Review of Electric Scooters
Have you been rethinking the way you commute around the city this year? Do the health-related travel restrictions make you nervous about using public transportation? Well, it might be time to grab a new electric scooter.
You wouldn’t be alone either. Electric scooters are selling like hotcakes since the pandemic broke out earlier this year. A sagging economy made the cost of a new car or truck seem prohibitive, but what about a new electric scooter?
There are lots of different types of e-scooters on the market, and some of them only cost a few hundred bucks. You can charge them overnight or get a quick charge while you enjoy a cup of coffee at a cafe. Some are even light enough to carry wherever you go.
People are starting to think outside of the box when it comes to personal transportation. So, we decided to round up all the latest electric scooters and highlight their best and worst features. Lightweight, long range, low cost – we’ll point them all out for you.
So, let’s dive right in.
The Best Electric Scooters Revealed
1. Turboant X7
Pros: great speed, affordability
Cons: low driving range
This is one of the hottest electric scooters on the market. The X7 from Turboant has a sweet price point at $499-$599. It also comes with an extended warranty. The craftsmanship is surprisingly good, especially for the price.
The X7 has an onboard LED headlight and an LED instrument dashboard display. The whole deck folds down and weighs just under 30 lbs. The rechargeable battery pack is removeable, adding some convenience to how and when you charge the X7. Plus, it can carry a maximum load of 275 lbs.
The X7 clips along at a top speed of 20 MPH and can travel for an average of 16 miles on a full charge. If you have the X7 in the wrong driving mode though you might find yourself coming up short. Otherwise, this is one of the best all-around electric scooters on the market.
You can find it direct from the manufacturer here.
2. Xiaomi Mi M365 Pro
Pros: affordability, long driving range, safety features
Cons: few style points
The Xiaomi Mi M365 is the logical rival to the X7 from Turboant. For starters, they both cost around $500. The Mi M365 has a slightly larger headlight than the Turboant X7 and weighs just 27 pounds. The Mi M365 really starts to identify itself when you consider its stylish, minimalistic design. But if you were hoping for more style points, then the Mi M365 might not be for you.
The Mi M365 has excellent braking. There’s the hand-activated disk brakes and a second regenerative braking function, as well. Xiaomi has a scooter repair program that fixes or replaces your Mi M365 if there is a fault in the product.
You can pair the Mi M365 Pro with your smartphone for enhanced connectivity. The smartphone app allows riders to turn the power on, set cruise control options and track your ride statistics. The LED display shows your speed, driving mode and battery life in real time.
The Xiaomi Mi M365 is available on Amazon.
3. Swagtron Swagger 5T
Pros: affordability, heavy duty
Cons: low driving range, juvenile design
The Swagtron Swagger 5T is a great electric scooter if you can get past the giant SWAGTRON logo traveling up the height of its control arm. You might get a few snickers at the office if you pull up in one, but for college campuses this might be a hit.
It’s certainly the right choice for someone who is a bit heavier than average. The Swagger 5T can accommodate up to 320 pounds. It has an air-filled tire up front for balance and bounce, a rear brake, and rear airless tire for stability.
The Swagger 5T has an abysmal driving range though. It can only travel up to 11 miles. Again, this could be ideal for college students, but not a good fit for tackling unpredictable city traffic. The top speed is 18 miles per hour and it can be fully charged in about 3 and half hours.
The Swagger 5T costs about $500 and definitely has its own niche. If you’d like to find out more about the Swagger 5T, then head over to Amazon for more details.
4. Gotrax GXL
Pros: good braking, low price
Cons: budget materials, low driving range
If you’re hurting for cash these days, don’t worry – the Gotrax GXL is just $250. It’s the lowest price we found on a quality electric scooter. The GXL has a top speed of 15 MPH and can travel about 10 miles. That might seem a bit low but consider that it only takes 4 hours to fully charge.
The Gotrax GXL has a narrow deck. You’d be lucky to fit both feet with one behind the other while you ride. So, it’s important to ride safely because the GXL can be unforgiving. Yet, it does have front and rear brakes.
The Gotrax GXL weighs 27 pounds and has the look of a much more premium scooter, especially when folded. It’s budget nature is only revealed in its ride quality. You won’t get any smartphone app or Bluetooth compatibility here, just an electric scooter that knows what it’s meant to do.
You can get your own Gotrax GXL by visiting Amazon.
5. Segway Ninebot ES4
Pros: great braking, affordability
Cons: slow
The Segway Ninebot ES4 is probably the e-scooter you’ve seen riding around town. It’s one of the most popular e-scooters and for good reason. First off, the ES4 has dual batteries that carry it to a 28-mile driving range while still weighing in at 30 pounds.
The ES4 has both mechanical and electrical antilock brakes. It comes with shock-absorbing suspension on both the front and back tires. It can accommodate 220 pounds of weight and has LED lights for higher visibility.
It’s not all that fast though. The Segway Ninebot ES4 has a top speed of 18.6 MPH. Unfortunately, that’s the top speed of all the Segway scooters. Acceleration aside, the Ninebot ES4 has some of the best features you can get for under $800.
If you’re looking for one of the best electric scooters on the market, then you can find the Segway Ninebot ES4 on Amazon.
Related: Would You Share a Bus with a Drone?
