An electric scooter is one of the best ways to have fun outside. However, many people new to the hobby have a lot of questions.
This is especially the case if they are brand new or are still in the process of buying their brand new electric scooter.
This electric scooter FAQ is here to change that.
Understanding Electric Scooters: Electric Scooter FAQ
Contents
- Understanding Electric Scooters: Electric Scooter FAQ
- 1. When To Charge An Electric Scooter
- 2. Why An Electric Scooter Doesn’t Need A License
- 3. Why Buy An Electric Scooter?
- 4. Are Electric Scooters Street Legal?
- 5. Are Electric Scooters Safe?
- 6. Are Electric Scooters Waterproof? Can They Get Wet?
- 7. Are Electric Scooters Dangerous?
- 8. Are Electric Scooters Worth It?
- 9. Are Electric Scooter Batteries Safe?
- 10. Will An Electric Scooter Go Up A Hill?
- 11. How Long Will An Electric Scooter Last?
- 12. Where Should You Buy An Electric Scooter?
- 13. How Does An Electric Scooter Work?
- 14. How Does An Electric Scooter’s Throttle Work?
- 15. How Much Does An Electric Scooter Cost?
- 16. Can Electric Scooters Ride On Grass?
- 17. Can Electric Scooters Go On A Plane?
- 18. Can An Electric Scooter Go On The Road?
- 19. Can An Electric Scooter Be Used Manually?
- 20. What Electric Scooter Does Lime Use?
- 21. What Electric Scooter Does BIRD Use?
- 22. Electric Scooters vs Electric Bikes
- 23. Electric Scooters vs Skateboards
- 24. Electric Scooters vs Hoverboards
1. When To Charge An Electric Scooter
Riding an electric scooter is a joy. However, waiting for the battery to charge up can be quite boring. The good news is that most modern scooters do not need to be charged up very often. At the same time, the amount of use a scooter gets can drastically change the amount of charging it’ll need in a specific time span.
Someone who rides every day, for instance, will need to charge the battery much more often than someone who only rides here and there.
Knowing when to charge the battery, however, can allow you to avoid waiting for the battery to charge when you’re in the mood for a ride. A common mistake that many new riders make is only charging when the low-battery indicator light is on.
Getting the most enjoyment from your scooter means charging the battery after every ride. Likewise, if you don’t plan to use it for a while, be sure to keep the battery at around 70%. By following the proper charging procedures, not only will your battery last longer, but it’ll also prevent having an empty battery at a bad time.
2. Why An Electric Scooter Doesn’t Need A License
You do not need a license in order to ride your electric scooter. This is a surprising fact. This just means that even if you don’t have a license or registration, you can take your electric scooter out for a drive around the town. This is possible as most laws treat e-scooters very similar to a traditional bicycle.
This is a good thing in more ways than one.
For example, in recent years, electric scooters have become a great alternative to owning a car. In fact, many electric scooters may even be advertised as vehicles that anybody can own. Although this isn’t entirely accurate, it also isn’t that far off from the truth. Many modern electric scooters come with a lot of different features. Many of these features may even be ones that you would expect to find in an actual vehicle.
Unlike regular vehicles, however, electric scooters are much cheaper to own and maintain. Not only that, riding an electric scooter around the city is a lot more fun than doing it in a car or on foot. All-in-all, an electric scooter is a great choice of vehicle for a reason.
3. Why Buy An Electric Scooter?
Many potential electric scooter owners that are on the fence about buying one have a reason for their hesitation. The cost of one, for example, maybe a real barrier to entry. However, there are even more reasons that fall on the side of owning one.
Sure, some of these reasons – like the entertainment factor or transportation efficiency – aren’t the most important. Many others, however, are. The costs of an electric scooter, for example, is a lot less when you take into account the money saved in the long run.
Unlike a regular vehicle, an electric scooter costs much less money to maintain or to ride around. A rechargeable battery, for instance, means that you don’t have to spend money on fuel. Likewise, if you can’t own a car for some reason, an electric scooter is a great alternative for getting around. Many scooters may even come with a basket that makes them perfect for grocery shopping.
Finally, although it isn’t the most important reason, the amount of joy and happiness an electric scooter can bring you cannot be understated. If you have never ridden one before, you’ll be quite surprised at just how fun they are.
4. Are Electric Scooters Street Legal?
Electric scooters are fun, but does that mean they’re street legal? Unfortunately, answering this question isn’t as straightforward as you would think. What decides whether a vehicle is street legal is dependent on a lot of different factors.
For example, does the vehicle have all of the proper safety equipment that is required to comply with safety standards? What about signal lights and headlights? Even if an electric scooter does comply with the safety standards, that still isn’t a guarantee that it’s street legal.
