The Best Electric Scooters for Adults Buying Guide

Gone are the days when electric scooters were simply for techies in Silicon Valley and kids. With today’s advancements in lithium-ion batteries, they have become proper modes of transportation in many cities around the world. For many families, a good electric scooter can altogether remove the need for a second vehicle. Which, of course, lowers household expenses without sacrificing mobility. 

However, before you head off to pick up your electric scooter, there are a few things you want to keep in mind. And also don’t forget that we’ve already written about the best electric scooters for kids. 

Primary E-Scooter Use

Before making a purchase, you want to take some time to consider what the primary use of your e-scooter will be. It’s totally OK if you hope to use it for all sorts of things, but try to narrow down the one big reason for wanting it. Will it be a way to commute to the office? Is it for weekend adventures? Do you plan to use it for trips to the shops and to visit friends? Each of these options may steer you in a slightly different direction. 

An Urban Commuter

 Suppose you plan to use your electric scooter to glide through the traffic to the office, and you’re primarily on city streets. In that case, you probably won’t need to spend the extra money to have off-road treads and high-end suspension. You will want to pay attention to the charge time and millage that the scooter gets before it needs a recharge. It will also be important that your electric scooter can fold up easily to fit under your desk or easily under a seat on the train. A great way to test this is to do your regular commute on the weekend with a bicycle. Notice where it gets in the way, and imagine what sort of e-scooter you would need for it to be unintrusive. 

The Shop Runner

It makes perfect sense these days to use an electric scooter for running local errands. Just be sure you get something that’s equipped to do the job correctly. If you generally come home with a lot of bags, you’re going to need a scooter with a cargo rack or some way to secure your shopping to the deck. If you plan to make it your preferred mode of transport to visit friends, you’ll want to map out how far away your friends actually live. There’s no sense in having a scooter that only makes it halfway. 

The Weekend Warrior

On the other hand, if your e-scooter will be your weekend runabout, and its purpose will be mainly to get out in the trails and have fun with friends, you want to make sure it’s equipped. Pay attention to the range and top speed, but also give serious consideration to the hill-climbing capabilities. Unless you live in a mainly flat part of the country, you want something that can at least handle 20-degree hills without wiping out the battery. You probably want to invest in proper all-terrain tires and look for something with a little more spring in the suspension. 

Look for Quality

As with any vehicle purchase, it’s best to spend a bit more on quality parts upfront than to try and fix it as you go. With an electric scooter, this means looking for name brands battery packs, like Samsung, LG, or Panasonic, and paying attention to build materials. If it uses aerospace-grade aluminum, it’s going to hold up to the riggers of city riding. Of course, this is more important as you go up the price range. Be sure to investigate the warranty information for any high-end e-scooter you consider and look to the customer reviews to help determine how the company responds to technical issues. While it’s not the end of the world when a $300 scooter breaks down on you, you can bet you’ll be looking for a prompt manufacturer response if you have an issue with a $3,000 electric scooter. 

We’ve put together a list of a wide range of great electric scooters to meet every rider and budget. You’re sure to find one that’s just right for you. 

Unagi makes a beautiful electric scooter. These things are sleek and full of minimalist design charm. Absolutely perfect for getting around any urban landscape in relative comfort and style. The Model One is a particularly nice first offering for the Unagi line and proves that this team has a bright future. Available in four colors, there is enough variety for everyone. And these are pretty much for everyone. A max weight capacity of 275 pounds means they have to have power available, and they do. 1,000 watts and a top speed of 20 mph are definitely more than enough to move you. The one-click fold feature makes it easy to pick up and carry on the fly, and at 26.5 pounds, it’s not hard too hard to walk it up to the office.

Definitely not your grandpa’s scooter. This bad boy has grit. With full-sized 10-inch pneumatic off-road tires, you have the rubber to take you pretty much anywhere. Of course, none of that matters if you don’t have power, which you have plenty of in this case. The Nanrobot D6+ comes with two capable 1000 Watt brushless motors, which can be used in either single or dual mode depending on the terrain. All told, it tops out at 40 mph. This e-scooter is also equipped with front and rear hydraulic disc brakes to ensure you can bring all that power to a quick stop. And the LED headlight means you aren’t limited to well-lit streets after dark.

With the Gotrax GXL V2, you have an excellent e-scooter for short commutes. It’s the perfect little runabout for people who need to get from the train station to the office or run some errands in the neighborhood. The top speed is 15.5 mph, and it will go up to 12 miles on a full charge. The 250-watt brushless motor is perfectly adequate for local trips, and the 36V 7.0AH LG Extended Range Lithium-Ion battery is brilliantly reliable.

