Best Foldable Electric Scooter For Getting To Work: Everything You Need To Know!

It wasn’t all that long ago that scooters were seen as nothing more than a children’s toy. I remember laughing at my twelve-year-old younger brother and his mates in their ‘scooter gang’ as they rode around the local streets.

Times have changed though and you’re more likely to see young professionals zipping around the city streets of Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane riding electric scooters that they can easily collapse and fold before being carried into their office building.

Foldable electric scooters (almost universally powered by electric battery packs, as opposed to petrol motors), have become one of the hottest ways to commute to and from work.

It certainly doesn’t hurt that they offer so many different advantages and benefits over the more traditional choices (including bicycles). We’ll highlight the main advantages and benefits in more depth below.

So, let’s get right into it!

Foldable electric scooter for getting to work

You may have noticed electric scooters and other light electric vehicles becoming more common in city streets. Electric scooters have become more affordable in recent times and now cities around the world are trying to find more sustainable and safer ways for people to commute to work.

Incredibly lightweight, super compact, and a fantastic alternative for those that don’t want to deal with the headache and hassle of owning a car or dealing with public transportation.

You’ll never again have to worry about being stuck in traffic, finding a place to park or being squashed on public transport - there's a lot to love about the foldable electric scooter.

What is a foldable electric scooter?

A foldable electric scooter is a light electric vehicle that is like an old school kick scooter, but with the major advantage of having a motor. It’s important to note that not all electric scooters are foldable, so if you are looking for an e-scooter that’s able to be folded, be sure to check online or ask in-store before purchasing.

The main advantage of an electric scooter is that there’s no manual work involved. You can use the thrust on the electric scooter to propel yourself forward, so no need to kick yourself along. Some electric scooters can still be used manually if you run out of battery.

Compared to manual scooters, e-scooters are made with superior parts including improved wheels, suspension systems and large decks to place your feet. Many also feature overhauled breaking mechanisms, quick charge capabilities and the opportunity to fold in half for storage or transportation. The Raine One electric scooter is able to be folded for easy storage or when you need to carry it.

How do electric scooters fold?

Each electric scooter will have a different folding mechanism so it’s best to check your e-scooter manual before attempting to fold it. There’s also plenty of YouTube video tutorials showing people how to fold their particular electric scooter model. Remember that not all e-scooters are able to be folded as they aren’t designed to be or may be too heavy-duty to do so.

How does the Raine One electric scooter fold?

When Raine thought about how we were going to get the Raine One electric scooter to fold, we wanted to make it more compact than other e-scooter models on the market. Most of our competitors have some variation on the upright part of the scooter folding onto the back wheel, but we thought there was a better way to do it.

We also found that folding the scooter in this way made it quite unstable when standing it up as it would tend to fall to one side. So we wanted to come up with a more compact way to fold the scooter so that the stem handlebars would go over the back wheel.

To get the e-scooter to fold more compactly, we had to get the actual pivot point for that stem and suspension geometry as low as possible. We developed a system that allowed this to happen which we called the X-fold.

Is it easy to fold an electric scooter?

No two electric scooter companies have the same folding system, but generally they are all designed to be easily folded. Most electric scooters that are able to be folded will have some kind of latch or lever system that can be flicked to fold the e-scooter in half.

It should only take a few seconds at most to fold an electric scooter unless it’s the first time you are doing it.

There may be a hook so that your scooter stays folded, or you’ll hear a ‘click’ to tell you the scooter is locked into place.

Are all electric scooters foldable?

Not all electric scooters are foldable as it depends on the design and what the scooter is used for. Electric scooters that are used for everyday commuting as opposed to off-road riding are more likely to be foldable because the whole point of folding your e-scooter is for storage or to carry.

Electric scooters for adults are more likely to be foldable so that people can carry them onto public transport or as they walk up stairs to reduce space.

Not all electric scooters for kids are foldable because they are used for fun rather than folding and keeping under a work desk or carrying them into a lift.

Can you damage an electric scooter by folding it?

You can damage anything if you don’t do it correctly or are too rough with it. Electric scooters needed to be treated with care, so folding it correctly is important to prevent damage. If you plan on your electric scooter having a long lifespan, only fold or unfold it when you need to use it. Remember, it’s not a toy so don’t treat it like one.

