• New Jersey just introduced tighter e-bike rules
• Other states are considering similar restrictions, too
• Many e-bike advocates are frustrated by the new law

New Jersey is imposing new e-bike legislation that will seriously impact riders in the state – and could be a sign of tighter restrictions rolling out more widely in the US and beyond, which could have serious ramifications for the adoption of e-bikes and similar technologies like e-scooters.

Under the new law, all classifications of e-bike ridden in New Jersey will require the rider to get a license, get insurance, and register their vehicle – a lot like you would for a car or motorbike. You must also be aged at least 15 and have a motorized bicycle license or be at least 17 years old with a valid driver’s license to own and operate an e-bike.

The state has also banned conversion kits that would allow riders to convert their lower-powered e-bikes to higher-powered ones, and for the next year, it has banned the sale of electric motorized bikes online (the fastest tier of bikes, which can go at speeds over 28mph).

Lawmakers who proposed the bill, and supporters, have heralded this as a major win for e-bike safety, with bill sponsor Senate President Nick Scutari declaring, “We are in a new era of e-bike use” – showcasing the local government’s action to help prevent e-bike-related injury and deaths following some high-profile incidents late last year.

E-bike enthusiasts are a lot less positive about New Jersey’s actions, however. You’ll find various articles and social media posts like this one from Chris Crossed, calling this “the dumbest ebike law ever,” as they point out issues like the lack of insurance options in the current market, as well as the conflict the law has with efforts to cut carbon emissions and reduce traffic congestion.

Though these voices are not entirely opposed to all of the actions being taken. Instead, they’re concerned that the broad, rather than targeted, measures could harm interest in e-bikes, which offer a solid alternative travel method for many. Especially as they fear New Jersey won’t be the last to impose restrictions – case in point, New York State has a similar senate bill in the works.

As e-bike fans would themselves be quick to point out, e-bikes are not a well-defined category. The term can be used to refer to pedal bikes that offer minimal assistance (topping out at speeds below 20mph) as well as effective e-motorbikes that can go at speeds over 28mph and aren’t really intended to be pedalled.

Clearly, there’s a major difference between these kinds of vehicles, but the very generalized category name combined with low understanding of the specific differences between subcategories means it’s easy for folks to buy e-bikes with a lot more oomph than they realize (leading to accidents) and lawmakers being overly broad with their rules.

Unfortunately, there’s also clearly a need for tighter rules to be brought in, because e-bike injuries are on the rise (via Velo and the BBC). Part of this comes from increased ridership, but that alone doesn’t account for the increase – factors including increased power and weight for e-bikes are also seemingly playing a part.

Is there a happy middle ground?

I’ve written about being a major fan of e-scooters, and e-bikes to some extent too, as they offer commuters a great alternative to driving that’s more environmentally friendly, fairly convenient, and not as physically taxing as riding a non-e-bike. So I’m not keen on overly restricting access.

Instead, I’d follow the example set by various countries’ drone rules. E-bike manufacturers would start by getting their bikes approved for use on public roads, and they would be assigned a category based on their top engine speed and weight.

The lightest, slowest speed e-bikes would be accessible to younger riders given they’re comparable to a pedal bike with just a little assistance; medium-weight and speed bikes would be restricted to older riders and require some kind of online test that checks their understanding of road and rider safety; and then those heaviest and fastest ‘e-motorbikes,’ as they’re called, would require some kind of license akin to a driver’s license.

All bike types, however, would need to be registered by an adult and be tagged with their registration number. Registration could be done online, and would be similar to how UK drones need to have your Operator ID on them.

This is just one idea, and I’m keen to hear your alternative suggestions in the comments, but I feel it strikes a better balance between improved safety and keeping e-bikes relatively accessible than do the New Jersey rules.

We’ll have to wait and see how other jurisdictions tackle e-bike rules, but as I sit here hoping for looser e-scooter laws in the UK, I have a suspicion we might, in fact, see tighter restrictions in various places. Hopefully, my hunch is wrong.

• Acer has revealed a range of new products at CEs 2026
• The main announcement is a fresh line of laptops featuring the new Intel Core Ultra Series 3 processors
• Other reveals included an esports monitor and a Predator-branded e-scooter

The ball is rolling on CES 2026, and that means lots of new hardware reveals. It's an exciting time of year for us here at TechRadar, and it looks like Acer hasn't disappointed, with a range of new products coming in hot.

Leading the pack are several new laptops equipped with Intel's new 3rd-gen Core Ultra CPUs, including the Aspire AI, Swift AI, Swift Edge AI, Swift Go AI, and several new gaming laptops in the Predator and Nitro ranges. Yes, those have 'AI' tacked onto the end of the product name for no good reason, too.

I'm only gently chiding Acer for this, though, as it's become common practice across multiple laptop brands in recent years to include 'AI' in the name. In my inquiries, nobody has been particularly forthcoming about why they're doing this, but it's likely a combination of desire to demonstrate these new laptops' AI capabilities (thanks to the new Intel Core Ultra 300 chips powering them, which boast superior AI performance compared to the previous 200 generation) and pressure from Microsoft to champion Copilot, its AI assistant that now comes baked into Windows 11.

Overall, though? I have to say that these new laptops look good. The Aspire and Swift models come in both 14- and 16-inch display sizes, with the super-premium Swift Edge 14 AI weighing in at less than 1kg with a thickness of 13.95mm, making it one of the thinnest and lightest laptops in its performance class. The new Predator Helios Neo 16S AI is also impressively thin and light for a gaming laptop, packing an RTX 5070 GPU but with a chassis less than 19mm thick.

New visuals

The reveals didn't stop there, though. New monitors are up next: we saw two gaming-focused models under the Predator brand, one curved and one esports-oriented (with a ludicrous '1000 Hz dynamic mode' for maximizing your framerate), along with another gaming monitor from the Nitro family, which offers a 27-inch 5K panel. Meanwhile, digital creatives were served by the new ProDesigner PE320QX, which delivers a stunning 6K resolution and 1.07 billion color support.

Elsewhere in the display space, we saw a new projector, the Vero HL1820. Side note: did you know Acer makes home cinema projectors? I did, but several of my coworkers didn't! As part of the eco-friendly Vero product line, it's constructed with a chassis composed of 50% post-consumer-recycled materials.

There was also a host of connectivity products, primarily some new routers, including the Predator Connect X7S 5G CPE: a wireless router that uses 5G and 4G connectivity to deliver lightning-fast Wi-Fi 7 connectivity for gaming and streaming wherever you may go. Peripherals were included too, with the new Predator Cestus 530 gaming mouse and Galea 570 headset.

Get scootin'

The most unusual reveal, however, was the Predator ES Storm Pro E-scooter. Described as a 'performance-focused e-scooter designed for varied urban conditions', it features a foldable aluminum frame, ten-inch tubeless tires, and of course, RGB lighting. It's a Predator-branded product, after all.

Now, this isn't the first electric scooter Acer has produced; the ES series has been kicking around for a little while now, so it's not surprising to see Acer wheel out a new one at an event like CES. What is surprising is that this model proudly bears the Predator branding. I don't know if there's a lot of crossover between the PC gaming and e-scooter markets, but clearly Acer thinks so.

With IPX5 water resistance and a riding range of approximately 60km on a single charge thanks to regenerative braking technology, it certainly looks pretty sweet. But I don't really know a damn thing about e-scooters, so that's just about all the analysis I can offer on this particular product reveal!

Since trying Segway’s 2025 range at CES earlier this year, I knew that an e-scooter could be perfect for my commuting needs. I’m feeling even more confident about that after giving Pure Electric’s electric scooters a ride at IFA 2025, with my only hurdle now being the UK government regulations.

Pure Electric is a UK-based brand that designs beautiful, forward-facing e-scooters alongside more traditionally designed models where you ride one foot in front of the other.

In an interview, the Pure founder, Adam Norris, explained to me that the forward-facing design is more natural to people – “Look at everyone standing around here,” he said, gesturing at the folks at the IFA test track, “we naturally stand straight-on, so why shouldn’t an e-scooter offer the same stance?”

I got to give both e-scooter types a whirl. While my demo wasn’t ideal for testing, IFA’s test track was shared between several brands, leading to some congestion, squashed between two convention halls, and made up of two short straights connected by sharp hairpin turns – I did manage to sample the stability and more approachable nature of the forward-facing stance offered by the Escape Pro.

Though I did also have a blast riding the suspension-equipped Air 5 Suspension, which had me driving with my feet one in front of the other like more traditional scooters. The well-paved tarmac track wasn’t the bumpiest, but I did feel like my ride was a little smoother than with the Escape model, thanks to the cushioning of the suspension.

Unfortunately, my demos of e-scooters are the only real experience I’ll get to have with them beyond the occasional public rental – because it’s illegal to ride your own scooter around on public roads in the UK, where I live. And I desperately wish that wasn’t the case.

Star-crossed love

If I could, I'd always commute with an e-scooter.

For a start, they make getting around super convenient – you can get where you want to go faster than walking, but less sweaty than if you cycled or ran there.

The argument could be to upgrade my bike to an e-bike, so I can ride with a motor, but then I fall into a storage issue. Bikes are typically much bulkier than scooters – even if you get a folding one – and making it smaller wouldn’t get around the clause in my rental agreement saying no bikes are allowed to be stored inside my flat.

I could try and store it outside, but I can tell you from experience, it’s a matter of when, not if, it will get stolen. An e-scooter is much easier to hide inside my home.

I could also attempt to rely on rental scooters (which are legal in the UK) from the likes of Voi or Lime, but you can never 100% rely on there always being one to rent in a convenient place. And if you do manage to ride one into work, there’s a decent chance it won’t be waiting for you outside when you’re ready to go home, as another rider will have snagged it.

Hopefully, things will change. In my chat with Pure’s team, they highlighted the growing popularity of e-scooters and studies showing that private e-scooters are often being used to substitute for cars – helping to cut pollution and traffic on roads.

The team also highlighted that the UK government is working on legalizing private e-scooter usage on public roads, though there’s no definitive date for when that’ll happen.

So for now, I’ll need to keep my fingers crossed and keep trying out different e-scooters at events like IFA and CES. It’s looking like a matter of when, not if, e-scooters will hit UK roads en masse – and I want to know precisely which model to ride when the revolution arrives.

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At CES 2025, Segway unveiled seven new e-scooters and two new e-bikes – and I’ve had the chance to try them. Specifically, I rode the new Segway Xyber and Xafari e-bikes, as well as the Max G3 and F3 Pro e-scooters, as part of an hour-long demo event at the Las Vegas tech show.

Now readers, I’ve never ridden an e-bike nor an e-scooter before (my experience is limited to your classic non-e-varieties), so the demo’s track – complete with faux-cobblestones to test the suspension and small ramps for me to conquer – was a little daunting. After an hour with the vehicles, however, I fell in love with the assisted riding experience, and I’m excited to ride them more.

My favorite was the Xafari – the smooth city rider with a more classic bike shape. It was light enough that I could ride it fairly easily around the flat space with minimal help, but when I did ratchet up the assistance from the motor, I felt I still had plenty of control of the bike, so I could swerve through the marked course’s curves with ease.

But most importantly, I loved how comfy it was, with the suspension making the fake cobbles feel almost unnoticeable – an experience that was noticeably smoother than the Xyber or the e-scooters.

Speaking of, the Xyber was a monster that lived up to my first impression of it looking like an e-motorbike.

Noticeably heavier than the Xafari, I barely pedaled the bike around myself – only doing so with plenty of motor assistance to help me shift the weighty machine. Most of the time I simply drove and steered it using the throttle, and over the demo ramped up through its Eco, Sport and Race modes – which improve the bike’s acceleration capabilities.

I was told the max Race mode level could take me from 0 to 20mph in 2.7 seconds. And while I didn’t have a stopwatch (nor the nerve) to test those claims for myself and go full-throttle on the straight, I did feel how much more oomph this engine setting provided and noticed from the speedometer that speed was certainly not an issue.

Moving to the e-scooters, while it took me a few tries to master the kick-off – if you don’t push hard enough with your foot as you set off and turn the throttle, the engine won’t kick in to assist you – I was eventually cruising around like a natural (or so I was told by the people watching me, I certainly felt good about it).

I even got so confident that I tackled both of the ramps – though I never quite got the steeper one mastered and never failed to make some embarrassing noises and pull faces whenever I went over it.

Want to get your first e-bike? Here's my advice

Coming away from the experience as a total newbie, the ease with which I picked everything up has convinced me that e-bikes and e-scooters aren’t as intimidating as I first thought – and I’m now keen to pick one up for myself.

However, if you’re looking to nab one, make sure to check local regulations on where you can and can’t ride them based on the vehicle's specs. You don’t want to pick up a bike to commute and find that it isn’t road-legal where you live.

Also, don’t just get the most powerful machine right away. Even if your budget stretches that far, a weaker e-bike or e-scooter is the best place to start, as adding that motor power noticeably changes factors like your braking and the turning circle of what you’re riding. If you’re used to pedal-power-only bikes, it’s weird to feel the bike go on its own, too, and a less powerful machine will be easier to control while you get used to the experience.

If you’re looking to pick one up, a good place to start is our best e-scooter or our best e-bike guide.

We’re covering all of the latest CES news from the show as it happens. Stick with us for the big stories on everything from 8K TVs and foldable displays to new phones, laptops, smart home gadgets, and the latest in AI.

And don’t forget to follow us on TikTok for the latest from the CES show floor!

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Unagi Model One Voyager: Two-minute review

The Unagi Model One Voyager follows in the footsteps of its predecessor. Now bearing the moniker “Classic,” the Unagi Model One has established itself as one of the best electric scooters on the market for its sleek and sexy look, lightweight and modern minimalist design, and effortless use. However, it’s plagued with 7.5-inch solid tires that are only really ideal if you live in a city with immaculate roads. Anywhere else, which is pretty much everywhere, they’re a literal headache to ride on.

Unfortunately, the Model One Voyager has inherited that same curse. There are some welcome improvements here, of course. It now has a longer range, faster charging time, more torque, and mobile app support, all of which are welcome upgrades. But where the upgrades would have mattered – better shock absorption, for one – there aren’t any. 

And so having the ability to ride this for up to 25 miles (as opposed to the original’s 15 miles) is for naught – because I wouldn’t want to be riding that long or even half that distance if my whole body, including my brain, is vibrating during a good chunk of it.

That isn’t to diminish the Unagi Model One Voyager’s strengths. I absolutely love its sleek, lightweight, and modern minimalist approach with its thin and elegant yet still very robust stem (apparently made of the same carbon fiber as the Space-X rockets), and its luxurious and stylish handlebar that houses a straightforward dashboard and intuitive controls. 

Overall, it’s simply a stunner, and it comes in four different colors as well – Cobalt Blue, Cool Mist, Matte Black, and Latte – making it stand out even more in a sea of black e-scooters and among the best electric scooters for students (or at least for students whose parents can afford to splurge over $1,000/£1,000 on an e-scooter for them).

It’s a great example of when design meets function, and riding on this electric scooter feels like you’re doing so in the future, circa 2049.

There’s a long list of thoughtful details as well that make it an e-scooter of the future. The folding mechanism, for one, is one of the easiest to operate that I’ve seen. You simply fold down the lever and pull the stem down. It automatically locks itself securely in place without any fasteners you’d have to hook yourself, and unfolding is just as easy.

More to that point, the deck is thin but somehow spacious enough for average-sized adults to stand comfortably on. And the rubber top does a fantastic job of preventing accidental slips. 

Meanwhile, both the brake and the throttle, identical-looking, are levers – which I find easier to handle and less fatiguing. As for the physical controls, there is a separate riding mode button within easy reach so you can effortlessly change modes and speed up when necessary. And finally, the dashboard is decently visible in daylight, so you won’t have to squint when checking your speed and other settings during a ride.

I just wish they had improved on that kickstand. It’s still too short to keep the e-scooter stable at rest. I’ve lost count of how many times mine has toppled over from the slightest pressure.

Physically, the Model One Voyager looks every bit like the Model One Classic, which is all well and good. No one needs to reinvent the wheel – unless, of course, the wheels just aren’t cutting it, which is the case here. It also inherits the Classic’s 7.5-inch solid tires, which to their credit, are puncture-proof due to their nature. 

However, due to that very nature as well as their size, they’re just not the best at absorbing shocks. In fact, while Unagi tries to fix that by installing “air pockets” on them to act as the suspension system, shock absorption on this is practically non-existent.

As a result, riding the Unagi Model One Voyager on anything other than nicely-paved roads will give you a headache. If you were to ride this e-scooter in Singapore or Switzerland, both of which have top-notch road quality, then you’d have the smoothest rides. Unfortunately, in many e-scooter-friendly cities like Los Angeles, it’s not the most ideal. And I’m not exaggerating about the headache – I rode this thing around my neighborhood and I got a migraine after 10 minutes of riding.

It is, however, nice to have better-performing brakes than the Classic. While the foot brake is not the best, the hand brake is actually very powerful and responsive. Just keep in mind, however, that the brake lever itself doesn’t have a lot of resistance, which means it’s very easy to press it hard. I would do some practice rides first to get used to the brake lever before taking this out on the road.

The throttle is just fantastic. It doesn’t matter what mode you’re on; because this has more torque, it picks up speed quickly so you can get going and be on your way within a fraction of a second. And with a top speed of 20mph, you can get to your destination faster – at least on roads where you can go faster than 15mph.

I would skip riding this on hilly roads, however. Unagi hasn’t listed its hill grade rating, but it struggled to stay above 7mph on a 15-degree hill during my testing. On the plus side, Unagi slaps on a bigger battery, one with fast-charging capabilities. So you’re getting up to 25 miles of ride time and only need about two hours of charging to get to 80%.

That’s certainly a nice improvement. However, I’d rather be charging every night and have smoother rides on my daily commutes than charge less frequently and get a headache every time I’m riding my e-scooter.

Unagi Model One Voyager: Price & availability

• How much does it cost? $1,490 (about £1,200 / AU$2,350)
• When is it available? Ships in March 2024
• Where can you get it? Available for pre-order in the US

The Unagi Model One Voyager won’t be making anyone’s best budget electric scooters list anytime soon. If you think the Classic was expensive, get a load of the price tag on this. It’ll set you back a whopping $1,490 (about £1,200 / AU$2,350), which is a massive jump from the Classic’s $990 / £899 / ‎AU$1,299 release price – hardly justifiable, even if you’re getting a bit more power and a better battery.

If you’re seeking something more affordable, consider the Levy Plus ($749 / £560 / AU$1,095) or the NIU KQi3 Pro ($799 / £699 / ‎AU$1,279), both of which are fantastic alternatives.

If you want the Unagi Model One Voyager and are willing to shell out that much money, it’s available now in the US for pre-order. Unagi won’t start shipping units out until March 2024, according to its website. And it’s not currently available for pre-order in the UK and Australia.

• Value: 3 / 5

Unagi Model One Voyager: Specs

Should you buy the Unagi Model One Voyager?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Unagi Model One Voyager: Also consider

How I tested the Unagi Model One Voyager

• Spent a couple of weeks testing the Unagi Model One Voyager
• Rode it on paved paths as well as rougher trails and hilly roads
• Tested its performance and features in real-world scenarios

With LA being an e-scooter-friendly city, I regularly used the Unagi Model One Voyager to run errands and for rides around the neighborhoods for a couple of weeks.

I rode it up and down a hill, testing its brakes in the process, and on rougher roads, seeing if its tires are able to offer enough traction and how good (or bad) its ability is to absorb shock. I also tested its battery life as well. And, while there aren't a lot of features here, I made sure to test the basic ones that it does offer. 

I've been a regular electric scooter user for years and have tested and reviewed many of the top models on the market for different publications, including TechRadar and T3.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed October 2023

Honda is resurrecting an old scooter and bringing it into the modern day now sporting a suitcase-esque design called the Motocompacto.

Directly inspired by the MotoCompo from the 1980s, the new electric scooter is compact measuring 21.1 H x 29.2 L x 3.7 W inches when folded allowing it to easily fit in the back of a car. It even has a leather strap on top for easy carrying although you may have a tough time lugging it around. 

The Motocompacto clocks in at 41.3 pounds putting it on the heavier side among the best e-scooters out there. When you’re ready to ride, you can pop out the handlebars, seat, wheels, and a few other components, and unfolding it increases the overall size to 35 H x 38.1 L x 17.2 W inches.

Additionally, the handlebars feature an integrated LED screen displaying the speedometer next to the battery level, according to The Verge. 

Features

As a vehicle, it’s not going to take you very far. The company describes the Motocompacto as a “fun-to-ride ‘first and last mile’ solution”. In other words, you’re meant to use the scooter to help get around your neighborhood. Its 490W electric motor has a top speed of 15 mph with a maximum range of up to 12 miles. Also it can accelerate to 15 mph in seven seconds. You won’t be able to go across town, however if you need a quick ride from point A to point B, the Motocompacto can get the job done.

There is, however, one potentially problematic aspect to Honda’s scooter. It will take 3.5 hours to fully charge so your next ride will take a while. But when compared to the other e-scooters like the NIO KQi3 Pro which has a charge time of six hours, three hours isn't all that bad. Plus, the Motocompacto comes with a 110v plug which is your standard three-pronged input Americans will be most familiar with. You can just plug the scooter into any old outlet to charge.

Availability

The Motocompacto e-scooter launches this November in the United States for $995 where it will be available for purchase online or at select “Honda and Acura automobile dealers.” The company does have plans to release a “clever phone app” that’ll let riders adjust the personal settings, lighting configuration, and ride modes via Bluetooth, though no release date for the app has been given. 

From what I've seen of it, the Motocompacto is a pretty cool scooter even if it is a little silly looking, but its meant to be fun, not flashy. What’s more, the blank white sides leave it open for all sorts of customization options like stickers, decals, and the like. As seen in the official trailer, you can do a lot with its blank canvas-like sides.

It doesn't look like the Motocompacto will be going international, unfortunately. A company representative told TechRadar that since the scooter was an "American Honda-led development", it's only going to be available in the US. They have no plans for "other markets at this time."

While we have you, we recommend checking out TechRadar’s list of the best electric scooters for students in 2023 as the school year starts to pick up

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Razor EcoSmart Cargo: One-minute review

The Razor EcoSmart Cargo is a newer electric scooter from Razor, the brand behind perhaps the most iconic kick scooter ever. While the company has a smattering of electric scooters, the EcoSmart Cargo actually shifts more towards a Vespa-type scooter. It’s built for seated riding with a step-through design and wide deck. 

While this approach makes for incredibly easy riding, anyone expecting a kick scooter should just look elsewhere now. The EcoSmart Cargo serves more as an electric bike alternative. Unfortunately, it serves as a poor alternative. While it can get up and go, cruising around at close to 20mph, it’s not a great ride by any stretch. 

Even with its padded seat and fat tires, it’s a stiff ride that lets us feel the bumps in the road too much. Braking performance is atrocious, with only a rear disc brake (and a cheap caliper) trying to slow down a fast and heavy ride. Then there’s the reality that Razor used a chain-driven rear wheel (instead of the common hub motor), which introduced a new component that can rust and break, and which also creates a ton of noise. This thing is truly obnoxious to take down quiet neighborhood streets. 

It might have had a bit more promise if it could have just gone further. But it has a short range and, unlike an e-bike, can’t be pedalled back home once the battery dies. With all that, the only positive attribute is its cargo-carrying options, which plenty of e-bikes can match. 

Razor EcoSmart Cargo: Price and availability

• How much does it cost? $1,099 (about £965, AU$1,705) 
• Where is it available? Available now from Razor and Target 
• Where can you get it? Available in the US 

The Razor EcoSmart Cargo is a new addition to Razor’s lineup of electric mobility devices. It comes at a higher price than most of the company’s other scooters at $1,099. Currently, it’s available in the US directly from Razor and at Target stores. While Razor offers its scooters in the UK and Australia, the EcoSmart Cargo hasn’t arrived in either market yet.

• Value: 2 / 5

Razor EcoSmart Cargo: Assembly

• Very simple assembly
• Weight calls for help
• Recommends six hours of charging

The Razor EcoSmart Cargo comes in a massive box that will all but necessitate help moving. Part of the size stems from the convenient fact that Razor ships the scooter mostly assembled. Opening the package, you’ll just have to attach the handlebar stem and front wheel. These parts need to be tightened after slotting them on, but Razor includes the necessary tools for tightening everything down.

Though the packaging was fairly simple, without a lot of cushion or protection, the EcoSmart Cargo arrived in excellent condition, with no issues that we could spot. Due to the weight of the package, you may want to seek some help getting the scooter assembled. Lifting it out of the box is a struggle, though it’s possible to just cut the box open if you don’t foresee needing to return it. The kickstand holds the scooter up well, making it a bit easier to attach the front wheel and handlebars without needing to balance it.

While the unit arrived with its display showing a fully charged battery, Razor nonetheless recommends plugging it in to charge it for at least six hours to ensure the battery is truly topped out.

• Assembly score: 4 / 5

Razor EcoSmart Cargo: Design

• Convertible rear segment
• Seated, relaxed riding position
• Robust build

The Razor EcoSmart Cargo isn’t your typical scooter. It’s an evolution of the company’s EcoSmart line, which are fat-tire scooters, with this model offering wide, 16-inch tires. An earlier model introduced a seat and basket attachment. This model verges on being a Vespa in form, showing far more similarities with that seated, step-through, motorized ride than with the kick scooters that made Razor a household name.

The EcoSmart Cargo is built on a heavy-duty metal frame that includes a rear rack and seatpost. This makes for a robust build that feels quite sturdy. There’s no folding mechanism to shrink the EcoSmart cargo down, but it wouldn’t help much if there was. This is a sizable ride that weighs in at 78.2 pounds. You won’t want to have to carry this anywhere, especially given there’s nowhere convenient to hold while picking it up. The parking strand does a great job holding it up and in place, though.

The driver’s seat is a terribly firm cushion that’s sizable and offers quick height adjustments. Behind it is a passenger seat that matches the driver’s seat in style. Perhaps the EcoSmart Cargo’s biggest perk is how easy it is to get on and off, with a low seat and plenty of space to step through, which could be a boon for riders with limited mobility.

The scooter has a wide, grippy deck with a bamboo finish that’s plenty roomy for even large feet but not spacious enough to comfortably stand and ride. The deck is fairly low though, and it can easily scrape if going over a curb.

The handlebars are basic, but since they’re not supporting any real weight, they serve their purpose just fine. The left side houses the single brake lever and the scooter’s control unit, which has a basic digital display showing speed, battery level, and power mode — all easily viewable in daylight. It has a power button and a headlight button on the left side, while power levels are set by rocking the whole unit forward or backward. The ride handgrip includes the scooter’s half-twist throttle, which is fairly sensitive. Unfortunately, the brakes aren’t nearly as sensitive. 

Though the scooter uses a disc brake system, it’s the simplest sort and only on the rear wheel. This offers very limited braking power on top of being a basic caliper that’s hard to center correctly and works poorly with the squishy brake lever.

As sturdily built as the Razor EcoSmart Cargo feels, it’s not using a lot of quality-feeling parts.

• Design score: 3 / 5

Razor EcoSmart Cargo: Features

• Cargo seat, basket, or rear rack
• Non-removable, 355Wh battery
• Chain-driven rear wheel

Cargo is promised in the name, and Razor delivers in that regard. Not only is there a passenger seat, but that seat opens up to reveal a small storage compartment about a liter in size. The frame includes folding metal footpegs for the passenger. It would be a bit of a squeeze for a tall passenger above 5’6”, but the Razor EcoSmart Cargo shouldn’t carry to larger adults given its max payload of 300 pounds.

That passenger seat can swap out for the included rear basket, or the slot can be left open, providing space to attach other bike gear, like panniers.

The scooter offers built-in fenders and a headlight and taillight, with the rear light reacting and the motor disengaging when the brake lever is pulled. 

That’s about the extent of the features though. The scooter has a 1,000W motor situated behind the seatpost and in front of the rear wheel. It uses a chain to drive the rear wheel. This is different from a great many e-bikes and scooters that feature a hub motor in the rear wheel, allowing for chainless operation and occasionally regenerative braking. The chain also introduces a ton of noise — a ton — making for an obnoxious ride that’s not typical of electric vehicles. 

The scooter’s battery is mounted underneath the deck and isn’t removable. That’s bad news if you don’t have a garage and live in a walkup because you’ll need to haul this almost 80-pound unit up to plug in regularly.

• Features score: 2 / 5

Razor EcoSmart Cargo: Performance

• Modest acceleration
• Weak braking
• Limited range

The Razor EcoSmart Cargo has a bit of get-up-and-go to it thanks to the 1,000W motor and gear ratio. It feels fairly zippy and offers a top speed of 19.9mph. That motor is doing all the work, too, as the seated scooter doesn’t really allow any way to easily help push it along. It gets up into the 13-15mph range quickly but does take a little longer to ultimately reach full speed. The motor can also push through small grades well enough, going over some sloping overpasses in our testing without slowing much.