The trouble with most e-scooter is that you have to stand up, and sometimes you would just rather not. With the Metro, Razor has provided a comfortable alternative, an electric scooter with a comfortable place to take a load off. The 350-watt motor delivers up to 15.5 mph at top speed, and the air-filled 16-inch tires provide a smoother, safer ride on uneven terrain. Plus, it comes equipped with a cargo basket to hold your stuff! The 12-mile range isn’t necessarily a best-in-class statistic, but it’s perfect for a local runabout.

With a well-appointed 250-Watt motor, the Segway Ninebot Air T15 can get up to 12.4 mph and travel up to 7.5 miles on a single charge. And with its easy-fold and compact size, it packs up perfectly for taking along as your RV runabout once you get parked on a site. The Ninebot Air T15 has a max load capacity of 220 lbs, and it takes about 6-hours to charge for empty. It also a well-lit little scooter with safety-enhancing front, rear, and brake LED lights to ensure you’re visible after dark. It’s also one of the sleekest looking adult electric scooters I’ve ever seen. Kudos to the team at Segway on the industrial design.

Affectionately dubbed the Urban Warrior, the Apollo Explore was designed for people who want to wander throughout the urban landscape without continually worrying about looking for a charge station. The single 1,000-watt motor gets up to 31-mph, and the dual spring suspension ensures that no matter how well your local municipality has kept up the roads, you’re going to be comfortable. The 52V 18.2aH battery powered by Dynavolt, the globally renowned manufacturer of electric motorbike batteries, offers an exceptional range of 34 miles. Making it the only electric scooter in this price range that can manage this sort of distance.

If you need a local runabout or are just looking for something to get you the last couple of miles from the train to the office, this is a perfect e-scooter at a great price! The 300-watt motor will get you up to 18 mph, and the 37V battery lasts up to 11 miles per charge. Of course, it charges in just 3.5 hours, so if you’re riding it to work, you’ve got more than enough time to get it ready for the return trip. The aluminum alloy frame was engineered for maximum resilience and is durable enough to support riders up to 320-pounds. The 8.5-inch tires use a maintenance-free honeycomb design that ensures you never end up with a flat. The Swagtron smartphone app allows you to track your speed, check map routes via GPS, engage cruise control and activate the ultra-bright LED headlight with the tap of a button. Plus, you can quickly shift between the three speeds with a tap on the screen.

This is an e-scooter with just the right amount of power. Not so much that you’re going to get out there and hurt yourself, but enough that you can get where you’re going quickly. The top speed is 18 mph, and you have about a 20-mile range before you require a recharge. Of course, if you go too far, the whole unit only weighs about 30-pounds. So you can fold it up under your arm without too much fuss. However, the Levy Plus also allows you to disconnect and charge the battery apart from the scooter. This means that you can simply swap out the drained 36 V, 12.8aH 460 Watt-hour battery and keep going if you pick up an extra pack.

With its dual motor, the Boosted Rev does precisely what the name implies, it goes. With a 22-mile range and a top speed of 24 mph, you’re not going to find yourself wanting with this e-scooter. Oh, and the 3-way regenerative smart brakes mean that force generated in slowing down can actually add life to the battery. The Boosted Rev also has no issues with up a 25 percent hill grade, which is pretty impressive. And the Super Flex Composite Deck is built to withstand a considerable beating. This is a quality e-scooter for the money.

Getting in the neighborhood of 25-miles in range makes this a pretty impressive electric scooter at this price point. And with speeds of up to 18 mph, the Ninebot Max is a serious contender for best at this level. Of course, because it’s Segway, you know it’s been quality tested. However, it still comes with a limited warranty to provide you with that extra peace of mind. Another great feature is the Segway-Ninebot app, which connects through Bluetooth so you can check your riding speed and remaining battery with your smartphone. The app also allows you to upgrade the scooter firmware over-the-air keeping your ride up-to-date and ready to go at all times.

Some people want an electric scooter that can take the place of a second vehicle for the family. If that’s you, this is your scooter. The Emove Cruiser, on a single charge, will last you an incredible 62 miles of riding. And with its 352-pound weight capacity, this ride will comfortably carry two average-sized adults. Add to that a 20-degree hill climbing capacity and top-notch acceleration of 0 to 15 mph within 3.4 seconds, and you have a best-in-class e-scooter right here.

The Apollo Pro moves you into a totally different class of electric scooters altogether. This beast of ride delivers 56 miles of range, and its dual motors provide a max speed capacity of up to 44 mph! It will give you 0-30 mph of that in 4 seconds, depending on the Pro package you select. At 77 pounds total unit weight, it easily carries 330 pounds of rider(s). And with the Pro 60V Ludicrous option, regenerative brakes come standard and funnel power back into the battery every time you stop. Sure it’s a little pricier, but it’s so totally worth it!

