The soaring popularity of electric scooters is not surprising, given their ease of use and the freedom they provide. Children and adults worldwide have discovered the joys of these devices, and the manufacturers are more than eager to cater to them by offering a wider selection than ever before.
Due to the expansion of the market, electric scooters have become available to a broad range of customers, from casual commuters to pro scooter enthusiasts.
If you are also interested in buying one, you may be wondering how much an electric scooter costs. As you will learn from this article, the answer to that question depends on several factors. Let’s take a look at what they are.
Categories of Electric Scooters
Neither Canada nor the United States has a unified system for categorizing or regulating the use of an electric scooter. The only official categorization that exists in both countries is that electric scooters are viewed as power-assisted vehicles.
That being said, there is an unofficial classification system everyone who considers buying this type of vehicle should be aware of. Due to the difference in quality and purpose for each group, the scooter category can seriously affect its price. Here are these unofficial categories.
E-Scooters for Children
Electric scooters for smaller kids cost from just over $100 up to $250. For larger children, the price goes up, ranging from $150 to $350. This is to compensate for the additional material used for vehicles for children over a certain height and weight. The quality of the vehicles is typically the same, and it falls somewhere in the range of the next category.
Budget Electric Scooters
E-scooters designed for adults that cost up to $300 are called budget scooters. The lowest price in this category is around $190. While they represent a great stepping stone for beginners or those who don’t plan to use their scooters frequently, the quality of these scooters is usually low. This shows up in the short battery capacity, low motor power, and spotty breaking functions.
Budget Commuter Scooters
Due to their price range of $300-$600, commuter scooters are probably the most popular category. They are very reliable for daily commuting and can be used on both the sidewalk and the road (provided the latter is permitted in your area of residence). Their battery capacity is also acceptable and often comes with handy features such as a phone holder, lighting, etc. However, they can only withstand mild to moderate levels of physical strain.
Mid-Range Scooters
For $600-$900, you can typically buy an upgraded version of the commuter e-scooter. Powerwise, these are the same as their basic versions, except they have a larger battery capacity and range. They may also include some features, such as comfortable handling, incorporated suspension, and better brake solutions.
Premium Scooters
In the range of $600-$1000, you will find premium quality scooters with even more upgraded characteristics than the basic commuter. E-scooters with features like high-quality suspension and brakes, battery capacity, and compatibility with digital gadgets and apps cost around $1000-$1300. These premium features make the scooters much heavier, and their use may not be worth the hassle of carrying all that weight around when also using public transportation.
Performance E-Scooters
Performance scooters are designed for users who travel long distances for work and need a scooter with a super long range and larger than average speed. These can easily cover 40 miles with one charge and have many features of e-bikes, such as tubeless tires, built-in turn signals, and hydraulic brakes. These e-scooter cost anywhere from $1300 to $1900.
E-scooters with Improved Performance
The top category is represented by the performance scooters with improved features. This includes a heavy-duty suspension, a range of over 40 miles, hydraulic-actuated disc brakes, and dual motors capable of traveling with a speed of above 35 mph. The price of these vehicles starts from just over $2000 and virtually has no upper limit.
How Technical Features Affect the Price
Here is a more detailed rundown of the specific features of the e-scooters and their effect on the price of these vehicles.
Weight Limit
Every e-scooter has a weight limit indicating the maximum load it can take without slowing down or getting damaged. The higher this limit is, the pricier the vehicle will be. For most commuters, the upper carrying limit is 220 lbs. However, there are performance e-scooters that can carry even heavier loads due to their powerful electric motors.
Range
The range of an e-scooter is determined by its battery size and capacity, weight, and carrying weight. The lower all these are, the lower the range and the price of the vehicle will be. However, with the price, the quality also goes down, which often results in faster battery degradation, further decreasing the range.
Motor power
Commuter scooters must have an engine power of under 500 watts, with budget commuters reaching barely 250-300 watts. These are designed for short use on flat surfaces. Vehicles with 750 watts or higher are a little bit more expensive but have no trouble conquering even medium-sized hills if necessary.
Top Speed
In Canada and most US states, commuter e-scooters have an upper speed limit of 20 mph although, in some US states, a speed of 28 mph is also permissible. This means that there isn’t much price variation based on this. There are some differences in prices in the premium and performance categories, where the vehicle’s speed limit is typically much higher.
Brakes
There are four brake types on electric scooters: foot, electric, disc, and drum. Most budget commuters have electric brakes, which is more than sufficient for lower speeds. Premium vehicles have drum and disc brakes, which slows them down even at maximum speeds. This may present a particular advantage on wet roads, even if the e-scooter that features them costs significantly more than those without a drum disc.
Suspension
A suspension is the part of a vehicle responsible for providing a smooth traveling experience, regardless of whether you’re traveling on a flat surface, on cracked sidewalks, or up the hill. Budget commuters have no suspension at all, which means they don’t absorb the vibrations from the road and instead transfer it to your body. Higher quality products (in the higher price range) have both front and rear suspension. Mid-range e-scooters have only a front suspension.
Tires
Low-priced models typically have airless tires, while mid-to-high ranges usually come with pneumatic tires. Airless tires don’t rely on air pressure, and pneumatic ones absorb shock from the road. Despite costing a bit more, these require a little more upkeep.
Lighting
In some US states and Canadian provinces, lights are mandatory for energy-powered vehicles. Even if their use is not obligatory in your area of residence, having the reassurance of visibility during the night can help you avoid major mishaps. Premium scooters typically come with lighting, so you won’t even have to think about getting installed.
Additional Costs
Purchasing an e-scooter often comes with other unexpected costs. These include accessories for safety purposes as well as cosmetic ones.
Complementary Equipment
For premium scooters that exceed the limit of 28 mph, you will need a helmet to protect your head. If you are transporting the scooter on a daily basis, you will also need to think about carrying the accessories as well, which may slow you down.
The storage of an e-scooter and all its accessories is another possible cost of ownership. During the winter, the area where you store your scooter must be heated, otherwise, the battery or the engine will get damaged. You will also need a lock and a repair kit for your e-scooter.
Maintenance Costs
Electric scooters don’t require heavy maintenance when used according to their intended purpose. However, when they do, finding the parts you need can be a bit challenging, which is particularly true for budget commuters. Unfortunately, these also break down easily quite often – which means those repairs can be pretty common. Mid-range commuters will rarely break down.
By getting a scooter made of higher quality materials, you can save money on preventative upkeep but with this comes a higher price. This maintenance involves checking to shake tire pressure at least once a week to maintain the appropriate traction.
Check brakes and fenders to see if they haven’t loosened up. If you are not qualified to do maintenance work, you will need to pay someone to do it. Not only that but the warranty plan for most e-scooters can only be validated if you take them to particular repair centers.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, the price of an electric scooter depends mainly on its intended use. Scooters meant for children and general commuting are less complicated and, because of this, cost less.
High-performance scooters, however, have added features and must apply to more rigorous safety regulations, making them more expensive.
Apart from the purchase price, you should also consider the maintenance costs and the additional equipment you may be required to buy to be allowed to ride the scooter.
The use of electric scooters is regulated differently in the different areas in the United States and Canada. Don’t forget to check the laws and regulations that apply where you live if you are considering buying an electric scooter before making your purchase.
