The Best Electric Scooters Aren’t for Kids: Discover the Top Brands and E-Scooters for 2021
The humble scooter, once the domain of little kids, has become a commuter powerhouse. If you live in a major U.S. city, you’ve likely seen the number of electric scooters on the roadways increase exponentially in the past two years. In places like New York City, there are even rental services like Lime that let curious newcomers rent scooters. For fans of this two-wheel transport, it’s an eco-friendly way to avoid gridlock or explore your city in new ways. Even the best electric scooters cost far, far less than a new or used car, and it’s easy to see why so many commuters are investing in e-scooters.
While they may not be the toys you grew up with, electric scooters are still really fun, and in addition to commuting, they’re also great for exploring parks, side streets or just general outdoor recreation. The pure sweat-equity manual scooters are still very much a thing, but we’re sticking with the electric variety here to give you a more plausible commuter option and a little more zoom for your weekend.
If you’re ready to make the investment in an electric scooter, then we’re here to help. We’ve gathered the best electric scooters below, and these transportation devices run the gamut in price, power and features, so there’s a pretty good chance the one for you is on this list.
What Are the Top Electric Scooter Brands?
While they’re not quite the hoverboards we were promised in Back To The Future 2, electric scooters may just be the next best thing. When shopping for e-scooters, you’ll want to compare the options based on important features such as battery power, weight, speed and range. Of course, the price matters as well: cheap electric scooters sound good in theory, until they break down and you realize there’s no warranty or customer service to call to replace the faulty battery. Scooters also require regular maintenance, sometimes more so than bicycles, so consider the factors of customer service and warranty into your budget, because it’s worth it. No one wants to get stuck lugging a 40-pound scooter for 20 blocks.
Because scooters have become popular on the commuting scene, there are almost too many brands (and knockoffs) to choose from in 2021. Whether you’re interested in cruising around on the weekend or hitting the pavement in a major metropolis with uneven sidewalks and ample red lights, there’s a choice that’s just right for you. So what are the best electric scooter brands to know?
Lately, the Glion Dolly has been a crowd favorite. With a max speed of 15 mph and max range of 15 miles, this is a great budget scooter for any commuter. The perk of the Glion Dolly is the ability to become a little rolling suitcase if you’re out and about with a low battery. There’s nothing worse than dragging along a 30-pound scooter, and no other brands have this feature. Another crowd favorite is the hardy and speedy Segway Electric Scooters. In particular, consider the Segway Ninebot Kickscooter Max, which has a top speed of 18.6 mph and a range of 40 miles, is a good option for serious buyers. While these choices are both relatively affordable, another contender — the Dualtron Thunder Electric Scooter — is also turning heads right now. This scooter is capable of speeds up to 50 mph and a range of 75 miles, but at $3,699, it’s a steep ask for a commuter’s pocket.
In general, the top electric scooter brands are:
Razor
Segway
Glion
Dualtron
GoTrax
Apollo
Ready to try out these transportation devices for yourself? As stated above, you’ll want to ensure the scooter you buy has enough speed and range to serve as a viable transportation option in your city. Likewise, you’ll want to stick with reliable and trusted brands that offer
1. Segway Ninebot KickScooter MAX G30P
BEST OVERALL
The best way to sum up the Segway Ninebot KickScooter MAX? Probably a tie between “vulgar display of power” and “just about the most fun thing of all time.” This product boats the highest speeds and longest range of any Segway scooter, and it can also handle steeper slopes. The KickScooter MAX G30P boasts a ridiculous 40-mile range, gets up to 18.6 mph and can handle 20-percent slopes. On top of that, it features four riding modes including power assist for pushing the scooter by hand. This scooter also has IPX7 water resistance on its electric core parts and IPX5 for the rest of the body. Combine that with 10-inch tubeless tires rear and front and it all adds up to an astoundingly luxe and powerful machine.
This electric scooter is also smart and Bluetooth-connective for using the Segway-Ninebot app, which can lock and unlock the scooter, give you riding stats, and even cruise control. It folds down for easy storage, although at 41 pounds it’s a beast to lug around. Is there a better scooter around? We don’t think so, but with a price tag approaching a grand, we almost chose another product as our top recommendation. However, if you want the best of the best, then this is the electric scooter for you.
ON SALE NOW!
Buy: Segway Ninebot KickScooter MAX $900.15
2. Segway Ninebot ES4
RUNNER UP
Some people still associate Segway with those standup human movers which were supposed to revolutionize city commuting and ended up being the ultimate tourist traps for guided tours. That’s a shame, because since then Segway has come to dominate the scooter market with great rides like the Ninebot ES4. This has everything a commuter could possibly want and is an awesomely fun ride at the same time. The dual lithium-ion batteries combine for 800 watts of power, which means you have a huge 28-mile range and can run the speedometer up to 19 mph. Maybe that doesn’t sound fast, but when you stand on the ES4 and gun it, it’s a rip. The ES4 also has anti-lock disc brakes, front and rear shock absorbers, a front tire sized perfectly for getting over curbs, an LED display, and customizable front and rear lights for safety. It’s also foldable for easy storage. Segway also offers a phone holder and a seat as buy-separately peripherals.
For a lot of riders, this is the gold standard, but there are a few cons we want to make note of. First, the controls for this scooter have been the source of complaints, especially when pushing the scooter to the limits. Fortunately, Segway does have better customer service than some competitors. Finally, this scooter has a max weight limit of 220 pounds, so it’s not a viable option for larger guys.