Can you fit a foldable electric scooter in your backpack?

No, even the Raine One electric scooter, which only weighs 12 kg and is very compact when folded cannot fit in a backpack. Electric scooters haven’t become that compact yet (although there is Poimo, which was developed by a Japanese company that can be stored in a backpack and inflated with a pump in under a minute).

What is the difference between an electric scooter and a mobility scooter?

While it’s certainly possible that you could use a mobility scooter as a commuter scooter, the truth is there’s actually a lot that separates mobility and foldable scooters.

A mobility scooter is for people who have limited mobility. This could be due to illness, old age, a disability and many other reasons. For people who are unable to walk around for extended periods of time, they may choose to use a mobility scooter to allow them to continue getting around in public.

An electric scooter keeps the rider standing at all times because there’s no seat. While an e-scooter is able to be folded up and tucked under a person’s arm, the same cannot be done with a mobility scooter.

Mobility scooters all have seats and usually space to put groceries and other items. They’re also quite wide so they take up a lot of room and aren’t as easy to manoeuvre as an electric scooter.

Electric scooters are built for speed and commuting, whereas mobility scooters are designed to make the person’s journey as comfortable as possible due to their frailty.

A mobility and an electric scooter are completely unalike and serve different purposes. If you’re after something that’s fast, zippy and able to get you somewhere fast, then an electric scooter is what you’re looking for.

Mobility scooters are great and serve a purpose especially if a person has a medical condition, but they certainly wouldn’t be riding around on an electric scooter.

Electric scooter features to look for when buying

When shopping for a new foldable scooter there are a couple of different features you want to focus on before you dive right in and invest your hard-earned money in this type of light electric vehicle.

Handlebars

The handlebars of the foldable electric scooter you choose will have a huge impact on how comfortable (or uncomfortable) your ride is. You should be able to get a good grip on your handlebars as you don’t want your hands slipping off them. 

Battery

The battery of your new foldable scooter is its heartbeat and its lifeblood so it’s worthwhile buying an e-scooter with a decent battery.

The better the type of battery used, the more juice you’ll get out of your electric scooter. The Raine One has a lithium-ion battery, which is becoming one of the most popular battery types for electric scooter because they are lightweight and reliable. Another advantage of lithium-ion batteries is that they are quick to charge,

Forks

Electric scooter forks are what deal with shock absorption in the front of your electric scooter. You can’t seek the forks as they are inside the scooter itself. The forks that your scooter has play a huge role in the amount of control, consistency, and stability you have as you ride along.

Having excellent electric scooter forks will make riding over uneven terrain a breeze and you’ll have full control over your e-scooter as you ride around corners, over speed bumps or potholes.

Deck

The deck is where you place your feet on an electric scooter. You want a deck that can comfortably place both your feet but is narrow enough to allow you to scoot around city streets.

If you have large feet or just want a bit of extra room, heavy duty electric scooters have bigger decks to accommodate you. These e-scooters tend to weigh more though and are less likely to be foldable.  

Suspension

If bumpy rides aren’t your thing, then look for an electric scooter with good suspension. There’s nothing worse than getting jolted every time you go over a bump in the road and you shouldn’t have to get to work feeling sore before you’ve even started the day.

Some e-scooter companies claim that good tires make up for lack of suspension but don’t be fooled by this. Good suspension and tires should work in tandem.

Speed

Depending on where you live, speed might not be a big factor due to the maximum speed that you’re allowed to ride your electric scooter. Many cities have strict laws on how fast e-scooters can travel.

Electric scooters on average range in top speed between 25-50 km/h (15-31 mph), so they have the potential to travel extremely fast. If you’re unsure of what the rules surrounding e-scooters are where you live, then check your local state or council’s website.

Rather than only looking at the top speed of the model, you should also consider the range. This is the distance that the electric scooter can travel before it needs to be recharged and could be a major consideration for you if you plan to ride it to work and back home every day.

Spare Part Availability

Every vehicle requires regular maintenance and electric scooters are no different. Luckily the cost of repairing an e-scooter is relatively inexpensive and if you keep it in good condition, the less money you’ll fork out for spare parts and maintenance.

