Are Electric Scooters Worth Buying?

Electric Scooters have been around since 1996. But they’ve just recently seen a massive uptick in popularity and public interest, especially in larger American cities and on college campuses. This is in part thanks to the growing number of e-scooter rental companies, like Bird, Lime, and more recently announced, Uber.

With so many rental scooters hitting the market, more and more people are considering making a purchase of their own. And they’re asking one simple question: are electric scooters worth buying?

As cities become more crowded and traffic worsens by the year, the old way of commuting becomes increasingly unsustainable. Commuters have recognized this fact and embraced new ride-share models that reduce their carbon footprint, cut transportation costs, and cut down significantly on the time spent on the road. At the forefront of this commuting revolution, electric scooters solve a number of problems in addition to being just plain fun to ride.

Answering this question is extremely subjective. Determining the value of something is a process as unique as you are. Something that’s worth it to your neighbor or a family member might not be worth it to you.

But to help you determine the value of owning an electric scooter, we can explore the costs to and benefits of ownership. At the end of this exploration, you should have enough information to determine for yourself if owning an electric scooter is worth it.

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Are electric scooters worth Buying?

Electric scooters are a very cost-efficient way of commuting and traveling. Savings on fuel and public transport costs will pay off your electric scooter in 4-6 months in developed countries, and in about a year and a half on average globally. You will save between $400 and $1200 every year depending on your location.

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The Cost of Owning An Electric Scooter

The financial cost of owning an electric scooter is much lower than owning other forms of transportation such as a car or a motorcycle. But you should still consider the costs. There are four components to the cost of owning an electric scooter.

• Cost of the electric scooter: This is the most obvious cost and almost goes without saying, but yes, you actually need to pay for the scooter. And the prices do vary quite a bit. Electric scooter range from a few hundred dollars up to $1,500 or more. Do your research. The correlation between the price isn’t always strong, so understand which features are included, consider the price point that you are comfortable with, and read reviews.
• Cost of protective gear: You’re smart. Smart enough to know that while electric scooters are fun, they’re not toys. Self-protection should be a top concern for you every time you ride on or in any type of vehicle that moves faster than walking speed. So, you’ll need to invest in the proper protective gear. This includes a helmet, elbow pads, and knee pads. After all, eScooters designed for fast and easy commuting can reach top speeds up to 18 miles per hour. That’s pretty fast!Make sure your protective gear is certified to help protect your head from low force multiple impacts (ASTM Standard) and single high impacts (CPSC Certified).
• Cost of the electricity used to charge the scooter: The battery of the electric scooter runs down, and so you must recharge it. Most electric scooter batteries recharge anywhere between three and five hours. Your local electric service provider should be able to estimate this cost. (But we know it’s certainly less than a tank of gas!)
• Cost to replace scooter: Even though an electric scooter is much cheaper to purchase and operate than a motorcycle or car, it has a limited lifetime. Expect to replace your scooter every five years. But as the electric personal transportation market continues to mature, you can expect prices to drop.

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Will a Scooter Replace My Car?

Owning an electric scooter is clearly a cost-effective means of transportation. But the benefits of ownership go beyond economics. Electric scooters may not replace cars for longer trips: Unagi, for example, has a range of up to 15.5 miles (25km) on a single charge. However, this is more than enough capacity for most daily urban commutes and short trips around town.

So, while you might want to keep your car, you’ll find yourself using it significantly less, and contributing far less to traffic congestion and greenhouse gas emissions. Not only that, but you’ll also eliminate the time and expense of parking if you rely primarily on an e-scooter for your commute. Whether expensive monthly garage fees or daily meters, the cost of parking generally isn’t factored into yearly commuting estimates, meaning that you’ll be saving much more than just the cost of gas.

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Top 10 Benefits to Owning an Electric Scooter

Owning an electric scooter isn’t all about costs. There are plenty of benefits to go along with ownership. Here are the top ten benefits you’ll reap by purchasing an electric scooter.

