In recent years, electric scooters have evolved from being some tech novelty to a fun and safe travel solution for short distance rides—especially these days, when people try to avoid public transport due to the pandemic. No wonder, you may find more of them on city roads, slithering past you while you wait at the bus stop or while you walk toward the subway station.

If this is your first time to shop for an electric scooter, choosing the one that will work best for you may be challenging—but don’t fret. In this guide, you will discover the different factors you need to consider when buying this motorized ride. Keep reading to learn more about electric scooters and how to pick the right model for you.

Weight limit

Since not all electric scooters are designed to carry the same amount of load, you need to consider the weight limit of the scooter you are buying. Most e-scooters manufactured in Europe have a weight limit of 100kg so it doesn’t make sense buying such scooters if you weigh more than that. If you want your e-scooter to last long and perform better, follow the golden rule: Know what the manufacturer says about your e-ride’s maximum load and strictly stick to it. 

Speed

One of the things that entice people to buy an electric scooter is its speed. If you take a look at the e-scooters on the market today, you will find that most of them provide speeds of 8mph to 50mph, although some are capable of going at faster speeds. Depending on where you are going to use your e-scooter, the ideal speed for adult electric scooters usually ranges between 15-20mph. If you are using your e-scooter for your daily commutes and not for long distance travels, an e-scooter with a speed of 15mph will do.

Range

Now let’s talk about range. To be honest, what most manufacturers claim about their e-scooters when it comes to range are things you can never surely bet on.  This is because the range of your e-scooter will largely depend on you and your riding style, while the quoted range of your manufacturer is just a best-case sample that is usually based on the assumption that you are a light rider passing through a seamless road with a new battery. So while it is difficult to gauge the real range of an e-scooter, the best way around this is to pick one that promises a marginally higher range than the others.

Battery life

When it comes to e-scooter batteries, it is usually a choice between lead acid and lithium ion. Of the two, the better option is the latter, which requires only a few hours to fully charge and provides you greater range in return. Because of the benefits of lithium-ion batteries, you may think choosing batteries for your e-scooter is a no brainer—but it’s not. This is because compared to lead acid, lithium ion is significantly more expensive. That means that if you are conscious about your budget, you may opt for a lead acid battery-powered e-scooter over a lithium-ion-powered one. To be fair, both are great options depending on how you are going to use your e-scooter. If you plan to use your e-ride for your daily commutes, it is best to go for lithium-ion batteries. But if you are only using your scooter occasionally, the other option will do.

Power

The kind of riding you will do with your e-scooter is another important factor you need to consider when choosing a model to buy. If you are planning to use your motorized vehicle for commuting every day, then you can go for a model that features about 250 watts of power. But if you plan to use your e-scooter on more difficult terrains and longer trips, you might need one with a more powerful motor. An electric scooter packed with at least 1,000 watts of power is ideal for off-roading, but you might have to spend a fortune before you get them.

Design

After you have narrowed down your options based on power, battery life, speed, and range, the next thing you should consider when choosing an electric scooter to buy is the design. Of course, you want an e-ride that has that “cool factor” and is stylish enough to make you feel proud riding it. When picking a design for your e-scooter, make sure to choose one that features reliable materials, has all the basic safety features you need, and can give you a comfortable ride.