Scooters Are a Great Alternative Form of Transportation

The new field commonly called MaaS (Mobility as a Service) is bringing forth a number of innovative solutions to solve widespread problems of traffic congestion and greenhouse gas pollution produced by millions of cars jamming major urban centers.One remedy MaaS experts are particularly keen on is scooters.

We’re not talking about those old scooters that were little more than a skateboard with a vertical set of handlebars we leg-pushed ourselves around as kids. An all-new era of “smart scooters” or "e-scooters" have been developed by a cadre of tech start-up firms.

Most Important Scooter Features

A considerable number of brands and scooter manufacturers have arisen to compete within the scooter market. That means a variety of features and benefits are unique to each model. The question, then, is which features are most important. Some of the primary considerations are:

• Motor power. Modern e-scooters feature electric motors that can range from as small as 90-watt to 2,000-watt. This determines speed. A 90-watt can achieve about 9 mph while the 2,000-watt can get in the 40-mph range. A 500-watt motor is perhaps average and will allow a speed of about 18 mph.
• Battery life. The amount of charge a battery can hold will determine the range of the scooter and how long it will maintain power. This is extremely varied from brand to brand, but a ballpark average is 45 minutes of riding before you need a recharge.
• Weight and portability. The average scooter weighs 28 pounds. This is important because the ability to pick up and carry the unit is a much-needed feature. Some scooters are also foldable, making them easy to carry or store.

Buying New Vs. Buying Used Scooter

In general, most people have reported positive experiences with purchasing a used scooter. The biggest advantage is a much lower cost. Second, most scooters are not subject to heavy use. Thus, a used model will tend to provide every benefit of a new scooter.

Use common sense measures when looking at a used model. Ask the buyer about any maintenance that has been done and if any performance modifications have been done. If so, the result is almost always negative. If a scooter has been modified by an owner, it’s a good idea to take a pass.

If you find a used scooter that has been poorly maintained, it still may be a good buy. Most used scooters can be brought up to peak condition with repairs. It depends on how much you’re willing to spend on repairs, which may be a few hundred dollars, versus buying new.

Best New Scooters on the Market

One of the top sellers of electric scooters in the U.S. is Razor. It’s Razor Power Core E90 was the No. 1 seller on Amazon as of this writing. It sells for about $180. It has a small 90-watt motor with a top speed of 9 mph. This product is probably most suitable for children.

But another popular model made by this company is the Razor EcoSmart Metro which sells for $380. It has a 500-watt engine and a top speed of 18 mph. It’s more robust and has a seat, so it's more akin to a traditional motorbike in look and function.

Another highly-regarded new brand is Glion Dolly. This is a foldable stand-up scooter which lists at about $600. It’s truly portable at just 27 pounds. It is foldable and has a handle extension built into the frame. It features a 250-watt motor and goes 15 hours on a charge. The recharge time is 3.5 hours. It has a top speed of 15 mph.

A more high-end scooter brand is the “Scrooser.” It features a 500-watt engine powered by a 36-volt lithium-ion battery and has a top speed of 15.5 mph. It sports “fat tires” and has a maximum range of 34 miles. The price tag is a hefty $5,000.

The Bolt Mobile is a new brand that achieves an amazing 40 mph using a powerful 2000-watt motor. It has a range of 45 miles and has an integrated 52-volt battery system. The starting price for a Bolt is about $10,000.

Other popular brands include Nanorobot, eDrift, Uberscoot, Super Turbo, Superide and the Ecoreco M5 e-scooter to name just a few.