essentially low-powered motorcycles — you probably can’t take them on the highway or off city streets, but they are excellent for urban commuters. Depending on power specs and the region you live in, you may need to be insured and licensed to ride one. Here’s a selection of the best sit-down electric scooters (also called mopeds) you can get.

The type of scooter rented by companies like Lime is a stand-up scooter, also known as a folding or kickscooter, though only some models actually require a kick to get going. Electric kickscooters can often be more practical than sit-down models. While they require add-ons for storage, the ability to fold the stem makes it possible to fit them in tight spaces like public transit or a car trunk. They’re also allowed to travel on sidewalks and park paths in some cases, and rugged models can go off-road.Lines can blur. Some stand-up models have optional seats, and sit-down models occasionally resemble e-bikes more than a Vespa.

There are several factors to consider before choosing an electric scooter over other forms of transportation. The first is weather — while some scooters will work in heavy rain or snow, you’ll need to adjust your speed, clothing, and equipment, for instance by swapping in studded/off-road tires. Even then riding can be risky, and some conditions simply won’t allow it — you’re not going anywhere if snow is a foot deep. Electric scooters are only truly suited to clear skies or light rain. Depending on your model, you may still need to do extra weatherproofing to protect the battery and circuitry.

Consider the roads and traffic you’ll be dealing with, too. While many scooters can cope with cracks, potholes, and slower urban traffic, few are capable of highway speeds, and even then, highways aren’t a safe place to be. You should probably step up to an electric car or motorcycle if highway driving is a must. Some people aren’t comfortable riding in traffic at all, and of course, lighter scooters are only designed for sidewalks, park paths, and bike lanes.

Legality is a huge factor. Though sit-down scooters are typically legal everywhere in the world, many governments have yet to realize the potential of stand-up models, often resulting in misguided or scattershot laws. Some cities, states, and provinces will look the other way — but others are notoriously harsh, such as London, where people’s rides are regularly confiscated. Still other places will bar you from riding on paths or sidewalks. If you move internationally and bring a scooter with you, you could be forced to register and insure it, even if it was previously free of red tape. Do your research before buying anything.

Legality is a huge factor.

You should also be sure you have a person or repair shop to which you can bring a scooter if it breaks down. Scooter shops are less common than ones for bikes, and some may outright refuse to repair stand-up models. The ones that do will probably have to order in custom parts, so you may be without a ride for a week or longer. It’s possible to repair stand-up scooters on your own, but of course not everyone has the time, knowledge, or tools.

Consider your use cases realistically. Though a scooter is perfect for commuting and running errands in urban environments, it can potentially be a bad choice for the same things in suburbs or rural areas. Electric bikes and motorcycles are typically better, given features like pedal assist and/or bigger batteries.

Things open up considerably if you’re just interested in having fun, since electric scooters have next to no learning curve. However, you should be prepared for the fact that higher-end models are big and heavy, making them difficult to get home if they break down or run out of power. Electric skateboards and unicycles are superior if you need maximum portability and can afford the time to learn them. Some stand-up scooters (like the Unagi One) are built to be easy to carry, but sacrifice range, speed, and the ability to handle rough terrain.