If you live in a city, it’s likely you’ll have noticed the influx of e-scooters, topped with commuters on their merry way to work. With more people looking for environmentally conscious ways to travel and avoiding public transport, an electric scooter can be a great option.
Cycling is clearly still the number one choice when it comes to green travel, but many people are realising the positives of opting for a scooter. Simple to operate, carry and maintain, they’re a solid choice for those looking for an easy way to get around.
E-scooters are both speedy (with some topping out at around 15mph), and great for distance travel, (between 10 and 40-mile trips), so it’s no wonder that these sleek and powerful devices are gaining momentum.
Ready to meet your match? Here are our best e-scooter recommendations.
Best electric scooters
Xiaomi Mi M365 Electric Scooter
Price: RRP Currently unavailable | VIEW OFFER
Pros:
The Xiaomi M365 is one of the world’s best-selling e-scooter, and for good reason. It’s a light and easy to fold electric scooter, weighing in at just 12.5kg. It’s keen on safety too, with controlled acceleration, anti-slip handles, and eABS disk brakes working to keep the journey safe and smooth. It also comes with an in-built headlight and rear red light. The cruise control feature allows for a steady speed to be maintained, preserving battery life. It’s got a top speed of 15.5mph, but 10-12mph is more accurate in day-to-day practice.
Cons:
The battery life isn’t as generous as Xiaomi advertise, however, this may be due to the British weather and terrain type, and rider weight. You won’t get 18 miles out of it, but a 10-mile round trip should be fine. No dashboard and speedometer.
Weight: 12.5kg
Max load: 100kg
Max speed: 15.5mph
Approx. range (miles): 18.6
Battery cap: 280Wh
Approx. charging time: 5 hours
Segway E22E Scooter
Price: RRP £359.00 | VIEW OFFER
Pros:
Segway’s sleek E22E KickScooter has a simple design executed with accuracy. The two large anti-slip large tyres are solid, so there’s no chance of getting a flat, and they are dual-density to keep the rider comfortable over bumpy terrain. The full dashboard display shows the remaining battery life and current speed, and the front headlight is good and bright. At the end of the day, the scooter folds down with one-push, and is easily carried as it weighs only 16.7kg. The speed is reasonable, topping out at just over 12mph, hill-climbing is a breeze, and the range measures 13.5 miles – though this can be extended with an additional battery pack (this will also boost the top speed a little).
Cons:
No mechanical brake
Weight: 16.7kg
Max load: 100kg
Max speed: 12mph
Approx. range (miles): 13.7
Battery cap: 184Wh
Approx. charging time: 3.5 hours
Are e-scooters legal in the UK?
Unlike people-powered scooters and e-bikes, privately owned e-scooters are not currently permitted for use on public roads, pathways, or cycle roots. E-scooters can only be legally used on private land, with the landowner’s permission. However, the tide is changing. With the UK Government’s ongoing trial of rental e-scooters and increasingly loud calls to clean up inner-city air, it’s only a matter of time before they are fully legalised for private use.
Standard, non-motored scooters, are legal for use in the UK. Private and hired e-scooters are already legal in many European countries.
Trusted e-scooter retailers:
Do I need to wear a helmet?
While there is no legal obligation to wear a helmet when using an e-scooter, but it is highly recommended. Many e-scooters can achieve speeds of 12-15mph, and any crash or accident that occurs at these speeds could cause some serious physical harm.
We strongly recommend that you wear a helmet when using traditional or electric scooters and bicycles. Here are two of our favourites:
Giro Register Cycling Helmet
Price: RRP £37.69 | VIEW OFFER
BELL Daily MIPS LED Adult Commuter Bike Helmet
Price: RRP £104.48 | VIEW OFFER
How do e-scooters charge up?
E-scooters are charged via a standard power outlet. The plug and cable will be provided with the e-scooter.
Why does an e-scooter’s speed or distance range change?
The top speed and maximum range of an e-scooter are deduced from tests in near-perfect conditions, i.e. no headwind, flat surface, equitable temperature, lightweight load. All of these factors affect an e-scooters performance.
Hills, heavy loads, wind direction, and cold temperatures can all negatively affect an e-scooters performance. It is unlikely that a user will always be able to get the peak performance from a battery.
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