While speed is good, the ride has some faults. Even with the big, fat pneumatic tires, the EcoSmart Cargo is rather bumpy. We feel lots of jolts that travel right through the firm seat. It feels like we may as well be on a thin-tired road bike. The seat position is at least a bit more relaxed. The weak brakes also require extra caution, as they don’t slow down the scooter nearly as fast as we’d like. We’ve tested e-bikes going 28mph that could stop faster.  

The range is also a sour point. In our testing, the EcoSmart Cargo could go just over 10 miles on a charge. While an e-bike or electric kick scooter will still let you ride them analog once the battery dies so you can reach your destination, the EcoSmart Cargo is effectively dead in the water once its rather impish 355Wh battery tires out. After we reached 10.1 miles, the battery gave us about 0.3 miles more power at rapidly dwindling speeds to finish up our ride. Fortunately, we weren’t far from home at this point. 

• Performance score: 2.5 / 5

Should I buy the Razor EcoSmart Cargo?

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Razor EcoSmart Cargo: Report card

• First reviewed April 2023

How we test

We pride ourselves on our independence and our rigorous review-testing process, offering up long-term attention to the products we review and making sure our reviews are updated and maintained - regardless of when a device was released, if you can still buy it, it's on our radar.

Read more about how we test

GoTrax Apex LE: Two-minute review

The GoTrax Apex LE is a surprising entry in the budget electric scooters range. Cheap e-scooters tend to be low-quality, and not as reliable as riders would like, but GoTrax seems to have gone out of its way to make this one an exception – and that’s coming from someone who’s ridden a whole lot of them.

This impressive e-scooter may not be as powerful or have as long a range as the best electric scooters on the market, but it punches above its sub-$400/£300 weight in terms of performance, build quality, and design. This makes it a shoo-in for the above best list, as well as among the best electric scooter for students.

As with most GoTrax electric scooters I’ve tested, some initial assembly is required. You still have to mount and secure the handlebar and attach the brake cord to the handbrake, which can take a bit of force or finagling, depending on your upper body strength. But beginners, fear not; the included manual does an excellent job of guiding you through the process, and it shouldn’t take you more than 15 minutes to assemble.

The GoTrax Apex LE is a smaller model, so it should be easy to manage despite being on the heavier side at 32 lbs (14.5kg). It helps that the folding mechanism is just as easy to use – you simply pull the pin and then the lever to fold or pull the pin and then click in place to unfold. To secure that stem when folded, there’s a hook that attaches it to the rear bumper, the same one that serves as a hook for your bag when riding.

Its size isn’t its only cute factor. The first thing that attracted me to it is that it comes in four colorways, including pink and white. A lot of people don't mind the black-on-black aesthetic many e-scooters have adopted, but I’m tired of it, which makes the Apex LE all the more appealing to me.

Being a budget model, it does have a back-to-basics approach. There aren’t a lot of special features here – though it does have cruise control, which is easy to toggle on/off (hold the throttle to activate, double press it to deactivate). Even the LED dash has limited functionality – it won’t, for example, let you access different riding modes or levels, and it’s not easily visible in full sunlight. In addition, it only has an IPX4 rating so I wouldn’t take this out on a rainy day or ride it through puddles.

But while it compromises on features, it doesn’t compromise on build quality. I’ve tested several budget electric scooters that are almost embarrassing to ride because of their rattling parts, but the Apex LE feels robust and well-made inside and out. It even has a maximum load limit of 220 lbs (99.8kg). Not too shabby for something smaller than other models.

If you're on the bigger side, especially if you’ve got big feet, I would test the deck out before committing. It’s slim and narrow and, therefore, not very spacious, plus the deck surface doesn’t offer a lot of grippage. At least, it helps keep you safe with its bright-enough headlight and reactive tail light – though I would still practice riding an e-scooter safely because there aren’t any advanced safety features on it.

The good news is that the GoTrax Apex LE’s braking system is impressive, which is another thing you don’t always see on electric scooters in this price range. Comprised of a front electromagnetic brake and a rear disk brake, the braking system is very responsive and feels robust. More importantly, it offers a lot of control. It made me feel safe to go down the hill on a narrow, single-lane road that gets a lot of vehicular traffic.

Though GoTrax calls it a kick scooter, you don’t need to kick off that hard to get it started. Its throttle does take a second to start sometimes, which is weird. However, the 250w motor – which, by the way, is bizarrely powerful enough to get a heavy rider on a 10-degree incline – is incredibly snappy. During testing, it pushed its way up the incline while maintaining a decent speed even with a 170 lbs (77kg) rider, though obviously not at its top speed of 15.5mph (25kmh).

As it did when I rode it on gravel and dirt (read: rough) terrain. It has virtually no shock absorption – I felt every pebble on the unpaved roads and was rewarded with a massive headache for my efforts – but its motor handled those roads pretty well, and its 8.5-inch tires had more than enough traction to prevent me from slipping on loose dirt and going off course.

You might hesitate at that max speed, but at this price point, you won't get anything faster than 18mph (29kmh). Besides, most e-scooter-friendly cities have a speed limit, so it’s not like you can fully utilize a model that can do 35mph (56kmh) on your daily commutes anyway.

Speaking of daily commutes, its battery life of up to 12 miles (29km) per full charge means you'll have to charge it every day or every other day, depending on the length of your trips. Unfortunately, there are compromises to be made at this price point and this is one of them. On the upside, I've noticed that the battery keeps its juice fairly well when not in use, so if you just need to run errands now and then, you don’t have to worry about charging as often.

[Product]: Price & availability

• How much does it cost? $349 / £291 / AU$525
• When is it available? Available now
• Where can you get it? Available in the US, UK, and Australia

The GoTrax Apex LE is cheap as chips at only $349 / £291 / AU$525 in the US, the UK and Australia, respectively. Though there are other electric scooters in this price range, I have yet to see something this cheap that’s as robust or capable. Because of that, I’m giving it a five out of five.

If your budget is a bit more flexible, I'd recommend getting the NIU KQi3 Pro. This is probably my favorite electric scooter due to its impressive shock absorption, spacious deck, powerful performance, and affordable price. If you want something with a much longer range, the TurboAnt V8 Dual-Battery is a good affordable alternative too. Neither of them, however, is as cheap as the Apex LE.

•  Value: 5 / 5 

GoTrax Apex LE: Specs

Should you buy the GoTrax Apex LE?

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GoTrax Apex LE: Also consider

How I tested the GoTrax Apex LE

• I spent a couple of weeks riding the GoTrax Apex LE
• I rode it on paved paths as well as rougher trails and hilly roads
• I tested its performance and features in real-world scenarios

After realizing that the GoTrax Apex LE is more capable than it looks, having ridden it around a massive parking lot the first time, I really pushed it to see how it handles different road conditions. 

I rode it up and down a hill, testing its brakes in the process, and on gravel and loose dirt roads, seeing if its tires are able to offer enough traction and how good (or bad) its ability is to absorb shock. Of course, I tested its battery life as well. And, while there aren't a lot of features here, I made sure to test the basic ones that it does offer. 

I've been a regular electric scooter user for years and have tested and reviewed many of the top models on the market.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed March 2023 

Riley Scooters RS3: One-minute review

There’s no doubt that the Riley Scooters RS3, one of IFA 2022’s breakout stars, is among the best electric scooters on the market. Its revolutionary folding design allows users to reduce it down to less than half its operating size, making it easier to stow away out of sight or carry onto the subway or a bus. This is enough to recommend to e-scooter fans and potential new riders alike, especially as a fantastic electric scooter for students.

But Riley Scooters doesn’t stop there. The brand throws in a lot more things that make an electric scooter great – snappy acceleration, good shock absorption, excellent brakes, premium build, and a spacious deck. It even throws in a removable battery for good measure. And, getting all that for less than $1,000 / £1,000 makes it, if not one of the cheapest electric scooters, then certainly among the best value options.

However, as innovative as its folding mechanisms are, they still feel like they’re in the early days of what could be the e-scooter design of the future. Not that I’m expecting to just press a button and watch the vehicle fold or unfold on its own, but at least two of these mechanisms are a little clunky and not the most graceful to operate. Because of that, the Riley Scooters RS3 feels slightly less like something out of Blade Runner and a bit like the early prototype of one.

Don’t get me wrong; I absolutely love most things about it. I just wish I didn’t have to sweat to get it down to its portable size.

Riley Scooters RS3: Price and availability

• How much does it cost?  $926 / £749 (about AU$1,350) 
• When is it available? Available now
• Where can you get it? Available in the US and the UK

Though not a budget electric scooter, the Riley Scooters RS3 is well-priced for something that’s innovative and a bit novel. It isn’t the only new e-scooter on the market with this much folding prowess, but it’s certainly one of the cheapest. 

Sitting in the mid-range at $926 / £749 (about AU$1,350), it stays well within the price range of the more impressive e-scooters I’ve tested. It also comes with the features, build, and performance to make it worth its price tag. 

There are some not-so-obvious compromises here like its short 15.5-mile range and the smaller 8.5-inch pneumatic tires (though I suspect the latter has more to do with making it as compact as possible). However, it’s still surprising how affordable it is considering everything it has on offer.

• Value: 4.5 / 5

Riley Scooters RS3: Assembly

• Packaged folded
• To unfold, you have to watch the video tutorial

Unlike other scooters, the Riley Scooters RS3 is packaged in its folded form, which means that you’re getting a shorter – and, therefore, easier to handle – box. That’s definitely something I appreciate, as someone who’s had to regularly drag the massive, long rectangular boxes e-scooters typically come in into her apartment. (I think that’s probably the most annoying aspect of having to test and review e-scooters.)

The only thing about this is that the initial unfolding does take longer. Unless you’ve done it many times, unfolding the electric scooter isn’t very intuitive or straightforward. So, before doing anything else, you must watch the folding and unfolding video that Riley Scooters has thoughtfully created for first-time users. And, you might have to play it again as you’re going through the motions.

• Design: 4 / 5

Riley Scooters RS3: Design and features

• It takes practice to fold/unfold/attach battery
• Premium, solid build
• Dash is great to use while deck is long

The Riley Scooters RS3 may look different when folded, but when it’s unfolded and fully upright, it looks very similar to other mid-range e-scooters on the market, especially with its black-with-gray-trim colorway. Really, the big thing that sets it apart from all others is that foldable design, which enables it to collapse at five different points so it can effectively transform into its very compact, easier-to-carry form. 

However, to get it down to that form (or back up into its rideable one, for that matter) is an exercise in patience, and it takes a bit of practice. It’s not just a matter of mastering which levers to pull, latches to unlock, and tabs to push – though there are a lot of those as well – so don’t expect the folding process to take seconds. At least not in the beginning. 

Despite the fact that its five folding mechanisms are very effective at reducing its size, they’re not the most intuitive or graceful to handle. To fold the base in half or put it back together, for example, you have to support the stem and most of the e-scooter’s weight with your back, which may be easy when the scooter is on a table (as in the company’s demo video at IFA) but not when it’s on the ground. Can you imagine doing that at the top of a busy subway staircase?

To be fair, I found that it gets easier with plenty of practice. And, I do think that being able to fold it down to less than half its size makes it so much easier to carry, especially if you have to jump on a train or a bus en route to your destination. It’s even more convenient for petite riders like me. Even when folded, regular e-scooters are such a pain to carry for me because there’s not much ground clearance when I’m carrying them. With the RS3, that part is a non-issue – despite the fact that it is on the heavy side.

A nice touch here is the removable battery, which means that you can technically have several, charge them all at the same time at the beginning of the week, then replace them as necessary. The issue here is that, because of how the battery compartment was built, attaching and removing the battery isn’t as easy as on other scooters I’ve tested. You kinda have to focus on inserting the battery in a painstakingly straight way for it to lock into place properly. This part also takes a lot of practice and patience.

The good news is that the Riley Scooters RS3 feels incredibly robust and well-made. I haven’t heard parts rattling inside, even when I’m riding it on uneven or pot-riddled ground. It is fairly heavy – another telltale sign that the brand had to sacrifice some parts to keep its price affordable – but that won’t matter when you’re riding it or when it’s folded, as again, it’s much easier to carry when it’s in its compact form.

The deck, which is textured to effectively keep your feet in place, is fairly narrow. However, it is long so it won’t feel crowded even to those with bigger feet. The dashboard is small and simple but comes with a separate button for changing modes so it’s easier to change your top riding speed when you’re on the road. Finally, it has an always-on rear light (as well as a headlight and reflectors) that gets brighter when you’re braking to keep you safe at night.

• Design: 4.5 / 5

Riley Scooters RS3: Performance

• Snappy acceleration, pretty good shock absorption
• Tires don’t have a lot of traction
• Braking system is incredible

I’m super impressed with the Riley Scooters RS3’s performance. Despite only having 8.5-inch pneumatic tires, a top speed of 15.5 mph (25km/h), and a battery range of 15.5 miles (25km), it’s one of the smoothest, snappiest, and safest electric scooters I’ve ever tested. While its folding mechanisms could use a little refining – which I’m pretty sure the brand will do for its successor – it’s hard for me to complain about its performance on the road.

I took this baby out on paved roads, both smooth and rough, as well as a loose gravel path and a loose dirt incline, and it delivers surprisingly good shock absorption – something you’d typically get from e-scooters with larger tires. 

It also picks up speed pretty quickly, so that should help offset its 15-degree climbing rating. If you manage to reach its top speed, you can certainly manage to get it all the way up on a short, 25-degree incline, depending on your weight. I did during testing, though I do hover around the 120lb (54kg) mark. I imagine it would have a harder time on an incline with a heavier rider.

Another thing that might prevent you from getting to the top of the hill easily is the tires. The Riley Scooters RS3 does have a rear hub motor, which technically should give it better traction, but the tires themselves don’t really have a lot of grippage. They do have indents, but most of the surface is fairly smooth. I have felt that front wheel lift up ever so slightly while going up an incline.

Probably the biggest weakness most budget and mid-range electric scooters have is the brakes. I’ve tested more than my share of e-scooters, and I’ve found that even some of the best ones can’t implement their braking system as well as they should. That isn’t the case with the RS3.

Not that you shouldn’t learn how to ride an e-scooter safely, but the braking system on this model is absolutely fantastic and will definitely help keep you safe on the road. Not only did Riley Scooters throw in not one, not two, but three brakes - disk, E-ABS, and pedal - on this thing, but it also made sure that those brakes are smooth, not jerky, and incredibly effective. They also give the rider a lot of control, so even if you’re a beginner, you’ll find braking easy to do.

I live on a 25-grade hill, and going downhill on a new e-scooter I’m testing for the first time is always scary as I don’t know just how effective its braking system is. I didn’t have that experience with the RS3. I definitely feel confident going downhill on this thing.

• Performance: 4.5 / 5

Should I buy the Riley Scooters RS3?

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Riley Scooters RS3: Report card

How I tested the Riley Scooters RS3

Testing the Riley Scooters RS3 was a slightly different process than testing other folding scooters because of its folding mechanism. I spent quite a bit of time trying to familiarize myself with its folding process by watching the tutorial video several times and practicing, then trying to figure out different ways to simplify the process. I also tested that process out in public to see how convenient it is to do when users are out of their comfort zone.

Since it removing and installing its battery is a finnicky process, I spent quite a bit of time figuring that out as well. Of course, I also tested its performance by taking it on both paved roads and non-paved paths (gravel and lose dirt). I also tested it on inclines around my neighborhood to test its hill grade rating and brake system.

We pride ourselves on our independence and our rigorous review-testing process, offering up long-term attention to the products we review and making sure our reviews are updated and maintained - regardless of when a device was released, if you can still buy it, it's on our radar.

Read more about how we test

Also consider

If our Riley Scooters RS3 review has you considering other options, here are two more to consider...  

• First reviewed February 2023

Yvolution Yes: One-minute review

The Yvolution Yes has many of the makings of one of the best electric scooters. Its retro design feels like a breath of fresh air in the electric scooter market (and also reminds this reviewer of her childhood bicycle in the late 80s). It’s got an easy folding mechanism that adds to its convenience. It has a quiet motor and a snappy throttle that doesn’t need a kickstart to set off. It has a nice, spacious deck. And, best of all, it’s decently-priced – not cheap, but not expensive either.

Sadly, Yvolution may have gotten too wrapped up in designing it to actually pay more attention to its performance. For a commuter e-scooter, it has a very limited range of 15.5 miles and a battery that drains even when it’s turned off. And, for a green vehicle that touts itself a safe ride, its tires don’t have a lot of traction and its brakes barely work when going downhill. 

One might say that at its price point, you can’t expect the best performance. But, we’re inclined to disagree as we have ridden similarly-priced and some of the cheapest electric scooters that deliver a longer range and a far superior braking system. 

That isn’t to say that the Yvolution Yes doesn’t have its place in the world. It actually makes for the best electric scooter for students, especially for riding around the campus. However, we’d recommend it more to riders who live in areas with quieter, smoother, and flatter streets than city commuters who deal with inclines, rougher roads, and a whole lot of car and foot traffic.

Yvolution Yes: Price and availability

• How much does it cost? $599 (about £495)
• Where is it available? Available now
• Where can you get it? Available in the US and the UK

The Yvolution Yes sits nicely in the lower mid-range, which makes it an affordable option at just $599 (about £495). It is, of course, not the cheapest we’ve seen or tested, being $100 / £100 or more than what we would consider a budget e-scooter. However, it is more affordable than most of the top models on the market.

On the other hand, you do have more powerful propositions if you’re willing to spend a couple more hundred bucks/quid. The NIU KQi3 Pro is only $799 / £699 / AU$1,279 and boasts a higher top speed, a longer range, and much superior shock absorption, thanks to its fat tires. The TurboAnt V8 also sits at the same price point at $799 (about £707, AU$1253) while offering an impressive 50-mile range thanks to its dual batteries, bigger tires, and a 20mph top speed.

Still, if you are on a tight budget, the Yvolution Yes is a great option that’s available to US and UK riders. Sadly, it isn’t available in Australia at the time of writing.

Yvolution Yes: Assembly

• Easy, beginner-level assembly
• Comes pre-charged

In many ways, the Yvolution Yes is made for novice riders. Setting it up, for example, is incredibly easy. You don’t have to attach the brake cables or screw in the handlebar. All you need to do is screw in the hand grips or handles, which are marked left or right so you know which one goes where, and secure them in place with the provided screws and hex wrench to keep them from turning loose during use.

The throttle and brake levers are already attached, but they are fitted loosely so that you can slide them both over the hand grip screws to keep them out of sight. Be sure to do so and tighten them in place.

That’s it, really. The Yvolution Yes comes charged out of the box so you can use it right after assembly. If you’re hoping to use it for your work or school commute, however, we would charge it until full just in case.

• Assembly score: 5/5

Yvolution Yes: Design

• Nostalgic retro design with old-school kickstand
• Spacious floating desk with a lot of grippage
• Squishy hand grips to reduce vibrations

The one thing that sets the Yvolution Yes apart from other electric scooters on the market is its retro design. Not only does it come in aquamarine, rose, night sky (as well as black and white) colorways, but it delivers a touch of nostalgia with its round headlight (not to be confused with a ring light), maple wooden deck, handles made to look like they’re made of wood, and a drop kickstand you typically see on vintage bikes. It’s a fresh take in the sea of rugged-looking, mostly black e-scooter models we’re seeing right now.

It’s not all looks, however. It’s got a mostly sturdy build, its parts firmly secured in place so you don’t feel like you’re riding on a rickety piece of vehicle. Its deck, despite not having a lot of ground clearance, is wide and spacious with a sandpaper-like top for grip, and the compact dashboard is decently bright. And, the stem feels robust yet sleek. 

There are also five lights on the Yvolution Yes to keep you safe and visible at night: a headlight, two side lights, and two rear lights, which flash when you’re braking. 

The handles feel squishy, made of some sort of cork-like material with anti-vibration. They have less grip and take some getting used to but are very effective at minimizing vibrations during rides so you can have a more comfortable experience

The handles feel squishy, made of a cork-like material with anti-vibration construction. They have less grip and take some getting used to but are very effective at minimizing vibrations during rides so you can have a more comfortable experience.

The plastic bell seems flimsy, however, and it sits next to the throttle, which means you have to take your finger off the throttle to ring it. If you’re on cruise control, that’s fine. If you’re not, it feels inconvenient. 

You know what else is inconvenient here is the old-school drop kickstand. You have to use a bit more force and do some finagling to prop the electric scooter up.

• Design score: 3.5/5

Yvolution Yes: Features

• Easy folding mechanism
• Intuitive dash with a single-button control

While most electric scooters come with a folding mechanism, there are only a handful of them that actually make the folding process easy for users. Another thing that the Yvolution Yes has going for it is that it’s one of those models that boast an easy-to-use, yet secure, folding lever.

The folding mechanism here is three step process – you need to press the red button to unlatch, fold down the lever, and push on the back bumping to lock the stem in place.  However, it takes very little force to do so, making the process pretty much effortless. 

The button is easy to push while the latch isn’t too tight to pull down. Unfolding is just as simple: you simply push down on the back bumper to unlock, swing the stem in place until you hear an audible click, and push the lever back up.

The dashboard is also simple and intuitive to use, using just a single button for power, changing riding modes, toggling between mph and kph, and turning the headlight on/off. Speaking of riding modes, there are three here: walking, which tops at 3.7mph (6kmh), mid speed, which tops at 11.2mph (18kmh), and max speed, which maxes at 15.5mph (25kmh).

• Features score: 3.5/5

Yvolution Yes: Performance

• Quiet motor, snappy start, decent shock absorption
• Ineffective brakes when going downhill
• Short battery life

Performance isn’t exactly the Yvolution Yes’ strongest suit. The motor is pretty quiet while the throttle and acceleration are snappy. You don’t even need to kick to start riding as the throttle works without assistance and is very responsive. It also has decent shock absorption, thanks largely to its floating maple wooden deck that boasts Yvolution’s Flexxpress technology that absorbs bumps and shocks.

Sadly, that’s where the good stuff ends. The tires don’t have enough traction on that to maintain a stable ride. On rougher or wet roads, the front tire on the Yvolution Yes can suddenly slip or slightly turn the wrong way, which can be dangerous if you’re not an experienced rider, which is why it’s very important to keep both your hands on the handles so you can adjust immediately if it happens.

The e-scooter’s brakes, which consist of an electronic handlebar brake and rear foot brake, work fine on flat roads. However, neither are effective when you’re going downhill. When going down a 15-degree steep hill, you’ll still find yourself moving even when you’re pressing down on those brakes hard. We do not recommend going downhill on this model at fast speeds, as these brakes won’t do much to save your life.

The front brake is also a little dicey to control. Instead of a traditional brake lever, you’re getting something that’s similar to its throttle. Not only is it harder to control, but you also have to press deep for it to work.

Yvolution doesn’t specify the Yes’ hill grade rating, but there’s nothing here to write about anyway. On a 15-degree incline, we’ve only gotten to about 6 to 7mph on its fastest riding mode, and that’s with a light, under-125-pound rider. Obviously, it does much worse on a 25-degree incline. If you live on a hill, like we do, be prepared to walk or carry it home.

The battery isn’t much better, either. Not only is it limited to a 15.5-mile (25km) range, which means that if you’re using it for your daily work commutes, you might have to charge it every night or every other night, but it also tends to drain even when the electric scooter is on standby or turned off.

• Performance score: 3/5

Should I buy the Yvolution Yes?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Also consider

Yvolution Yes: Report card

• First reviewed January 2023

How we test

We pride ourselves on our independence and our rigorous review-testing process, offering up long-term attention to the products we review and making sure our reviews are updated and maintained - regardless of when a device was released, if you can still buy it, it's on our radar.

Read more about how we test

Yvolution Yes: Design

• Empty list

• Design:  / 5

Yvolution Yes: Design

• Empty list

• Design:  / 5

Getting a smooth ride out of an electric scooter should be a top priority when in the market for one. They may be the eco-friendly alternative to driving a car everywhere, but only a few are worth seriously considering for handling regular commuting duties. 

Unless you live in a very flat city with pristine roads, riding a basic scooter is fun for about ten minutes. After that, you’ll either have been shaken so badly from the bumpy ride that your fillings are starting to come loose or find yourself walking that scooter up a hill that it can’t hope to conquer on its own.

So, getting an e-scooter is not enough. You need one of the best electric scooters that are built to handle poorly maintained roads and potholes as well as have the kind of power and braking performance for a comfortable trip to and from the office. Though you’ll have to spend a little more, that smooth ride is worth it. Sure, you can get a budget electric scooter, but those are better suited for shorter trips around the corner and, of course, in flatter areas.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at what makes for a smooth ride as well as some of the scooters that will get you to work safely and comfortably.

Not all tires are equal

• Pneumatic tires provide a smoother ride
• All else being equal, go for larger tires when possible

Tires are the only part of a scooter that makes contact with the ground – you know, “where the rubber meets the road” – so they're crucial for a smooth ride. And they vary quite a bit from scooter to scooter.

First, you need to consider the type of tire a scooter comes with. E-scooters come with either a type of pneumatic tire (inner tube or tubeless) or solid tire. While solid tires are great for avoiding flats, they don’t make for the best ride. Even one of our favorite e-scooters, the Unagi Model One, is a bumpy ride on less-than-perfect roads due to the use of solid tires – not to mention they’re only 7.5 inches. 

Both pneumatic varieties can require more maintenance as they’re more susceptible to things like punctures, but they provide a much better ride. Since they’re filled with air, they’re able to absorb bumps on the road better, somewhat cushioning the scooter from cracks or potholes. 

The TurboAnt V8, for example, comes with 9.3-inch inner-tube pneumatic tires, which do a surprisingly solid job when used on very poorly maintained roads.

It also helps that the tires are a bit larger. You’ll find that more expensive scooters, at least the ones that tout a smooth ride, will come with larger tires. The bigger the better as they’ll roll over potholes or debris without being quite as affected by it. Wider tires likewise will provide better traction.

Whether to get a scooter with a suspension system

• Not all scooters come with suspension systems
• Most that do come with a spring suspension system

While tires are the first line of defense against bumps and potholes, plenty of vibrations make their way past and into the scooter. That’s why a solid suspension system is important as it’s there specifically to absorb the rest of the shock. 

Now, a lot of scooters don’t have a suspension system, instead relying on the cushioning of the tires. So, if you’re on a budget, you might have to make a compromise here. But, a lot of the better ones come with front or rear suspension, with off-roading or very premium scooters equipped with both.

The previously mentioned TurboAnt V8 comes with a rear suspension system while the pricier Apollo Air 2022 (review forthcoming) has a front dual fork suspension system, not to mention 10-inch wheels, to keep you gliding along. Front suspension is helpful with handling and traction while rear suspension keeps the scooter from skidding when hitting potholes, cracks, or even different types of surfaces.

While there are generally three types of suspension systems: spring, hydraulic, and rubber, you’ll only find hydraulic suspension on the most expensive or off-roading scooters. Most commuter models such as the ones mentioned above use a spring suspension, which does exactly as it sounds. It uses springs to offset or dampen those vibrations from the road so that you don’t get the full brunt of every bump or pothole.

Power and braking performance matter too

• A more powerful scooter will help with hilly commutes
• Disc or drum brakes are ideal

There are a few other things to keep in mind for a smooth ride. A more powerful scooter won’t struggle to stay at the speeds you need and can handle inclines so you don’t have to get off it and push. The Niu KQi3 Pro, for instance, comes with 700 watts of power and can handle 20 degree inclines – most can make it up 15 degrees at best – so you don’t have to worry if it can handle your commute.

The KQi3 Pro has a few other features that make riding it smoother. It’s comfortable to use thanks to the more spacious deck and wider handlebars. Also, just as important is braking. After all, you won’t be taking this on the highway and you most likely won’t be coasting along at 20 mph for the whole commute. 

It has dual disc brakes that give quick and smooth braking and can even handle wet conditions. Though other scooters may not have as powerful brakes, make sure you get a scooter with brakes that are responsive and not too jerky when used. And, if a scooter only has a foot brake, it’s going to make for a frustrating trip. We suggest going for disc or drum brakes if possible.

In conclusion

These are all useful tips and we think you can’t go wrong with the scooters mentioned here. But, take your surroundings and use them into consideration. If you have a limited budget, then consider a scooter with pneumatic tires that doesn’t have a suspension system. Or, if your commute is through flat and well-maintained roads, then you have a lot more leeway. The Unagi model mentioned above will more than suffice. However, those ideal conditions don’t exist in most places so take a close look at the tires, suspension system, power, and brakes, whether you’re looking at the TurboAnt V8, Apollo Air 2022, or Niu KQi3.

Motorsport organization Formula E has kicked off a new partnership with Zinc Sports by launching the first of several upcoming products: the Zinc Formula E GZ1 electric scooter.

Formula E is best known for championing electric vehicles with its racing series; however, the organization decided to go in a more humble route with the GZ1. For £400 (almost $500), you get a lightweight city cruiser that has a battery range of 13 miles (20 km) and a top speed of 15.5 mph powered by a 250W motor. It’s certainly not greased lightning but at least you’ll be able to go from point A to point B in relative comfort. Zinc Sports goes on to say the GZ1 comes with a “built-in gyroscopic system that regulates speed, absorbs shock, and provides stability to ensure a comfortable ride.” On top of that, the scooter sits on top of nine-inch puncture-proof tires to run over bumps.