Find out if the company you bought your electric scooter from carries spare parts or if you can get in contact directly with the manufacturer. You can change parts yourself, but if you don’t know what you’re doing it’s best to take your e-scooter to a mechanic or a bike repair shop.  

What is the best foldable electric scooter for adults to travel to work?

If you are on the hunt for the best foldable e-scooter that’s available on the market which is perfect for everyday commuting, then you can’t go past the Raine One.

The Raine One electric scooter is one of the best options that money can buy, and maybe the best foldable electric scooter available on the Australian market! It’s got a range of 40 km (25 miles) and can be fully recharged in 5 hours, which is perfect while you’re at work. 

The X-fold system with carbon fiber elements makes the Raine One super compact, meaning it can easily slide under your desk during the workday, or can be put into the trunk of a car for transportation. Weighing only 12kg (26.5 lbs), you can also easily carry the Raine One onto public transport or up and down stairs without exhausting yourself.

To improve the comfort of your riding experience, the Raine One also includes a wide composite high-grip deck, which means you’ll feel confident that you won’t slip off.

Some e-scooter brands have had to compromise on the overall strength of the scooter in order to accommodate a folding mechanism. In the case of Raine though, we took 12 months to perfect the folding system, and by utilizing a double-forked design, we haven’t compromised on strength or shock absorption. That means you still have a very durable scooter that offers an enjoyable riding experience.

On top of all of this – it’s fast! As I mentioned before, foldable electric scooters often trade in range for speed, but this isn’t the case with the Raine One electric scooter. With a maximum speed of approximately 50km/h, the Raine One is one of the fastest scooters of this size on the market. So, if you’re using your foldable e-scooter for the daily commute, the Raine One will definitely get you where you need to go in no time.

Foldable Scooter Accessories

Helmet

Depending on where you live, wearing a helmet may be required by law. In Australia and New Zealand, helmets are required any time you step onto an electric scooter. In the event that you happened to be in a bad accident, a helmet can be the difference between life and death.

There are plenty of helmets that are available that vary in protective level. Bicycle helmets are appropriate for an electric scooter but if you want more protection you might opt for a moped or motorcycle helmet which are heavy duty.

Safety should be your main concern, but that doesn’t mean you can’t be stylish or comfortable. Look for the helmet that suits your needs as well as options that won’t mess up your hair as you head into the office. You can read more about electric scooter helmets here.

Gloves

Gloves are particularly useful in the cooler months to keep your hands warm or when it’s raining. The Raine One electric scooter has heated handlebars but it’s still worth investing in some good riding gloves not just because of the weather but to keep them well-protected.

If you fall off your electric scooter, it’s natural to put your hands out to take the impact which is why it’s worth wearing gloves. Check out our full guide to electric scooter riding gloves.

Is a foldable electric scooter a good investment?

There are many reasons why electric scooters are a good investment.

Cost effective

Compared to other forms of transportation, electric scooters are a cheap option. At Raine, we ran the numbers on what it actually costs to ride an electric scooter every week and it works out to be less than $20. That includes the cost of any maintenance or service needed.

It’s more than 14 times cheaper to own an electric scooter compared to a small car and it’s still cheaper than public transport or ridesharing. In fact, the only cheaper way to commute is… well, walking!

Environmentally friendly

Riding an electric scooter is relatively guilt-free. Compared to petrol-guzzling cars that pollute the air, you’ll only need to use electricity to charge up your electric scooter when the power gets low. Depending on how often you ride your e-scooter, every few years you’ll also need to replace the lithium-ion battery, or whichever battery your electric scooter uses for power.

Lightweight

Many electric scooters are built with lightweight but durable frames so that the rider can easily carry their e-scooter if need be. There’s nothing worse than when circumstances change, such as going out for drinks with colleagues on a Friday night and you end up leaving your car or bike in the city and needing to retrieve it the next day. Not only is it inconvenient but you’re risking having your car broken into or your bike wheels stolen. A foldable e-scooter can easily fit into the boot of a car so you can just place it in the Uber on your drive home.

If the weather suddenly changes and there’s a downpour, you can easily fold your e-scooter and take it onto public transport or however you choose to get home.