You know, when you buy a Segway electric scooter, you know you can be sure you’re getting a quality ride. With the Ninebot KickScooter, you’re getting even more. This offering hits a top speed of 18.6 mph, and it will go for a 28-mile range before it needs recharging. Of course, because Segway likes to use the external battery pack, each ES4 comes with both an internal and removable external lithium-ion battery. So you always have the option of picking up a second external and swapping the power pack on the fly. And because they’ve been around for a while, Segway has really mastered the art of putting all the controls right where you want them, with an easy-to-use handlebar console. The built-in front and rear shock absorbers finish this ride off, providing a smooth cruiser-feel even at high speeds.

Sleek and compact, yet with solid fat tires to give you an unparalleled e-scooter ride. A high-powered and foldable electric kick scooter running on a high-efficiency Lithium-ion battery guarantees you strong acceleration, with top speeds of up to 25 mph and over a 20 Plus-mile range on a single charge. The 500W dual motors make this the best electric scooter for hills, and it was put through its paces running around San Fransico to ensure it could back up that claim. The rear disc brake ensures that you can slow it all down, while the front and rear springs mean that whether you’re stopping or going, it all happens smoothly.

You don’t call your e-scooter the Turboant unless you’re prepared to back it up. And back it up, they do. This electric scooter is small in size and small in price tag, but it’s all turbo. It has 30-miles of range per charge, but it also boasts a 20 mph max speed, meaning it competes with the bigger, more expensive models on offer today. The charge time is about 6 hours, which means it’s a good commuter, even on a short day at the office. And with the three ride modes, Beginner, Eco, and Sport, this scooter will adjust to the situation and the rider.

Meet the Thunder, probably the best electric scooter on this list. Of course, it’s also one of the priciest. This is an e-scooter for serious riders who are prepared to pay more for a top-quality product. The 5,400-watt BLDC dual hub motor gives you a top speed of 50 mph, and on a full charge, you get a 75-mile range. If it had a luggage rack, this would be a great e-scooter to take on a road trip. The frame is made from aviation-grade 6082-T6 aluminum alloy, while the shaft is SCM440 steel, with plastic covers. The braking system uses precision hydraulic brakes with ABS standard and 160mm disks to ensure it stops when you need it to. And, as if technical superiority wasn’t enough, the Thunder features blue bottom mood lights and an illuminated handlebar that you can set to any color you choose.

Suppose you’re looking for an affordable runabout to get you around the neighborhood in style. In that case, the Mi e-scooter is perfectly capable of getting the job done. A 250W motor drives this electric scooter to a top speed of 15.5 mph. The high-capacity lithium batteries supplied by LG provide a maximum travel range of up to 18.6 miles. And all told, it takes about 5-hours to charge it up. The 1-Watt headlights, with a range of up to 6 meters, provide added safety when riding at night. While red taillights flash while braking as a warning to other pedestrians and vehicles on the road.

This little birdy is precisely what comes to mind when you try to imagine a sleekly designed minimalist scooter. Available in black or Electric rose, it’s a solid option for those looking to scoot around town. It has a 25-mile range and conveniently connects to the myBird app to help you monitor everything that’s going on.

The Kaabo Wolf Warrior 11 is a beast. A high-speed e- scooter designed for the ultimate on or off-road adventure. They use motorcycle-grade inverted hydraulic front shock absorbers and a rear springloaded brake to enable you to ride in any terrain. The two powerful brushless 1200-Watt motors and two 40A controllers deliver a peak output of 5400-Watt and climb up to 30-degree inclines with ease. Sure, it’s gonna cost you a bit of coin, but once you get out on this thing, you are going to be glad you ponied up.

Assuming that you’ve committed to using an electric scooter as your full-time vehicle. In that case, it’s going to be worth shelling out a bit of money to make sure you’ve got one that can handle whatever life throws at it. And the Thunder is just such a scooter. The hub motors deliver 5,400-watts of power to give you a top speed of 50 mph and a total range of 80-miles on a single charge. Yup, it’s freaking great. The solid 11-inch wheels and well-built frame can hold up to 330-pounds in rider weight, and this little scoot will tackle 30-degree hills like they were nothing. It’s going to cost a bit more to get all this power, but when you open it up, you’re going to love it!

An all-around charmer of an electric scooter, the Mantis, is a perfect everyday commuter. Well-made and reasonably powered, this little e-scooter can handle the riggers of regular use. With its two powerful brushless 60V 1000W motors, you get impressive acceleration and the ability to climb up to 30-degree inclines with ease. When riding in single-motor mode, you can get up to 30 mph while conserving your battery or switch on the second motor for extra acceleration and 40 mph top speed. The advanced display and throttle combination allows configuration of the speed limit, cruise control, and regenerative braking strength. In the PRO version with Minimotors, the display also features motor torque adjustments and ABS. It’s a lot of scooter for the price!