Other features

Other notable features include a Smart Energy Recovery System in the battery. It's a regenerative system that uses braking or going downhill to recover some energy.  The scooter has a series of “intelligent lights” that turn on automatically under certain circumstances. Whenever you turn more than 15 degrees, the turn signals will automatically activate to let the people behind you know where you're going. Similar to cars, the GZ1's headlights and tail lights instantly turn on when it detects the sun has gone down. The scooter is also fairly lightweight clocking in at 14.7 kg (about 32 lbs) and can be easily stored thanks to its foldable handlebars. 

The GZ1 e-scooter is currently only available in the UK. However, there are plans for a US release where it'll be sold for $484. It's currently listed as sold out on the American website, but according to a company representative, that will change as soon as the GZ1 is in stock.

Formula E also has plans to launch six other products: a run-of-the-mill kick scooter, two other e-scooters, and three e-bike models. All of these will release periodically throughout 2023, but there are no concrete dates for any of them.

Possible trend

Interestingly, this isn’t the first time a racing team has teamed up with an e-scooter brand. 

Back in early November, the Oracle Red Bull Racing organization revealed the RBS #01. However, instead of being an easy-going city cruiser, this was a suped-up machine with a top speed of 28 mph with a torque of 80 newton-meters for fast acceleration. The mad scientists behind the RBS made it exceptionally tough as it can “withstand 3G of load.” Just be prepared to pay six times the price of the GZ1. 

If you prefer something cheaper and it’s available in the US, be sure to check out TechRadar’s list of the best cheap electric scooters. We recently updated it for any of you last-minute Christmas shoppers.  

E-scooter brand Atomi has launched a new flagship vehicle, the Alpha, with a bigger emphasis on safety than most. This results in some features that, surprisingly, a lot of other e-scooters don’t have, like turn signals for the streets.

There are other scooters, like the NIU KQi3 Pro, that use LED headlights, brake lights, and reflectors for safety (all of which the Alpha also has), but the majority of the time, companies stop there. Atomi, however, has decided to add more than the basics. Besides the turn signals, the Alpha is outfitted with a series of customizable ambient lights under the deck and on the stem that'll be handy to have for nighttime rides. You can control these via the Atomi App where you change the color of the lights and their pattern. For the turn signals, there are physical switches on the handlebars similar to a car.

As for locks, Atomi saw fit to double up. You can protect the Alpha through the in-app lock; something other brands opt for. But there’s also a physical combination lock with a thin steel cable to wrap around a bike rack embedded in the deck. We asked Atomi why it chose to include a physical lock since most don't. A company representative told us it was simply to offer that second layer of security so people don’t have to lug around extra equipment.

As seen elsewhere

Apart from the safety features, the Atomi Alpha looks like a fairly decent electric scooter for the city, although there’s nothing internally we haven’t seen before. 

Powering the scooter is a 650W motor with a top speed of 30 kilometers per hour (around 18 miles per hour) and a maximum range of 40 kilometers (25 miles). The deck, sitting on top of nine-inch anti-puncture tires, can support a maximum load of 120 kilograms (265 pounds). An LED display on the handlebars will show your current speed and how much battery life is left. And the rear suspension is promised to “guarantee you a smooth ride [on] various terrains”, according to Atomi.

Other notable features include three Speed Modes (Pedestrian, Eco, and Sports) and a foldable stem for easier storage. Again, this is all stuff seen elsewhere. But if you’re someone who likes to ride at night and want better safety, the Alpha is certainly well-equipped for that.

It’s currently available for purchase in the US only from Atomi’s website starting at $649.99. At the time of this writing, there are only two colors: Zinc White and Pine Green (black is currently sold out). The Atomi representative told us that the company is looking into overseas shipping, but couldn't give a date.

Other options

As expensive as the Alpha may be, it’s still not the most high-end scooter out there. If you are looking for something more powerful, the Oracle Red Bull racing team recently unveiled the RBS #01 scooter. It has a top speed of 45 kilometers per hour with a range of 60 kilometers. The RBS has even been specially engineered to be exceptionally tough; just be prepared to pay a small fortune for one.

TechRadar also has a list of the best cheap electric scooters for the year if you’re looking for something more humble and you just want to get from Point A to Point B. 

Antwi H10: One-minute review

The Antwi H10 is a quirky electric scooter from London-based Antwi, a newcomer in the electric scooter market. It features a 300W motor that provides enough power to take you from A to B quickly, especially if A and B aren’t from each other. Said motor isn’t the most powerful on the market, and it might struggle to get you up hills. 

Thanks to its foldability, the Antwi H10 can be carried around easier than full-size scooters, making it all the more ideal for commuting. The ambient light under the deck not only looks fun, but when combined with the bright front and rear lights, it ensures you’re always visible on the road, no matter the light conditions. The puncture-free tyres provide a firmer ride, but in return, you don’t have to worry about getting a flat when you’re out and about.

The Antwi H10 is definitely not the best cheap electric scooter; there are many inexpensive models on the market with similar specs. It’s also not the best electric scooter. But, it’s decent enough and looks kind of fun, too. Although the deck is tall enough, the lack of motor power makes the Antwi H10 less suitable for off-road adventures.

Antwi H10: Price and availability

• How much does it cost? £499 (approx. $593/AU$875)
• Where is it available? Available now
• Where can you get it? Currently available in the UK

The price of the Antwi H10 Electric Scooter is on par with the second-gen Pure Air Pro, which makes it one of the more expensive scooters on the market. There are many cheaper scooters available, including the also 2nd generation Pure Air Go and the Segway Ninebot F25E, both featured in Techradar’s best electric scooter guide.

Antwi’s H10 e-scooter is currently the only product they offer, and they ship in the UK – as well as Ireland and European Union. The scooter is only available through Antwi; no third-party retailers stock it, although it might change in the future. In the box, you’ll find the e-scooter itself, an 84w wall charger (UK plug), a hex tool and screws (see Setup section below) and the manual.

• Value: 3 / 5

Antwi H10: Setup

• Arrives pretty much ready to go
• All tools included in the box
• Brake cable needs to be attached by the user

The Antwi H10 Electric Scooter arrived in a slim box. Two boxes, actually: a nondescript cardboard box outside to ensure the inner box with all the branding stayed intact. The scooter was secured with plenty of polystyrene dividers inside the box. Getting the scooter out of the box was easy; all parts and nits were stacked in a way that made sense.

Assembling the scooter was easy, as all I had to do was to secure the handlebar to the main column with the four screws and the hex key that was also provided in the box. I used my own hex key, as it would’ve taken me a bit longer to tighten all the screws with the small tool provided in the box.

The one thing I found slightly worrying is that the brake cable needs to be attached to the lever by the user. I appreciate the handlebar comes fully detached from the main column, but still, it would have been best to have the cable attached in the factory to ensure maximum safety later. The manual (also included in the box) explains how to attach the cable, though.

Once you have done the screws and attached the cable, the Antwi H10 Electric Scooter is essentially ready to go. It even had some charge, so I could fire it up and take it out for a little ride without having to charge it, which is a nice touch, as I imagine people can’t wait to ride their new e-scooter once they receive it. All in all, a simple and straightforward process.

• Setup: 4 / 5

Antwi H10: Design

• Integrated ambient lighting and brake light
• Lightweight magnesium alloy frame
• Column folds without resistance

The Antwi H10 Electric Scooter has a lightweight folding design, making it ideal for commuting to and from work (where it can be used for such purpose, e.g. not in the UK). It has similar dimensions to the 1st-gen Pure Air Pro – same height, same width and more or less the same length, too. Despite the matching dimensions, the Antwi H10 is lighter than Pure’s model, probably thanks to the magnesium alloy frame that provides shock absorption without compromising rigidity.

The column folds easily, maybe a bit too easily. When you loosen the clasp – which is easy to do – the column practically starts falling straight away unless you hold onto it. This is not a big hindrance, but you must make sure it’s secure when folding the scooter or when securing the clasp. The kickstand is short and stocky but seems to support the scooter fine.

The deck is a decent size and has a tear drop-like shape that narrows towards the column at the front. The section connecting the steering column and the deck has triangle-shaped cutaway sections. These reduce overall weight and help the Antwi H10 look different from other electric scooters on the market.

The integrated ambient lighting under the deck also helps the H10 stand out from the crowd. This blue light, as well as looking cool, increases visibility. The front and rear lights are also bright – Antwi claims the rear lighting has been manufactured and approved according to the standards of the automotive industry.

The handles are wide, which are comfortable to hold and feel stable in hand. The handlebar is straight and just the right width (at least it was for me, and I'm 6”1’). The dashboard in the middle of the handlebar is easy to read and displays information about speed, trip length, battery status, which mode the scooter is currently in (there are three), and lighting (on/off). The display is bright enough to read in broad daylight. 

• Design: 4 / 5

Antwi H10: Features

• Rear E-ABS electronic brake + Regenerative braking (KERS)
• Battery chagrin info would be handy

In terms of features, the Antwi H10 isn’t the most well-furnished electric scooter out there. There is no app support for ride stats and battery information or for features like ‘find my scooter’. There is no anti-theft protection, and the battery isn’t removable either, so there is no way to swap them in and out to extend the 25 km range. And although there is no fast charging either, the Antwi H10 has a rear E-ABS electronic brake and regenerative braking (KERS).

In case you’re unfamiliar with the technology, Kinetic Energy Recovery System – or KERS for short – helps recharge the battery by recovering some of the kinetic energy during braking. Don’t expect this to fully charge your battery, but at least KERS will top it up slightly. Speaking of charging, the only way to tell whether the scooter is chagrin or not is by looking at the little LED light on the charger box – it would’ve been nicer to display how long is left until the H10 is fully charged via the dashboard.

• Features: 3 / 5

Antwi H10: Performance

• Silent operation
• 25 km range
• Slightly jerky electronic brake

I enjoyed riding the Antwi H10 scooter. Its 300W motor is agile, albeit not the most powerful, but strong enough to move you forward on flat surfaces. Antwi claims the H10 has a 14-degree maximum climbing angle; I’d say don’t expect it to zoom up hills. Even if it manages to climb smaller inclines, the effort will drain the battery quickly.

There is no need to kick-start the Antwi H10; the motor has enough power to move you forward from a stationary position. It also has plenty of braking power, thanks to the rear E-ABS electronic brake system. I always find scooters with electronic-only brake systems a bit risky – what happens if the battery gives in? How am I going to slow down, then?

Not like this happened to me while testing the Antwi H10 scooter. Nor did I have range anxiety, despite the relatively small range (25km/15.5mi), although considering you can’t use electric scooters on public roads in the UK, where the Antwi H10 is sold, I guess there isn’t much point talking about range anxiety. Even if we could use electric scooters on roads, I would probably use the Antwi H10 for shorter trips in the city.

One thing I really liked about this scooter was how quiet it was. I’m sure pedestrians wouldn’t think the same, but apart from the quiet whirring of the motor, the Antwi H10 hardly made any sound. And even though the flat-free tyres are solid, riding the scooter didn’t rattle the life out of me; excellent. 

• Performance: 3 / 5

Should I buy the Antwi H10?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Also consider

Antwi H10: Report card

• First reviewed November 2022

How we test

We pride ourselves on our independence and our rigorous review-testing process, offering up long-term attention to the products we review and making sure our reviews are updated and maintained - regardless of when a device was released, if you can still buy it, it's on our radar.

Read more about how we test

Cyber Monday deals are still offering up to 35% in savings from all the best Cyber Monday electric scooter deals. Top brands like TurboAnt, NIU, Segway, and GoTrax as well as the biggest retailers still have excellent deals, so you have plenty of time to take advantage.

The best Cyber Monday electric scooter deals include the NIU KQi2 Pro, which is currently $150 off at NIU, the GoTrax XR Elite MAX, now down to $400 at GoTrax with code BFXRE, and the TurboAnt V8 Dual-Battery, which is now only $619 at TurboAnt when you use a code.

Whether you're looking for the best electric scooters or a budget electric scooter to gift someone, it's a great idea to purchase one now while prices are low, and there's lot of savings to be had. We're keeping an eye on these best Cyber Monday electric scooter deals so we can share the best ones we find right here as soon as they go live. 

Cyber Monday electric scooter sales: Quick links

Cyber Monday electric scooter deals are live now, and there are cheap electric scooter deals throughout the year. So you don't have to wait until then to save money. Here are the best Cyber Monday e-scooter deals to browse now...

• Amazon: Cyber Monday e-scooter deals
• Best Buy: e-scooters and bundle deals
• Walmart: electric scooter deals for kids and adults
• Target: tons of e-scooters in stock
• Sears: great prices on e-scooters
• Lowes: super affordable e-scooters
• Newegg: affordable e-scooters for all ages

Cyber Monday electric scooter sales: Best deals

The best Cyber Monday electric scooter deals

Should you wait for a Cyber Monday electric scooter deal?

We've seen (and scored) the best electric scooter deals on Cyber Monday, with discounts starting early November but getting better on the big day itself. The question is, should you wait until later today, or Cyber Monday, to look for such deals? Not necessarily. 

Retailers are slightly desperate to encourage shoppers to... well, shop, because people are hesitant to spend right now with the rising cost of living. Even now, we're seeing up to $200 off electric scooters in the US, which is similar to the discounts we on Cyber Monday last year. So, we'd start looking now.

Tips for buying an electric scooter this Cyber Monday

1. Stick with trusted brands

We also recommend sticking with established brands. E-scooters from tiny companies listed on Amazon might be cheap, but you won't get the same after-sales service you would if you stuck with a bigger brand. Plus, you might find that the build quality isn't as good if the manufacturer doesn't have to stick to certain guidelines and local laws.

2. Check the specifications before you buy

If a deal looks too good to be true, take a close look at the scooter's specifications before adding it to your cart. Kids' and adults' electric scooters look identical in photos, without anything for scale, and that super cheap e-scooter you've spotted may only be suitable for riders under 16 years old.

3. Premium doesn't always mean best

There are premium e-scooter brands that make great scooters and always partake in the Cyber Monday fray. However, we've found that a handful of more affordable brands also roll out e-scooters that are just as great or even better for less. When looking for e-scooter deals, you might want to take a look at offerings from TurboAnt and Hiboy first.

4. Check out our best e-scooter picks beforehand

Choosing the best electric scooter is not exactly a straightforward affair. Sometimes, what the manufacturer says on paper isn't exactly what you'll get, especially in terms of performance. However, we do try and test every electric scooter that comes our way, so we know which ones are worth your money. Before Cyber Monday, be sure to read our electric scooter guide so you have an idea of the models that might be best-suited for you.

Cyber Monday electric scooter deals: our predictions

How good will this year's Cyber Monday electric scooter deals be?

We haven't seen online retailers match 2020's deep discounts and record-low prices during Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2021. That's likely because of 2021's massive demand and this year's high inflation rates.

The good news, however, is that retailers have rolled out record-low and massive discounts on Black Friday. And you'll be seeing the same discounts from now until Cyber Monday to encourage people to spend by offering excellent discounts – or perhaps deals that are better than last year.

What electric scooter Cyber Monday deals do we expect in 2022?

Although at the moment, we cannot pinpoint the exact electric scooters that will likely receive price cuts as there have been a lot of new releases from the biggest brands, we know which brands will offer deals.

Segway-Ninebot has always had their top and most popular electric scooters on offer for less during Cyber Monday, with models such as the ES4, the Air T15, and the Max getting price cuts. However, this year, we've seen Hiboy, GoTrax, TurboAnt, and NIU offering great deals as well. 

3 best electric scooters to watch out for

The Segway Ninebot Kickscooter Max beats all others by balancing performance, portability, and design in one appealing package. Thanks to its powerful motor, dual-braking system, and a long-lasting battery that will last you up to 40.4 miles on a single charge, depending on the model, it's practically the whole package. We've seen this e-scooter jump up to a whopping $849 in the US this year, but back in 2020, we also saw it get a massive discount of 26% for Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Now that it's back down to its usual price, we're likely see that record-low price again.

You'll be surprised at how solid and well-made the TurboAnt M10 considering its price. It's our best value pick for its affordable price tag, robust build that's better than any of its rivals in this price range, and an incredibly lightweight design. To knock off a couple of hundred bucks off its tag, TurboAnt has stripped it of extra frills, which we don't mind at all since none of them really affect its overall performance and usability. TurboAnt constantly holds sales on its site, so we are likely to see this affordable e-scooter cheaper than ever this Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

The GoTrax Gmax Ultra will make a convert out of you if you're unsure about whether or not it's a good idea to get an electric scooter. It boasts a whopping 45-mile range, which is longer than most commuter e-scooters on the market, has 10-inch pneumatic tires to ensure that you're riding smoothly, and boasts excellent brakes to help you avoid accidents. It is a little on the expensive side, but we've also seen it drop down to $719 back in 2021, offering 25% off. This Black Friday and Cyber Monday, we're hoping to see it match that or offer an even deeper discount.

NIU KQi3 Pro: One-minute review

The NIU KQi3 Pro has made converts out of us, finishing the job that the TurboAnt V8 Dual Battery had started. We’ve previously been firm believers that the best electric scooters for city commutes have to be three things: sleek, lightweight, and compact. But, we’re prepared to admit that might not be the case, and this impressive yet affordable offering from NIU validates that.

It turns out that you don’t have to have the biggest tires to have the smoothest rides – according to the Book of NIU, they just have to be fatter, and that is gospel. Its 9.5-inch pneumatic tires deliver far superior shock absorption than any of the 10-inch tires we’ve tried, and that’s mainly due to them being 30% fatter.

It also turns out that electric scooter manufacturers can afford to deliver a top-notch, top-quality product without committing highway robbery. The NIU KQi3 Pro delivers better performance, better features, and a better build than many of its competitors for an even better price. It might not be the cheapest electric scooter on the market, but it’s certainly the best value.

At the risk of sounding unprofessionally biased, we are now loyal followers of the NIU KQi3 Pro, and for good reason. It’s simply the best electric scooter for students, professionals, casual commuters, and even the occasional off-road riders.

NIU KQi3 Pro: Price and availability

• How much does it cost? $799 (£699, ‎AU$1,279)
• Where is it available? Available now
• Where can you get it? Available in the US, the UK, and Australia

The NIU KQi3 Pro is surprisingly affordable with its $799 (£699, ‎AU$1,279) price of entry. That’s still a lot of silver coins for consumers on a tight budget, and there are certainly a lot of cheaper e-scooters out there that are impressive in their own right. 

The Gotrax APEX LE, for example, which we are currently testing, is a snappy and stylish option under $400 / £400. There’s also the TurboAnt M10 that delivers a powerful performance and comes with a solid build for less than $500 / £500.

Having said that, the NIU KQi3 Pro beats out most of its direct rivals in price while completely owning them in performance. That makes it the best-value electric scooter we’ve ever ridden.

• Value: 5 / 5

NIU KQi3 Pro: Assembly

• Minimal setup
• Partly charged

Proof that the NIU KQi3 Pro is ideal for most e-scooter riders, including novice riders, is its unbelievably easy assembly. If you haven’t even so much as stood on an e-scooter before, and you want to get one but are intimidated by the possibility of failing at setup, this is the scooter for you.

Literally, all you need to do here is take it out of the box, easily connect the main line connector, slot in the handlebar, secure it with four screws, and it’s ready to go. For some e-scooters, you also have to set up the brake line, which takes some upper body strength and possibly a lot of sweating.

The NIU KQi3 Pro comes partly charged so you can start practicing on it immediately after setup. You don’t even need to link (or, as NIU words it, “bind”) it with the app if you prefer not to – though we definitely recommend it as the app gives you access to more functionality.

Bear in mind that the Sport riding mode, which tops at 20mph, won’t be made available to you until you’ve clocked in 200 meters of travel on the e-scooter, as a safety precaution. NIU just wants to make sure that you’ve gotten to know your unit well before riding it at top speed.

• Assembly: 5 / 5

NIU KQi3 Pro: Design

• Robust, road bike-reminiscent design
• Spacious deck, wide tires
• Not sleek or lightweight

Setting oneself apart from the sea of scooters isn’t easy these days, but the NIU KQi3 Pro manages to do it by combining that homogeneous look most e-scooters have adopted with dirt bike elements like plastics (well, one plastic above the headlight), a Halo headlight, and an abundance of reflectors. We adore the finished product, even though we’re not partial to the traditional dirt bike look.

Adding those elements also gives the electric scooter a look that says, ‘I can handle whatever you throw at me,’ without taking it so far that you’d be embarrassed to take it to work. In fact, it’s managed to find that sweet spot between sporty and classy that allows it to fit in just about anywhere. If you’re regularly commuting to work in a suit, you won’t clash with this ride.

There are a lot of other things we love about the NIU KQi3 Pro. Fair warning before you buy: we wouldn’t categorize this as portable or lightweight. It’s one of the biggest and heaviest commuter e-scooters we’ve tested. But, these days, being slim and easy to lug around no longer carries as much weight as it once did. There are, after all, many bike racks to secure these e-vehicles to, and if you’ve got something as robust as this, it’s kind of expected that you’re taking it all the way to your destination, instead of taking it part of the way then riding the bus or train.

But, we digress. One of the best things about this electric scooter is that because it doesn’t really care about being portable, it can afford to go big on many things – particularly its deck, which is blissfully spacious, and its tires, which are 30% wider than most e-scooter tires and, therefore, better at shock absorption. And, because it’s unapologetic about being a heavyweight, you’re getting an excess of accessories here – there are two brake levers, a nice fairly big Halo headlight, (again) lots of reflectors, a decently-sized dashboard, and a sizable battery.

At the same time, it manages to keep a lot of vital things simple. There’s just one button for power, riding mode, light, and speed unit on display – the included manual tells you how many times you need to press it for each of those functions. And, the folding mechanism is surprisingly simple and easy to use. In fact, it’s one of the easiest folding mechanisms we’ve ever seen, which is impressive considering how big and robust the unit is.

Simple, too, is its operation. This is one intuitive electric scooter, easy enough to use that even those with zero e-scooter experience will learn to ride it within minutes. And, thanks to its rubber handles and textured rubber deck surface, it’ll keep all your vital parts in place as well.

• Design: 4.5 / 5

NIU KQi3 Pro: Features

• Sport Mode unavailable until 200m 
• Always-on Halo headlight and rear light
• Anti-theft (hurrah!)

For an electric scooter that’s under $800 / £800, the NIU KQi3 Pro is brilliantly packed with features. It offers some safety features, which we like to think is NIU’s way of clapping back at e-scooter haters, like Sport mode being unavailable until you’re ridden it for 200 meters and Pedestrian mode limiting speed so you can ride it in high foot traffic areas without knocking people around like bowling pins. 

There’s also the always-on Halo headlight and rear light, which we think is a good idea since many riders aren’t disciplined enough to turn those on even at night. Turning on the light switch just brightens that headlight more, much like you’d turn on the high beams when you’ve got low visibility.

More experienced riders will also appreciate the cruise control function, Custom mode, and zero starting, which basically means you don’t have to give the scooter a helpful kick-off (though if you’re a novice, you can turn the non-zero starting on, turning it into a kick scooter.)

Perhaps our favorite feature here is the anti-theft function, as not a lot of scooters, even the pricier ones, have it, which is kind of ironic since those are the models that are more likely to get stolen. You will need to link the scooter to the app to utilize this feature, but once it’s linked up, all you need to do to activate it is press the lock button on the Vehicle page. Once it’s activated, an alarm will go off if someone tries to wheel the scooter away, ride it, or turn it on. And it will continue to beep until it’s left alone.

This anti-theft feature isn’t powerful enough to know when someone’s carried it off and loaded it in the back of a truck, but at least it’ll prevent that thief from ever riding it.

Sadly, it only has an IP54 dust and water resistance rating, which means that you shouldn’t use it during downpours and when there’s a bit of flooding. But, who wants to ride an electric scooter in the rain anyway?

• Features: 4.5 / 5

NIU KQi3 Pro: Performance

• Picks up speed fast and 20% hill grade
• Range up to 31 miles and top speed 20mph

It’s hard to write about the NIU KQi3 Pro’s performance not because it’s not good but because you’ll be hard-pressed to find anything to complain about. This e-scooter is snappy and picks up speed fast, especially when you turn off that kick function and let its throttle do all the hard work. This goes from zero to 9mph within seconds, which does mean that if you’re not experienced, you shouldn’t be so generous when pushing down the throttle.

Pricier scooters only have a 15% hill grade rating, but this one’s a dream for hillside residents like this reviewer. When testing this around our hilly neighborhood in LA, it kept a nice 7mph to 9mph speed on a 20% hill grade, which is what it’s rated for. Other e-scooters we’ve tested on this hill have struggled, topping at a slow crawl of 4mph – and that’s with a bit of assistance from us.

That 700W motor is relatively quiet as well, quieter than some of its rivals, in fact. And, that just adds to its elegance, which you’ll probably want if you’re riding to work in a tailored suit.

Meanwhile, those 9.5-inch wheels are a revelation. Personally, we prefer electric scooters with 10-inch pneumatic tires as those are much better at shock absorption, but these smaller ones on the NIU KQi3 Pro have opened our eyes. It’s not so much the size of the tires as the thickness that offers a smooth ride, and these 2.5-inch-thick ones are proof of that.

We always test e-scooters on a very rugged, pothole-laden road behind our street, and this is the first one we’ve taken there that’s actually passed with flying colors. For the first time, we didn’t vibrate going over the big cracks, which made for a very pleasant and smooth ride.

The brakes are regenerative, and you can actually choose just how much of that power you want to recycle via the app. But, with a 31-mile range, thanks to its powerful battery, you can last for three days on a single charge if you’re commuting a total of 10 miles per day, and longer if your commutes are shorter. 

If you don’t use it every day, on the other hand, you’ll be thankful for the fact that the e-scooter seems to preserve its battery life longer. Just be sure to check the battery level the night before if you haven’t used it in a long while. Charging time to full is six hours, after all.

Beware of those brakes, however, as they are quite responsive. We recommend getting used to them first before riding at 20 miles per hour; lest risk getting thrown off the e-scooter for braking too hard.

• Performance: 5 / 5

Should I buy the NIU KQi3 Pro?

Buy it if...

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NIU KQi3 Pro: Report card

• First reviewed November 2022

How we test

We pride ourselves on our independence and our rigorous review-testing process, offering up long-term attention to the products we review and making sure our reviews are updated and maintained - regardless of when a device was released, if you can still buy it, it's on our radar.

Read more about how we test

The best electric scooters offer a cleaner, greener, more sustainable means of transport. They are becoming increasingly popular in the UK, despite being a challenge from a legal point of view. Even though it's illegal to ride them on UK roads and pavements (unless they're part of a ride-share scheme) this new wave of electric vehicles are able to be ridden on private land, and remain very popular.

When ridden safely, the best e-scooters offer plenty of benefits to the riders and to the environment. And, much like the best electric bikes, they will get you out of that artificial air environment you spend most of your days in and breathe fresh, natural air.

We've tested many e-scooters ourselves, from the best electric scooters for students to the more premium ones displayed in this guide. Because of the legal ramifications, testing these scooters does pose a challenge for journalists, but the below ist are the best that we've personally tested. We gathered the best electric scooters in this guide, considering things like performance, weight and ease of use, build, and features like app support and anti-theft protection. If you've tried an electric scooter on a ride-share scheme and think you need one of your own, this is a great starting point for UK users.

Best electric scooter: At a glance

The best electric scooters 2026

The Pure Air Pro range takes our top prize for the best electric scooters overall right now. While the model we tested is the second-gen pro, the Pure Air 4 Pro improves upon it in several iterative ways. All Pure Air Pros hit a top speed of 15.5mph at full throttle. The second-gen we tested offers a very impressive maximum range of 50km (about 31 miles) if you're willing to cut back the speed and ride at a slightly more sedate pace. The Pure Air 4 Pro rides a little less at 40km, but offers active stabilisation and other tricks.

The electric scooter folds easily for storage and carrying, with a sturdy catch to hold it together, and the air-filled tires and large with a puncture-resistant fluid. In our tests, the suspension ironed out small bumps in the road, and acceleration felt smooth as butter.

The Pure Air Pro isn't perfect – pushing the speed will drain the battery fast, and it's pretty heavy. However, for the more experienced rider the Pure Air Pro is tough to beat. If you're new to riding, you'll be better off with the lighter and less powerful Pure Air, below.

Read our full Pure Air Pro (2021) review

Although not as powerful as the Pure Air Pro, the Pure Air is the best electric scooter we've reviewed in terms of value for money. We'd recommend it for people looking for their first ride, or something that'll be dependable and long-lasting.

It's an entry-level electric scooter that sits below its big sibling, the Pure Air Pro, in a few different ways. However, thanks to its low price, the Pure Air sits above the Pro in this list of the best e-scooters.

The Pure Air has the same top speed as most of the scooters on this list, and it's got a fair range if you don't drive it too fast. It's also sturdy, safe to ride and decked out in lights and reflectors. We found the Pure Air safe and comfortable to ride for the most part, and well worth your money if you're looking for your first electric scooter, though experienced riders will love it too.

