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Electric scooters, or e-scooters as they’re commonly called, are ramping up in popularity. They’re a compact, lightweight, efficient, and fun way to get around the city that doesn’t involve a car, taxi, or public transit. They’re also great for exploring towns and back roads, going to the beach, or just taking a quick trip to the store or your favorite restaurant. They go faster and require less effort than a traditional bike or scooter, so if you’re in the market for a new electric scooter, we’ve got you covered with our top picks. We also put together an in-depth buying guide that will get you familiar with the ins and outs of choosing a top-of-the-line e-scooter.
Best Adult Electric Scooters Reviews & Recommendations
Best Overall
Razor EcoSmart Metro Electric Scooter
Best Value
Gotrax GXL V2 Commuting Electric Scooter
Best Premium
Segway Ninebot Max Electric Kick Scooter
Best Lightweight
Hover-1 Journey Electric Folding Scooter
Best Commuter
Hiboy S2 Pro Electric Scooter
How We Selected The Products
In order to be sure we chose the best electric scooters, we weeded through dozens of available options across various companies. When it comes to electric scooters, the market continues to be flooded with new competition each and every week, so we narrowed it down by relying on our own personal expertise on the subject, the manufacturer’s reputation, customer testimonials, and the scooter’s specs. When we had a healthy list, we cut it down by comparing and contrasting the offerings.
In the end, we also wanted to provide you with options that were suitable for a wide variety of most urban applications. We focused mainly on recreational and commuter scooters that were built for getting around town. We further eliminated options that were manufactured by companies that didn’t already have a stellar reputation and a long-standing track record of producing high-performance, durable products. The result is the list you see above.
Best Adult Electric Scooter Buying Guide and FAQs
Benefits of Adult Electric Scooters
- Electric Scooters Are a Great Alternative to Bikes. If you’re looking to break away from bike riding or simply want something different, an electric scooter requires little effort and can get you where you need to go just as quickly — or maybe even a bit faster.
- You Don’t Need a License for an Electric Scooter. When you’re behind the wheel of a car, you need your license. An electric scooter for adults is easy to learn and navigate, and there’s no special license or permit you need to carry.
- An Electric Scooter is Eco-Friendly. You don’t need any fuel to operate an adult electric scooter, and there are no emissions when you ride. You’ll reduce your negative impact on the environment and reduce how often you’re filling up your car if you use your scooter often.
Types of Adult Electric Scooters
Electric Kick Scooters
Electric kick scooters essentially sum up most electric scooters for adults. These scooters are the most popular type and are powered by a battery and a motor (or dual motors), these scooters require you to push with your feet, or kick-off, to get them started.
All-Terrain Electric Scooters
All-terrain electric scooters are a more specialized variety of electric kick scooters. These adult scooters run on batteries and electric motors, but they’re equipped to ride over all different types of terrain. An all-terrain adult electric scooter typically features bigger, more rugged tires to handle bumpy roads and uneven surfaces as well as the ability to climb inclines.
Foldable Electric Scooters
Foldable electric scooters are another variety of electric kick scooters. These adult scooters are designed to fold up compactly for easy carrying or tossing in the trunk of a car. They’re especially great for adults who use their scooters to commute since you can fold your ride and stash it easily. They’re also a good choice if you want the most portable kind of electric scooter.
Top Brands
Razor
Since 2000, Razor has been one of the biggest names in scooters. After modernizing the scooter more than 20 years ago, Razor expanded to create high-powered, high-fun, and highly efficient electric scooters for adults.
Segway
Segway is a name that just about everyone associates with futuristic electric transportation. Since its founding in 1999, Segway has created personal transportation devices with innovation and advanced technology.
Gotrax
Gotrax is a Texas-based manufacturer that has been focused on making eco-friendly, fun, and affordable electric rideables since 2017. Drawing from its years of experience as a manufacturer of gas-powered vehicles, the company has a solid reputation and has sold more than 1 million scooters in just a few short years.
Key Features
Range
An electric scooter’s range is critically important as it determines how far you can ride before you need to recharge your battery. The range is the distance an adult electric scooter can travel before running out of power. So, if you choose a scooter with a limited range, you’ll be quite restricted. However, larger batteries can deliver great range, allowing you to go miles before the scooter is depleted.
Top Speed
You’ll only be able to ride as fast as your scooter’s top speed. The top speed of an adult electric scooter can vary, but most can travel between 14 and 20 miles per hour. Some higher-powered, more advanced scooters may be able to hit speeds of as much as 40 miles per hour. Look for a speed that suits your kind of riding, whether it’s commuting, off-roading, or simply having fun.
Motor Power
Many other features, like range, speed, and efficiency, all depend on an electric scooter’s motor power. Typically equipped with more powerful motors than kids’ models, electric scooters for adults can start at 200 watts and reach over 1,000 watts. Some models even feature dual motors to offer more power. Extra motor power can result in higher speeds and better capabilities, like tackling hills.
Brakes
You can’t forget about the brakes of an electric scooter as, without them, you can’t control your speed or safely come to a stop. You need a quality braking system to stay safe while riding an adult electric scooter. Some scooters have mechanical brake systems, like foot brakes or disc brakes, while others use more high-tech electronic braking systems.
FAQs
Q: Can electric scooters go up hills?
Most adult electric scooters can travel up small inclines just fine. However, you’ll want a higher-powered model if you’ll be riding up inclines over 20 percent or facing hills frequently.
Q: Do you need to wear a helmet for an electric scooter?
It’s best to wear a helmet to prevent dangerous — or deadly — head injuries while traveling at fast speeds on your electric scooter. It’s just like any bike, skateboard, or kick scooter.
Q: What is the range of an e-scooter?
A typical electric scooter can get between 15-20 miles on a single charge. Some of the more advanced options can go up to 40 miles on a single charge.
Final Thoughts
When it comes to a combination of speed, power, range, comfort, and price, the Razor EcoSmart Metro Electric Scooter is our recommendation. And if you’re looking for a budget-friendly, compact, and lightweight scooter, consider the Gotrax GXL V2 Commuting Electric Scooter. It offers decent speed, range, and support at a refreshingly low price point.
Why Trust Us
The Drive seeks to be the internet’s premier destination for news, features, reviews and guides about modern automotive culture.
Founded as the /DRIVE YouTube channel before growing into a full-fledged online publication in 2015, The Drive brings you the best of what’s new in the world of speed, from gear reviews to the latest industry coverage—all from a veteran team of writers and editors with many decades of combined hands-on experience. Our reviews are driven by a combination of hands-on testing, expert input, “wisdom of the crowd” assessments from actual buyers, and our own expertise. We always aim to offer genuine, accurate guides to help you find the best picks
