To find the best electric scooters, we purchased the top models on the market. We spent many hours testing, cruising, and racing them in a variety of scenarios and road conditions. Our analysis addresses performance concerns and the nitty-gritty details of budget, safety, and stowability so that you can confidently pick the right machine for your needs and desires. To see our comprehensive look at electric scooters, check out our review of the best electric scooters.
Power
To assess the power of each scooter, we tested their ability to climb hills and how fast they would go on flat ground. The hill climb tests were conducted on moderate (3.5%) and steep (10.5% and 15%) grades. All the products in the review were ridden up these gradients to see whether they could climb the hill at all and, if so, at what speed they would do so. To assess the maximum speed of flat ground, we took a running start, fully depressed the throttle, and brought the machines up to their maximum speed. Then, we timed how long it took each to traverse 100 ft. This test was repeated three times for each model. The average feet per second for the three trials was calculated and converted into miles per hour.
Ride Comfort
Ride comfort is admittedly a more subjective category than the others analyzed here. However, this is the critical component of motorized vehicle analysis, as you'll know a bad ride when you feel it. With this in mind, we set up a 1.2-mile loop that covered a variety of surface textures and features and ran each test model around it. When the wheels passed over bumps and cracks in the road, we asked ourselves: How aware was I of those features?
In the process, we noted the various components (such as wheel type) on the test models to see which helped produce the feel we liked best.
Braking
To develop effective brake analysis tests, we focused on scenarios where brake performance is critical to safety. We all agreed that steep hill descent and rapid arrest tests are essential for this metric.
We conducted our hill descent tests on three progressively steeper grades (5%, 10%, and 15%) and at two different speeds leading into the descent: slow and cautious (phase 1) and full speed (phase 2). We also analyzed the different types of braking systems, as many of the models tested have different brakes on the front and rear wheels.
Our rapid arrest tests measure the distance it takes for a rider to come to a complete stop when traveling ~ 12 miles per hour on flat ground. As with the descent test, we closely inspected the brake system during the rapid arrest test to determine which components best halted forward momentum.
Range
Range is of chief concern when considering electric vehicles, so we tested the range of each scooter in two ways: effective range and maximum range. Effective range is how far the scooter can travel at or near its top speed. To test this, we ran each scooter around a level test track at ~13 miles per hour until it could no longer maintain that speed. Maximum range is the total distance the scooter can travel on a single charge, regardless of speed. To test this, we continued running each scooter around the test track until the battery was depleted to the point that it could no longer move the scooter and rider.
We also measure how long it takes a fully depleted battery to recharge. To do this, we start a timer, plug the battery in, and videotape how long the battery indicator light takes to turn green.
Portability
The portability analysis primarily measures the folgripped carrying handle's bed dimensions, weight, and comfort; additionally, we examined the ease or difficulty of converting from riding mode to carry/store mode.
This included examining safety redundancies in the upright locking mechanism of the steering column and the latch securing it for carrying.
Conclusion
We aim to test products in a manner that simulates how the average consumer will use them and to take these products to their limits to see if the claims made by the manufacturer are accurate and consistent. To simplify the comparative shopping process, we quantify the results of these tests so that you, the consumer, can make apples-to-apples comparisons across the products in our review. Our comprehensive scooter review provides all the information that we, the reviewers, would want if we were in the market for an electric scooter. We hope that you find the information useful.