Read our full Pure Air review

The NIU KQi3 Pro may not have that sleek and lightweight design that seems to have been the very first marker of an excellent electric scooter. What this impressive model does offer is much more important: comfort. It's also surprisingly, amazingly affordable – more affordable than other premium e-scooters with less features.

Its brilliant fat tires, as we found out during our extensive review, are the ticket to a smooth ride. Each tire on this is 2.5 inches thick, and that allows the scooter itself to have amazing shock absorption – so amazing, in fact, that we don't have to weave through a bad road just to avoid the small potholes and big cracks when riding it, which is something we do with other electric scooters.

NIU also slapped on amazing features like regenerative brakes, the always-on Halo headlight and rear light, zero starting (which activates as soon as you hit 200 riding meters for safety), and anti-theft. The anti-theft feature is uncommon if you're looking at e-scooters within this price range and is therefore a nice treat. Once it’s activated, an alarm will go off if someone tries to wheel the scooter away, ride it, or turn it on. So while it doesn't actually prevent someone from loading it on the back of their truck, it certainly makes a huge fuss, which will hopefully deter petty thieves.

Read our full NIU KQi3 Pro review

The Kugoo Kirin G3 is a staggering scooter with an imposing profile to match, boasting a 936Wh juicing a 1200W motor that gives it a 70-km (37-mile) range and a top speed of 50kmh (about 31 miles). It's an impressive piece of kit whose max speed and great acceleration won’t lag far behind cars in large metropolitan areas. Of course, its 10.5-inch off-road tires make riding a smooth affair even if you have to take it on not-so-well-paved roads.

During testing, we had no range issues and were able to zoom up and down hills, thanks to its powerful motor and 30-degree hill grade. And, we found its deck to be very effective at keeping our feet in place during high-speed rides. Its black and orange colour scheme might not be for everyone, but you cannot deny that it adds a bit of stylish flair and a study look that means business.

There are a few things that could be improved here – the on-screen buttons, for example, we found to be a little finicky. However, this scooter's pros far outweigh its cons, and none of the cons is deal breakers.

Read our full Kugoo Kirin G3 review

Best electric scooter: Frequently asked questions

Glossary of electric scooter terms

Commuter electric scooters - A commuter e-scooter is a type of electric scooter that’s designed specifically, as its name suggests, for everyday city commutes. They’re designed to be sleeker and more lightweight, a lot of them having a folding capability to make them easier to take on a bus or a train.

Hill grade - An electric scooter’s hill grade rating is the incline angle that its motor can handle when going up a hill. Most commuter e-scooters have a hill grade rating of 15% to 20%.

Pneumatic tires - Pneumatic tires are essentially just rubber tires filled with air. They deliver better stability, suspension, climbing, and traction than solid tires.

Solid tires - Solid tires are the opposite of pneumatic tires in that they are not air-filled but are instead made up of layers of rubber. Some solid tires have built-in air pockets, but they generally need less maintenance and are less prone to flats and punctures.

Regenerative brakes - Brakes with this regenerative braking feature have the capability to recover some of that kinetic energy the e-scooter uses during braking and send its back to the battery to extend its range.

Kick start - A kick start simply means that to get an e-scooter going, you have to kick it off quite literally with a nice, firm push using your foot.

Zero start - A zero start means that an electric scooter doesn’t need you to kick it off to get going. Its throttle does all the work for you.

Best electric scooters: How we test

Testing electric scooters is the fun part of our job because we get to ride around and get a bit of fresh air and sunshine. We don't always go for a joyride, however.

Every e-scooter we test, we use for at least two weeks, running errands, commuting, and exploring new areas. We test its performance – just how instantaneous it starts up, how fast it picks up speed, how reliable its brakes are, and how effective it is at climbing inclines. We test it in different road conditions as well to see how it fares outside of city roads. That's just to start.

We also take a look at its design – whether or not it's easy and intuitive to use if the dashboard is bright enough to be visible in bright sunlight, how great and spacious the deck is, and if the folding mechanism is quick and effortless. Finally, we check the battery, to see if it lives up to the rating and if has fast-charging capabilities.

When we've got all our data, we then compare all of that with the price to make sure that it isn't overpriced and is a great value for the price.

Electric scooter company Bird continues to downsize as it has announced its machines will be exiting several regions in an effort to stay afloat.

The company states it’s going to “fully exit” Germany, Sweden, and Norway as well as several “small to mid-sized markets” across the United States, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, although it didn’t mention which exact locations. However, we do know of one: Atchison, Kansas, which recently revealed that Bird is pausing all operations in the city indefinitely. The city goes on to say Bird didn’t see Atchison as a good location “to support [its] near-term requirements for building an enduring business.” This reasoning falls in line with the company’s official statement on the downsizing.

Low support

Bird states the reason for its exiting is due to a “lack of robust regulatory framework” in local regions. The company claims some locations are not as conducive to its e-scooter business model as others. Support is available in some cities, but not others. Bird then goes on to blame the high amount of vehicles in these regions leading to “overcrowded streets,” along with stiff competition from rivals as other reasons for closing up shop. 

From here, the company will start weeding out cities it considers to be nonviable to instead focus on ones with the “right regulatory framework and business environment”. Unfortunately, this downsizing will affect Bird employees in these regions. While it doesn’t say it outright in the announcement, Bird alludes to these people losing their jobs. 

Absent from the announcement is any mention of fleet managers. According to Bird, these are the local businesses and entrepreneurs who manage fleets of the company’s e-scooters within their local area. Managers pay a fee to the company and in return they can earn an income on the machines. Presumably, they’re losing their jobs as well, which may result in them taking the hardest blow out of anybody. The fleet manager program has been criticized in the past for putting people into thousands of dollars in debt for machines they will never truly own. It's possible something similar can happen with fleet managers losing their business overnight.

We reached out to Bird to see if they would like to make a statement. A company spokesperson got back to us and essentially reiterated what Bird said in its announcement: that it will focus “towards cities and countries that have put the right regulatory framework and business environment in place…”

Recent trend

Sadly, Bird’s downsizing continues this year’s trend of tech companies laying off employees. In fact, back in June, the company laid off 23 percent of its employees as a way to cut costs. Something similar is happening at Microsoft with the company laying off some of its employees, although it didn’t say how many. (One anonymous source claims about 1,000 jobs will get the axe.) In a similar vein, companies like Meta have enacted hiring freezes as a way to stay afloat in these tough times.

The particularly unfortunate thing about the Bird downsizing is that it affects the customer just as much since people are losing a mode of transportation. If you find Bird scooters disappearing in your area, we recommend checking out TechRadar’s best e-scooter list for 2022 to get an idea for a more permanent solution. 

Unagi Model One E500: One-minute review

If asked to describe our dream commuter electric scooter, the Unagi Model One E500 is as close as it gets. Aside from being attractive, it boasts an incredibly streamlined design that’s also functional and sensible, including touches such as its delicate yet robust stem, sleek yet visible dash, and a folding mechanism that’s simple yet effective. 

Best of all, it doesn’t take up too much space, and it’s probably the most lightweight e-scooter we’ve tested. It's just the scooter you’d be happy to take on the train, a bus, or into the office. It might not be one of the cheapest electric scooters out there, but portability always comes at a premium.

It’s not all sunshine and roses, however. Being that lightweight and sleek comes at a price, and in the case of the Unagi Model One E500 that price is smaller tires – 7.5-inch tires, to be exact. It also doesn’t help that Unagi has opted for solid tires as opposed to pneumatic ones, further reducing the scooter’s ability to absorb shock.

What does that mean exactly? If you were living in a utopian city with perfect roads, free of cracks and potholes and even the smallest of bumps, then the Unagi Model One E500 would deliver one heck of a smooth ride. Unfortunately, for most of us city dwellers, our roads have seen better days.

Unagi Model One E500: Price and availability

• How much does it cost? $990 (£899, ‎AU$1,299)
• When is it available? Available now
• Where can you get it? Available in the US, the UK and Australia

At $990 (£899, ‎AU$1,299) a pop, we wouldn’t recommend the Unagi Model One E500 as one of the best electric scooters for students. However, the price isn’t wholly unexpected. As mentioned earlier, portability comes at a premium, and seeing that Unagi has positioned this electric scooter as such, it isn’t surprising that it sits in a higher price range.

If you have deep pockets, the investment is certainly worth it in return for a scooter that's easy to lug around and stow. But bear in mind that you're also sacrificing a comfortable ride, especially if you live in a city where well-paved roads are more the exception rather than the rule.

The Unagi Model One E500 is readily available in the US, the UK and Australia, although if you want the Unagi All-Access E500 subscription of $49 per month instead, do double-check if it's available in your region.

• Value: 3 / 5

Unagi Model One E500: Assembly

• Comes in a smaller box
• Effortless setup
• Comes charged out of the box

One of the best things about the Unagi Model One E500 is the easy assembly. Unlike other electric scooters, which demand a more involved setup – you have to attach the handles, mount and screw in the handlebar, and sometimes even set up the brake line – this one merely asks you to connect the tube cable and the handlebar. 

In fact, assembly is so simple that you don’t even need a manual to guide you – although there is one included in the box for any e-scooter newbies unsure of what to do. The manual also includes operating instructions. Luckily, the scooter comes charged out of the box, so you won’t have to wait to jump on.

Since this is a compact model, even its stem is shorter than most other electric scooters we’ve tested, expect the box it comes in to be small as well.

• Assembly: 5 / 5

Unagi Model One E500: Design

• Sleek design, elegant curves
• Lightweight, easy to fold and carry
• Dash is visible in full sunlight

These days, it’s become difficult to tell all these commuter electric scooters apart, since an increasing number of models are opting for that bulky, solid black aesthetic with lots of straight lines. Unagi takes a different approach here, choosing elegant curves, a streamlined design, and even better, brighter colors. These include Cosmic Blue, Scarlet Red alongside the more common Matte Black and Sea Salt white.

The result is striking. The Unagi Model One E500 has a slim, stylish Toray carbon fiber stem that’s just as robust as it is graceful and lightweight, and a magnesium handlebar that looks ultra-modern yet still tasteful. Being compact, the deck isn’t as spacious as we'd have liked, but there’s enough room for the average rider’s feet.

There aren’t a lot of parts that protrude here, either, adding to the clean design. The handles are flushed with the dashboard, as is most of its folding mechanism (apart from the plastic ends of the hinge that you push down to release the stem.) Two cables do stick out, but not by much, and only at the bottom of the stem itself – out of your way and hardly noticeable really.

You won’t even see the usual brake levers or large bell here; just another thumb control that's similar to the throttle and a button above that for the horn. The brake and the throttle controls sit on either side of the dash for a more balanced look.

One thoughtful detail we welcome is the dedicated driving mode button, which can be found above the throttle. It’s small, very similar to the horn button, but it’s easy to press and does make changing driving modes during rides a less stressful affair. Instead of you having to let go of one handle, so you can press the power button that usually moonlights as the driving mode button (at least on other e-scooters), you literally just reach for it with your thumb, much like you would to press the throttle. It’s brilliant.

That seamlessness extends to the Unagi Model One E500’s operation as well, making this one of the easiest electric scooters to handle. The dashboard is intuitive to use – not to mention bright enough that you won’t struggle to see the display in bright situations. The handles are kind to your palms, but offer a lot of grippage at the same time. The brake and throttle buttons are within comfortable reach. 

And the folding mechanism is by far the best we’ve seen. You just press the hinge down with two fingers to fold and unfold. Just bring the stem all the way down (when folding) or back up (when unfolding), wait for the click, and it locks in place. Simple.

For night riding safety, there are of course the 1.8W LED headlights that’s more than bright enough and the LED taillight that automatically turns on when you turn on the e-scooter.

• Performance: 4.5 / 5

Unagi Model One E500: Features

• Three riding modes
• IP54 rating only

Much like other e-scooters, the Unagi Model One E500 comes with three riding modes: eco, which tops at 11mph; standard, which tops at 13mph; and pro, which lets you reach top speed. Although not quite rain-ready, it does have an ingress protection rating of IP54, which means it’ has some, if limited, protection against dust and water splashes.

However, if you’re hoping for advanced features such as regenerative braking and anti-theft technology, you'll be disappointed. Better keep that charger and that U-lock to hand.

• Features: 3 / 5

Unagi Model One E500: Performance

• Quiet motor, even at 20mph top speed
• 7.5-inch solid tires not great shock absorbers
• Smooth riding on smooth roads, rough riding on rough roads

The Unagi Model One E500 doesn’t just exude elegance in its design. The two 250W motors it hides in its wheels are also elegantly quiet. The whole unit is also so well-constructed that people won’t hear you clattering from a mile away. That's a welcome change, since we’ve ridden some obnoxiously loud and rickety-sounding e-scooters. 

In other words, this is the electric scooter most business professionals would want to ride to work, especially if they’re wearing their suits on those daily commutes but still want to look cool.

These motors are gloriously snappy as well. We've noticed that while the Unagi Model One E500 still requires a quick start, the motors pick up speed quickly, so it really only needs a light kick. That’s actually helpful for short riders such as myself, since we don’t have the leverage of height and need to put a little more force in our kicks.

The e-scooter has a top speed of 20mph, and it doesn’t take too long for it to go from 0 to 10mph. So, if you’re a novice, be sure to test ride along empty roads, lest you risk an accident. Also, at the risk of sounding like a broken record, many cities have a speed limit for e-scooters, so you'd be wise to check yours before you switch to Pro mode and push the throttle all the way down. Note that because the brake lever doesn’t have a lot of resistance, it’s easy to accidentally brake hard. (Our how to ride an e-scooter safely guide offers pointers on what to do when that happens.)

It has a hill grade rating of 15 degrees, which isn’t normal. However, it only really manages a 7mph speed on an actual 15-degree hill, and that’s with an under 125-pound rider on it. We have found that if you manage to get up to top speed before you climb, it does last at a higher speed a little longer.

Unagi has opted for a pair of solid tires here – more specifically, 7.5-inch tires. They're airless and smaller than the tires on other e-scooters at this price. The benefit of having solid rubber tires is that they're puncture-proof, which means less maintenance for you. The downside is that they’re not very good when it comes to shock absorption. 

The tires on the Unagi Model One E500 are designed with built-in pockets, which Unagi says help with shock absorption. But, if we’re being honest, they barely make a difference. We rode this on the usual pothole- and crack-riddled roads on which we test all our e-scooters, and we were vibrating all over during the ride. Not just the scooter itself, but our whole body. It wasn't a fun experience.

However, on smooth roads this scooter is actually a dream to ride. Super-smooth, in fact, which is the reason we’d really only recommend it if your usual every day route is on well-paved roads. Otherwise, it won't be an entirely comfortable experience.

The battery delivers only a 15.5-mile range, which means that you will have to charge the scooter at least a couple of times a week, depending on the length of your daily commute. On the upside, it does seem to keep those battery levels well when unused. We had ours sitting for almost a month, and it was still fully charged when we turned it back on.

• Performance: 4 / 5

Should I buy the Unagi Model One E500?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Unagi Model One E500: Report card

• First reviewed October 2022

How we test

We pride ourselves on our independence and our rigorous review-testing process, offering up long-term attention to the products we review and making sure our reviews are updated and maintained - regardless of when a device was released, if you can still buy it, it's on our radar.

Read more about how we test

UK electric scooter company Pure Electric has revealed three new machines: the Pure Advance, Advance Plus, and Advance Flex; all of which have a greater emphasis on safety and balance.

One of the first things you may notice on the scooters is the deck. Typically you stand on a scooter one foot in front of the other in a slightly twisted pose. Pure replaces the standard deck with two footpads that jut out from the side so a person’s feet stay shoulder, width apart, facing forward. According to the company, this stance puts riders “lower to the ground [for a] more stable and comfortable” experience. Also present is the company’s Pure Control tech to stabilize the handlebars. Every time you turn, the handlebars will gently and automatically return to their starting position.

Other notable safety features include the scooters' 10-inch “puncture resistant” tires, dual brake systems, and a series of bright LED lights strewn around the scooters. Pure claims the front light is “four-times brighter” than on older models. 

The scooters have a water resistance of IP65, meaning the scooters are completely protected against dust and blasts of water; just don’t go driving into a pool. They won’t survive submersion.

Internal differences

The differences between the three scooters come down to two things: portability and battery range. The Pure Advance and Advance Flex can be folded for easier storage, whereas the Advance Plus cannot, judging the information given. You can tuck in the handlebars and footrests on the base Advance model, but with the Flex, you can also fold its frame in half. This will allow owners to better store the Flex in tight spaces.

The Advance Plus makes up for its lack of folding ability with a bigger 432 Wh battery and a maximum range of 50 km (31 miles). For other two models, they have a 355 Wh battery and a max range of 40 km (25 miles). Speed is the same across the scooters; they’re powered by a 500 W motor with a max speed of 25 km/h (about 15.5 mph).

Availability

You can’t purchase any of the models yet, but you can put down a £20 non-refundable deposit as a way to pre-order. It’s a first come first serve basis with limited availability. Pure explains that if the scooters are sold out before you can finalize the purchase, you can get a refund or put the money towards a future order.

Prices start at £799 for the Pure Advance, £899 for the Advance Plus, and £1,099 for the Advance Flex. All of the scooters come in two colors: Platinum or Mercury Black. The company plans to start shipping the e-scooters around March 2023. We asked if Pure has plans to launch its new scooters outside of the United Kingdom. It appears the Advance line will only be available in the UK at launch. We’ll update this story if we hear back.

If you’re in the market for an electric scooter, TechRadar recently updated its best e-scooters list for 2022. We split the list between which e-scooters are the best for the US and which we recommend for the UK.

Update 10-7-2022: A company representative got back to us and answered our questions. First, they clarified that the handlebars on the Advance Plus do fold back like the base model for easier storage. Colors for the Advance scooter are referred to as Matte Black and Matte Grey, a flatter look compared to the glossier finish on the other models.

The £20 deposit is actually refundable, contrary to the initial report. And all three scooters will also be available in France, Spain, and Belgium.

Kugoo Kirin G3: Two minute review

The Kugoo Kirin G3 is the highest-end scooter that Kugoo sells in the U.S. It sits right above the Kirin M4 Pro and G2 Pro scooters. The Kirin G3 is a large scooter whose 10-inch wheels raise it high off the ground and whose deck will ensure that your feet won’t slide around during your high-speed ride. It’s got quite a bit of style as well with its black and orange color scheme and sturdy look that means business. 

Out of the box comes the scooter with detached handlebars, some hardware that includes screws and Allen keys to affix the needed screws for the handlebars and rear mud guard, and the manual which, after reading a dozen times, needs some translating help for the sake of clarity. 

Between the Kirin G3’s handlebars sits an LED display similar to what you’d see on an alarm clock. It shows real-time power draw, motor temperature, travel speed, light mode, speed mode, cruise control, battery capacity, the 3 settings buttons, and a kickstart indicator (we highly recommend leaving kickstart on for safety). Around the rest of the scooter’s body you’ll spot seven lights; three for the taillight, two headlights, and two accent lights on the sides. At the front, you’ll find a long, threaded bolt that doubles as the lock for the folding handlebar stem and a reflector. 

The G3’s 1200W motor provides stellar acceleration to the scooter’s max speed of 31MPH/50 KM/H, just be sure to brace yourself on the grippy rubber-coated handlebars and deck before hitting the throttle on mode 3. The motor doesn’t have very granular controls, so it felt like operating an on/off switch despite the control lever having a lot of headroom before the motor actually kicked in. The brakes tell a similar story, and I often had to brake intermittently to stop quickly and safely. For seasoned riders, none of that will be a problem, but we still recommend getting the hang of the scooter in a safe area away from people to get a good feel for the controls. 

Once you’ve got your practice in, you’ll be ready to breeze through the streets, up and down hills, possibly alongside cars depending on local regulations surrounding bikes and scooters. The max speed and great acceleration won’t lag far behind cars in large metropolitan areas. For this review, the scooter was mostly tested along the Little Sugar Creek Greenway in Charlotte, North Carolina, along with some other roads around the city that connect a few landmarks and parks. Uptown Charlotte is fairly hilly terrain in some areas, but the Kirin G3 took hills in stride, often able to reach 15MPH going up a fairly steep hill. 

When factoring in build quality, motor power, max speed, and range, the Kugoo Kirin G3 sits high in the ranks of the best electric scooters, especially for city commuters who will benefit from the high battery capacity and max speed of the G3. 

Kugoo Kirin G3: Price and availability

The Kugoo Kirin G3 can be purchased directly from the Kugoo store in the U.S. for $1,250, Canada, Europe, and Asia. 

Kugoo Kirin G3 can also be purchased directly from Kugoo in the UK for £999.99, although it can only be ridden on private land. In Australia, the Kirin G3  is harder to find, although it occasionally pops up on third-party retailers such as iScoot.

Kugoo Kirin G3: Design

• A large, imposing figure
• Deck and handles covered with grippy rubber
• The manual was not revised with the scooter
• Not very portable

The Kugoo Kirin G3 establishes its presence right out of the box. Once it’s unfolded and the handlebars are secured, it sits 49 inches off the ground at its highest point. The height is partially attributed to the 10-inch wheels of the scooter, but the G3 also has girth thanks to the rubber-coated deck. It’s 7 inches wide and 27 inches long, offering up plenty of space for proper footing while riding the scooter. Included in the deck’s length is 6 inches of incline on the rear pedal. This pedal doesn’t function as a brake, but instead is made for extra balance. 

The box includes a manual containing numerous languages and some hardware for scooter assembly and maintenance. The only mandatory thing in the included pouch that holds the hardware is the largest Allen key and the five screws used to secure the handlebars to the scooter. The box also includes a rear fender to be fastened to the rear wheel. It isn’t mandatory, but it is a mudguard, so we’d highly recommend putting it on the scooter.

An issue we ran into here was with the manual: we suspect that while the scooter has seen a few small revisions since its initial release, the manual hasn’t been updated to reflect those revisions. For instance, the manual only ever mentions four handlebar screws, but there were five in the box. After taking the scooter for its first ride we found the fifth hole at the front of the handlebars and threaded the final screw into it. We didn’t feel that the handlebars weren’t secure without that fifth screw, but safety is crucial when you’re cruising at 31MPH alongside cars, and we’d like to see issues like that fixed in the manual for both clarity and rider safety.

There are other, much smaller issues with the manual, such as the mention of Bluetooth functionality one time but never elaborating on it, but none of them are big enough to get in the way of riding the scooter properly and safely.

Lastly, the screen between the handlebars is bright enough to see outdoors, and displays a lot of information. It displays the motor’s power draw and temperature, travel speed, speed mode, light mode, and cruise control and kickstart indicators. It also houses the light, speed mode, and speed unit buttons. The screen also shows battery capacity via a ten-segment indicator. Earlier revisions of the scooter displayed percentages, but our unit only had the segmented indicator, which is fine; ten segments provide a decently accurate estimate of remaining capacity and, as we’ll get to later, range anxiety was not a problem with the G3. 

To hold the handlebar stem in place, the scooter utilizes a heavy-duty bolt that you’ll screw in by hand. Simply unscrew the bolt enough to unfold the handlebar stem fully vertically, then screw the bolt back in until you can’t anymore. To fold it again, do that in reverse. The mechanism is a bit stiff, which is a good thing, but we found that holding both brakes while folding and unfolding made the process easier.

The scooter unfortunately doesn’t help you carry it around in any way while it’s folded, which will prove to be a challenge to anyone trying to fit it into a car. The scooter is extremely sturdy, which also makes it extremely heavy. The G3 weighs in at 55 pounds, making it difficult to move without any handles on it. We had to fold the scooter, loop the ribbon around the rear pedal, and carry the whole thing around by the handlebar stem. Some sort of mechanism or handle to carry the scooter around would be extremely helpful here.

The story isn't much better while unfolded. As most of the scooter’s weight is due to the massive battery on the bottom, trying to get the scooter up any stairs you may encounter on your ride is difficult. It is doable, but it might cost you an ankle a la Razor scooter.

The good news, however, is that the scooter will easily fit in the backseat of a sedan while folded. Riders using the G3 as a last-mile vehicle will be pleased with this, as it makes transporting the scooter much easier.

• Design score: 4/5

Kugoo Kirin G3: Battery life

• Range is fantastic
• No percentage displayed on screen
• Real-time power draw stats on screen

As mentioned in the previous section, the Kirin G3’s battery is massive. With 936Wh juicing a 1200W motor, Kugoo advertises a 37 mile total range. We couldn’t find what conditions Kugoo got that number with, but we tested the scooter over about 25 total miles up and down various hills around Uptown Charlotte. The trip was split between roads that connect a couple landmarks and parks, and the Little Sugar Creek Greenway, all of which can get fairly hilly in many places. 

After the 25-mile, two and a half hour trip that we mostly made on speed mode 2 (max speed ~22MPH), the battery indicated about 60% remaining capacity. This bodes very well for the capacity of the rest of the battery, as we estimate that you could likely ride for much longer than we did on a single charge without worrying about running out of juice.

Speaking of charging, you won’t find smartphone-like quick charging in the G3. Kugoo says the charge time (presumably from 0%-100%) is around 12-15 hours. To us, this isn’t a problem since you’re unlikely to need a top up in the middle of the day thanks to the battery’s long life. Charging, especially from a low capacity, is likely best done overnight. 

In researching the G3 online, we found that some other reviewers’ units displayed battery capacity on the screen as a percentage beside the segmented indicator, but as we mentioned above, that feature is absent in our unit. Strangely, the percentage indicator is still present on the scooter’s screen, it just isn’t used. Again, this is likely due to hardware revisions since the scooter’s initial release. No big deal, but worth noting.

• Battery life score: 5/5

Kugoo Kirin G3: Performance

• Zero issues with hills
• Powerful motor provides great acceleration
• Motor and brake control aren’t very granular

As mentioned above, we tested the Kugoo Kirin G3 in a fairly hilly area, and the scooter handled those hills with grace. The steepest incline we encountered saw the scooter reach 12-15MPH on speed mode 3 which, while obviously slower than it can go on flat terrain, beats walking by a landslide. 

The riding experience overall was very smooth, with the scooter taking well to bumps and drops on roads and sidewalks since the wheels raise it high off the ground. We even rode the scooter off a few curbs to see if the height difference would scrape the underside of the scooter, but it didn’t harm it one bit. 

The Kirin G3 is also advertised as an “off-road” scooter, so naturally we tested that as well. In a park where the grass and dirt wasn’t completely level and even, the scooter handled hills, small ditches, and other terrain changes pretty well. The shock absorption on the scooter isn’t mind blowing, as we still felt most of the terrain we were riding over, but the bumps rarely affected the speed of the ride. Overall, you can definitely take this scooter off the beaten path, but expect it to affect battery life and range accordingly. 

The only issue we found with the ride is with the motor and brake controls. While the lever for the throttle and the brake handles have a large range of movement, they don’t offer granular control of either function. Both the motor and the brakes felt more like operating an on/off switch than controlling motor speed, and we often had to press both of them intermittently in order to move at a low speed and stop safely. 

The lack of granular control here does detract from the ride, as making tighter turns, moving at low speeds, and making sure to not to stop too abruptly was difficult until we were used to operating the controls a bit more. The best way that we found to quickly and safely decrease speed was to pull both brake handles (front and rear) very lightly, as pulling them too hard will surely have consequences for the rider. 

Overall, once we were used to the controls of the scooter, the riding experience was fantastic. The motor has fantastic acceleration, moving at high speeds feels very safe, and the deck provides plenty of space for proper footing throughout the ride. 

 The on-screen buttons are a tad finicky. Their detection zones are rather small, but we found that they are easily pressed when the rider accidentally leans on the screen. This led to numerous situations where, despite braking, the cruise control kept pushing the scooter forward and we didn’t realize we had enabled it. 

Lastly, the Kirin G3 and some other Kugoo scooters have Bluetooth functionality to be used with an app, but we couldn’t get the app to work in our testing. This isn’t a huge deal as the app seems to do most of what the buttons on the screen do anyway, but there could be some good functionality added to the scooter via an app, but unfortunately it doesn’t do anything as of publishing. 

• Performance score: 4/5

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When does an electric scooter stop being an electric scooter? According to British-based manufacturer D-Fly, not even after you’ve added four wheels, two motors and a 3.5-inch touchscreen to a carbon fiber frame.

Yes, ladies and gentlemen – if you’re in the market for an all-terrain e-scooter to make onlookers mistake you for Batman on the way to work, then look no further than the Dragonfly.

Dubbed “the world’s first HyperScooter” by its creators, this strikingly-clad e-scooter claims to be the urban mobility equivalent of a supercar, offering riders a novel new way to travel about town. But is the Dragonfly likely to break into our ranking of the world’s best electric scooters? Let’s dig into its specs to find out. 

The most eye-catching feature of the Dragonfly is, of course, its four-wheel design. Both iterations of the e-scooter – the urban DF and off-road DFX – come packing D-Fly’s patented three-dimensional full-tilt steering system, which engages all four wheels simultaneously to deliver improved stability and control. 

Both models sport 10-inch tires, though the amount of tread offered by each differs slightly (you’ll get slick tires on the urban Dragonfly and rugged tires on the off-road version).

