5 Best Electric Scooters for Commuting
If the miles between your home and your office or other regular destination are far beyond what you can trek, and driving a car isn’t feasible, then you need to go for an option in-between. And that’s where an electric scooter comes in.
More and more people are now using scooters for commutes to work, school, and quick trips into town. And that’s because electric scooters attract far less maintenance cost than cars, allow for quicker trips within crowded cities with lots of heavy traffic, and make for a green way to travel.
In this post, we’d be reviewing some of the best electric scooters for commuting.
Best Electric Scooters for Commuting: Our Top 5 Picks
Not all electric scooters on the market are good for commuting. To save you from making the wrong choice, we hit the market to do the hard work for you. We started by finding out the electric scooter models that are suitable for commuting, and we compared them based on durability, performance, features, weight capacity, battery life, buyer reviews, and other important factors.
After cutting out the low performers from our initial long list, we ended up with these best recommendations.
1. Razor RX200 Electric Off-Road Scooter
Razor is recognized for manufacturing quality scooters that provide users with the best riding experience ever. The RX200 Electric Off-Road Scooter fits this description perfectly. First of all, this scooter can move both on a gravel path and a regular road. It is rugged on the road and sturdily bears the weight of the rider in all navigation conditions.
Scooters from Razor became popular in the early 2000s when they began mass production of their micro scooter. Since then, this company has grown in leaps and bounds by manufacturing all kinds of scooters for different audiences. In the beginning, scooters were sold as children’s toys; but today, Razor has created scooters for adults as well. As such, scooters are no longer just made for sidewalks; they have become more versatile for short trips on the roads.
The RX200 Electric Off-Road Scooter is one of the latest introductions to the Razor family. It was designed for a new audience entirely. It features knobby off-road tires, a sturdy frame, and a better gear for more torque. The promise is that with these, you don’t have to restrict riding your scooter to asphalt or concrete floors alone.
It is powered by two 12-volts lead-acid sealed rechargeable batteries. Both batteries give the scooter about 40 minutes of power. You can attain up to 12 miles per hour with the RX200 Electric Off-Road Scooter even when running on dirt or gravel. As the name implies, the scooter was manufactured for off-road use. Notwithstanding, it shouldn’t be used in mud or water since it will result in permanent damage to the motor and battery.
Operating the RX200 Electric Off-Road Scooter is very easy. It comes with a twist-grip throttle that helps with controlling speed. There is also a brake lever that you can control by hand to help manipulate the disc brake. With this, you can achieve optimal braking and make sudden stops when the need arises.
The wide deck of this scooter is covered with non-skid material. This assures the rider of maximum safety while in transit. It also has handlebars that are similar to what you find in bicycles. They are very comfortable, especially for adult riders. This scooter can accommodate riders of up to 180 pounds in weight. It is important to note that with larger riders, speed, and battery life may reduce.
One of the major strengths of this scooter is the convenience that riders enjoy in diverse kinds of terrains. The scooter can travel on dirt and gravel paths easily. This is made possible by the strong motor and flexible and strong air-filled tires. The gear ration of the RX200 Electric Off-Road Scooter is also improved.
It is not all praise for this scooter since it has a few flaws. While the steel frame of the scooter is sturdy, it is heavy and bulky. With a weight of 50 pounds, anyone will find it difficult to push when the battery dies. By the way, the battery only lasts 40 minutes on a full charge, which is quite low. Finally, the position of the battery box means that it will keep hitting the ground when it is off the road.
Pros
- Great reputation
- Recharges easily
- Steel fork and frame
- Twist-grip throttle
- Easy to use
- Off-road capability
- Rubber tires (air-filled)
Cons
- Battery dies easily
- Battery too low to the ground
2. Gotrax XR Elite Electric Scooter
The Gotrax XR Elite Electric Scooter is one of the newest products in GoTrax’s line of electric scooters. It comes with better battery life than its predecessors as well as side reflectors that help at night. GoTrax is renowned for producing budget-friendly electric scooters. As such, this product is a great option if you are on a budget.
Unlike the RX200 above, you shouldn’t consider riding this scooter on hilly terrains. It is better to acquire a bigger scooter for such purposes. The Gotrax XR Elite Electric Scooter is designed for very light duty climbing. It works better for cruising on flat grounds.
The Gotrax XR Elite Electric Scooter comes with a 300-watt motor although the company failed to reveal the max power. However, the peak rating should be around 430 watts. This scooter can go faster than the RX200 since it can reach about 15.5 miles per hour. It also presents you with a slightly wider range and you can get up to 18 miles on a full charge.
As expected, the distance that this scooter can travel will reduce with a heavier rider, and so is the speed. The Gotrax XR Elite Electric Scooter comes with two-speed modes so the user can alter between the two depending on needs. It has a more powerful battery than the RX200 since it comes with a 36-volt battery. This is strong enough to give you up to 7.8 amp-hours.
No product is without its flaws, and the same goes for the Gotrax XR Elite Electric Scooter. It doesn’t come with an on-scooter suspension. For some folks, this may be a deal-breaker. This is because, in the end, your legs become the suspension of the scooter. Of course, this shouldn’t be a problem if you can avoid potholes.
One of the important factors to look out for when buying an electric scooter is portability. This scooter comes with an efficient folding mechanism. There are two safety mechanisms on this scooter to prevent accidental folds. The scooter has just one light in front, but it makes up for this with several reflectors.
