Interested in an Electric Scooter? Here Are 4 You Should Take a Look At
Lisa Steuer McArdle
· 4 min read
In light of global warming and other
environmental concerns
, there's been a push to move the automobile industry towards more clean energy. Since electric vehicles
are way more expensive than their gas counterparts, one may consider a scooter instead. Electric scooters have taken over every urban area in America and are here to stay. They are not only convenient and easy to drive, but also affordable and
eco-friendly
. In fact, electric scooters
are far more energy-efficient compared to electric vehicles.Before you take out your credit card, there are a few things you need to take into consideration. The speed, size, scooter insurance, weight, reliability, and range are some of the determining factors for purchasing an electric scooter. For this article, we'll cover the top four electric scooters that were rated by
Consumer Reports
.
Ninebot KickScooter by Segway ES3
The
Ninebot KickScooter
is a Folding electric KickScooter for those who want to experience real power, speed, and range. This e-scooter comes with both an internal and external lithium-ion battery, a 28-mile range, and a top speed of 15.5 mph. It has both electric and foot brakes which work well. It is easily foldable, but since the batteries are located on the front handle, it can be heavy to carry when folded. Inflation is not a great concern for this scooter thanks to both the rubber tires and the small shock absorbers installed in the front forks. The ES3 scooter doesn't have a bell, like its predecessors.
Xiaomi Mi Electric Scooter Pro
Xiaomi
is a great scooter thanks to its speed, ease of use, and portability. Just like ES3, Xiaomi folds easily and is easier to carry, but not for long distance as it weighs 31 pounds. It's easier to stop the scooter when riding at a high speed thanks to the electric brake and the rear disc brake on the traditional lever.The scooter has a built-in bell for alerting motorists and pedestrians on the road. One of the advantages of the Xiaomi is that it has a powered rear light that is triggered when the headlights and hand brake are applied.
The downside is that its Bluetooth App only connects when the location on your smartphone is changed to Hong Kong.
Gotrax GXL V2
The
Gotrax GXL V2
scooter features a lithium-ion battery with Pneumatic tires and both electric and rear disc brakes. But in spite of the good brakes, it has the lowest range compared to the others. The scooters fold easily and can be easily carried when folded. But the presence of the removable pin on the folding handlebar makes the folding process a bit challenging.
A downside is that the scooter doesn't come with a Bluetooth App. However, you don't need to break the bank to own the scooter, as it is quite affordable.
Razor E200
If you are looking for an electric scooter designed for kids, then the
Razor E200
is the one for you. It features a lead-acid battery and is 154 pounds, which makes it easy to carry around. The rear wheel has chains to propel it which makes it a bit noisy when riding. Also, the scooter is slower, especially when climbing a hill. The Razor E200 has a drum rear brake and doesn't fold like the other models. Since its top speed is much lower, you can easily stop the scooter even when riding faster. Its twist-style throttle means you don't have to push it off to start. It doesn't have a bell but has a wide platform for you to easily rest your feet on each side. This also means that the scooter can stand on its own.
While electric scooters provide great convenience, especially for short distances that are impractical to drive, there are no specific rules governing them yet. As scooters grow in popularity, so do safety concerns. Accidents can still occur even with scooters, so it is important to have insurance coverage.
Jerry
can help you find the best scooter insurance to make sure you're always covered. 