This four-wheel setup is supported by dual wishbone suspension (a first in the e-scooter market), fully adjustable hydraulic damped sprung suspension, adjustable deck suspension and full axle articulation – all of which sits under the Dragonfly’s wide-base carbon fiber platform. In other words, this thing will navigate tricky underfoot conditions – natural or otherwise – while keeping you as level as possible, should you wish to hit the dirt tracks after a hard day at the office. 

Under its figurative hood, the Dragonfly packs two 550W motors capable of delivering up to 1,650W of power to all four wheels, which D-Fly says is enough to propel you towards a top speed of 25mph (40 km/h). For comparison, the top three picks in our current ranking of the best electric scooters (US) boast max speeds of 18.6mph, 20mph and 19mph, respectively – so the Dragonfly certainly has pace on its side. 

Unfortunately, e-scooters can’t legally exceed 20mph in many US states (a figure that drops to an even lower 12.5mph in the UK), so the Dragonfly’s superior power credentials are likely to prove superfluous for most urban riders. Still, it’s nice to know that you’ll be able to reach max legal speeds with ease, or properly let loose if you go off-road. 

Gadgets galore

More relevant, then, is the Dragonfly’s suite of on-board tech – which, quite frankly, sounds like it could rival some low-budget cars. Both scooter models come equipped with a 3.5-inch digital screen that shows the rider their speed, trip range, light status, battery performance and mode options, while other features like on-board ride sounds, spoken navigation and an electric horn are available through an attachable sound pod accessory. 

You’ll also be able to lock the Dragonfly using a four-digit pin that disables the scooter’s electronic system until reentered – and given that we’re talking about the urban mobility equivalent of a supercar, per D-Fly’s description, this feature is likely to come in handy. 

So, the Dragonfly is a speedy, super-versatile, high-tech e-scooter that’s built to weather all manner of outdoor environments – but how much does it cost? Well, that’s the bad news. 

The Dragonfly is available to purchase now on Indiegogo for £1750 (around $1850) or £2100 (around $2200), depending on the model you go for. Suffice to say, that’s a lot of money for an e-scooter – even one that does make you look and feel like Batman.

For comparison, our current top pick for US e-scooters, the Segway Ninebot Kickscooter Max, retails for $999.99 (although it’s currently on sale at Amazon for $899.99), while our equivalent pick in the UK, the second-generation Pure Air Pro, costs £599.00. 

D-Fly may argue that, because the Dragonfly sports double the wheels, it should demand double the price, but it remains to be seen just how much of an improved riding experience this unique ‘HyperScooter’ design offers. 

As someone who’s been riding and testing electric scooters since their early days, I’m honestly getting tired of people blaming these green modes of transport for e-scooter-related incidents and accidents on the road. That's like blaming computers for data theft or the internet for the spread of misinformation. 

Heck, even a traditional bike can be dangerous in the hands of a reckless rider. It’s not the technology itself but the people that use it irresponsibly that should be held accountable.

If you’re considering a greener and more sustainable mode of transport, you’ll find that the best electric scooters – and even some cheap e-scooters – are actually a fantastic and safe proposition. In fact, I've had more (minor) accidents on bikes and mopeds than I've ever had on an electric scooter, which is never.

Much like the best e-bikes, they're not just great for urban commutes and short trips, contributing to the reduction of congestion and CO2 emissions. Because they do use rechargeable batteries and do not take up much space, they also help you save money on gas and parking fees.

But, they can’t do all the work. As commuters, we have a job to do as well, and that is to practice responsible and defensive riding. Here are five basic things you should know on how to ride an electric scooter safely. 

How to ride an electric scooter safely

• Do practice runs to familiarize yourself with its controls
• Check your tire pressure
• Keep your eyes on the road at all times
• There is the right way to brake and the wrong way
• Slow down

Step by step guide

• Familiarize yourself with its controls

This one sounds obvious and is just basic common sense, but I've seen people rent those rideshare e-scooters and take them on the road without really knowing how one works. And, if you want to practice safe riding, that's not exactly wise. 

You need to know not only where the throttle, brakes, and appropriate buttons are located, but also how sensitive the controls are. Just like electric bikes, not all electric scooters are the same. Some have super sensitive brakes that need a gentler squeeze, some have throttles that require a hard press to get going. 

Knowing these things can actually save your life. Let's say you're going downhill on a 15-hill-grade road, and you're going down pretty fast. If, for some reason, you need to brake unexpectedly, squeezing a highly sensitive brake hard might cause you to get thrown off the e-scooter due to that sudden and unexpected change in force. And, if you're not wearing your helmet – always wear a helmet! – you might end up with a grave injury.

• Check your tire pressure

There are two main types of electric scooter tires: solid and pneumatic. Solid tires are completely made of rubber or have solid polyurethane foam inside as filling while pneumatic tires are air-filled.

Pneumatic tires are generally considered superior to solid tires because they offer better shock absorption and more traction. However, they also need a little more maintenance because they do lose a little bit of air and deflate with use. And, riding with a flat tire will cause even more damage. Worse, it might explode during your ride, which is obviously not good news for you.

If the e-scooter you're riding has pneumatic tires, be sure to check that it meets the recommended tire pressure of 40 to 50 PSI (pounds per square inch), much like you would your car's tires. To do so, you can use a tire pressure gauge. No tire pressure gauge handy? Just kick it lightly to ensure that you don't have a flat.

• Eyes on the road at all times

Here's some tough love for ya: stop showing off like you're some kind of e-scooter savant with mad skills. You're not. Not when you're here looking for basic tips to riding safely.

You never know when you're riding along a bike lane and someone parked next to it pops open their door because they didn't seen you barreling down the path. Or, you completely miss that massive pothole up ahead because you're sightseeing instead of paying attention to where you're going. Commuting e-scooters aren't exactly made for potholes, and a deep one can do some serious damage.

Whether or not you're a beginner, just keep your eyes on the road at all times. It's not that hard, and it could save your life. And, for goodness sake, follow the traffic signs and lights. They're not suggestions for electric scooter riders. You're bound by the same basic road rules as the bigger vehicles.

• There is the right way to brake and the wrong way

We're not going to discuss the different types of braking systems that electric scooters have. That is too big of a topic to cover in a beginner tips guide. What you do need to know, and more for assurance than anything else, is that the best e-scooters do have impressive braking systems that can help save your life. 

No matter how top-of-the-line your electric scooter's braking system is, however, you still should know and follow the proper braking techniques. Remember: you don't have a seat belt and an airbag to save you if you get into an accident.

While novice riders tend to lean forward when braking, that is actually the complete opposite of what you're supposed to do. When braking, you have to lean and shift your body's weight back, bending your knees and pulling on the handlebars a little in the process. This way, you're countering that natural forward motion that happens when braking, as well as helping the vehicle stop quicker.

Most importantly, doing this minimizes the chances of you getting thrown off over the handlebars and hitting the pavement.

• Slow down

Yes, it's more fun riding fast. I get it. But, if you want to minimize your chances of being in an e-scooter-related accident, you must always practice defensive riding. And, a big part of that is simply knowing when to slow down. 

The first thing you have to know before riding is to find out what your city's e-scooter speed limit is on public roads, and actually stay within that limit. It exists for several reasons, including to save your life and to protect others.

You should also know when to slow down. When you're turning on another road, going down a steep hill, and approaching a red light, a stop sign, or a pedestrian crossing, you must always slow down. Even when you've become an experienced rider, there's no point in endangering the lives of others just to show off.

Final thoughts

Riding an electric scooter is easy. Their top speeds are usually under 30mph (48kph), which prevents riders from racing down streets at dangerous speeds, their brakes are surprisingly effective, and it's easier to jump off them if there's danger up ahead.

However, especially because they don't offer the same level of protection as a car, for example, you still need to practice defensive riding. There are more advanced ways to do so, of course, but these ones above should set you off to a great and safe start.

Don't be one of those irresponsible riders that give electric scooters a bad name. Follow these safety tips.

Scoring last-minute Prime Day deals is such a rush, especially if you're looking for bargains on e-scooters. These green alternatives to gas-powered vehicles have risen in popularity (and, unfortunately, notoriety as well) in the last few years, and they're not going anywhere.

Despite being banned in some cities (and countries) due to lax or lack of regulations, these e-vehicles are promising modes of urban transport. When used wisely, they can help decrease your carbon footprint, minimize air pollution, and even get riders out in the fresh air. Some of the best e-scooters are even powerful enough to ride up steeper hills and can last you days on a single charge.

They'll also save you money on gas, which considering the worsening inflation is just what many of us need right now.

If you live in an e-scooter-friendly city or town, you should consider investing in one. Luckily, these money-saving e-scooter Prime Day deals on trusted brands like Segway-Ninebot, GoTrax, and Hiboy are still live for the next few hours, which means you still have time to grab one. 

The best e-scooter Prime Day deals still live

Amazon Prime Day e-scooter deals in your region

No matter where you live, you'll find all the lowest prices for e-scooters around the web right here, with offers available in your region. 

Straight out of Estonia, tech start-up Äike is previewing its upcoming electric scooter that has a focus on durability and environmental friendliness.

The Äike T is currently available for pre-order with a fully refundable €69 (around $70) reservation fee, although at the time of this writing, we saw the price sitting at a discounted €58. The final price starts at €999 (a little over $1,000) and will go up depending on if you add insurance or change the color. Shipping begins in November 2022, but you better act fast because there will only be 500 pre-orders. 

We did ask Äike if there are plans to launch their scooter outside of Europe, specifically the United States. They haven’t gotten back to us, but we’ll be sure to update if Äike responds.

Specs and features

Coinciding with the pre-order launch, Äike posted a rather goofy preview video starring the company’s CEO, Kristjan Maruste, which hits on the major features. The “über strong” Äike T has a sturdy standing deck that can support up to 150 kg (about 330 lbs) and 10-inch puncture-resistant tires. It has a water resistance rating of IPx5 which means it can survive small blasts of water and go through shallow puddles; just don’t toss it into the ocean.

As for security, the Äike T has theft protection which will lock the brakes, sound an alarm, and send you a notification through the official app (available on iOS and Android) alerting you of what just happened. The app can also be used to change scooter configurations. For example, you can control how fast the Äike T can go, enable automatic and regenerative braking to recharge the battery a little, or lock the scooter. In addition to tweaking settings, the Äike app also provides customer support and a 24/7 live feed of the scooter's location via GPS.

The 583.2 Wh battery holds the distinction of supporting USB-C cable charging which the company claims is the “first light electric vehicle” to do this. Plus, the battery is removable so you can potentially hook it up to a phone charger while the Äike T stays in your garage. While you ride, you can glance at a small circular display sitting behind the handles showing you a speedometer and the scooter’s battery life.

The Äike T is, at 19 kg (around 40 lbs), a little heavy. The machine is 1149 mm tall (about 45 inches) and 1185 mm long (roughly 46 inches), but the scooter can be folded to easily fit in a car trunk. The battery has a range of up to 40 km (a little under 25 miles) with a max speed of 25 km/h (about 15 mp/h),. However, the top speed is subject to government regulations so it may be slower in certain locations.

Sustainability

Äike also put a lot of thought into the materials used to manufacture its new scooter. According to a recent Bloomberg piece, 42 percent of the Äike T is made out of recycled material and 92 percent of the machine itself can be recycled. The company boasts the Äike T is easy to repair thanks to its interchangeable parts. That said, it's difficult to know how this claim will hold up outside of Europe without easy access to European manufacturing.

What does go over well internationally is the USB-C cable support. The European Union has been working on establishing a universal charging standard using USB-C as the basis. Apparently, the EU was unhappy with the lack of cooperation between tech giants to establish something, so now they’re taking matters into their own hands. It appears Äike is capitalizing on that.

If you’re interested in buying an electric scooter, TechRadar published a “best of” list back in May. 

New electric scooter company bo Mobility has unveiled its slick flagship electric scooter inspired by Tesla and VanMoof, designed by ex-Formula One engineers. Although this is the company’s first foray into e-scooters, it’s packed with innovative tech, starting with its rigid curved frame and steering technology that could make it one of the best electric scooters yet. 

Oscar Morgan, CEO and co-founder of bo Mobility, said in a talk to electric scooter forum Micromobility Industries: “Tesla and VanMoof made [electric cars and electric bikes] highly desirable, made them safer, more functional, and most importantly, made these products socially acceptable.” His plan is to be to electric scooters what Tesla is to electric cars: a premium, stylish brand everybody wants. 

“Our background is automotive. Williams Formula One, advanced engineering, and Jaguar-Land Rover for design. We started bo with this revolutionary and unique new chassis architecture – we call it Monocurve. It moves the stress through the vehicle to the very extremities of the structure, and that lets us tune the stiffness and the strength.” 

In addition, there’s a convenient space at the bottom of the Monocurve chassis that works with a “lock and load” hook that can pop out of the frame, allowing you to carry your shopping without it swinging around. Neat!

The team has also pioneered a new Safesteer technology, a new “safety paradigm” that is said to mitigate the smaller wheel size (just 10”, with a 2.75” width) and offer all the comfort and safety of steering your average push bicycle. 

A steel loop allows you to D-Lock the scooter to any bicycle locking station safely. We’d understandably be a bit nervous about doing so, as the scooter’s not cheap, but it does have GPS anti-theft technology.

Specs-wise, the bo scooter has a 50km range and a potential top speed of 35mph, although local restrictions limits will be applied. The whole unit weighs 18kgs, comparatively quite light thanks to its space-age-looking aluminum frame. The scooter costs £1,995 in the UK, or £69 per month, and will start shipping in June 2023. Although there’s no US or Australia price yet, bo has confirmed to TechRadar that there are plans afoot to release the scooter internationally.

Analysis: Can bo be the “Tesla for electric scooters”? 

It looks cool, there’s no doubt about that: there’s something about the rigid Monocurve frame that reminds us of the Hydrow rowing machine, a similar premium device full of innovations in a stale genre. It’s full of neat little tricks, including the pop-out hook which is one of those little gadgets sure to elicit a few good “oohs” and “aahs”, and the 50km per charge range is impressive. We can’t wait to ride it.

However, we can spot a couple of problems in bo’s quest for world domination. For one thing, as good as the Monocurve frame looks, it doesn’t fold up, so it’s not going to be the easiest thing to cart around. For another, the legislation on electric scooters as it stands is that private models are still illegal to ride on public land in many countries, including the UK.

Although these laws are changing to accommodate the emerging dominance of e-scooters and initiatives such as ride-share schemes in cities, riding the bo anywhere in public might get you slapped with a fine, depending on where you live. It’s a sexy machine so clearly designed for showing off in the city, and bo are clearly anticipating laws around electric scooters relaxing in the coming months and years. 

Nevertheless, it’s a big gamble to take, and it would be a shame to drop two grand on such a cool machine, only to find out that not only can you not ride it outside your home, but it won’t fold up, so you can’t even stick it in your car to transport it anywhere else. If laws change, this won’t be the last time you hear the name bo. If things stay as they are, however, you might want to consider the best electric bikes instead.   

‘Commuting is great!’, said no one ever, including me, who used to commute more than three hours daily to the office. I enjoyed lockdown for the single reason that I didn’t have to go through that drama frequently. 

After the lockdown ended and we had to return to the office, I dreaded the thought of sitting on the crowded bus for hours. That’s until I discovered that e-scooters provide a much faster – and more enjoyable – way of commuting.

Much like everyone else, I used to think that even the best electric scooters were too goofy for an adult to use. Sure, you see them everywhere and curse at all the university students riding them a bit too close to you when they pass, but I never thought I’d end up using them on a daily basis. I’m more of a running and cycling kind of guy, who enjoys nothing more than getting pleasantly exhausted after using any means of transportation.

However, I was in a bit of a conundrum when I tried to find the best way to commute to the office after the lockdown ended. I didn’t want to take the bus again – I had enough of the stuffiness and people breathing down my neck – and although I did cycle before to work on my road bike, that was more because I was training for an Ironman which fell through because of the pandemic.

The only option I had left was the train, mainly because there is no way I’m going to use a car for commuting. Trains are more expensive, but also blisteringly fast; it takes just over 10 minutes to get to the office on the train. Better still, the train station is right next to the office, so there is no time lost walking around town in the morning!

The problem is, I live further away from the train station. It took me around 45 minutes to walk there – believe me, I tried. And it’s not even your casual walk, but a proper power walk with my backpack, coat, and whatnot on my back. Not a pleasant thing to do, especially when the skies open and it starts pouring down. I haven’t got a folding e-bike, and I really can’t be bothered to fiddle around with a full-size bike on the train.

What other option have I got left? Electric scooters, of course. After putting my apprehension aside, I signed up with the local e-scooter rental company and gave them a try. And it was amazing! I couldn’t believe how much fun it was to ride electric scooters. It’s like being a child again – I could lean, accelerate, stop, and even hop slightly over potholes.

Best of all, there is a rental electric scooter pickup point right next to where I live, and I can leave them right next to the train station where there is another one. So instead of walking miserably in the rain, now I can ride my e-scooter to the train station, which is not only way faster but also a whole lot of fun.

Of course, it would be much better if I could use my own e-scooter for commuting – I already started eyeballing a Pure Air Pro – but due to legislation in the UK, it’s illegal to ride privately owned electric scooters on roads at the moment. This is strange as you can ride an electric bike – bigger, heavier things – without a license, so one wonders why it's taking so long for e-scooters to be legally accepted.

Anyhow, the main thing is that I can use an electric scooter for commuting, and the result is that instead of having to sit on the bus for 3+ hours, now my commute takes around 45 minutes a day, half of which is pure e-scooter fun times. Do I see myself going back to riding a bike to work again? If I could justify the price of a Brompton M6L Electric or a similarly nimble foldable e-bike, I might hop on the saddle again.

But until then, I’m more than happy to scoot around town on an electric scooter – rented or otherwise.

Electric scooter vs electric skateboard: which one should you choose to get around town? In theory, both are great ways to commute for shorter distances as they are compact and more environmentally friendly than using a car. However, there are some caveats, some of which we’ll try to explain below.

 The best electric scooters are not only fun to use but, much like the best electric bikes, take the effort out of your commute. Nowadays, many brands offer their version of an e-scooter, including Pure, Xiaomi and Segway, to name a few. Some are lightweight and foldable, making them easier to carry around, while others focus on power output to flatten those hills more efficiently on your commute.

Riding an electric skateboard is probably the coolest way to tear up the tarmac. You won’t see many people using e-skateboards, but when you do, it’ll sure make you look. E-skateboards work in mysterious ways, and riding them will make you feel like Marty McFly from Back to the Future.

Which one should you get: an electric scooter or an electric skateboard? Read on to find out what is your best option.

Electric scooter vs electric skateboard: Price

Thanks to more companies constantly entering the market, electric scooters are comparatively cheap to buy nowadays. The best cheap electric scooters can be yours for less than $500, £400 or around AU $700, which is cheaper than even the most affordable e-bikes.

On the other hand, electric skateboards are not cheap. One of the most popular – and definitely more recognizable – electric skateboards, the Onewheel XR, has an RRP of $1,800 in the US, £1,750 in the UK and AU $2,700 in Australia. You can get three and a half e-scooters for that price! Of course, not all e-skateboards are quite as expensive, but even the cheaper ones retail for around $800/£700/AU $1,000.

Winner: Electric Scooter

Electric scooter vs electric skateboard: Speed

Most electric scooters and electric skateboards have limited max speeds.

Electric scooters are usually limited to 15.5mph (25km/h), the same as electric bikes, to keep their users (and pedestrians) safe. In the UK and Europe, most rentable e-scooters also apply a so-called geofencing technology that limits the speed of the e-scooter even more in certain areas (e.g. in parks) to ensure the roads are as safe from speeding scooters as possible.

Electric skateboards are less regulated, so in theory, higher speeds can be achieved riding e-skateboards. The Onewheel XR mentioned above has a max speed of 19 mph, but some electric skateboards can go as fast as 28 mph (45 km/h).

Winner: Electric Skateboard

Electric scooter vs electric skateboard: Safety

Neither electric skateboards nor e-scooters are the safest way to commute. Despite the speed limitation, both can go relatively fast, considering how lightweight they are. Accidents happened to people who rode electric scooters before, and some even died riding into car doors – safety is paramount when riding these types of motorized transport. However, early pilot studies have indicated they could be safer than traditional pedal bikes. 

Electric scooters have the competitive edge as they have handlebars, making steering more manageable and safer. Plus, it helps stabilize the body and control your weight, making it safer to ride them than e-skateboards that handle more or less the same as traditional skateboards (by leaning in the direction you want to turn).

Winner: Electric Scooters

Electric scooter vs electric skateboard: Terrain

Make no mistake: no matter how rugged some electric scooters and skateboards look, they should be ridden on smooth tarmac to avoid accidents. Some models with larger wheels and more rugged looks might try to convince you they can be used on all terrains but don’t let this fool you.

Electric scooters usually have smaller wheels and a low chassis – even low curbs can cause issues, let alone off-road riding. Electric skateboards have higher chassis, but due to the lack of a handlebar, they are equally as bad driving on rough terrain as electric scooters.

Winner: Tied

Electric scooter vs electric skateboard: Regulations

[EDITOR’S NOTE: This is not meant to be legal advice. In most countries, e-scooter legislation is volatile and unpredictable at the time of writing.]

Regulation is certainly a big issue. Electric scooters and skateboards are so new that most countries haven’t started regulating them and therefore are illegal to drive on public roads.

In the US, “E-scooters… are allowed on roads with or without bicycle lanes as long as they run under 25 mph. Riders must stay close to the curb and follow driving and traffic rules like driving on the right side of the road, observing traffic signals, and yielding to pedestrians”,  Scooter Guide explains.

In the UK, things are slightly different. According to Halfords, “Electric scooters are currently classed as ‘powered transporters’ by the government and fall under the same laws and regulations that apply to all motor vehicles”, meaning that it’s illegal to use them on pavements, in cycle lanes, and pedestrian-only areas. The one exception is ride-share schemes, so you'd be using publicly available scooters with in-built safety mechanisms, not privately-owned machines. 

Moreover, it would only be legal to use them on public roads if they could meet the same requirements as motor vehicles (e.g., in terms of insurance, tax, license, registration and vehicle construction) – not something that’s possible right now.

The same rules apply to electric skateboards in both countries.

Winner: Tied

Electric scooter vs electric skateboard: Verdict

Electric scooters and skateboards are part of the wave of new micro-mobility vehicles and are gathering momentum. For obvious reasons, commuters are interested in this type of transportation as it provides a quick and easy way to get around town. Not to mention, using e-scooters and e-skateboards significantly reduces carbon footprint; at least they're more environmentally friendly than using a car for short trips.

Of the two, electric scooters are slightly less dangerous and cheaper to buy – a clear winner of the 'electric scooter vs electric skateboard' debate. Unfortunately, legislation is not clear about them in most countries, making them a less appealing option than electric bikes. Depending on where you live, the best cheap electric bike might be best for getting around.

In the market for an electric scooter, but worried about your safety on the roads? A new UK study found e-scooters were statistically safer than bicycles and motorbikes during 2020, for both riders and pedestrians alike. 

The research, published by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), looked at government incident metrics from 2020. The report also uses data from Neuron Mobility Ltd, a company behind an e-scooter sharing scheme in Newcastle, covering October 2020 to May 2021. RoSPA used this data to calculate the average number of collisions that occurred per million miles traveled. 

The results are great news for riders, as the report found that electric scooters were five times less likely to be involved in an incident on the roads than a bicycle. They’re also nine times less likely to encounter a collision than a motorbike. 

The report states: “In comparison to other common modes of transport, including motorcycles and pedal cycles, we observed comparatively lower casualty rates among e-scooters users.” 

It’s worth noting that the use of e-scooters has dramatically increased since the end of 2020, when the data was originally collected, and the coronavirus pandemic led to fewer cars on the roads. Part of the data supplied also comes from Neuron, which has a vested interest in being seen to produce safer modes of transport. However, if you’re in the market for even a cheap e-scooter, it’s good to know you’re in pretty safe hands.

Analysis: Could this change e-scooter laws?

Although this is a nice confirmation of safety for e-scooter riders everywhere, it could ironically be no accident that this UK-based accident report was released just before transport secretary Grant Schapps is due to announce changes to UK e-scooter laws on 10 May. 

If you’re in the UK, you might be able to finally ride your personal e-scooter on public roads, where you could previously only use the ones provided by scooter-sharing schemes. 

In the US, of course, e-scooters are already allowed on roads with and without cycle lanes - provided they top out at no more than 25mph. 

Should the UK government allow e-scooters on roads, it’s likely to follow suit with similar caveats, including the speed limit cap already in place on shared scooters: 15.5mph. Other rules include a maximum continuous power rating of 500W. If you’re after a faster ride, you might be better off with an electric bike.

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The UK government might legalise the use of privately owned electric scooters on public roads next week – though there are likely to be strict limits on exactly what type of two-wheeler you can ride.

Right now, it's only legal to ride electric scooters on public roads if they're part of a registered hire scheme from a company like Voi, Spin or Ginger. While you can buy your own e-scooter online or from a highstreet store, you can only legally ride it on private land.

As ebiketips.co.uk reports, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has indicated that might be about to change. At a meeting of the Commons Transport Select Committee last week, Shapps was asked when the government would finally legalise privately owned scooters, to which he replied: "I shall announce it on 10 May."

That could have a huge impact, not just for riders looking for an easy way to hop across town, but also for food delivery companies and couriers.

What to expect

Nothing is yet confirmed, but if the law is indeed changed, there are likely to still be restrictions in place similar to the current rules for hire scooters. These state that each vehicle must:

• Have an electric motor with a maximum continuous power rating of 500W
• Not have pedals
• Be designed to carry only one person
• Have a maximum speed of 15.5mph
• Weigh no more than 55kg (including the battery)
• Have two wheels aligned in the direction of travel
• Be steered using handlebars mechanically linked to one wheel
• Have a hand-operated speed control
• Have a power control that defaults to the 'off' position

That would rule out hoverboards and scooters with two rear wheels for stability, but most scooters bought from UK stores like Halfords and Pure Electric would comply.

“Safe regulation is the right direction of travel for private e-scooters," said Adam Norris, founder of Pure, told TechRadar. "The UK is still the only major European economy not to have legalised private e-scooters and yet, we know that 63% of the UK public would consider one if they were legalised.

"If the Government introduces regulations that allow people to use e-scooters productively, the scale of the opportunity to get people out of cars and dramatically reduce air pollution and congestion is huge.”

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Electric scooters are a lot like electric bikes in that they’re super convenient, take the strain out of getting from A to B and can often be a sensible alternative to jumping in the car. However, they both share an issue that revolves around helmets. Let’s face it, the humble safety helmet might be a great and proven life-saving invention, but it’s not exactly convenient to carry around. 

Fast forward to Nottingham, UK, where TechRadar was recently invited to try out the Superpedestrian electric scooter service being trialled and get the benefit of a safety training session from Scoot Fit. We even got given a collapsible safety helmet, which certainly helps on the convenience front.

Superpedestrian is a tech company that originated at Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2013. Since then it's gone on to build up a shared mobility infrastructure scheme, with its main focus being the e-scooter.

To date, Superpedestrian has rolled out sharing schemes in 10 countries. Central to the project is the scooter itself, which in this case is the LINK. It’s a beefy machine that makes most commercially available scooters look puny by comparison, especially since the platform where you put your feet is up to 20% wider than average. The LINK has clearly been built to last, and that's just as well when it’s getting heavy use in a busy city.

It has impressive range too (up to 60 miles), but perhaps its most interesting feature is its Pedestrian Defense system, which dynamically detects and corrects any unsafe riding behaviour. For example, if you ride the LINK anywhere it shouldn't be going, the software will automatically stop you from doing so by taking preventative measures.

Could that  be a turn-off for folks who want to ride them wherever and whenever they like? Clearly Superpedestrian doesn't think so, and it may also go some way to reassuring skeptics about the safety issues associated with e-scooter riding. It certainly seems like a good idea, both for riders and other road users. While the LINK is limited to 15mph (or 8mph for new riders), it could be a potential threat if ridden carelessly.

Building confidence

Superpedestrian is also running free drop-in sessions for people who are interested in getting to grips with an electric scooter, but doesn't feel safe and confident on the roads. Right now the average scooter rider seems to be at the younger end of the spectrum. However, that could change if rider awareness lessons become commonplace, and those that are already running seem to attract a much more diverse group of people.

The sessions are informal, and although they're quite intensive (you only have to through 20-minute bite-sized training spurts to get the hang of things), they're not as stressful as a driving test. Ours was led by James Rodger, chief instructor at Scoot Fit, whom Superpedestrian has called in to help. We received a great introduction to the LINK and how to get the best from its basic controls. The scooter is much like other rental models, in that it is quick and easy to use, but the training is a great primer on how to get that little bit more from the experience.

To be honest there’s not a whole lot to using an electric scooter. It’s easy to imagine some seasoned riders scoffing at these informal training sessions. However, if you’ve never ridden one the guidance proves invaluable as we found after talking to a group of older e-scooter converts. They were not only much more confident and understanding of the LINK after a session, but also seemed fully converted to the electric scooter cause.