Federal law, for example, states that any two or three-wheeled vehicle with a top speed that is under 20 mph is street legal. This is also the case if the electric motor produces less than 750 watts. However, it will also need fully operable pedals. Although some manufacturers choose to add a pair of pedals to the vehicle, this is not always the case.
Sadly, the only way for you to find out if your electric scooter is street legal is to check in with your local laws. Depending on where you live and the style of electric scooter you ride, the street legality of it may differ quite widely compared to different areas.
5. Are Electric Scooters Safe?
If you’re new to electric scooters, you might have heard scary stories about them. To be more precise, you may have heard a lot of stories about how unsafe an electric scooter is. You may have even had friends try to dissuade you from purchasing one. The good news, luckily, is that modern electric scooters are a lot safer than they have ever been.
Most scooter manufacturers build their scooters while following very strict safety standards. The parts they are made from are all reliable and high quality. As long as you follow the proper riding procedure for an electric scooter, it’s easy to say that an electric scooter is very safe compared to other forms of transportation.
However, this is only the case if you actually follow safe driving guidelines. Even the most stringent safety tests will do little to protect you from a bad crash that happened because you were driving recklessly.
Likewise, if the brand of scooter you have is a low-quality one, there is also no guarantee that the manufacturer actually used high-quality parts or followed proper safety procedures.
Luckily, these are problems that are easy to avoid. As long as you buy a high-quality scooter and follow proper riding procedures, you can have lots of fun while staying safe.
6. Are Electric Scooters Waterproof? Can They Get Wet?
Some days all you want to do is ride your brand new electric scooter. Sometimes, however, you’ll get this urge at the worst possible time. A rainy day can quickly stop you from enjoying many outdoor hobbies. Electric scooters are no exception. Due to the fact that electric scooters have electric parts in them, riding one out in the rain can be a very bad idea.
Most electric scooters are not waterproof. True, some may be able to get a little wet and be fine. On the whole, however, keeping your scooter dry should be something you should always aim to do. So, yes, if you have to drive around a puddle then you should.
As much as driving through a puddle may seem fun, is it really worth risking the lifespan of your precious electric scooter? The same thought process should also be taken when it comes to riding in the rain.
If you can avoid it, you’re better off staying home and keeping your scooter dry. If you don’t have a choice, however, then it’s a good idea to find someplace dry and wait out the rain.
7. Are Electric Scooters Dangerous?
Everybody likes to have fun. Most people, however, would rather be bored than risk ending up in a dangerous situation. For many potential electric scooter riders, the dangers of riding a scooter can be a big concern. This is for good reason as electric scooters do have the potential to cause massive harm. Getting into an accident with a passerby could leave both of you in the hospital.
Thankfully, the dangers of scooter riding are all things that are easy to mitigate. For example, you should always wear protective riding gear when using your scooter. A helmet can prove to be the difference between life and death in an accident.
Likewise, if you follow proper scooter riding procedures, you’ll also reduce the chances of getting into an accident. Follow the rules of the road and avoid driving recklessly and you’ll be well on your way to staying safe during your scooter adventures.
An electric scooter has all the potential to bring danger for both you and the people around you. By following proper safety practices, however, it’s possible to greatly reduce much of this risk. Remember, you don’t have to ride recklessly to have a lot of fun with an electric scooter.
8. Are Electric Scooters Worth It?
Is an electric scooter really worth the cost? That’s a difficult question to answer. Are you looking for fun? Adventure? Or maybe you’re just looking for a way to go grocery shopping?
Figuring out why you want an electric scooter in the first place is vital in deciding if a scooter is worth buying. The good news, however, is that for many people an electric scooter is well worth the cost.
Very few hobbies will allow you to have as much fun as an electric scooter. The ones that do will usually be prohibitory expensive. For someone looking to have fun or go on adventures, an electric scooter is a vehicle that is hard to beat. This is also the case when it comes to grocery shopping.
Sure, an electric scooter may not be as efficient as a car, but it does have its own benefits. Riding an electric scooter to the store is a much more enjoyable process than just taking the car.
So, is an electric scooter worth it? That depends. Do you want to have a vehicle that can be a gateway to fun adventures and a useful tool? If so, then an electric scooter is more than worth giving up your hard-earned money for.
9. Are Electric Scooter Batteries Safe?
Safety is a big concern for many electric scooter riders. Many people thinking about buying a scooter will usually do a lot of research on scooter safety. Sooner or later, they will come upon the question of scooter batteries and their dangers.
