Are Electric Scooters a Good Investment?

For people who live in a big city, seeing people whizzing past on electric scooters has become commonplace. Electric scooters are easy to ride and, in many cases, faster than driving a car in peak hour traffic. You can get from A to B in a much more efficient manner by riding an electric scooter.

However, like all modes of transport they each have their pros and cons.

If you want to know the pros and cons of owning an electric scooter and whether buying an electric scooter is a good investment for you, then keep reading to find out.

Will an electric scooter work for my commute?

It really depends on the range of your scooter. Electric scooter range can be anywhere between 6 and 25 miles (10-40 km), so this will determine how far you can travel. Many factors determine an electric scooter’s range including:

-   Model

-   Battery

-   Speed

-   Weather

-   Rider’s weight

-   Terrain

The Raine One electric scooter has a range of 25 miles (40 km) and can be fully recharged in five hours.

According to Electric Scooter Guide, the average electric scooter owner rides about 4 days a week and clocks up 7 miles (11 km) per day. Not only is an electric scooter more eco-friendly because it runs on battery rather than petrol, but it’s also less hassle than travelling by car because you don’t have to worry about parking or traffic.

If you live quite far away, you could consider catching public transport to the city and riding an electric scooter as your first-mile and last-mile solution on and off the train.

What is the cost of owning an electric scooter?

While owning an electric scooter is much lower than a car or a motorbike, it’s still something you should consider. The cost of an electric scooter can be broken down into four components.

Cost to recharge e-scooter

One reason that makes owning an electric scooter attractive is how little it costs to run compared to a car. WIRED estimates that the cost of running an electric scooter is just over one percent of the cost of fuelling a car. That’s a huge saving over time. When looking for electric scooters, the time it takes to charge one is something you should keep in mind. While the average electric scooter takes between 3-5 hours to charge, some take a lot longer.

Cost of protective gear

Wearing the right protective gear will prevent serious injuries. The protective gear that you should definitely buy include a helmet and gloves. You might even consider getting elbow pads and knee pads for extra protection.

Maintenance and replacement cost

While an electric scooter is cheaper to purchase than a car or a motorcycle, it also has a lifespan. It depends how well you treat your electric scooter and how often you ride it, but the average lifetime of an e-scooter battery is five years until 20% or more of the battery capacity is reduced. Most batteries can be replaced or rebuilt at that time. However, the cost is constantly coming down as technology improves and the market continues to grow.

Maintenance costs that you should take into account include the battery and tires.

Cost of the actual scooter

Electric scooter models range in price from a few hundred dollars, all the way to the thousands. That’s why it’s important to do your research and find out what features are included. Make sure to read what other electric scooter owners say about their models.  

What is the lifespan of an electric scooter?

The average lifespan of an electric scooter depends on several factors including:

-   Number of miles ridden on the e-scooter

-   The quality of the e-scooter

-   How often the e-scooter is used

-   How the e-scooter is stored

-   How often maintenance is done on the e-scooter

What are the benefits of owning an electric scooter?

There are many benefits of owning an electric scooter that we have outlined below.

Last-mile solution

Public transport is great, but when you’ve got off the train and still need to walk the rest of the way it can be quite time-consuming. Electric scooters are an excellent solution to the last mile problem because you can simply take your e-scooter on the train and then ride to work or school.

Don’t take up much space

You can easily store an electric scooter under a work desk or lean it against a bookshelf. A foldable electric scooter is even better because they’re lightweight and can be carried up stairs or onto a bus.

Don’t get stuck in traffic

There’s nothing worse than starting your day by being stuck in traffic when you live less than 12 miles (20 km) from your house. Some of the fastest electric scooters available on the market can travel up to 30 mph (50 km/h). You also have the added bonus of being able to travel in the bicycle lane and avoiding the heavy traffic.

What are the downsides of owning an electric scooter?

Takes time to charge

As quick as some electric scooters are to charge, it still takes more time than stopping at a petrol station and refilling your car or motorcycle. Plan for a few hours of charging at the end of your day, or every few days depending on your travel distance.

Electric scooter laws

Despite the recent demand for electric scooters, the laws surrounding the use of them haven't quite caught up. Many cities around the world have begun to change laws so that people can ride their personal e-scooter on city streets, but in some places, they are banned or are trialling alongside bicycle and road paths, or an e-scooter rideshare scheme.

Weather

While it is possible to ride an electric scooter in the rain if your electric scooter has the appropriate IP rating, if the weather is very extreme it’s not a good idea to ride as you are putting your personal safety at risk. Having said that, an e-scooter can be easily taken on public transport or put in the trunk of an Uber.