It’s easy to see the appeal too. The LINK is limited to 15mph, which doesn't sound that fast, but it certainly beats walking. Indeed, you can get around Nottingham in no time using the scheme. This being a lively university city the scooter appears to be frequently used by students, but that could soon change. 

Based on what we saw during our training sessions, the age range of users has the potential to be much wider, with a lot of interest being shown from the slightly more mature folks who’d turned up.

Building skills

The guidance from Rodger revealed how to best navigate the potholes and ruts found around the city. Bending your knees slightly while you’re in motion can partially soak up any bumps, while keeping your feet parallel on the scooter's wide platform helps your posture.

More importantly, Rodger gave an insight into how to perceive potential safety threats. Much of the training revolves around awareness. Some might say it’s just common sense, but the sessions are really useful. By the end of your training everything makes that little bit more sense. 

The controls themselves are a piece of cake to master with a throttle control on the right of the handlebars, a bell on the left and brake levers on both sides. And you get that collapsible helmet for free, too. 

“Our aim is to create safe streets for everyone and we recognise that more work is needed to enhance rider behaviour now, as well as educating the next generation of e-scooter users. We teamed up with Scoot Fit in 2021 and since then we have helped to deliver training programmes to over 9,000 students and teachers in 41 schools in England,” says Haya Verwoord Douidri, Vice President, Global Market Development, Policy and Strategy at Superpedestrian.

“Shaping a safer and healthier environment is a key priority for Superpedestrian and working together with Scoot Fit to provide free safety training will both develop the skills of current users, as well as encourage new users to consider a new way to move - further boosting travel choices for the community. 

Our data has already shown that in January alone, our shared e-scooters replaced more than 27,500 miles of short car journeys in Nottingham, bringing benefits in improved air quality and reduced congestion to all residents.”

What's next

Whether or not the Nottingham pilot will become a long-term electric scooter-sharing scheme is complicated and involves local and central government decision-making. It will also require further investment from Superpedestrian. The same factors could also determine if such schemes will be rolled out to other cities in the UK (and potentially beyond). 

Nevertheless, knowing riders are that little bit more aware of any potential dangers and have the ability to take preventative measures with the help of some clever on-board tech can’t do any harm in the meantime.

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Electric scooters have massively grown in popularity over recent years and encouraged manufacturers to create more affordable alternatives to these once-expensive gadgets. And while we might still be a few years off from any incredibly cheap electric scooters, there are still ways to save on this futuristic form of transport if you check out some of the best prices below.

We see more electric scooter deals available all the time. Prices have been as low as $300 / £300 on many models that would have cost you closer to $600 / £600 just a few years ago. And there are now options below $200 / £200, too. At that sort of price, it's clear that the electric scooter is well and truly here to stay.

So, whether you want to motorize your commute, grab some fun new tech for yourself or the kids, or simply make your way across the city in style you'll find all the best electric scooter deals right here. As it can be hard to know which model to aim for if you're new to the space, we've included the cheap electric scooters that won't break the bank below.

If you're after the latest and greatest, however, you can head over to our best electric scooter guide - though be prepared to open your wallet a little further. There are sometimes savings of hundreds of dollars or pounds on these during larger sales or clearance events. Just be cautious of some cheap brands that skimp on safety or power features - we've avoided those here.

Cheap electric scooter deals

Featuring an impressive 27 mile range and a powerful 300W motor, the Xiaomi Mi Pro 2 certainly offers plenty of juice to get you around. Plus, those pneumatic tyres will offer a supremely comfortable ride so you can make the most of those long distances as well. They're a little cumbersome to change, but the experience on board is completely worth the extra TLC, especially at this price point. That comfort is compounded with a large kickboard deck perfect for longer periods of travel. 

The frame itself is made from aerospace-grade aluminium and also features a bright front LED headlight and rear brake light as well - excellent news if you're planning on riding after dark. 

Commuters might not get as much value here, however. While the Xiaomi Mi Pro 2 can fold down with the single click of a button, we wouldn't be looking forward to carrying that 31lbs of weight up and down the train station stairs. It's a little cumbersome to be a true commuter's dream when folded, but if you're looking to skip the train altogether the range on this machine makes it exceptionally good value. 

The Razor E100 has long been held as the best kids electric scooter. With a 100W motor, top speed of 10mph and a range of 10 miles, it's exciting enough to keep older kids on board but still provides a safer experience for more timid youngsters as well. 

With a smooth kickstart acceleration, the motor here won't kick in until the scooter has reached 3mph, making for a more gentle start. That comfort continues throughout the ride thanks to the air-filled front tyre, though it's worth mentioning that the rear wheel chain drive might require some maintenance from time to time. 

Razor recommends this scooter for kids aged 8+, with a max rider weight of 120lbs and the handlebars extending 30-inches from the deck. Be sure to grab some reflectors or lights, however, as the scooter itself doesn't feature them. 

Only available in the US

If you're looking to travel short distances fast, and fold up when you get there, the Swagtron Swagger 5 can provide the 18mph max speed and 26lbs weight you need. That 26lb weight is far lighter than most packing this 300W motor power, though you are dropping your battery to get there. At 11 miles of range, the Swagger 5 isn't going to take you across the city, but short trips to the station are likely more than doable. Plus, you'll only need 3.5 hours to charge up as well. 

The scooter folds easily into a 41.5 x 17 x 45.2-inch profile easily carried by the handlebar itself. You won't even need to worry about getting a puncture on your way to work either, with the airless honeycomb tires offering a maintenance free solution that ensures no surprises during those early morning commutes. 

This model is only available in the US. However, for UK commuters we'd recommend the Pure Air electric scooter below. It's a little heavier at 16.5kg, but easily foldable and with an 18.5 mile range at 15.5mph, a 350W motor, 5.5 hour charge time and rare IP65 water resistance as well. 

Only available in the US

The GoTrax GXL offers an excellent all-round package for under $300. It's difficult to find a sturdy scooter with wheels above 7-inches in this price range, but the GoTrax offers a sturdy frame, 8.5-inch air filled tyres, max speeds of 15.5mph and a one click fold option as well. To achieve this price point you are dropping your range a little - down to 12 miles, but that's to be expected for a cheap electric scooter and you're getting plenty of features to make those 12 miles supremely comfortable. 

An onboard digital display is a rarity in this lower end of the price bracket, and you'll be able to use this to track your speed and battery while toggling the headlight or even enabling cruise control. 

It's designed as a commuting scooter, but with the Swagger 5 above offering a slightly lighter and faster alternative - this model is more suited to weekend users looking for an easily foldable design that won't break the bank. 

Again, this model is only available in the US. UK shoppers, however, should check out the Hover-1 Eagle. At around £279.99 it represents an excellent budget option that still offers a digital display on board and a 15mph battery life. This price range in the UK, however, will drop you down to a 7 mile range with 6.5-inch tyres.

The Xiaomi Mi electric scooter just looks the part. With a sleek minimal design and subtle red accents it's certainly got a sleek aesthetic. That simplicity does eat into the features a little, as there's unfortunately no digital display here, simply four LEDs that indicate your power level. 

Under the hood, however, you'll still find a battery powerful enough to see you through 18.6 miles hidden away as well as the folding smarts to be easily stored or carried. An aerospace-grade aluminium frame makes for a fairly lightweight experience, but also offers the sturdiness that this slimline design might disguise.

Xiaomi's Mi range, however, does offer some significant safety advantages. If you're going to be cruising at night the ultra-powerful LED headlight will certainly come in handy - illuminating your path up to 6 metres ahead - and the rear tail light is a must for night riders as well. You'll also find protection from overcurrents, over-charging and short circuiting here - for extra peace of mind. 

If you're in it for the long haul, the Segway Ninebot Max comes competitive priced considering the power and features you'll find onboard. That 40 mile range will get you exactly where you need to go, and pretty fast too at a top speed of 18.6 mph. Of course, that's all down to an excellent battery and powerful 350W motor which will easily see you up inclines as well. 

A 6 hour battery charge time is also much appreciated here, with other models offering this level of speed and power sometimes entering double digits when plugged in. 

You are paying for that power in weight, however - with the Max model sitting at 41.2lbs. That means this isn't one for quick commuter trips, but rather a full city trek. It's a small price to pay, however, for a beast of an electric scooter that will only set you back around $699 / £699. 

How much does an electric scooter cost?

Electric scooter prices vary greatly by power, battery life, comfort level (through features like pneumatic tyres and larger decks for example), and weight. You'll find a break down of what you can generally expect from each price range just below.

Under $300 / £300: A cheap electric scooter under $300 / £300 will likely only see you through 10 miles of range, with a top speed of around 15.5mph. That means a smaller battery and weaker motor in the range of around 250W. However, they're usually fairly low maintenance, not requiring any fussing over pneumatic tyres for example, and can get you through short journeys just as well as a $1,000 / £1,000 model without having to break the bank. 

Under $500 / £500: As you near the $500 / £500 mark you can expect to find larger 8.5-inch tyres (cheaper models will sometimes offer this tyre size, but you're more likely to pick up 7-inch wheels), ranges of around 10 - 20 miles, and between a 250W and 300W motor. You'll usually also start to find easier folding mechanisms on these models, with one-click designs that quickly pack down your scooter for easier carrying or storage. 

Under $1,000 / £1,000: Between $500 and $1,000 / £500 and £1,000 electric scooter deals will often jump in range as your battery dramatically improves. 40+ mile ranges are common in the upper tiers of this price category, with a 350W motor to get your up inclines and over rougher terrain without draining the battery too much as well. That all makes for a more comfortable, faster ride, with extra suspension and braking features as well. 

Where to find more electric scooter deals

US:

• Amazon: stocks cheaper and premium brands with regular discounts
• Walmart: budget models and kids scooters are particularly well stocked
• Best Buy: frequent sales on mid-range electric scooters
• Newegg: large range of brands and competitive pricing
• Target: best for kids electric scooters

UK:

• Pure Electric: specialist retailer with regular discounts and extra accessories
• Amazon: cheaper brands available alongside top models
• Halfords: selective range of some of the best models with regular discounts
• Currys: strong selection of reliable models with strong savings
• Argos: best for budget or kids models

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Researchers are working with e-scooter hire companies in the UK to develop a distinctive noise that will warn pedestrians about approaching vehicles. As The Guardian explains, Dott, Lime, and Tier are collaborating with a team from University College London to create a noise should be particularly helpful for people with sight loss.

There are already similar rules in place for electric cars in many territories around the world. The US, EU and Japan, require electric cars to make a warning noise when travelling at low speeds, to help avoid accidents in parking lots where pedestrians may not notice a car silently pulling out of a space

For example, in February 2018, the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration ruled that electric cars must emit a warning sound when moving at speeds less than 18.5mph.

No country has insisted on a specific noise though, so carmakers seized the opportunity to have some fun. Mercedes-Benz, for example, enlisted help from Linkin Park to create a bespoke noise with a dash of nu-metal, while Citroen experimented with upbeat little tunes for its self-driving electric pods.

It's a way for automakers to stretch their creative muscles, but a single standardized sound for e-scooters makes more sense. The aim is to create a distinctive alert that will be easy to hear and identify, but won't add to the overall ambient street noise.

The sound of silence

However, this won't fully solve the problem, as many of the scooters on UK streets aren't officially licensed and operated – and these are a big part of the problem. The Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety (Pacts) has been assessing the safety of private e-scooter use, and identified over 300 recorded injuries caused by collisions with private scooters in 2021 alone.

Because theses scooters aren't sold for use on roads, they don't have to comply with any particular safety standards.

By contrast, scooters managed by hire schemes must stick to strict rules, with a modest speed cap, lights, and electric brakes. They can only be borrowed if you have at least a provisional driving license, and are equipped with GPS so your location can be tracked while you're using them. Local authorities can also set 'geo-fenced' areas where they can't be parked.

If trials with the new warning sound are successful, it could be rolled out nationwide, but devices to emit the noise will only be fitted to hire scooter.

Privately owned scooters aren't licensed or managed in any way, so although the introduction of a universal warning sound will be a step in the right direction, pedestrians will still have to be on their guard for other scooters that could move much faster than licensed ones, with no lights, and in near silence.

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Save more with one of the best cheap electric scooters. E-scooters already save you money on gas and parking, especially for your daily commutes to work and errand runs, but these budget options take it a step further with their low price of entry.

Before you hit that buy button, keep in mind that most models under the $500/£500 price bracket tend to come with some compromises. These budget e-scooters are likely to have a shorter range and a less powerful motor that might not be good for uphills. 

However, if your daily commutes are short or if you're only using them every now and then, the best budget e-scooter options are a great cost-effective option. And, they can be just as reliable as the best electric scooters on the market in terms of city commuting, as they're just as snappy in picking up speed and just as effective when braking. 

If you're looking for something with chunky tires, a powerful motor and full suspension capable of powering up hilly trails, you'll have to open your wallet a little further. However, if your commuting demands are of the basic and straightforward capacity or if you need an electric scooter for students to make sure you get to class on time, there are excellent budget electric scooters to consider first to save you money.

We've tested more than our share of electric scooters so we know which ones are worth your money and which ones to pass on. Below, we've gathered the best cheap electric scooters on the market right now.

The best cheap electric scooters 2026

The Segway Ninebot ES1L is an excellent affordable option if you're looking for a cheap electric scooter that boasts a solid build. It only has a 12.4-mile range, which means you'd have to charge nightly if you're using it to commute to and from work. However, it does have that Segway stamp of quality, which means it's well-designed and robust – not to mention a 220-pound max load capacity. 

Its 250W motor can get you at 12.4mph top speed, which might not be super fast but still good enough for most short city commutes. The fact that it's lightweight, weighing at 24.9lbs, means you can easily fold it then load it up on trains and buses – as well as carry up to the office. Its 8-inch tires aren't best for rugged roads, but they should offer enough shock absorption – so long as you avoid massive potholes.

The Gotrax APEX LE is an attractive electric scooter and one that suits both teens and adults, thanks in large part to its 220-pound maximum load capacity. This is no toy, either. It's a proper commuter electric scooter that will get you to and from work with its 15.5 mph top speed and 250W motor. The 15-mile range per full charge does mean that you'll have to charge every or every other night if you're commuting every day, but that's not a biggie especially since it only takes up to 5 hours to charge.

We're in the middle of testing this e-scooter at the moment, and we're already loving our rides. The 8.5-inch pneumatic tires aren't exactly the greatest at handling shock absorption, but that throttle is impressively snappy, getting you from 0 to 12mph in about three seconds! That's not too shabby for something that's in the budget range.

Although we haven't fully reviewed the TurboAnt M10, we have had the pleasure of testing it, and it's a great introduction to the quality of electric scooters the company has on offer. This is among its budget offerings, and yet, it's incredibly well-built. Some cheap electric scooters might feel rickety out of the box, but this one feels robust and premium, which is a nice surprise.

Because it is on the budget end, it's a little light on special features. However, it's got a snappy performance and 10-inch pneumatic tires that ensure you're getting great shock absorption when going through the rougher parts of town, road-wise. What else will make you think this is a premium option? How about that 18-mile range and that 20mph top speed? Oh, and did we mention its fairly lightweight as well? This one is truly worth your money.

Gotrax's e-scooters have always been among the great-quality models in the budget and mid range, and the Gotrax XR Ultra is no exception. It's one of the pricier options  on this cheap electric scooters list, but it's still very affordable compared to the top-of-the-line models. It's impressive too, touting a 300W motor and a 16-mile range per full charge in its fairly lightweight body.

It can also handle a max load of 220 pounds at its top speed of 15.5 mph on flat roads – though uphills might be a little tricky. Meanwhile, although its 8.5-inch pneumatic tires may not be the best are shock absorption, but they've got great traction. Just be prepared to put in a little more effort during assembly. We've only just started testing this electric scooter, but it's already impressed us.

Another cheap electric scooter from Hover-1, the Alpha is a little more expensive than the Eagle (hence its lower ranking), but will keep rolling for five more miles on a single charge, which might be enough to justify the cost.

It has 10in pneumatic tires for a smoother ride, plus electric disc brakes for safe stopping and a convenient folding design. It's not built with portability in mind though, and at 15.6kg it's the heaviest scooter in this roundup.

In addition to an LED headlight, there's also under-deck lighting, plus a Bluetooth speaker built in. If you're looking for a cheap electric scooter for an older teenager, little extras like those could tip the balance in the Alpha's favor.

Bugatti, best known for its supercars, has unveiled its first electric scooter, and its specs are surprisingly pedestrian. The scooter was built in collaboration with Bytech International – a company better known for its gaming headsets and true wireless earbuds – and was quietly unveiled at CES 2022.

Taking a look at the scooter's stats, it's no surprise that it didn't make waves on the show floor. It's reasonably light, tipping the scales at 15.8kg (slightly lighter than our current top-rated scooter, the Pure Air Pro (2021), but has a top speed of just 18.8mph – the same as the unassuming Segway-Ninebot ES4.

This seems to be a scooter built for everyday city riding rather than performance, but at just 22 miles in normal conditions, its range is well below average. That's down to Bugatti and Bytech's choice of a modest 36V 10Ah battery.

What's in a name?

The scooter flew under the radar at CES, but was spotted by Lewin Day at The Drive, who noted that despite its humble specs, it borrows several design cues from Bugatti's cars. These include a choice of French blue, silver, and black finishes, plus a digital dash display, turn signals, and a tail light that projects the Bugatti logo onto the road behind you.

The company has yet to announce a name or a price for the scooter, but considering flashy touches like that rear light and the power of the Bugatti name, we're expecting it to be considerably more than a scooter with similar specs from a less illustrious brand.

• We've tested and ranked the best electric bikes

The Black Friday electric scooter deals are finally here, and we're seeing some excellent discounts on a wide range of devices, including record-low prices and up to 75% off in some Black Friday deals. 

There are deals at a wide range of price points, from some of the best budget electric scooters to premium models offering a long range, a powerful motor, and the best performance, so it's well worth checking out the deals we've hunted below.

That's right; we've done the legwork for you, bringing you all of the best e-scooter deals available today on some of the best models we've seen. There are deep discounts on some models from our best electric scooter and best e-scooter for students lists, with brands like Niu, TurboAnt, Segway, Pure Electric, Gotrax, and Fluid offering many money-saving deals and coupons.

The best one we've found so far is the whopping 70% discount on the Unagi E350 in the US, which was $940 and is now now $299 at Unagi. If that isn't your style, there are other fantastic options as well.

We've listed all the best electric scooter Black Friday sales happening now from your favorite online retailers. There are deals to check out now from Amazon, Best Buy, and other online stores.

Black Friday electric scooter deals - QUICK LINKS (US)

• Amazon: lots of deals from Hiboy, Gotrax, NIU and more
• Best Buy: save up to $250 on models from Segway, Okai, and Niu
• Walmart: plenty of discounts on budget electric scooters
• Target: tons of e-scooters in stock
• Sears: great prices on e-scooters
• Lowes: super affordable e-scooters
• Newegg: some good deals on lesser-known brand e-scooters

Best Black Friday electric scooter deals (US)

Black Friday electric scooter deals - QUICK LINKS (UK)

• Amazon: up to £150 in savings on some e-scooter models
• Pure Electric: some clearance deals on older models
• Halfords: e-scooter deals for all budgets
• Argos: e-scooters from Xiaomi, Zinc, Pure Electric and more
• Very: decent deals on budget and kids e-scooters 

Best early Black Friday electric scooter deals (UK)

Electric scooter Black Friday deals 2023: key info

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Electric scooters for students are a quick, affordable and fun way to get around campus, so we've picked give of the very best. Whether you're heading off to college or university yourself, or helping your kids get ready for the new school year, we've picked out a set of scooters that are affordable, safe, and reliable enough for everyday riding.

When it comes to electric scooters for students, there are a few important points to look out for. Range is particularly important, as this varies greatly depending on the scooter's battery capacity and weight. If you're using an e-scooter to zip around campus, you might not be able to recharge it until you get home at the end of the day, so you'll need to be sure that it's not going to run out of juice before your final class. Nobody wants to be carrying a dead scooter back to their dorm.

Cost is another consideration, but in our experience the very cheapest scooters on the market are generally pretty poor value in the long run. The build quality is poorer, you might not get a warranty or servicing, and the spec just isn't up to snuff. 

Take brakes, for example. Disc brakes will allow you to stop your scooter quickly and safely in an emergency (particularly if you've picked up speed going downhill). A cheap scooter, however, might only have a foot brake, which requires you to stamp on the back mudguard to stop yourself. It's less effective, less intuitive and less safe.

Thankfully, quality components don't have to break the bank, and you can pick up an excellent cheap electric scooter that's built to last – if you know where to look.

One factor that's not so important is speed. A college or university is going to be pretty busy, and you're unlikely to be the only one riding a scooter, so traveling at a slower speed might actually be an advantage, helping you turn more easily and avoid accidents. Moving a little slower will also help your scooter's battery last longer between charges. Win-win.

It's not the cheapest model around, but the Xiaomi Mi Electric Scooter (better known as the M365) has earned its place as the world's most popular e-scooter.

One of its key selling points is its range, which maxes out at 18 miles (enough for several days of zipping around campus). Your exact mileage will depend on various factors, including any hills and the type of terrain you're riding on, but that's an impressive figure at this price point.

The Mi Electric Scooter is also pretty nippy, with a top speed of 15mph, but sticking to a slightly more sedate pace will help increase its range so you aren't left carrying 12.5kg of scooter home at the end of the day.

Dual brakes help you stop quickly and safely in emergencies without the scooter tipping forwards, and although we prefer scooters with internal cables (it looks neater and means they're less prone to damage or vandalism), the build quality is robust. A great all-rounder

When the Xiaomi Mi Essential first launched earlier in 2020, we weren't too impressed. With a top speed of 12.4mph and a maximum range of 12.4 miles, its specs were about what you'd expect from an entry-level scooter, but its price was far higher than similar devices from the likes of Segway-Ninebot.

However, the price of the Xiaomi Mi Essential has plummeted in just a couple of months, making it one of the best value electric scooters you can buy today, and a great choice for students heading back to school.

Although it's a little slower than the Mijia 365 above, this newer model has a more robust build that'll take the knocks of college life and keep on rolling. It has much less in the way of exposed cabling too, and is a little lighter. If you're looking for an electric scooter that can take a bit of a bruising, this might be the better option.

Pure Electric makes some of the best electric scooters around, and the Pure Air Go is its new entry-level model. It doesn't have the same raw power as its bigger sibling, the Pure Air Pro, but that's not necessarily a bad thing; if you're new to scooting then you'll find its gentler acceleration easier to handle, and its lower price is easier on your wallet as well.

It doesn't skimp on features though, and has all the essentials for students riding around campus, including puncture-proof tires, a water-resistant design with nicely built mudguards, and plenty of lights and reflectors to keep you safe after dark.

In our tests we found it struggled a little with some steeper hills, which is something to be aware of if your campus isn't flat. Any students planning to tackle tougher terrain will be better off with something more powerful.

• Read our full Pure Air Go review

Xiaomi might be the biggest name in electric scooters right now, but Segway is making big strides too, particularly in the US. The Segway Ninebot ES2 is one of its most affordable scooters, but has surprisingly impressive specs and is another top choice for students heading to uni or college.

Its top speed of 15mph means it's considerably faster than the Xiaomi Mi Essential above, and it can keep going a little further too, with a top range of 15.5mph in optimum conditions. It's well built too, with all cables tucked away neatly inside, and full suspension to cushion you from life's little lumps and bumps. It is, however, more expensive, so it's a matter of where your priorities lie.

It's possible to extend the range of the ES2 even further by attaching an auxiliary battery, but this bumps up the price beyond most student budgets, and isn't something we'd recommend.

The Pure Air Pro, from British company Pure Electric, is a seriously sturdy electric scooter built to last years – even if you're studying somewhere with inclement weather, where you're likely to be riding it through more than a few puddles. Indeed, it's one of the few electric scooters around with IP65 water resistance.

At 15.5mph, its top speed is on a par with most of the scooters in this roundup, and its range of 22 miles is very reasonable. It also has a higher maximum load capacity than most scooters. While the likes of the Xiaomi M365 Pro are only rated for loads up to 100kg, the Pure Air Pro can heave up to 120kg without breaking a sweat. Ideal if your studies involve a lot of weighty textbooks.

It's certainly not cheap, so you'll have to be confident you'll be riding it between classes regularly, but it should serve you well until you graduate (and beyond).

• Browse all the latest electric scooter deals and sales

Electric scooters for students are a quick, affordable and fun way to get around campus, so we've picked give of the very best. Whether you're heading off to college or university yourself, or helping your kids get ready for the new school year, we've picked out a set of scooters that are affordable, safe, and reliable enough for everyday riding.

When it comes to electric scooters for students, there are a few important points to look out for. Range is particularly important, as this varies greatly depending on the scooter's battery capacity and weight. If you're using an e-scooter to zip around campus, you might not be able to recharge it until you get home at the end of the day, so you'll need to be sure that it's not going to run out of juice before your final class. Nobody wants to be carrying a dead scooter back to their dorm.

Cost is another consideration, but in our experience the very cheapest scooters on the market are generally pretty poor value in the long run. The build quality is poorer, you might not get a warranty or servicing, and the spec just isn't up to snuff. 

Take brakes, for example. Disc brakes will allow you to stop your scooter quickly and safely in an emergency (particularly if you've picked up speed going downhill). A cheap scooter, however, might only have a foot brake, which requires you to stamp on the back mudguard to stop yourself. It's less effective, less intuitive and less safe.

Thankfully, quality components don't have to break the bank, and you can pick up an excellent cheap electric scooter that's built to last – if you know where to look.

One factor that's not so important is speed. A college or university is going to be pretty busy, and you're unlikely to be the only one riding a scooter, so traveling at a slower speed might actually be an advantage, helping you turn more easily and avoid accidents. Moving a little slower will also help your scooter's battery last longer between charges. Win-win.

It's not the cheapest model around, but the Xiaomi Mi Electric Scooter (better known as the M365) has earned its place as the world's most popular e-scooter.

One of its key selling points is its range, which maxes out at 18 miles (enough for several days of zipping around campus). Your exact mileage will depend on various factors, including any hills and the type of terrain you're riding on, but that's an impressive figure at this price point.

The Mi Electric Scooter is also pretty nippy, with a top speed of 15mph, but sticking to a slightly more sedate pace will help increase its range so you aren't left carrying 12.5kg of scooter home at the end of the day.

Dual brakes help you stop quickly and safely in emergencies without the scooter tipping forwards, and although we prefer scooters with internal cables (it looks neater and means they're less prone to damage or vandalism), the build quality is robust. A great all-rounder

When the Xiaomi Mi Essential first launched earlier in 2020, we weren't too impressed. With a top speed of 12.4mph and a maximum range of 12.4 miles, its specs were about what you'd expect from an entry-level scooter, but its price was far higher than similar devices from the likes of Segway-Ninebot.

However, the price of the Xiaomi Mi Essential has plummeted in just a couple of months, making it one of the best value electric scooters you can buy today, and a great choice for students heading back to school.

Although it's a little slower than the Mijia 365 above, this newer model has a more robust build that'll take the knocks of college life and keep on rolling. It has much less in the way of exposed cabling too, and is a little lighter. If you're looking for an electric scooter that can take a bit of a bruising, this might be the better option.

Pure Electric makes some of the best electric scooters around, and the Pure Air Go is its new entry-level model. It doesn't have the same raw power as its bigger sibling, the Pure Air Pro, but that's not necessarily a bad thing; if you're new to scooting then you'll find its gentler acceleration easier to handle, and its lower price is easier on your wallet as well.

It doesn't skimp on features though, and has all the essentials for students riding around campus, including puncture-proof tires, a water-resistant design with nicely built mudguards, and plenty of lights and reflectors to keep you safe after dark.

In our tests we found it struggled a little with some steeper hills, which is something to be aware of if your campus isn't flat. Any students planning to tackle tougher terrain will be better off with something more powerful.

• Read our full Pure Air Go review

Xiaomi might be the biggest name in electric scooters right now, but Segway is making big strides too, particularly in the US. The Segway Ninebot ES2 is one of its most affordable scooters, but has surprisingly impressive specs and is another top choice for students heading to uni or college.

Its top speed of 15mph means it's considerably faster than the Xiaomi Mi Essential above, and it can keep going a little further too, with a top range of 15.5mph in optimum conditions. It's well built too, with all cables tucked away neatly inside, and full suspension to cushion you from life's little lumps and bumps. It is, however, more expensive, so it's a matter of where your priorities lie.

It's possible to extend the range of the ES2 even further by attaching an auxiliary battery, but this bumps up the price beyond most student budgets, and isn't something we'd recommend.

The Pure Air Pro, from British company Pure Electric, is a seriously sturdy electric scooter built to last years – even if you're studying somewhere with inclement weather, where you're likely to be riding it through more than a few puddles. Indeed, it's one of the few electric scooters around with IP65 water resistance.