Buy: Segway Ninebot ES4 $770.00
3. GoTrax GXL V2 Commuter Scooter
RUNNER UP
It was a seriously hard call for the runner-up spot between the Segway Ninebot ES4 and the GoTrax GXL V2. The GXL brings nearly as much to the table as the Segway and is less than a third of the price. We went with the Segway because it outstrips the GXL in range, speed, and intangibles, but the GXL still gets a hearty recommendation. The 9- to 12-mile range is enough for any commute you’d brave on a scooter, and the short charge time (3-4 hours) lets you recharge at the office and ride home without worrying about running out of juice. The 15.5-mph max speed beats pretty much every other scooter in this price range, and the electric/disc hybrid brake brings you to a reliable stop without tossing you over the handlebars. A bright headlight and rear reflector are great safety features, and it’s foldable for storage. As runners-up go, this is the tiniest step down possible.
4. Glion Dolly Electric Scooter
CONTENDER
This is the commuter’s dream scooter for its budget price, rapid charge time, and 15-mile range. Its patented dolly and vertical self-standing feature make this scooter stands out from the rest. With anti-locking brakes, you’ll be living the dream as you cruise down the sidewalk to work every morning. At a max speed of 15 mph, this is a safe and easy scooter for riders of any age, and the battery life lasts up to four hours with a charge time of 3.2 hours. Try out the Glion Dolly electric scooter and change the way you commute forever.
Buy: Glion Dolly Electric Scooter $489.00
5. Dualtron Thunder Electric Scooter
LONGEST RANGE
Maybe the flashiest scooter available, the Dualtron Thunder lives up to its name with a max speed of 50 mph and crazy-long range of 75 miles. What more can you ask for in a personal commuter device? The battery is 60 volts, which means it takes a long time to charge — 20 hours — but it’s worth the wait. The Dualtron Thunder has hydraulic brakes, which are optimal for safety at the high speeds it hits. A downside of this scooter is that it weighs a whopping 95 pounds, so factor that in if you live or work somewhere with a lot of stairs. But for that one downside, there are many more perks to owning this crazy fast scooter, including all the time you’ll be spending outdoors from the moment you buy it.
Buy:
Dualtron Thunder Electric Scooter
$3,699
6. Razor RX200 Electric Off-Road Scooter
BEST FOR YOUNG PEOPLE
Scooters aren’t all nicely dressed dudes wearing backpacks and zooming along sidewalks. The Razor RX200 is a straight-up dirt dawg, ready and raring to hit the trails. It has a chain-driven motor ready for high-torque trail use, and can hit up to 12 mph while blasting off-road. Hand-operated rear-disk brakes give you great stopping power and, if you get the hang of it, you can even drift the sucker. The wheels are heavy-duty alloy, inflatable to 60 PSI to give you grip both on and off the road. At 46.4 pounds, the RX200 is a bruiser and not one you’ll want to lug up and down stairs, and it has a recommended weight limit of 154 pounds. This isn’t your city ride, but for sheer fun the Razor RX200 is top-notch.
Buy: Razor RX200 Electric Off-Road Scooter $217.00
6. Razor EcoSmart Metro Electric Sitdown Scooter
BEST SIT-DOWN SCOOTER
It’s fine to admit that the idea of standing for your whole ride isn’t appealing to you. It’s also totally fine that while zipping around footloose and fancy-free with just a backpack or even less sounds fun, you’re looking for something that’s more practical. Enter the Razor EcoSmart Metro, with a seat, spacious footboard, and sizable basket that makes runs to the store suddenly scooter-friendly. Fully charged, the EcoSmart Metro runs for 40 minutes, and they’ll be 40 comfortable minutes thanks to the large padded seat and wide bamboo footboard. The removable luggage rack can carry your briefcase or backpack, or the large basket for grocery runs. Three 12-volt batteries power the chain-driven motor and can reach a very brisk 18 mph. Two drawbacks — the EcoSmart Metro tips the scales at a whopping 67 pounds, and it’s also not recommended for use in rain or extreme wet conditions. But the more-relaxed approach to scooting has its appeal.
Buy: Razor EcoSmart Metro Electric Scooter $469.99
8. Swagatron Electric Commuter Scooter
ALSO CONSIDER
The Swagatron is an excellent choice for commuters seeking a scooter with an upgraded battery package. Now with max speeds of 18mph, the Swagatron outdoes its competitors by staying in the same price range as lesser budget scooters. Other features include the advanced airless honeycomb tires to get you safely from point A to point B without a flat, single-click folding, and a luggable weight of 26 pounds. The only downside to the Swagatron is the range–at only 11 miles, that’s a lot of charge time for not much distance.
Buy: Swagatron Electric Commuter Scooter $559.95
9. Apollo Explore Scooter
The Apollo Explore is made for the urban commuter with its lightweight frame and max speed of 31 mph, a great in-between of a car and a bicycle. this high-performance, long-range scooter is compact and portable, with a 52V 18Ah Dynavolt battery and a 1000W motor. It has a 3-speed range setting to make any commuter comfortable for up to 34 miles in range. At 52 pounds and with foldable handlebars, this is the optimal scooter for any commuter looking for a little more speed and range within a good price. The best perk may be the cruise control, so check out the Apollo Explore for your daily commute or for your weekend adventure.
BEST SPLURGE
Buy:
Apollo Explore Scooter
$1,399
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