There is no doubt that e-scooters are revolutionizing the way we deliver food. Despite being a compact device, the power an e-scooter offers allows you to get to your destination quicker than ever. But with so many models out there, it can be hard to figure out the best e-scooter for food delivery.
Choosing the best electric scooter for food delivery depends on your unique needs. The delivery locations, how safe it is, and how heavy the traffic is are factors that should inform your choice.
By the time you get to the end of this article, you’ll have a clear idea of how to choose an e-scooter for food delivery.
Why Choose an Electric Scooter for Food Delivery?
You may still be wondering whether or not an electric scooter is right for you. The truth is e-scooters have many advantages over other transport methods when it comes to food delivery.
Portability is a huge advantage as you can take an e-scooter wherever you want. Since e-scooters are hugely portable, you can carry one with you inside a property or even in an elevator. You don’t need to lock it up and worry about it getting stolen.
The result is that you can get your delivery much closer to its destination than you can with a car or even an e-bike. The portability factor makes an electric scooter the perfect option for busy city centers and places with apartment buildings.
Another factor that puts an electric scooter ahead of other options for food delivery is price. An e-scooter costs less than an e-bike or a motorcycle. Plus, you don’t have to worry about gas bills and expensive repairs.
While other methods have their advantages, it’s clear that an electric scooter is a great choice for your food delivery.
Related Article: E-Bike & E-Scooter Regulations Saskatchewan
What You Should Look for in the Best Electric Scooter for Food Delivery
Before buying an electric scooter, you should consider the features you need. Here’s what we mean:
Range
The range is perhaps going to be the essential feature to consider. You need an e-scooter that can cover the miles you’ll be doing during a shift. The number of miles will be different for everyone, so it’s a good idea to estimate your daily mileage.
It could be that 20 miles are all you need, but high-end e-scooters can go well beyond that. You don’t want your battery to die halfway through your shift. The best electric scooter for food delivery is one that can travel at least five miles more than your average commute distance.
Speed
While speed can be important, it’s best to consider other factors alongside. For example, if you’re in a busy city center, having the fastest e-scooter on the planet probably won’t be very useful.
For most people, 15 mph would probably be enough to get your deliveries completed safely and quickly. If you work in a location that sees minimal traffic, then getting a scooter that can go 30 mph+ may be a good idea.
It’s also worth noting that a company will often advertise its maximum range at the scooter’s lowest power setting. If you’re consistently riding your e-scooter at its highest speed, you’re probably not going to get the maximum range.
In summary, don’t be too caught up on speed. It’s a factor in your buying decision, but other features are equally, if not more, important.
Suspension
The importance of a suspension depends on the types of surfaces you’ll be riding on. If you’re only ever riding on smooth sidewalks, you can afford to go without a suspension.
The suspension systems on e-scooters vary widely, but the three main types are rubber, spring, and hydraulic. In terms of performance, spring and hydraulic systems can give you the best support.
You’ll often see electric scooters with two different suspension systems for the front and back. Before choosing the best electric scooter for your daily food delivery shifts, consider the front suspension. The front suspension on an electric scooter is more critical as it’ll be carrying your weight alongside that of packages.
Charging time
How quickly do you need your e-scooter to charge? Charging time is not an issue for many users as they will finish their shift and charge the scooter overnight.
Mostly, the e-scooter will attain full charge before the next workday.
If you have split shifts, or are hoping to charge your scooter mid-shift, then you’ll need to look for a model that can achieve maximum charge in 5 hours or less.
Brakes
The best brakes depend on the environment you’ll be travelling in and the e-scooter’s top speed. If your food delivery routes require navigating traffic on busy streets, it’s best to choose an electric scooter that can stop quickly.
The best performance you’ll get is from hydraulic disk brakes. These are generally used by pressing a lever and offer fantastic stopping power. Mechanical disc brakes are the most common type, and while not quite as good as hydraulic, you’ll still get great performance.
Drum brakes are more of a budget option, and you can also get a foot brake. A foot brake probably isn’t going to be good enough on its own for an e-scooter but is usually paired with another type of brake system on the front wheel.
Wheels
Most manual scooters have solid plastic wheels as they don’t travel very fast and need to last for a long time. The best option for a powered electric scooter is to get pneumatic tires filled with air to give you the best performance and riding comfort.
Solid rubber tires are a great alternative if you’re on a budget. If you’ll be riding on smoother roads, then solid rubber tires are a decent option that’ll last for a very long time. For safety reasons, you’ll also want your tires to have some tread for it to have more grip.
Our Verdict: Match Your e-scooter to Your Delivery
When considering the features above, it’s crucial to think about how they relate to your area and the delivery you’ll be taking. For example, if you have to take a heavy delivery, you’ll need an e-scooter with a high max load and a good level of stability.
If you have to travel a considerable distance between deliveries, then the range will be vital, but you’ll also need to think about your riding comfort. If your deliveries will all be close and on smooth roads, then it makes sense to get a cheaper e-scooter.
The fact remains; the best e-scooter for one person may not be the best for another. Your demands may be different from someone else. It’s best to focus on what you need rather than getting tempted by great specs, which may not be relevant.
Should I Get an Expensive Electric Scooter?
For most delivery drivers, time is money. The more deliveries you make, the more you earn, and the more opportunity you have for tips. Whether you need an e-scooter for Uber Eats, Skip the Dishes or any other company, you want to make the most of your time.
Due to this, it makes sense to get a scooter that has the features you need. It’s usually worth it to stretch your budget a little to get a model that offers a longer range and excellent top speed.
After a short while, the extra money you pay will soon be offset by your increased earnings. The best electric scooter will end up paying for itself. If you can afford it, then you should try and get a more expensive model.
What Accessories Do I Need?
Along with the best electric scooter food delivery, you need the right accessories to carry out food deliveries seamlessly. Some of the following accessories will come with your electric scooter, but you’ll need to buy others separately.
Bright lights
Having a good lighting system is important for a couple of key reasons. Not only do you need to see where you’re going clearly, but you need to be highly visible to everyone else. Even if your e-scooter has a pre-installed system, you may want to add additional lights.
Protective equipment
A helmet is a must for safety reasons. You should consider a full-face helmet, especially if you’ll be near vehicles. Added to a helmet, you should also consider biking gloves and knee pads. Nobody hopes for one, but these safety accessories will help you avoid injury in the event of an accident.
Video recording
Video recording equipment, such as a GoPro, can be useful for a wide variety of reasons. They can prove your innocence in an accident, but they’ll also ensure that anyone around you acts appropriately.
Lock
One of the features we love about electric scooters for food delivery is you can carry them almost anywhere. However, there will be times when you’ll need to lock it up, and investing in a high-quality lock is a wise choice.
Phone holder
If you need navigation help, get a phone holder. It’ll allow you to look at your map without getting your phone out of your pocket. A good phone holder makes it easier to follow directions and is a lot safer.
Related Article: A Growing Interest in Electric Scooters
Final Thoughts
As we’ve seen here, if you are doing food delivery on e-scooters, you need a model that matches your needs and has features that’ll be most helpful to you. It’s a good idea to create a list of your requirements then choose an e-scooter that is the closest match.
Once you do, you’ll find that delivering food is easier than ever. You can make a lot more deliveries in less time. All you need to do now is choose the best electric scooter for food delivery and enjoy all the benefits that come with it.
And we can help you. Epic Cycles offers a collection of top electric scooters with varying features and accessories.
Look through our online store today! We’ve got an e-scooter for every budget.