At 15.5mph, its top speed is on a par with most of the scooters in this roundup, and its range of 22 miles is very reasonable. It also has a higher maximum load capacity than most scooters. While the likes of the Xiaomi M365 Pro are only rated for loads up to 100kg, the Pure Air Pro can heave up to 120kg without breaking a sweat. Ideal if your studies involve a lot of weighty textbooks.

It's certainly not cheap, so you'll have to be confident you'll be riding it between classes regularly, but it should serve you well until you graduate (and beyond).

• Browse all the latest electric scooter deals and sales

Electric scooters for students are a quick, affordable and fun way to get around campus, so we've picked the very best you can buy right now. Whether you're heading off to college or university yourself, or helping your kids get ready for the new school year, we've picked out a set of scooters that are affordable, safe, and reliable enough for everyday riding.

When it comes to the best electric scooters for students, there are a few important points to look out for. You'll need to consider range, as this varies greatly depending on the scooter's battery capacity and weight. If you're using an e-scooter to zip around campus, you might not be able to recharge it until you get home at the end of the day, so you'll need to be sure that it's not going to run out of juice before your final class. Nobody wants to be carrying a dead scooter back to their dorm.

Cost is another consideration, especially now that you're doing all your back to school 2023 shopping, but in our experience the very cheapest scooters on the market are generally pretty poor value in the long run. The build quality is poorer, you might not get a warranty or servicing, and the spec just isn't up to snuff. 

Take brakes, for example. Disc brakes will allow you to stop your scooter quickly and safely in an emergency (particularly if you've picked up speed going downhill). A cheap scooter, however, might only have a foot brake, which requires you to stamp on the back mudguard to stop yourself. It's less effective, less intuitive and less safe. Having said that, if you do want a scooter but only have a small budget, take a look at our best cheap scooters guide. You might also find a great option in our back to school sales page.

One factor that's not so important is speed. A college or university is going to be pretty busy, and you're unlikely to be the only one riding a scooter, so traveling at a slower speed might actually be an advantage, helping you turn more easily and avoid accidents. Moving a little slower will also help your scooter's battery last longer between charges. Win-win.

The best student e-scooter back to school sales

The best electric scooters for students 2026

The GoTrax Apex LE electric scooter is our top pick for students looking for an e-scooter because it's relatively cheap and delivers a solid performance. It also looks fun and comes in four colors, including pink and white, which is refreshing considering most e-scooters are only available in black.

In the past, cheap e-scooters were considered lower quality than their more expensive counterparts. But although the Apex LE isn't the best electric scooter you can buy today in terms of power and range, it punches above its sub-$400/£300 weight.

In our GoTrax Apex LE review, we said that we enjoyed testing the scooter because it's robust and well-made with an impressive braking system for ultimate control. Sure special features are limited, but that makes sense for the price. And its simplicity will actually be a selling point for beginners. It's very easy to get to grips with thanks to a folding mechanism and 15 minute-ish assembly time. 

You won't find the GoTrax Apex LE at the top of our ultimate best electric scooters guide, but it's our top recommendation for students looking for a reliable, cheap and colorful option.

Read our full GoTrax Apex LE review

While we don't have a full review of the TurboAnt M10 available, we did test this very affordable electric scooter out in the wild, and it's got our seal of approval. As one of TurboAnt's entry-level scooters, it's certainly easy to discount as a cheap option. But while other electric scooters in its class might feel rickety out of the box, we found this one to be actually very solid, thoughtfully design, and made of the more premium materials.

TurboAnt is very good at building affordable e-scooters that are robust, and this one is an excellent example of that. What the company does sacrifice here are the special features. But, if you're a student looking for a budget option, do you really need all the extra frills when you can have something that guarantees your safety instead?

The company also doesn't scrimp on performance. Road-testing this e-scooter even in areas in our neighborhood where the roads have seen better days, we appreciated its snappy performance and great shock absorption - you've got those 10-inch pneumatic tires to thank for that. And that 18-mile battery life and 20mph top speed, we have found, is rare in an e-scooter this cheap. This one is truly worth your money.

While we definitely recommend seeking a more lightweight and more budget-friendly option first for a student electric scooter, we're big fans of the NIU KQi3 Pro and cannot recommend it enough to people. And if you have a bigger budget for your kid this back to school season, it might be the best value option, especially since   it is still more portable than a bike.

Testing this model, which incidentally sits at the top spot of our best electric scooters list, was a pleasurable experience. Each tire on this is 2.5 inches thick, giving it amazing shock absorption and incredible traction, which means that every ride we took was smooth, comfortable, and most importantly, safe, which is what you want for your kids. Speaking of safe, it's also got an anti-theft feature that when activated goes off, making a huge fuss and deterring petty thieves. 

In fact, for everything that it offers, we actually think that this is worth more than what it costs - at least in the US (in the UK, it's a little more expensive). NIU also slapped on amazing features like regenerative brakes, the always-on Halo headlight and rear light, and zero start (which activates as soon as you hit 200 riding meters for safety).

Read our full NIU KQi3 Pro review

Xiaomi might be the biggest name in electric scooters right now, but Segway is making big strides too, particularly in the US. The Segway Ninebot ES2 is one of its most affordable scooters, but has surprisingly impressive specs and is another top choice for students heading to uni or college.

Its top speed of 15mph means it's considerably faster than the Xiaomi Mi Essential above, and it can keep going a little further too, with a top range of 15.5mph in optimum conditions. It's well built with all cables tucked away neatly inside, and full suspension to cushion you from life's little lumps and bumps. It is, however, more expensive, so it's a matter of where your priorities lie. It's possible to extend the range of the ES2 even further by attaching an auxiliary battery, but this bumps up the price beyond most student budgets.

While we haven't tested this particular model ourselves, Amazon reviewers many have given it a five out of five rating, praising it for its reliability, battery interchangeability, sleek design, and easy setup. However, bear in mind that because it is Segway, it's going to be a little pricier for what it's offering. If you want a trusted brand, get it. But if you want a better value for your money, we recommend checking out the other options on this list. 

We have yet to write our full review of the Levy Plus, but this deserves a shout on this list as well for its impressive performance and sleek design. We have finished testing this electric scooter, and while it may be one of the more expensive entries on this list, sitting in the mid-range rather than the budget market, there are several reasons why this is a great investment for your college kids.

We appreciate that it picks up pace very quickly whatever mode you're on without needing a kickstart and that its front brakes are snappy and powerful, meaning that it will help save your child's life in times when it'll matter. But what we love most about this e-scooter is that it is a darn smooth ride, its big 10-inch pneumatic tires doing such a fantastic job of handling gravel paths and looser soil with their impressive traction.

And kids who are concerned about aesthetics will love its cute look and baby blue or mint green trimmings. The folding mechanism is a tad cumbersome, and the deck isn't all that spacious. But we think the rest of it - the kickstand, the dash, the interchangeable battery - more than make up for those.

• Browse all the latest electric scooter deals and sales

British electric scooter brand Pure Electric has launched a long-range follow-up to its impressive Pure Air Pro model, dubbed the Pure Air Pro LR.

Alongside range and performance improvements come some marked visual upgrades over its predecessor, not least the addition of a birch and maple plywood deck, which Pure Electric says has been engineered to provide a more secure standing platform for riders.

This swanky new deck has also been treated to withstand everyday weather, including rainfall, while puncture-resistant tyres with puncture prevention fluid should ensure you’re able to keep riding for as long as possible.

• The cheapest electric scooter deals, prices and sales right now
• Read our Pure Air Go electric scooter review
• … and our Bird One electric scooter review 

As for just how long that ride will last, Pure Electric says the Pro LR will boast a maximum range of 60km on a single charge – that's 10km more than you’ll get from the standard Pure Air Pro, though functional range of scooters often depends on the speed you're travelling at. 

That’s based on an upgraded version of its 500W motor, which offers three power modes, giving a potential of 700W to deliver competent hill climbing speeds and acceleration. 

Speed and style

You’ll look great while climbing those hills, too. The Pro LR comes in the brand’s three new colour options – Mercury Grey, Cobalt Blue, Stone Gol – which are also now available for its sibling, the Pure Air Pro. 

Those colours aren’t anything ground-breaking, but coupled with the Pro LR’s high quality, durable steel frame (which boasts a 120kg load limit), the design of the scooter is stylishly minimalist – making it an appropriate option for both work and leisure.

As for other useful features, the Pro LR sports a handlebar-mounted USB smartphone charge port for, well, charging your phone, while a premium ‘click-lock’ advanced locking mechanism keeps the scooter as secure as possible when stationary. These are both features of the non-LR model, too.

The Pure Electric Pro LR is available to pre-order from August 4 at the brand’s website, and will retail for £749 in all colours. For comparison, that’s £149 pricier than its sibling (which retails for £599). 

We’ll have to wait until we get our hands on the new Pro LR model to determine whether that increase is worth it – but given the incremental upgrades we’ve come to expect from each iteration of Pure Electric’s excellent flagship scooter range, we anticipate this one will be no different. 

In any case, stay tuned to TechRadar for all the latest electric scooter news and reviews.

• Xiaomi's new electric scooter sounds like a beast, but we've seen it before 

The latest edition of the Pure Air Pro has taken the top spot as the best electric scooter of 2021 – and for good reason. Last year's model impressed us with its solid build quality and performance, but the latest version builds on all its best features while keeping the price surprisingly low.

Its maximum range of 50km (just over 30 miles) is particularly impressive, and means it keeps rolling further than any other e-scooter we've tested to date. The real-world performance will depend on how hard you drive the throttle and the terrain you're riding on, but if your commute to work is relatively short, it'll last a full week between charges.

The powerful motor makes light work of hills, and it can hit a maximum of 15.5mph on the flat. Riding flat-out will drain the battery faster, but having a 500W motor driving you along is seriously fun. 

Built to last

The Pure Air Pro is a practical choice, too. Unlike some e-scooters, which sacrifice build quality to keep the price down, the Air Pro is extremely durable. All its cabling is routed internally, protecting it from corrosion and keeping the scooter's lines sleek, and when folded it's secured with a robust locking mechanism.

Other thoughtful touches include built-in fenders and lights, which make it a great option even in inclement weather and after dark, when we might normally feel vulnerable riding an e-scooter. Its 10in air-filled tires soak up bumps in the road, giving a smoother ride, and feature puncture-protection fluid to avoid a flat spoiling your fun.

This power and build quality means it's not the lightest scooter around – at 16.5kg it weighs as much as many electric bikes – but its compact shape means it's reasonably easy to carry up flights of stairs, and lift onto public transport. 

Priced to move

Perhaps most surprisingly, despite all the improvements on last year's Pure Air Pro, the 2021 model is actually cheaper, costing £599 (about $850, AU$1,100). That's on a par with XIaomi's higher-end e-scooters, and cheaper than many top scooters from the likes of Segway, Unagi, and Bird.

If you're in the market for your first scooter, then you might be better off with the standard Pure Air, which offers a more sedate riding experience, but for anyone who's happy cruising on two wheels, the Pure Air Pro is easy to recommend.

• If money is tight, take a look at the best cheap electric scooters

Two-minute review

Pure Electric put out the best entry-level electric scooter in 2020 with its Pure Air (2020), a fantastic vehicle with a low price, solid build and sleek design. The company’s 2021 range of electric scooters has an upgraded Air model, but also the Pure Air Go, a new vehicle that’s even more expressly designed for first-time buyers.

The Pure Air Go is the cheapest electric scooter Pure Electric has released, out of the two 2020 and three 2021 models (the Go is joined by the mid-range Air and the top-end Air Pro (2021)). It’s designed for people who aren’t sure if such a new form of vehicle is really for them, and who want a low-power low-cost option.

As such, this isn’t a powerful electric scooter. It has a 350W motor, like the 2020 models but unlike its 500W-motor-toting 2021 siblings. The battery isn’t huge, with a 20km maximum range, and it misses out on some premium features like a USB charging port or easily openable folding latch.

That’s not to say this is a severe downgrade from other electric scooters. The maximum speed is 25kmph – that’s the scooter speed limit in the UK, where Pure Electric is based – and lots of the trappings of other Pure scooters, like sturdy waterproofing and loads of lights and reflectors to keep you safe.

In fact, if you’ve never driven an electric scooter before, or have only tested them briefly in ride-hiring schemes but want your own, we can hesitantly recommend the Pure Air Go.

That hesitation is because of the range, which is one of the lowest we’ve seen on an electric scooter. That short distance makes sense if you want your first scooter for short trips now and then, but if you want the Go for a commuter device, it might not be enough.

You see, a 20km range can only be reached if you’re driving in the scooter’s lowest-speed mode, at about 15kmph, but if you bump up to the higher-speed settings you’re going to travel as far. We regularly managed to ride for about 7km before running out of charge.

The scooter also struggled on steeper hills in our testing thanks to the weaker motor, though of course, not everyone needs a scooter that can power up inclines. We’re just highlighting it for the people who don’t live in flat areas.

Our biggest reason against buying the Pure Air Go would be if the Pure Air looks more appealing to you. It has a better range, more powerful motor and a price which isn’t that much higher. Check your budget, and the kind of environment and distance you’d be riding the scooter, to decide which is better for you.

Pure Air Go price and availability

The Pure Air Go can be bought from the Pure Electric website here, as well as from the company’s various physical shops around the UK. If you live near one, we’d recommend heading into a shop, so you can see the scooter first-hand and speak to a professional about your needs.

The scooter costs £349 (about $480 / AU$650), so it’s the cheapest of its range, including its predecessors. Those 2020 models aren’t on sale now, but the chart below will show you how all five Pure scooters stack up against each other (and their prices).

Design

The Pure Air Go doesn’t exactly shake up the electric scooter design formula very much – something we imagine most first-time buyers will be glad of. In fact, the design is almost exactly identical to the Pure Air (2021) with a few tweaks here and there.

The foam-grip handlebars at the top have a bell on the left side, an accelerator button on the right, and a central-mounted display that tells you your speed, battery level and light status. There’s a rubber button here that you can use to toggle the lights or change your speed mode.

Looking down the 119cm-high stem –  which comes in black or gray – you'll see a latch that you can use to fold up the scooter. Unlike in the Pro models, this isn't a clamp, so you have to unscrew and unfasten the latch when you want to fold, or unfold, the scooter. This is a little more time-consuming than the Pro’s easy catch, but it still only takes a minute or so out of your day.

The scooter’s deck has dimensions of 116 x 50cm, similar to most other scooters, and it’s easy to get a good balance on. There’s good grip too, thanks to the texture underfoot.

Underneath the deck is a stand that you can kick out to keep the scooter standing unassisted; we found this easy enough to use and to support the scooter. There's also the charging port.

Like Pure’s other scooters, the Air Go is rated IP65, which means good resistance against water and dust. We frequently rode the vehicle in rain and through puddles, without it giving up on us. The innards are also easily replaceable too in case something does break, though if you’re considering buying an entry-level scooter we’d definitely recommend getting a professional to fix things if they go wrong.

If you’re worried about your visibility when riding, you’ll be glad to know that the Pure Air Go is well lit. There’s a front and back light, on the handlebars and rear wheel respectively, and the front wheel also has reflectors.

The wheels have a diameter of 10 inches, which is fairly big for a scooter, and are filled with air and puncture prevention fluid. We drove over some tough terrain and obstacles and the tires weren’t damaged, much to our surprise.

Portability

Using the aforementioned latch, you can fold down the Pure Air Go and carry it around. The scooter weighs 16kg, so it’s not exactly as light as air, but it’s not as hefty as some of Pure’s other vehicles either.

A ring near the handlebars, and a hook on the rear wheel’s mudguard, connect together to keep the scooter folded, and they felt solid when in place, so we weren’t scared of them breaking when we were carrying the vehicle around.

There’s no way of bolting up the Pure Air Go, with no convenient place on the scooter to put a bike lock or similar, and while you can use the app to secure the scooter, it can’t do much to stop someone picking the thing up and walking away with it. So it’s best to store the Go indoors if possible.

Battery

The Pure Air Pro is designed as an entry-level feature-light scooter, so the main issue we came across during our testing was the vehicle’s limited battery life, or range.

The quoted range is 20km, but you’ll only get that if you’re riding in the slowest speed mode at 15kmph. Bump that up to the middle 20kmph mode, or the fastest 25kmph (which, let’s face it, you probably will be using, since even that’s a little slow for some roads), and the range will drop significantly.

Our normal commute is just over 7km. If we were lucky, we’d just about have two battery bars left on the display – usually it was just one bar left, and on multiple occasions, the battery icon was totally depleted, and flashing to tell us to hurry up. Through many weeks of testing, we never once totally ran out before reaching our destination though.

This did necessitate lots of charging though. Pure quotes a 3.5-hour powering time to get the vehicle from empty to full, which we’d concur with, and that’s pretty quick compared to some other electric scooters.

Riding

Riding on the Pure Air Go felt safe, and the scooter was sturdy on roads and reliable in terms of controls. That’s the case with all Pure scooters.

There are three riding modes, with each one increasing the speed but also the battery drain. The lowest takes you at 15kmph, the medium one maxes out at 20kmph, and the final one lets you travel at the scooter’s max speed of 25kmph.

Acceleration on the Pure Air Go is a little slow, at least compared to other electric scooters on the market, but as an entry-level vehicle that’s actually a good thing - it helps you keep in control as you increase your speed. You don’t have to kick off too much to get the scooter moving, either.

As with all Pure scooters, riding the Air Go feels like a safe experience - there’s solid suspension, the construction is robust so nothing shakes when you’re riding, and the brakes are responsive so you can stop in a pinch.

On steeper hills, the Pure Air Go’s speed did drop off quite a bit. That’s because of its 350W motor, which doesn’t handle inclines like the 500W motor of the scooter’s siblings.

One thing that some riders may find troubling – which is again a trait of Pure scooters – is that the central display button can’t be reached unless you remove your hand from the handlebars, so if you want to change your speed, or toggle the lights, it’s much safer to do so when stopped.

In addition – and this is a problem with most electric scooters, but something we should highlight since this product is for people who aren’t familiar with the vehicle – is that there’s only one accelerator and brake. If you want to indicate to turn by holding out your hand, you can’t also brake to reduce your speed or accelerate to increase it, depending on which way you’re turning. This can make turning a little tricky at times.

The alternatives, though, are to add multiple brakes and accelerators, which would increase the price of the scooter, or introduce cruise control, which is a feature only top-end scooters have, and it's rife with its own dangers. As it stands, it’s not a deal-breaker for the Go by any means, but you have to learn the knack to turning.

App

The Pure Electric app on your iOS or Android smartphone can connect via Bluetooth to the Pure Air Go, giving you a little extra functionality. The app is far from mandatory for riding the scooter, which is definitely a good thing in our books since apps can sometimes be temperamental.

You can see the current charge and range of the vehicle in the Pure app. This is quite a rough guess, since your speed dictates the range so much – as well as the current speed of the scooter, which only applies if you’re moving.

You can also toggle the scooter’s headlights on the app, or lock the vehicle so people can’t ride off on it. We wouldn’t rely on this as a way to secure it though, since simply picking it up and ignoring the alarm can bypass this lock.

Annoyingly, you can’t use lots of these functions unless the Pure Air Go is turned on and is near the phone, so you can’t check the charge from afar – and since the scooter itself can tell you charge and speed, and toggle the lights, we didn’t find the app too useful most of the time.

Should I buy the Pure Air Go?

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First reviewed July 2021

• Check out our complete guide to the best fitness trackers

Electric scooters in the UK are being modified to make a humming noise, alerting pedestrians to their presence. Hire company Voi is the first to introduce the artificial sounds in three cities, but the noises could soon be a requirement throughout the UK.

Many electric scooters already come with a bell or horn that riders can use to alert those around them, but those in Birmingham, Bristol and Liverpool supplied by hire company Voi will soon emit a constant sound. Voi told TechRadar that this is a pilot scheme that will help the company make an informed decision about whether introducing a sound is beneficial, and what type of sound would be most appropriate.

Tier, another of the world's biggest scooter hire companies, is also adding artificial sounds to its vehicles, and plans to roll them out this year.

• We've tested and ranked the best electric bikes
• Check out our complete guide to e-bike maintenance
• On a budget? Here are the best cheap electric scooters

E-scooters are currently illegal to ride in the UK unless they're on private land, or are part of an authorized hire scheme, so making modifications is a simple matter of taking to the city's provider, but privately-owned scooters could be much more difficult to deal with.

That's not to say that companies like Pure Electric (maker of our current top-rated scooter, the Pure Air Pro) won't rise to the challenge if and when it becomes legal to ride your own scooter on public roads and cycle paths – and they could even have some fun with it.

The buzz on the streets

Electric car makers have to contend with the same problem, and in 2019 the EU introduced legislation that requires electric cars to make some sort of noise when traveling at low speeds or reversing, which is intended to help alert pedestrians in areas like car parks.

Some companies seized this as an opportunity to get creative, particularly for self-driving concept cars. After the legislation passed, Citroen began experimenting with jaunty tunes for its and Mercedes-Benz collaborated with Linkin Park to create a custom sound with 'emotion'.

Voi is starting with a hum, but (like it or not) if other companies decide to get imaginative, the streets could soon by a weird symphony of scooters.

Via BBC

• Could this be the most practical e-bike ever?

Two-minute review

Given electric scooters are a rather new technology, some people can feel a little uncertain driving them, and that’s probably why Pure created the Air Pro electric scooter – it seems made for people who otherwise wouldn’t feel confident on the vehicles.

This isn't Pure's newest electric scooter, and the Pure Air Pro (2021) brings a few key improvements to this 2020 model - as well as a lower price tag. If you're on the market for a new scooter, it's definitely a more tempting buy. There's also a non-Pro and entry-level Go version in the 2021 generation.

Pure is one of the biggest sellers of electric scooters and bikes in the UK, and the Air Pro (2020) was the first scooter it put out under its name. Saying that, it feels like this scooter was made from lessons gained from all the big scooters that have come out so far.

The Pure Air Pro is sturdily built – it's IP-65 rated to protect from water and dust, it’s made of sturdy materials so it rides smooth, and it can easily be folded down to make it transportable – although it’s worth saying it’s pretty heavy, so it won’t necessarily be easily portable for everyone.

The Air Pro rides really well though – its acceleration is subtle so you’ll never go shooting out from green lights, the brakes feel sturdy enough to stop you quickly, and its suspension prevents you from getting shaken as you ride. In fact, it's one of the smoothest rides we've tried.

The main issue with the Pure Air Pro is that it costs a little more than some competing vehicles, from the likes of Xiaomi others, so the price might be hard to swallow for first-time riders. However this money buys you peace of mind when travelling, which is hard to put a price tag on.

Some may find the battery range a little low, as it's on the smaller side of average, but not everyone will mind, especially given it takes about half the time to charge as most of its competitors.

Overall the Pure Air Pro feels like a great entry-level scooter as it ticks all the legal boxes, will last you a long time, and feels sturdy and comfortable to ride.

Pure Air Pro price and release date

The Pure Air Pro cost £679.99 (about $890 / AU$1,230) when it went on sale in early August 2020, but can now be picked up for £599 (roughly $785, AU$1,090) on the Pure website.

At that price, the Pure Air Pro sits roughly in the mid-ranged price category for electric scooters. It costs roughly the same as Ninebot Segway's top scooter, and is slightly pricier than both the Xiaomi M365 Pro (£589.99, or about $750 / AU$1,100), and the SoFlow S02 ( £550, or about $700 / AU$990).

If you want the safely and reliability of the Pure Air Pro but the price is too much for you, it’s worth pointing out Pure confirmed to TechRadar a non-Pro cousin is coming soon, so it may be worth waiting for that.

Design

The Pure Air Pro is a fairly conventionally-designed electric scooter. It comes in two colors, gray and black, and we tested the former.

The scooter has dimensions of 115cm x 50cm x 120cm, which makes it quite big but easy enough to get a secure footing on. Is handlebars feel the appropriate height too. The board has a maximum weight of 120kg, which should accommodate most people as well as heavy backpacks.

On the bottom of the board is the charging port and kickstand - this is fairly easy to open by flicking it to the side, and supports the scooter well. The board also has a grippy decal over it.

The Pure Air Pro has wheels that are 10 inches across, a little bigger than the 8-inch average, so it’s a bit more suited to uneven ground or cobbled floors, and they’re air-filled instead of solid which means you won’t feel every bump in the road.

Pure made a point in how waterproof the Air Pro is, which can be important for scooting in wet-weather conditions. The whole vehicle is IP-65 rated, which indicates it’s totally dust-proof and protected from low-pressure water jets from any angle, and the insides of the thing is designed to be as water resistant as possible.

In fact, the tech inside the scooter can be replaced by hand, so if your battery gives out or you need to change it, you can do it yourself without sending the scooter in (if you feel up to it, of course).

The handlebars are fairly average size, as we said, and wide enough too that they’re comfortable to hold. On the left bar is the bell, and on the right is the display you use to control the scooter settings.

The display has three buttons – one turns the lights off and on, another changes the riding mode, the final one turns the scooter on and off (and can also be used to change the distance viewed). The display is backlit, which should help people riding at night.

Below the display is the button you press to drive – it’s slightly smaller than that on some other scooters we’ve tested, so might take getting used to for people who have used other scooters, but we didn’t have any problems with it.

The Pure Air Pro has a light on the front and another on the back, as well as reflectors on both sides. In short, it’s decked out enough to ensure you’ll be visible when riding after dark.

Portability

You can fold the Pure Air Pro down using a catch on the front, with a clasp on the back wheel letting you keep it folded. This lets you carry it onto public transport or reduce its size so you can pop it in your house

The folded dimensions are 115cm x 50cm x 50cm, so it’s quite a bit shorter when folded but not tiny. At 17kg the scooter is very heavy though, given most scooters weigh 10-14kg, and we’d imagine some might have trouble transporting it when folded.

In fact, unless you’re looking at a top-end scooter (as they often have huge batteries and motors), this might be one of the heaviest scooters you look at. Suffice to say, carrying this frequently will constitute quite a workout.

In addition there’s no-where on the scooter that you could easily tie a lock around, so it might not be safe to leave outside depending on where you live.

Battery

As with all electric scooters, the Pure Air Pro’s time between charges really depends on how fast you’re driving, and faster speeds will cause the battery to drop quicker.

Pure estimates that in ‘Eco’ mode, the slowest you can travel in (which we’ll describe in more detail later), you’ll be able to travel about 36km, but in the fastest mode you’re looking at 30km or less. 

Battery life depends on more factors than just speed, such as hills and how frequently you stop, but those estimates are on a flat plane.

We’d concur with the Eco mode number, as the battery stayed fairly strong at this speed, but when we were driving as fast as possible the power did drop pretty quickly. In fact, we’d guess you’d need to be pretty canny with your driving to get it to last even 30km in this mode.

Depending on your commute and regular journeys, the distance between 30km and 36km might be moot, and if you only need to go 25km or less every day you’ll find the Pure Air Pro fine for purpose. It might not suit those looking to regularly travel long distances though, and there are other scooters that last longer.

If the comparatively low battery life irks you, it might be offset somewhat by the charging speed, as Pure says it’ll power up in just four and a half hours - that’s roughly half as long as most other scooters take to power up. So you won’t need to keep this beast powering up overnight every time you want to use it, as a quick burst before and after you get in will suffice.

A power cable is included with the scooter that plugs into the board of the vehicle - it’s very easy to set up.

Riding

The Pure Air Pro has three riding modes: Eco, which takes you at 15kmph (9.3mph) and preserves battery longest, Mid, which goes up to 20kmph (12.4mph) and High which takes you to the scooter’s top speeds of 25kmph (15.5mph), which is also the UK legal limit for scooters.

Well, you can get faster than 25kmph on hills thanks to gravity, but the scooter won’t help you get there, so it’s still legal. That top speed is below the max speed on some other scooters, but since the UK law forbids faster scooters (unless you’re on private property), it makes sense that Pure would put the hard limit.

On quieter streets Mid feels perfect, but when you ride on busier roads you'll need to move to High to keep apace with cyclists and traffic. We're not sure Eco is best for any kind of environment, unless you're looking for a particularly leisurely pace.

The Pure Air Pro feels smooth to ride, more so than some other scooters we’ve tested, and you can feel much safer on the road as a result. We’d guess this was the result of the air-filled tyres, the sturdy build. and some fair suspension too.

Acceleration on the Pure Air Pro is slower than on some other scooters, but this is a good thing, as rapid acceleration from ‘go’ can be very dangerous - it’s hard to keep control when you’re shooting off forward after standing still. Thanks to the slower acceleration we always felt safe starting from scratch or just speeding up on straighter pieces of road.

You do need to kick off a few times with your foot before the accelerator works, as with all scooters, and this can be frightening on a busy road. The minimum speed for this to work on the Air Pro is pretty low though, so you won't find yourself kicking too much before scooting off.

The brake felt very secure , and when we squeezed it tight we stopped pretty quickly, but it was perhaps less useful as a tool to modulate speeds, as we had to grip it quite hard to get it to work. We found it easier just to remove our finger from the accelerator ahead of time to slow speeds, rather than press the brake near to where we needed to stop.