Depending on the information they find, they’ll be awash with stories of exploding batteries and hospital visits. Unfortunately, it’s rarely the case that they’ll get the full story.
Does an electric scooter battery have the potential to be dangerous? Sure, but what are the chances of it actually happening? If you go by the number of stories you find online, you would think very high. What these stories don’t tell you, however, is why many of these situations happen in the first place.
Needless to say, most stories about the dangers of electric scooter batteries will also involve a battery that was improperly handled.
For most electric scooter riders, if they treat their battery with the right amount of care, there will be very little danger. In fact, most electric scooter owners will go their entire scooter-owning life without having a bad battery experience.
10. Will An Electric Scooter Go Up A Hill?
Unlike flat roads, a hill can be very difficult to climb. Many electric vehicles may struggle or use up more energy just to reach the top. An electric scooter is not any different.
Going up a steep hill can be quite a challenge depending on the brand of scooter. Sure, some of the higher-tier ones could climb up a hill like nothing, but your average scooter is a different story.
Depending on motor power, weight, and the steepness of the hill, climbing up a hill could easily prove to be a herculean task. Thankfully, for most e-scooters, going up a hill is very possible. If the weight limit is an issue, there are some electric scooters designed for heavy adults that still offer a good hill climbing rate.
You might have to use up a little more battery and go a little slower, but you’ll eventually reach the top of the hill. Sometimes, however, a hill may be way too steep to climb or you also may not have enough battery left. In those cases, you’ll have to climb up on foot.
Luckily, most electric scooters can still be ridden with the power off. You may, however, have to turn off the battery beforehand.
11. How Long Will An Electric Scooter Last?
An electric scooter is a long-term investment for most people. That means that having to replace it every few months is something to be avoided. Luckily, monthly replacements are very rarely ever the case.
This is especially the case if you ride your scooter with the right amount of care and respect. In fact, most modern scooters can easily last many years if they are treated right.
Sure, you may have to do a little maintenance here and there. Wheels will need to be changed and batteries will need charging for example. On the whole, however, you can easily see yourself using the same scooter in the years to come.
However, this is only the case if actually treat your scooter with the care it deserves. Riding recklessly or not caring about your scooter when you’re not riding it can easily turn into a situation where you need to buy a new scooter.
Thankfully, these problems are easy to mitigate. Treat your scooter right – on the road or off it – and in return, you’ll find yourself with a friend for life. Of course in some cases, things may not go so smoothly. A part may get damaged or an unavoidable accident may happen for example.
12. Where Should You Buy An Electric Scooter?
So, you’ve finally made the decision to buy an electric scooter. You know the model you’re going to buy and how much it’ll cost. However, there is still one more thing you need to figure out before you’re ready to pick up your brand new scooter. You still need to know where exactly you’re going to buy it from.
Despite what you may think, not all electric scooter sellers are equal. Some scooter dealers may sell their scooters at a higher price or they may even have worse warranties.
Before you head out to the dealer to buy an electric scooter, it’s a good idea to shop around beforehand or lurk on popular online shopping platforms like Amazon or eBay. By looking around, you’ll be able to more easily see any red flags before they become a problem.
You’ll also have more chances of finding a good deal on the electric scooter you are looking for. Not only that, but great electric scooter dealers also come with their own benefits.
For example, a high-quality scooter dealer can easily recommend the right scooter. Some may even lower the price to be more in line with other dealers. The best scooter dealers will even have incredibly valuable warranties to help you out in a pinch.
13. How Does An Electric Scooter Work?
Unlike a traditional scooter, an electric scooter runs entirely on rechargeable batteries and electricity. In most cases, the motor of the vehicle is attached to the frame. Wires connect it to the battery and allow electricity to reach the motor. Depending on what sort of scooter you’re riding, the front and back wheels will rotate to move you forward.
Although this may seem quite similar to a normal scooter, it would be a mistake to think so. The motor, for example, is designed to work entirely with electricity. Although it may not seem like much of a difference, this small factor can actually change the entire feeling of riding.
Everything from the throttle to the way it rides can feel completely different than a regular scooter. In some cases, an electric scooter may even have completely unique parts that you will rarely find on a regular scooter.
Take the rear foot brake for instance. Most traditional scooters do not allow you to slow down in the same way as an electric scooter. By pressing your heel down on the back wheel’s fender, you end up with a much more national braking system than you would usually find in a scooter.
14. How Does An Electric Scooter’s Throttle Work?
A motorcycle is a whole other beast compared to an electric scooter. Despite that, they actually have a couple of things in common. Specifically, a motorcycle’s throttle is quite similar to that of an electric scooter. Of course, this also depends on the type of throttle the scooter has.