6. Boosted Rev
Pros: wide deck, durability, safety
Cons: initial cost, heavy scooter
The Boosted Rev is a heavy e-scooter weighing in at 46 pounds. That usually means that it can go further and faster than other scooters. In the case of the Rev, it can reach top speeds of 24 MPH and a top range of 22 miles.
The Boosted Rev gets an extra check in the safety column for its powerful braking. It has a rear stomp brake, front handbrakes and regenerative braking. It has wide wheels for better cornering and a sturdy deck to stand on.
The Boosted Rev is a bit pricey for an electric scooter. It costs around $1500, but you get features that you won’t find anywhere else. It has a rolling throttle wheel for your thumb so that you can stop and start with ease. It also has dual wheel drive so you have more control. In a crowded field of scooters, the Boosted Rev is a standout.
The Boosted Rev is fast, durable and able to take you on a longer journey. If you’re looking for one online, then check out the Rev on Amazon.
7. Apollo Pro 60V Ludicrous Scooter
Pros: extra long range, top speeds
Cons: initial cost, heavy scooter
The Apollo Pro Scooter is the only e-scooter in this list that can rival your car with a straight face. It can travel up to 40 miles per hour and reach a range-topping 50 miles on a single charge. It has an extra wide deck board and regenerative hydraulic braking.
You’d just better be sure that you don’t have to carry it around. The Apollo Pro weighs 77 pounds. That’s nearly double the heft of a mid-range electric scooter. Luckily, the Apollo Pro has two charging ports to double the charging time. With both plugs, you’re looking at 5 hours to fully charge.
The Pro from Apollo is the ideal choice for heavier riders. It can accommodate up to 330 pounds. There are two motors, one on each wheel, to provide you with power and torque. Just make sure you’re ready for the acceleration. You can go from zero to 30 MPH in just 4 seconds.
To see the Apollo Pro reach its top speed check out this video.
8. Glion Dolly
Pros: very portable, quick charging battery
Cons: no mechanical brake, lots of moving parts
At a price just under $500, the Glion Dolly is one of the most affordable electric scooters on this list. It weighs just 24 pounds and comes with a retractable handle and support wheels for easy carrying, hence the name Dolly. There is a bit of suspension on the front wheel and a rear heel brake. Otherwise, there’s no mechanical brake.
So, you can see that the Glion Dolly is lightweight and highly portable, but it’s not a heavy-duty transporter. The Glion Dolly has a 15-mile range and can reach a top speed of 15 miles per hour. So, you don’t want to take the Dolly on a long journey, just a fun ride around the neighbourhood will suffice.
With the antilock brake and dolly mechanisms, the Glion Dolly sprouts a mess of wires, fasteners, and parts that clutter up the deck. It’s on the opposite end of the spectrum when compared to the sleek, minimalist design of the Segways in this list. That being said, the Glion Dolly is a perfect first scooter for people who just want a fun, new way to get around town.
You can find the Glion Dolly on Amazon.
9. Segway Ninebot Max
Pros: regenerative braking, long range battery life
Cons: heavy scooter, slow speed
Segway makes a second appearance on this list of the best electric scooters for good reason. The Ninebot Max ticks off several boxes when it comes to finding the best electric scooter of 2020. It costs around $800 and has a smart battery management system.
The Ninebot Max weighs in at 42 pounds, making it one of the heavier electric scooters on the market. However, that bulk translates to “self-healing” tires, a long-life 551wh battery, and more durable materials throughout.
The Ninebot Max can reach top speeds of 18 miles per hour and a top range of 40 miles. It has a 350W motor and can accommodate a weight of 220 lbs. The Ninebot Max might be a heavier, bulkier e-scooter, but it can travel long distances. It’s the top choice for people who put safety and range at the top of their list.
You can find the Ninebot Max from Segway by following this link to Amazon.
10. Micro Merlin
Pros: lightweight, easy to repair
Cons: immature design, low driving range, slow speed
The Micro Merlin e-scooter only weighs 24 pounds and looks more like a kid’s scooter than a daily commuter for the working-class bloke. However, if you don’t take yourself too seriously, you can find some great qualities in this product.
The Merlin takes just 3 hours to fully charge and it’s powerful enough to travel at a cruising speed of 15 miles per hour. It’s driving range is about 15 miles, but with the four different driving modes, you can find a mode that stretches your range just a bit.
Is it worth $800 though? Well, you have to consider that the Merlin is light and portable. You’ll have to carry every e-scooter at some point. So, why not carry one that doesn’t weigh so much? The Merlin has regenerative braking that can assist the front brake and charge the battery while you ride.
Here’s a little demo for the Micro Merlin. If you’re looking for one to buy, then you can find the Merlin here.
The Takeaway
Finding the right e-scooter is all about finding your own reasons and needs first. Do you need a long-range scooter or something just to mix up the routine? Are you a confident rider or need more safety equipment? Answer a few questions like these before you buy an electric scooter.
There are some great e-scooters in this list. We tried to provide a range of features and products that guys might find useful. Overall, the Segway Ninebot ES4 and the Turboant X7 stand out as the best of the bunch.
The ES4 from Segway is affordable, stylish and built to last. The Turboant X7 and Xiaomi M365 are great choices, also. Have you recently picked up an electric scooter? We’d love to hear your thoughts on this mode of transportation.
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Main Image Credit: Pexels