We were impressed by the noise of the Pure Air Pro - or, the lack thereof. It was very quiet, even when going at top speeds or up hills - in fact, we wouldn’t have noticed it at all if it wasn’t on our list of things to test out on the scooter. Your neighbors certainly won’t be annoyed if you buy this scooter.

It goes without saying, some of the quirks of electric scooters are here as expected. Holding the accelerator button for long stretches of time can give you a sore thumb, and you can very easily feel wobby when stretching out an arm to indicate a turn, but no electric scooters have solved these issues yet.

Generally though, we felt supremely safe and comfortable on the Pure Air Pro, more so than on some other scooters, and would recommend it to tentative riders.

App

When we tested the Pure Air Pro the scooter didn’t have a tie-in app, but the Pure Electric app launched since.

Scooter apps are really handy – they can let you check the charge of your vehicle while you’re not riding it, view stats for your individual and collective journeys on the thing, remotely lock the scooter and get it warmed up before a journey, depending on the scooter and app in question.

The Pure Electric app lets you check the speed you're travelling at (only useful if you're actually moving, obviously), the remaining battery and the potential range you've got left. You can also toggle the lights and lock the scooter.

Should I buy the Pure Air Pro?

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• First reviewed July 2020

• Check out our guides to the best cheap electric scooters and cheap electric bikes

Two-minute review

Pure is one of the biggest electric scooter sellers in the UK, and it makes its own vehicles too – the new Air Pro (2021) is the second-generation version of its top-end scooter.

This e-scooter has loads of improvements over the Pure Air Pro (2020), and so right out the gate, it’s easy to recommend the second-gen model as a better piece of kit than that original. 

With a 500W motor, 50km maximum range and lower price point, the Pure Air Pro (2021) beats its predecessor in a few key areas. Pure’s smartphone app has also launched since that first model was released, adding an extra level of functionality.

That high-power motor makes the Air Pro adept at scaling hills, so while another scooter might slow dramatically on an incline, you won’t lose as much speed here. 

As with all previous Pure Air scooters, the Pro is a hardy vehicle, with waterproofing and loads of lights and reflectors. We rode the thing in wet conditions and at night, and always felt safe.

On paper, the scooter’s 50km maximum range may be enough to win over customers – that’s an impressive distance for a scooter, with most hitting around 30-40km between charges. It’s worth noting, though, that the 50km figure is only for people riding at about 15kmph – travel at the maximum 25kmph and you’ll only get about half that distance. 

So while the range might be great for slower drivers, there are actually vehicles with better ranges if you travel quickly. The difference between those maximum ranges is pretty dramatic, compared to the competition.

On the topic of the new Air Pro’s downsides, the other major one we had is that the battery level was often incorrectly reported via the scooter’s display, and the app. Sometimes we’d finish a journey with a certain amount of power left, then check the next day and find the percentage noticeably higher or lower. Sometimes the on-scooter display and app gave different figures too.

The ‘range’ mentioned in the app can only be an estimate, since it depends on your travelling speed, but we found the unreliable battery figures could sometimes make us unsure of whether we’d need to charge before a journey or not.

You’ll find the Pure Air Pro (2021) pretty heavy to carry too, and weighing 16.5kg it’s a bit chunkier than some competitors. Only buy this if you think you can carry that weight (or wouldn’t need to).

In 2020, we named the Air (2020) the best scooter of Pure’s first generation of scooters, but thanks to its upgrades and lowered price, the Air Pro (2021) stands a good chance at being crowned the top model this time around. We’ll need to check the Air (2021) and the new Pure Go (2021) too, before we hand out awards.

Costing a fair amount less than its predecessor, yet touting various upgrades, the Pure Air Pro (2021) is much better value than that previous version. In fact, with its new price it’s one of the most competitive mid-range scooters, and may even sway over people considering the non-Pro model.

Pure Air Pro (2021) price and availability

You can pick up the Pure Air Pro (2021) from the company’s website here. Pure also has brick-and-mortar stores around the UK.

The scooter costs £599 (about $850, AU$1,100) – that’s cheaper than its predecessor which launched for £679 (roughly $890 / AU$1,230). To help you compare with the other scooters in the first- and second-generation Pure Air families, check out the graph below as well as some brief stat comparisons.

Just bear in mind the 2020 model scooters aren't on sale any more - we've included them purely for context.

Design

One of Pure’s signature traits for its scooters are robust designs with an IP65 rating, plenty of lights and large 10-inch tires – this ensures the scooter will keep working for a long time, and will feel safe to ride. As the Pure Air Pro (2021) has a very similar design to its predecessor, that’s the same here.

Well, the design of the new Pro (2021) is pretty similar to the 2020 model, but with lots of the non-Pro scooters’ DNA. We’re referring to the display, as the Air Pro has its screen mounted between the handlebars, with a button on the screen. Most Pure scooters have this, but the 2020 Pro didn’t.

A change the 2021 Pure scooters make is having USB ports on the handlebars, so you can strap a USB-connected light to the front, or charge up your phone when you’re traveling (and, theoretically, therefore strap your phone to the handlebars and use it for directions). This could be useful, though it’s important to remember never to look at the screen while you’re actually moving (that would be pretty damn dangerous).

The front of the handlebars boasts a front LED light and reflector, and there’s a bell on top too. The brake handle is on the left handlebar and the accelerator button is on the right one – this is pretty standard stuff.

This accelerator is another aspect of the scooter where Pure has taken an element of its standard 2020 model and put it in 2021's Pro scooter, and it's much more comfortable and convenient than the Pro 2020's version.

Looking down the scooter stem, there’s an easy latch for holding the bars up when you’ve unfolded the scooter. It’s easy to use and very secure, and is a premium feature the non-Pro scooters miss out on.

The scooter’s board measures 116 x 50cm, roughly similar to last year’s model, and can actually be peeled away to reveal the battery (if you ever feel like replacing the internals yourself). Underneath there’s a stand that’s easy to kick out with your foot if you need. The whole thing supports riding weights up to 120kg, which is a standard for Pure’s vehicles.

Both wheels have 10-inch diameters, which is pretty big. They’re filled with air but also have puncture protection fluid, so the wheels shouldn’t get shredded at the slightest provocation. The front wheel has reflectors on it, while the rear one has an LED light.

Portability

The Pure Air Pro is very easy to fold down – it has a latch on the stem to release it, with a catch on the handlebars that attaches to a hook on the back wheel’s mud guard. The process is simple and quick, and when folded down, the scooter feels secure enough to pick up without falling apart.

The scooter is somewhat of a burden to carry, though, because of its 16.5kg weight. That’s pretty heavy for a scooter, though not too far above average, but unless you’re strong it makes carrying the scooter long distances a pain.

There’s no way of padlocking the Pure Air Pro like you would a bicycle – generally, scooters don’t have this design feature. The app lets you lock the thing, stopping the wheels from turning, but potential thieves can work around this by just picking up the scooter.

Battery

As you’ve likely already read, the Pure Air Pro (2021) has a 50km max range, which beats out most of the competition. This is one of the scooter’s key selling points, making it vital for people who have long commutes.

If you need a long-range scooter, though, there’s something you need to know: the Pro’s 50km range only applies if you’re traveling at the slowest of its three speed modes, at about 15km. Go at the max speed of 25kmph, and there’s no way you’re getting to the top max range.

We’d estimate that, when traveling at top speed, you’ll travel about 25km – that’s a dramatic drop-off compared to the ‘true’ max range of the scooter, and notably a little less than the older Air Pro which went up to about 30km.

Slower riders, or people with shorter commutes, won’t mind this range, and the improved motor still makes it a better choice if you’re in one of those categories. If you need it to quickly go far each day, though, it still might pose a problem.

It’s a little hard to accurately ascertain the scooter’s range, though, because we got some pretty inconsistent readings in that department. We could travel the same route twice and end up with noticeably different amounts of charge remaining, even when accounting for variables, but the most noticeable problem was that the reported battery seemed inconsistent between platforms.

Sometimes we’d finish a journey and have, for example, two of five bars of charge showing in the display. After turning the scooter off and waiting overnight, we’d find an extra bar had magically appeared. Sometimes the app and scooter would show different amounts of charge remaining.

These discrepancies were never dramatic, and most of the time the charge went up overnight, not down. But it made it hard to work out if we needed to power the scooter overnight, or if we had enough power for the next morning’s commute.

The scooter charges up in five and a half hours, according to Pure, which is one hour longer than the 2020 model. Just remember that you probably won't be charging the thing from 0%, though, so it usually won't take quite that long.

Riding

The new Pure Air Pro sticks with the three riding modes its family members have - there’s a 15kmph, 20kmph and 25kmph mode, with the fastest one reaching the UK scooter speed limit. As we’ve already written, the faster you go, the lower your potential range.

We generally find the fast mode is best for busier roads, so you can keep pace with traffic, but on quieter streets the medium speed is just fine.

Riding is improved with the 500W motor. When you’re climbing hills, the speed drop-off is notably lesser than on the 350W Pure Air vehicles, letting you handle inclines without having to travel at a walking pace. You can accelerate to max speed pretty quickly too.

In general, Pure Air scooters feel like comfortable and safe rides, and that’s the case here. There’s bountiful suspension so you don’t feel every bump in the road, acceleration is smooth so you’re at no risk of being shaken off the scooter when you speed up, and the brake and accelerator are both responsive and easy-to-reach. Pure remains the leader in comfortable scooting experiences.

We did find that you have to kick off quite hard before engaging the accelerator - now and then we didn’t push off with enough vigor for it to work. The button on the display can be a little hard to reach when riding too, but since it’s only used for lights or changing the speed mode, you likely won’t want to use the button when riding.

Something that’s great about the Pure Air Pro is its electronic braking system – it slows the scooter down smoothly, so instead of slowly braking before a red light, we simply stopped pressing the accelerator button and the scooter did the rest. On top of that, there’s energy recovery so doing this actually gives you a tiny bit more charge.

App

Since the introduction of the 2020 Air scooters, Pure launched its tie-in app, so it’s ready to use for second-gen vehicles.

The Pure Electric app, available on both Android and iOS, is quite a barebones affair, but that’s okay and it serves just as a useful extra. Unlike some scooter apps, it's absolutely not required for riding the vehicle.

When you’re not riding, you can use the app to view the current charge and potential range to give an idea as to the remaining charge. You can also see the current speed which, of course, is only useful if you’re riding, and you can toggle the lights or lock the scooter.

Because of the scooter’s USB port, you’re able to plug your phone in and use it while riding, but given the display already tells you speed and charge, it didn’t feel necessary to use the app when on the go. 

You can only use the app to see your data when the scooter is paired via Bluetooth, which means it needs to be on and nearby. This stops the app being useful as a way to view charge at other times, like checking if you need to power up the scooter when you’re away from it.

Should I buy the Pure Air Pro (2021)?

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First reviewed June 2021

• We've tested and rated the best electric bikes

The Pure Air and Air Pro were two of the top electric scooters of 2020, and now the company has unveiled a second-generation model of each – as well as a brand new entry in the line.

The 2021 Pure Air line-up includes a new Air and Air Pro, both improvements on the original models, as well as the Pure Air Go, a new entry-level model that's cheaper than its siblings.

You can buy the Pure Air Go, Pure Air (2021) and Pure Air Pro (2021) from Pure's website, and the first-gen model listings have been taken down, so don't worry if you're confused - whatever scooter you're looking at is the recent one.

• These are the best electric scooters
• And these are the best scooters for students
• Here's our Bird One review

How do they compare?

In addition to the above specifications, the Pure scooters all have some aspects in common – they're IP65 protected against bad weather with internal waterproofing, come bedecked in lights and reflectors, have 10-inch wheels, and work with the company's smartphone app.

All the scooters max out at 25kmph, or 15.5mph – that's the legal speed limit of such vehicles in the UK, so there'd be no point in them being able to go higher.

As you can see from the spec list, the Pure Air Pro 2021 is a real champion – not only is it cheaper than its predecessor, but it has a huge 50km range, one which no same-price rivals come close to. The 500W motor will make the scooter powerful for steep inclines, so you won't see as much slowing when you take on a hill.

The Pure Air Go seems like a solid entry-level option for people who haven't owned a scooter before – its range is a little limited, but it has the same build as the Pure Air 2021 in most other regards.

The Pure Air 2020 was our top-rated scooter of the year, so the Air 2021 has big boots to fill. It might well manage it, with a more powerful motor and a USB port so you can charge your phone or accessories while you ride.

We'll be testing all the Pure Air electric scooters soon, so you can see how the second-generation models fit into the line-up, whether they're worthy replacements of their predecessors, and if they're the best electric scooters for you. 

• Are electric scooters legal in the UK? Everything you need to know

Two-minute review

Bird is one of the big-name scooter brands, mainly for ride hiring - in plenty of cities across the globe you can use your smartphone to rent such a vehicle and hit the streets. You can buy one of the brand’s electric scooters to own privately too, and the Bird One is one such model.

Well, you can buy a Bird One, but to get here you’ve already scrolled through our star rating, our verdict and our ‘cons’ list, so you know that we don’t think you should buy the scooter. The reasons why are hard to condense to a two-minute review, so read the longer article for our full review, but we’ll highlight some key points here.

Firstly, the Bird One is way too expensive - you can buy a good electric scooter for half its price, and it doesn’t do enough to justify its premium price tag.

Secondly, using the Bird One is dependant on the Bird app which you use to unlock it, turn on the lights, and other such functions. This app is temperamental at best, and it frequently disconnected from the scooter or returned incorrect battery stats.

Unlike the vast majority of electric scooters, the Bird One doesn’t have a display to tell you your current speed or battery status, and there are no riding modes that control your speed. This would be annoying anyway, but given the Bird One’s max speed is above speed limits in several countries, it’s an injury or fine waiting to happen.

You have to set up the Bird One yourself, as with most electric scooters, but we found it much harder than with any other vehicles we tested. As a result, we ended up with a wobbly handlebar - and given that our most seasoned scooter-testers couldn’t set it up properly, we imagine that’ll reflect the experience of most other people too.

The Bird One doesn't fold down to become more portable either, so if you would need to carry it up or down stairs, you're going to have a problem.

These are just the bigger issues we faced with the Bird One - each is enough to deduct a few stars from our score, but together they’re a recipe for disaster. Even if you can look past one or two problems, there are enough more that it doesn't matter. Riding the Bird One was a stressful experience, one we were nervous to embark on every time we took the thing for a journey.

Lots of our issues don't apply if you're just renting the Bird One too, so if you're just checking out how they ride, scroll down to our 'Riding' section.

In the interest of fairness, we should say the Bird One has one or two redeeming qualities. Its range is one of the best of any electric scooter we’ve tested, so it’ll suit people with longer commutes, and its acceleration speed was perfect for comfortable starts.

However these features don’t do much to improve the experience. If an electric scooter should be anything, it’s ‘safe to ride’, and we felt profoundly unsafe when testing the Bird One. As a result it’s hard to recommend the thing.

Bird One price and availability

The Bird One electric scooter is the same model you’ll find if you use Bird’s scooter rental app available in many cities - this is just a retail version of that same vehicle.

You can buy your own Bird One electric scooter for $1,299 / £999 - that’s fairly expensive as scooters go, because you can buy great equivalents for less than half that price - but there are vehicles on the market that are pricier than that too.

At a high price like that you’d expect plenty of features and tools, but at the risk of spoiling the rest of this review, we’re not sure the Bird One provides that.

Design

If the Bird One was a bird, it’d be a pigeon, because it’s pretty average in terms of design. Its base measures 118 x 46cm, and the handlebars bring the height up to 118cm. It weighs in at 17.5kg - that’s on the high side of average, but not by too much. The maximum rider weight is 100kg - just remember, that includes any backpack you’re carrying as well as your own weight.

The scooter doesn’t fold down, unlike most its rivals, which we’ll explore more in the ‘Portability’ section.

The rubber handlebars are slightly tapered to make them easier to hold, and while they aren’t the comfiest in the world, we’ve used worse too. Plus, they seem more durable than most.

Central between the handlebars, at the top of the scooter’s stem, is a large plastic box - on most scooters, this would house a display to tell you your speed, remaining battery, and which riding mode you were in - the Bird One just has two LEDs that tell you if the scooter is charging or not. That means when you’re riding it’s impossible to know how fast you’re going, or how much charge you have left.

The handlebars also house a bell and the brake on the left side, a light in the central box, and the accelerator and QR code on the right. The latter is used for initially scanning the scooter, after which its purpose is to make your scooter look more like a rental one than a personal one. The presence of a front-facing light is mirrored by a red rear one, which flashes when in use.

The front and back wheels are 22.8cm or 9 inches across, and both feel super study. The scooter as a whole is IP34 rated, meaning its internals are protected from solids over 2.5mm, and water splashed from all directions. Bird advises against riding the thing in heavy rain, but puddles and light rainy spells are fine.

Like most electric scooters, when you first buy the Bird One you have to attach the handlebar stem to the board yourself with an allen key provided. Despite this process usually being easy, we found it incredibly difficult with the Bird One, as no matter how much we tightened the bolts, the handlebars still rattled worryingly in use.

We deconstructed and reconstructed the thing multiple times, but could never get the stem feeling safe and rigid. Since we’re used to assembling scooters, and even we had trouble putting the thing together, we’ve got to imagine most will have an issue with this same thing. This is a massive issue for the Bird One, as shaking handlebars makes the thing feel supremely unsafe, as we’ll explore more in our ‘Riding’ section.

Portability

The Bird One doesn’t fold down, so good luck carrying it upstairs to a flat, or bringing it onto public transport. We live in a fifth-floor flat, and bringing the beast up those stairs in its unfolded form was a nightmare.

It seems that the Bird One is designed to be left on the pavement outside your home instead, as the scooter has a built-in tamper alarm so that, when it’s locked, so much as touching it sets off a wailing alarm.

The alarm goes off with the slightest provocation - we weren’t joking about touching it, and it started screeching when we hung our helmet on the handlebars before a journey. You’re supposed to unlock the scooter before a journey, but we’ll get onto the issues with that in the ‘App’ section of this review.

When locked, you can’t ride the Bird One scooter, so at least potential thieves won’t be able to ignore the alarms and scoot off into the distance with it. Well, they could pick it up and walk away with it though - the ideal of lock-less pavement scooter security remains just a dream for now, and the Bird One doesn’t make it a reality.

Battery

According to Bird, the One electric scooter has a range of about 25 miles or 40km. This is a fairly good range for such a vehicle, and to the credit of the scooter, it felt fairly accurate in our testing. We drove 5 miles and finished with 75% charge left.

What’s more impressive is that usually, electric scooter makers quote the distance you’ll get on the less-power-intensive slower modes. In this way, while the figures are technically true, they often don’t reflect the real experience of riding a scooter. The Bird One doesn’t have different modes though - we got our distance when traveling at the scooter’s top speed, so the range feels doubly correct.

The Bird One electric scooter takes six hours of charging to get from full to empty - that’s fairly average for this kind of vehicle, as four to eight hours tends to be what we see in most. You charge the vehicle by plugging a cable from mains into the base of the scooter, and a charging light on the handlebars lets you know something’s happening.

Riding

Now we come to the elephant in the room. That’s likely what we resembled when riding the Bird One, as we flailed and crashed about the place trying not to cause damage.

Riding the Bird One feels unsafe. That’s largely down to the construction issue we mentioned before, so the handlebars wobble and jolt about when you’re riding. As a result, when scooting over uneven surfaces, you’re constantly terrified of the scooter bucking in one direction or another, and falling over or throwing you off.

We got past this issue by gripping the handlebars tight and pushing them forward or pulling them towards us, to use our strength to stop the shaking, but this is a tiring and stressful way of riding. It’s better than the constant fear of falling off into traffic, though.

This construction issue is a deal-breaker, and we can’t recommend the scooter as a result. The only exception we’ll provide is if you can get a pre-constructed one, either from Bird itself or a regional seller. 

This assembly issue won’t plague people who are using Bird’s rental scooters, instead of their private ones. So construction and handlebar problems aside, how does the Bird One ride? Well, it’s okay, but nothing to write home about.

We found the break wasn’t sensitive enough - squeeze it a little, and you don’t lose much speed, squeeze it harder and you stop too quickly. Trying to stop gently became a distant dream. The turning arc of the scooter was too wide too, and we often had to give turns a wide berth to successfully make them.

The absence of riding modes, as most scooters have, and the fact you can’t see your speed, gives you much less control over your riding habits than you should have. While on other scooters you can drop into a lower speed mode to cruise through residential areas, or ride in an ‘eco’ mode to preserve battery, the Bird One doesn’t present those important options. It can be harder to guesstimate your speed than you may think.

Depending on where you live, the lack of a speed indicator can be a nuisance, or much, much worse. We say this because the Bird One’s maximum speed is 18mph or 29kmph - that’s quite a way over the UK’s 15.5mph or 25kmph electric scooter speed limit, so with this scooter you could break the law and never even know. It’s worth pointing out that the US speed limit is higher, so you won’t break it with the Bird One.

If there was something we did like, it was the acceleration speed, as it sat in the perfect goldilocks zone. If the acceleration of a scooter is too fast, you have little control when starting and can often zoom straight into traffic; if it’s too slow, after starting at a light you can get in the way of other motorists and cyclists. The Bird One was just right.

Thanks to having a 350w motor, the Bird One takes hills pretty well, so we could power up them without losing much speed. The lights felt powerful too, and we always felt sufficiently ‘seen’ at night.

App

The Bird One scooter uses Bird’s scooter rental app, and we had quite a few issues with the thing.

Firstly, initially connecting the scooter is a pain. The option to do so is well hidden, and we spent a lot of time Googling and searching before we figured out the solution - there’s no unique way to register a personal vehicle, you just scan your own scooter as though it’s a rental one. This could be a lot clearer.

The Bird app has connectivity issues, and given you use the app to turn on the scooter, deactivate the tamper alarm, see your scooter’s battery and toggle the lights, that’s a huge problem. We frequently found the app seemed convinced it was connected to the scooter when it wasn’t.

Several times we unlocked the scooter - or thought we did - only to be accosted by the tamper alarm when we tried to use it. This can be pretty terrifying in public, where people could think you’ve stolen the vehicle. Frequently the app failed to toggle the lights when we wanted it to, it often told us totally inaccurate battery readings, and occasionally our total ride distance was reset.

A good electric scooter app should be a way of eking out extra usefulness from your personal vehicle - it shouldn’t be necessary to use the thing, and it shouldn’t be this buggy either.

Should you buy the Bird One?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

First reviewed December 2020

• Check out our ranking of the best electric scooters

Two-minute review

The Covid pandemic has meant that many of us are now looking at alternatives to public transport, especially for short journeys. Electric scooters are particularly popular because they’re generally easier to sling in the back of a car or carry on your shoulder than a push bike or electric bike.

The legality of riding electric scooters depends on your location. In the UK, where Halfords is based, it's currently illegal to ride an electric scooter in public unless it's part of a licensed hire scheme. Halfords is selling the Carrera Impel is-1 e-scooter for ‘riding on private land’.

It’s a very good model indeed. Not the smallest or cheapest, but exceptionally well made and great for whizzing around on.

Using the LED control screen in the centre of the e-scooter, you can choose four different speed levels (rather like gears on a bike), with level four reaching speeds up to 15.5 miles per hour.

Just one slight niggle. It may offer good performance, but the Carrera Impel is-1 is not the lightest. The scooter tips the scales at 17kg (more than many e-bikes) so many people will struggle to carry this e-scooter long distances when folded up, though it can always be wheeled around in pedestrian mode as an alternative.

Price and release date

The Carrera Impel is-1 was released in February 2021, and costs £399 (about $550 / AU$700). At the time of writing, it's only available in Halfords stores in the UK and Republic of Ireland.

Design

Everything about this e-scooter feels solid and well designed. Mostly made of metal, it comes with a large footboard for standing on. The two pneumatic tyres are like miniature bike tyres, complete with decent tread, while the two front and rear brakes on the handlebars are extremely effective at slowing you down when you come to junctions.

A powerful headlight and brake light are provided as well as side reflectors to ensure that you can be seen in the dark and there’s even space for a number plate at the back of the e-scooter should one be required in future.

For carrying, the solid upright stem can be folded down and hooked up to the rear mudguard, while at the bottom of the stem is a built-in anti-theft device in the form of a steel cable that can be locked with a numerical code. This is quite a low security lock though – really intended only as a visual deterrent.

A display at the centre of the handlebars shows the level you are on, the speed (in miles per hour), as well as headlight and battery level indicators. Charging is carried out using the AC adaptor provided which plugs into the base of the footboard and takes around four hours.

On the left handlebar are controls for switching the e-scooter on and + and - buttons for moving through the levels. On the right is the throttle lever for acceleration which twists towards you for greater speed.

Performance

If your last memory of a scooter was wheeling one around the Primary school playground then you’re in for a shock. The Carrera impel is-1 is much more like an e-bike than a standard non-powered scooter and requires a bit of practice before you can feel truly comfortable.

Once charged, you need to switch the power on and enter a three-digit passcode using the + and – buttons (it’s actually a bit of a fiddly process). You then need to wheel the e-scooter along the road for a few metres before engaging the throttle to get it started.

Give it too much throttle and the front wheel can lift up and take off, too little and it won’t start. It takes a little bit of practice to get it right, but after a while you’ll be an expert.

Although four levels are provided, the reality is that most of the time I found myself zooming around in level four – at speeds of up to 15.5mph (at one point we looked down at the speedometer which showed 16.6mph going downhill). Although brakes are extremely responsive, in most instances you can slow down just by easing off the throttle and going down through the gears.

On really steep hills getting the e-scooter above 5-6mph can be difficult despite the powerful motor, but averaging around 12mph feels quite comfortable.

As with riding a bike, you need to be careful to avoid pot holes especially at high speeds, but most of the time wee found riding the e-scooter surprisingly comfortable even going over a recently resurfaced road.

The tires may be fairly small but they are pneumatic and, like everything about this e-scooter, good quality.  Although the e-scooter has an IPX5 water resistance rating, it’s probably best not to use in really heavy rain. Of course, it goes without saying you should always wear a helmet just in case you come off.

Finally, fully charging the Carrera Impel is-1 for three to four hours provides a typical range of 20Km (12.4m) range. Not an amazingly long distance but long enough for around 1.5 hours of scooting round. All in all, the Carrera e-scooter is great fun.

First reviewed March 2021

Buy it if

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• On a budget? Check out our roundup of the best cheap electric scooters

Pure Electric is holding an electric scooter clearance sale right now, with discounts of up to £450 on e-scooters from Micro Scooters, Razor, Reid and Walberg. All the models on sale are all full-sized adult scooters, and prices now start at just £349.

We've rounded up some of the best offers right here. Can't see one that you like? Take a look at our complete roundup of the best electric scooters for lots more options, with something for every budget.

If you're not in the UK, scroll down further for the best e-scooter deals near you.

Before you buy an electric scooter, it's important to note that it's not currently legal to ride an e-scooter on public roads in the UK unless it's part of an authorized hire scheme. Privately owned scooters can only be legally ridden on private land. If you ride your own scooter on public roads, you could face a hefty fine and receive points on your driving license.

Don't live in the UK? Here are the best e-scooter deals where you are.

• We've also tested and ranked the best electric bikes

Xiaomi is one of the bigger players in the electric scooter market, and it's got a new vehicle coming out soon that's been designed in collaboration with some pretty big names.

Well, this 'new' vehicle is actually a redesigned version of an older one. The Xiaomi Mi Electric Scooter Pro 2 Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team Edition, launched in mid-2020 and re-launched alongside the Xiaomi Mi 11 at the smartphone's global unveiling event, is a new version of the Mi Electric Scooter Pro 2.

The 'standard' Pro 2 was unveiled in July 2020 and went on sale afterwards - this version is coming 'later this year', at least for the UK, though we don't know about availability elsewhere just yet. It's worth pointing out the F1 Team Edition was shown off at the Pro 2 unveiling, but we didn't know it was coming to the UK until now.

• These are the best electric scooters
• Check out our Pure Air electric scooter review
• These are the top electric scooters for students

A new electric scooter

The new Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team Edition scooter (phew, what a name!) is, as the name suggests, built in collaboration with the Mercedes-Benz Formula 1 team. What does that mean for it? Well, it seems like largely a design change - while the original scooter was jet black, the new model has cyan accents and white patches too, making it look slick (and a little cyberpunk).

It's possible there are some other minor tweaks though - in a press release for the new scooter, Xiaomi states it "combines design elements from leading automobile companies with Xiaomi's advanced scooter engineering" which is admittedly pretty vague, and could simply refer to the design, or to extras like the tyres, braking or other extras.

In general, you're seemingly getting the 'standard' Xiaomi Mi Electric Scooter Pro 2 with its 300W motor, 25kmph / 15.5mph max speed, 45km / 28m range, and an LCD panel for stats and figures. We don't know the price for this just yet though.

We have yet to test the Xiaomi Mi Electric Scooter Pro 2, but the Xiaomi M365 Pro is one of best scooters we've tested, and the Pro 2 seems an upgrade. When we've tested the Pro 2, or its F1 Team Edition, we'll let you know if it's worth your attention.

• Razor launches sharp new line of budget electric scooters
• Browse all the latest electric scooter deals