A half twist throttle, for example, is very similar to most motorcycle throttles. By sliding it into the handlebars, giving it a squeeze and a twist, you can accelerate. Depending on how much you twist, the amount of acceleration can vary quite a bit.
The full twist throttle is also quite similar. In this case, however, there is no need to slide it into the handlebars. Instead, all you need to do is give it a twist towards yourself.
No matter the style of the throttle, most will also work very similarly to each other. In simple systems, for example, a controller will send a 5V power supply to the hand-throttle using one wire. A second wire will send a negative ground connection. The last wire acts as a signal wire that tells the controller what you wish to do. Of course, depending on the complexity, the inner workings of the throttle may differ quite a bit from this.
15. How Much Does An Electric Scooter Cost?
One of the most common reasons most people decide against buying an electric scooter is because of the price. On average, an electric scooter costs $300. For someone new to electric scooters, the price can be quite a shock.
Sadly, this means that many would-be scooter buyers end up getting cold feet before they ever get the chance to actually ride one. Although this is understandable, it can also be a big mistake.
Many scooters, for example, actually cost much less than the initial price would make it seem. Likewise, the type of scooter can also change the cost. Sure, most high-end scooters can be quite pricey. Mid-tier or budget scooters, however, are actually very reasonably priced. When you consider what you get in return, this price may even seem to be too good to be true. In a similar vein, the dealer you are buying from can also drastically change the price you pay.
High-end electric scooters that usually cost more than $600 can be worth the price depending on the extras that they offer. A good warranty, for example, is worth every penny. The same is also true of the scooter. A high-quality scooter will easily give you back the money you paid.
16. Can Electric Scooters Ride On Grass?
Sometimes, you don’t have a choice but to ride on the grass. The road you’re taking may be quite crowded or you may just be looking for a little fun instead. Whatever the case, there are times driving on the grass may seem like a good idea.
The good news is that you would be right. Most electric scooters are quite capable of riding on the grass. Unfortunately, this doesn’t mean they are great at it.
The bad news is that grass makes riding an electric scooter much more difficult than it would be otherwise. Depending on how soft the ground is, it may actually end up being close to impossible to ride on.
In some cases, riding an electric scooter on the grass may even end up being a risky choice. Mud, for example, has the potential to harm your electric scooter in more ways than one.
So, should you ride your electric scooter on the grass? That depends on the actual grass. If it’s quite dry and solid then a quick ride wouldn’t do much harm. Wet or muddy grass, however, is something that you should do your best to avoid.
17. Can Electric Scooters Go On A Plane?
Just because you’re going on vacation doesn’t mean you should leave your electric scooter behind. Even the most boring vacation can become a memorable event with an electric scooter. However, if you’re vacationing far away then taking your electric scooter may prove to be a difficult task.
Some airlines, for example, may not allow you to just carry your scooter with you on the plane. A lot of the time, you’ll have no choice but to give it to the airline’s luggage department.
For many scooter riders, this can be a very scary thought. Your electric scooter means a lot to you, is it really alright to just hand it over and hope for the best? Unfortunately, if you want to take your scooter with you, you really don’t have much of a choice most of the time.
The good news, however, is that most respectable airlines will do their best to keep your luggage in good condition.
Except in very rare situations, you can expect your electric scooter to be waiting for you when you land. Still, it’s always a good idea to check with the airline beforehand. Some airlines may have very strict guidelines that may prevent you from taking your electric scooter.
18. Can An Electric Scooter Go On The Road?
For many scooter riders, one of the biggest joys of scooters is being able to ride them around the town. However, rigorous laws can make scooter riding a little more complicated than it should be.
Depending on where you live, your ability to ride your scooter on the road may be limited. Some areas, for instance, may outright forbid using an electric scooter on public roads. Others may instead force you to follow a myriad of complex rules and regulations beforehand.
For instance, many cities will require your scooter to have specific types of equipment installed such as lights. Other cities may allow you on the road but only in the bike lane. All of these different rules and regulations, unfortunately, can make the process of scooter riding a very complex task with no easy answer.
Knowing all these technicalities is an impossible task. When it comes to scooter riding, there is only one real way to be sure if road riding is in the cards for you.
You have no choice but to directly look up the laws in your area that pertain to electric scooters.
19. Can An Electric Scooter Be Used Manually?
Charging an electric scooter is very simple. However, that doesn’t mean that everyone will remember to do it. And even when you do remember, you might misjudge how far you traveled and end up with a dead scooter in the middle of your ride.
During times like these, the question of using an electric scooter manually comes to mind. Unfortunately, this is a difficult question to answer. The short of it, thankfully, is that it’s possible to use a scooter with a dead battery. However, this ability also comes with its own share of negatives.
