What type of electric scooter should you buy?
Hi everyone! If you've taken a look at our website menu, you'll notice some new categories. We understand that picking an electric scooter can be challenging, especially when overwhelmed by choice. Electric scooters are designed with different customers in mind. Some customers want high-performance electric scooters with blistering speeds, and others want to use them to commute to and from the workplace. We have split our e-scooters into different categories so you can easily find a model that suits you.
We've had the chance to meet with thousands of customers and have answered a tonne of questions about electric scooters. We've taken the most commonly asked questions about electric scooters and created categories around them.
There are five categories;
- Commuter electric scooters
- Electric scooters with seats
- Fast electric scooters
- Long-range electric scooters
- Max rider weight 150kgs
You may be interested in one or more categories. Below we go into more detail on each type.
Commuter electric scooters
Are you looking to swap your car for an electric scooter? Can you save an extra hour a day taking an electric scooter rather than the bus? Would you be able to save time with an e-scooter rather than taking a bus with awkward bus routes? Do you want to pass on expensive fuel prices and move to an eco-friendly (and cheap) form of transport?
Customers come to us looking for a commuter electric scooter to reduce their commuting time and/or travel costs. Having gone from working from home during lockdown to being back in the office, it's definitely a pain being stuck in traffic or on the bus. Those extra minutes on either side of work count and can free a couple of hours a week for other activities.
Commuter electric scooters are;
- Portable - fit into car boots or on public transport
- Foldable - can be carried when folded
- Capped speeds - 25km or under in line with international standards
- Lockable - can be locked between front wheel and frame
- Visible - reflectors and lights (front and rear)
You probably recognise some of the brands in this category - Segway Ninebot and Xiaomi. These electric scooters have been around for years in different countries and have developed over time to reflect safe driving practices for individuals and others.
The main difference in price between these electric scooters is mainly the battery size and some unique features. Xiaomi's look the same but vary in speed and range between the models. The Segway G30 Max has a huge driving range and puncture-resistant tyres. Both are excellent brands of e-scooters for which we provide a two-year warranty and for commuting.
The most important decision you have to make is picking an e-scooter with enough range. The electric scooter's range is measured in kilometres and is how far you can get on a single charge. As a rule of thumb, we advise you to half the max range to get the expected range. The maximum range is what the electric scooter can travel on a single charge under optimal conditions. User weight, driving style, driving conditions and many other factors affect the maximum range for individuals. We list the expected range on all our electric scooters specifications as a guide. The range will vary on a case by case basis.
If you find an e-scooter in this category that's a perfect fit, there are some upgrades that you can make. E-scooters with tubed pneumatic tyres can be upgraded to puncture-proof (never get flats). The option to waterproof your electric scooter is also there, where we exclusively cover water damage for a year under our warranty.
Electric scooters with seats
Need an electric scooter with a seat? Do you need an electric scooter that's comfortable?
If standing up on an electric scooter isn't your thing, and you'd prefer to sit, we've got electric scooters with seats. It's essential to understand the difference between an electric scooter manufactured with a seat and an electric scooter with a seat put on it.
An electric scooter manufactured with a seat generally has a motor to the rear. This is needed to push the seated weight of the person forward. The handlebars are also adjustable to be positioned precisely to the user's needs. They also have a suspension system to absorb the pressure on the rear wheel. An electric scooter with a seat put on it usually doesn't have adjustable handlebars making it awkward to steer and position yourself.
Electric scooters with seats are;
- Powerful - rear-wheel drive and can easily climb hills
- Comfortable - have dual suspension systems and pneumatic tyres
- Visible - lights front, rear and side
The Kugoo Kirin M4 and Kugoo M4 Pro electric scooters have adjustable seats. The features mentioned above, such as suspension and an adjustable steering pole, are incorporated into the design. They can be adjusted precisely to each person's height. We have customers who are over 6 foot 5 buy Kugoos because it was the only electric scooter with an adjustable handlebar that could be brought high enough for their needs. They also have a max user weight of 150kg making them suitable for bigger people.
We think it's essential that a Kugoo M4 and Kugoo M4 Pro gets waterproofed. There are specific places where water can get in and cause electrical problems. Luckily at LOCO, we know exactly where these areas of water ingress are and seal them as part of our waterproofing service. When we waterproof an electric scooter, we cover water damage for a year along with our standard warranty.