We would have loved the scooter to have active lighting all around the scooter. However, when you consider the price, this scooter isn’t a bad idea. It is durable and well put together.
Pros
- Very durable
- Efficient folding mechanism
- Very affordable
- Long battery life
Cons
- No suspension system
- Not great for hilly terrains
3. Glion Dolly Foldable Lightweight Adult Electric Scooter
The Glion Dolly Foldable Lightweight Adult Electric Scooter is built to be quick and has a decent range. This scooter comes with several unique features. One such feature is the way the scooter folds. You can pull it around like you are rolling a suitcase. It is almost impossible to find a more portable electric scooter on the market.
The scooter has a 250-watt hub motor and is also equipped with a 368volts battery. When the battery is fully charged, you can get up to 3.5 hours. Both the discharge cycle rating and charging rates are excellent. What this means is that you can use the battery for up to 3 to 5 years before there is a need for replacement.
The Glion Dolly Foldable Lightweight Adult Electric Scooter presents you about 15 miles per hour as the max speed. It also hits a max range of about 10 miles. Of course, if you are riding at the max speed limit, you may not hit 10 miles.
One factor that you should consider when buying an electric scooter is construction. This scooter is one of the lightest on this list since it weighs a little over 27 pounds. Despite this weight, it is strong enough to carry individuals weighing 250 pounds. This scooter is sturdy since it is designed using powder-coated, aircraft-grade aluminum. What this implies is that the frame of the scooter is resistant to corrosion.
Portability is another factor that you must look at before choosing an electric scooter. This is one feature that stands the Glion Dolly Foldable Lightweight Adult Electric Scooter out. It has a unique construction that makes it easy to fold away very quickly. You can pull this scooter around like a suitcase when its battery runs out.
This scooter was designed for safety since it comes with bright lights. You can easily turn the lights on with the push of a red button. The scooter also comes with a tail reflector. Overall, the Glion Dolly Foldable Lightweight Adult Electric Scooter is a great scooter with a quality build.
Pros
- Corrosion-resistant frame
- Built-in lights and tail reflector
- Sturdy and durable build
- Charges very quickly
- Powerful motor
Cons
- Tires can be a little problematic
- Not great on rough terrains
4. Gotrax XR Ultra Electric Scooter
The XR Ultra Electric Scooter is the second product from GoTrax on our list. This shows how efficient this company is with producing quality electric scooters. What makes this electric scooter special?
Firstly, there are three colors to choose from. You can pick the black tapered with white accents, and gray with black or purple accents. One challenge with this scooter is that the brake cables are exposed. This is different from every other scooter in this review. For some folks, there is no problem with this since it brings back the feel of a traditional bicycle.
The scooter has a thin deck and the battery sits inside the downtube. With this, the XR Ultra Electric Scooter has a very sleek profile. What this implies is that the scooter is very portable and easy to move around.
The scooter comes with a piece of metal designed in an angular shape. This metal is the link between the deck and the downtube. It keeps the frame steady while you ride the scooter. The scooter has an LED panel sitting in the center of the handle. This shows the estimated battery life of the scooter as well as your speed. It also comes with a headlight that you can switch on or off with a red button.
While this scooter isn’t the most powerful in the market, it comes with a 300-watts motor. This is strong enough to keep you going on steep hills. The scooter isn’t the fastest in the market as well. Its tires are air-filled and ensure that you enjoy smooth rides but they lack efficient shock absorption. This scooter has an efficient braking system and is very affordable, making it a great purchase.
Pros
- Great performance
- Very affordable
- Durable and sturdy design
- Very portable
- LED display screen
Cons
- The rear brake light is absent
- A little difficult to assemble
5. Razor E200 Electric Scooter
The Razor E200 Electric Scooter is about the slowest of all the scooters on this list. It makes up for this with a very powerful 12-volts rechargeable battery. Also, it comes with a set of assembly tools that makes it the easiest scooter to assemble on our list.
The scooter comes with a rear hand-operated brake and pneumatic tires as well as a spring kickstand. With this, you can stop at any point in time without worries. The battery on this scooter provides you 40 minutes of use when charged fully. That’s quite small considering the other scooters on this list. Of course, lighter individuals moving at average speed can enjoy more time speeding around.
Despite having such low battery life, it takes up to 12 hours to charge fully. However, you shouldn’t plug it for longer since it can damage the battery and lead to failure. The Razor E200 Electric Scooter was designed with kids in mind. Although, kids younger than 13 can use it, it shouldn’t be without supervision.
The scooter can reach up to 20 miles per hour when ridden by a child or lightweight adult. It has an average speed of 15 miles per hour. The scooter has a weight limit of 165 pounds which is also considerably low compared to other electric scooters.
Just like many other electric scooters, the Razor E200 Electric Scooter works well on both dirt and grass. So you shouldn’t have any worries if you don’t have smooth roads around. Your kids can still enjoy riding this scooter. Safety is a very important factor to watch out for. This scooter is designed with your safety in mind because it has a relatively wide deck.
Pros
- Lots of safety gear
- Assembly tools
- A versatile scooter that rides well on different terrains
- Pneumatic tires
- Rear hand-operated brake
Cons
- Battery life can deteriorate with time
- Takes a long time to charge fully