The biggest of these negatives, of course, is the increased amount of effort you’ll need to use. Although most scooters are small and lightweight, they still require quite a bit of effort to ride. Not only that, in some cases using an electric scooter with the power off has the potential to harm its inner parts. Most scooter motors, for example, aren’t really designed to be used without electricity.
The good news, however, is that using your scooter manually is perfectly acceptable if you only do it for a short time. Using it with a dead battery for too long should be avoided whenever possible.
20. What Electric Scooter Does Lime Use?
If you don’t possess an electric scooter but want to use it for short distance transportation, Lime is the company of choice. Lime is a transportation company that aims to reduce the dependence on personal automobiles by providing a mobility sharing system. They provide shared scooters, bikes, and transit vehicles that can be rented and tracked through their app.
One of the most common questions asked about the company, however, is the type of electric scooter models they use. There are four models that are currently in use:
- Lime-S Ninebot ES4
- Lime-S Generation 1
- Lime-S Generation 2
- Lime-S Generation 3
Throughout the years, the scooter that has been in use has changed quite a bit. Not only that, the style of scooter that they use may not be limited to just a single model. At the time this article was written, for example, Lime uses four different electric scooter models. Each has a different set of features and each has the potential to be a great choice for an electric scooter rider.
21. What Electric Scooter Does BIRD Use?
Like Lime, BIRD is another company that offers a mobility sharing system and is also one of the top electric scooter providers right now. Thousands of satisfied scooter riders have nothing but good things to say about the company. At the same time, many others also have a variety of questions to ask.
Most notably, most would-be customers wonder just what exactly the scooter model the company uses is. The answer to this question can change quite fast, however.
BIRD is a large company. That means that they are quick to update their scooters. That also means that their customers only get to ride the best scooters. For example, the Xiaomi Mi M365 is a high quality scooter that BIRD has made popular throughout the world.
22. Electric Scooters vs Electric Bikes
For many would-be electric scooter riders, the choice between an electric scooter and an electric bike is a difficult one. This is for good reason too as both vehicles come with their own positives.
Depending on what your needs are, the choice between the two can actually be a very difficult choice to make. Likewise, when you know what you want, it’s easy to see why one would be better over the other.
An electric bike, for example, has the potential to travel much faster than a scooter. A scooter, on the other hand, has the potential to be easier to ride. Depending on what your exact needs are, the choice between the two could quickly become difficult to answer.
However, by taking the time to go over these needs, the question quickly becomes much more manageable. It may not be easy, but with a little bit of effort, you can make the right choice. The important part, of course, is to take your time. Being impatient and making the wrong choice can easily ruin your day.
23. Electric Scooters vs Skateboards
Many electric scooter riders also have a place in their heart for electric skateboards. This isn’t surprising as both vehicles are very similar to each other. Likewise, both vehicles have the ability to provide for you an endless amount of fun. Not only that, they can also both be used for adventures or as a way to get from one place to another.
These similarities are great but also have the potential to make choosing between the two a very difficult task. Some potential buyers may even come to a standstill in deciding between the two.
Unfortunately, deciding on which choice of ride is best is an almost impossible question to answer. As you’ve no doubt noticed, both come with their own set of positives and negatives. The result is a question whose answer comes down to personal taste.
Both types of vehicles provide the same amount of fun. That means that the choice comes down to choosing whichever one you like best. This can be either visually or even just feel.
Despite their similarities, the lack of any handlebars on an electric skateboard ends up giving it a very different feel than an electric scooter. For some riders, this difference can easily become the deciding factor between the two.
24. Electric Scooters vs Hoverboards
Hoverboards are a very interesting form of riding. Unlike other vehicles, these boards move using forward momentum. This means that you have to lean forward to go forward. Needless to say, this makes hoverboards a very unique vehicle.
This, however, means that the skill level required to ride a hoverboard is much higher than with an electric scooter. That means that if you’re new to hoverboards, you can expect your first few hours to be a lot less fun.
With an electric scooter, however, this isn’t really much of a problem. Electric scooters are very beginner-friendly. It wouldn’t be a mistake to say that anybody can ride an electric scooter. Not only that, scooters are much more common than hoverboards. This means it’s much easier to find a scooter at a reasonable price than a hoverboard. But if cost or skill isn’t an issue, then things become a little more complicated.
Electric scooters and hoverboards aren’t that similar to one another. Aside from electricity, the only thing they have in common is fun. However, this style of fun comes in a completely different form. If you’re deciding between the two, the choice really does come down to personal taste.