Fast electric scooters / high-performance electric scooters
What’s a fast electric scooter that goes above 40km/hr?
These high-performance e-scooters can reach speeds up to 120km/hr. The max range on these electric scooters is anywhere from 45km to 160km, depending on how hard you like to drive your machine. They pack a punch when it comes to acceleration, and you always feel in control with responsive steering and suspension systems. Whether you're searching for excellence or an adrenaline rush, these high-performance vehicles are for you.
High-performance e-scooters are;
- Insanely powerful - 0-24km/hr in 1.9 seconds (Vsett 10+)
- Responsive - customise the suspension precisely to your satisfaction
- Slick - they look and feel the part In this category, bigger means more power.
A Vsett 10+ has two 1400W motors (one in each wheel). Compare this to your standard Xiaomi, which has a 250W-300W depending on the model. That's eight times the wattage specified for the motors. This extra power means you can take off like a rocket with the Vsett going from 0-24km/hr in 1.9 seconds.
This wattage may seem nearly too powerful at the offset, but these electric scooters deliver impressive stability and handling through their careful design and suspension systems. Having twin suspension systems combined with 10-inch pneumatic tyres (11 inches for a Zero 11X) makes for a smooth ride. Hydraulic and semi hydraulic brakes provide responsive braking at the move of a finger.
Zeros, Vsetts and Kugoos fall into this category. Check them out through the links provided.
Long-range electric scooters
Do you need an electric scooter that can get you to work by covering long distances?
Or maybe you want to have a big enough battery, so you don't have to charge your e-scooter every day. It would be best to have an electric scooter that can achieve a 45km + max range.
An e-scooter's range is measured in kilometres. We tell people to divide the maximum range in two to get the realistic range. The maximum range is what the electric scooter can travel on a single charge under optimal conditions. User weight, driving style, driving conditions and many other factors affect the maximum range for individuals. We list the expected range on all our electric scooters specifications as a guide. The range will vary on a case by case basis.
Most customers choosing an electric scooter have to consider the distance they can cover if it's not for leisure use. A handy way to do this is to check the distance on google maps for your commute and keep in mind where a power source can charge your e-scooter. If your commute is 15km, you may want an electric scooter that covers 30km + so you don't have to charge it every day.
The Segway G30 Max has a 15.3ah Li-battery specified by the manufacturer for a max range of 65km. We've tested that the G30 Max's range can get between 35km and 40km with a user weight of 90kgs in changing driving conditions. Like all electric scooters, you can carry the charger in a backpack (or leave a spare at a desk) and charge when you get to your destination. This way, you'll never be short on power when needed. If you are looking for even more range than a Segway G30 Max, you can look at the high-performance e-scooters in the section above.
Long-range electric scooters are;
- Powerful - rear-wheel drive and can easily climb hills
- Comfortable - have dual suspension systems and pneumatic tyres
- Visible - lights (front and rear) / some with reflectors
Max rider weight 150kgs
What electric scooters have a max weight above 100kg?
We get loads of customers who want an e-scooter that can carry more than 100kg (the typical max weight of an electric scooter). It can seem challenging to find one, but there are loads. Either the retailers stock only basic electric scooters or haven't taken the time to communicate which can carry over 100kg. We've taken the time to categorise these e-scooters and make researching them easy for you.
Electric scooters that can hold a maximum rider weight of 150kgs are also our high-performance e-scooters. These e-scooters have big motors, batteries and frames and will outperform e-scooters with a max rider weight of 100kg.
Electric scooters with a maximum rider weight of 150kgs are;
- Powerful - rear-wheel drive and can easily climb hills
- Comfortable - have dual suspension systems and pneumatic tyres
- Visible - lights (front and rear)
Final Note
That's it. Hopefully, having read this article, you have a good understanding of what type of e-scooter best suits you. It's a satisfying feeling when you get an e-scooter that's just the right fit!
At LOCO, we've exclusive upgrades such as puncture-proof tyres, suspension upgrades and waterproofing that we do in our repair centre. You can find out more about that on our product pages or by getting in touch with us.