Honestly, there are way more than 10 benefits – but we could be here for hours talking about them!

1. Easy assembly. An electric scooter is easy to assemble. Most models can be assembled in as little as ten minutes – especially the foldable models. Just unfold, attach the handle grips, charge up the battery and go.
2. They’re fun. Don’t you want to feel like a kid again? Owning an e-Scooter is one way to relive the good old’ days of riding in the open air, with the wind blowing through your hair. We all deserve a bit of fun now and then, right?
3. Easy to park. Most electric scooters are small and lightweight enough to fit in your office, in a school locker, or in a grocery cart. But if you absolutely need to park your electric scooter, you have plenty of options. Bike racks are virtually everywhere, and many bike locks can be used to secure your scooter.
4. Saves you time. Because a scooter is small and easy to operate, you can more easily navigate through traffic congestion. You’ll get where you’re going quicker and, dare we say, better.
5. License requirements: Because of their limited speed, many cities do not require you to have a license. Before you ride, ensure that you become familiar with your local electric scooter regulations. Visit our article, “Are Electric Scooters Legal?”, for more information.
6. Easily portable. An electric scooter is usually lightweight enough to carry with you on the bus, train, or subway. And some, like our Swagger 5 commuter scooters, can be easily folded so that you can store them in compact spaces.
7. Environment friendly. Because they are electric, an electric scooter doesn’t emit CO2 into the atmosphere. The less CO2, the better
8. Cost of maintenance: Maintaining an electric scooter is less expensive than owning a motorcycle or car. Our Swagger 5 features a revolutionary airless honeycomb-style rear tire that helps you say goodbye to flat tires.
9. They’re electric. No seriously, this is a huge advantage. Electric scooters are cheaper to operate when compared to traditional fuel-based scooters and bikes. Instead of hopping in your car for short trips and quick errands, hop on your electric scooter.
10. They are affordable. An electric scooter certainly costs far less than a motorcycle or a car. You can have a high-end scooter for just a few hundred dollars. Some manufacturers SWAGTRON® included, have invested heavily in lowering manufacturing costs while raising quality.
    Those savings are passed on to you.

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Electric Scooter Charging Costs

There are two factors that will determine how much it costs to charge your scooter: the price of electricity where you live, and the capacity of your Scooter’s battery.

For a typical scooter, like the Xiaomi M365 Pro (or any other scooter with a battery capacity close to 500 Wh), these will be the costs of fully charging it in the countries where they’re mostly used, taking into account whether you’re charging during peak or off-peak hours. For convenience, we will include the monthly costs for charging the scooter. We assume that you fully charge your scooter every day, during peak hours (worst-case scenario).

Country	Cost of charging the average electric scooter	Monthly charging cost (peak hours)
USA	$0.02 off-peak, $0.07 peak	$2.1
UK	$0.11 off-peak, $0.13 peak	$3.9
Australia	$0.06 off-peak, $0.12 peak	$3.6
Canada	$0.04 off-peak, $0.05 peak	$1.5
Mexico	$0.04	$1.2
New Zealand	$0.09 off-peak, $0.10 peak	$3
Ireland	$0.11 off-peak, $0.13 peak	$3.9
Germany	$0.06 off-peak, $0.17 peak	$5.1
France	$0.06 off-peak, $0.10 peak	$3
Switzerland	$0.10	$3
Austria	$0.09 off-peak, $0.11 peak	$3.3

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Electric Scooter vs Car Costs

To keep things simple, we will not be looking at maintenance costs here (plus, it’s kind of obvious that car defects will be much costlier).

We will be comparing the prices of charging your scooter every day during peak hours, to the price of fueling to be able to ride it for 400 miles (644 kilometers) every month.

I chose that number based on the yearly distance an average American drives with their cars. which is 13.474 miles, then I divided it by 12 to get the monthly number (1124), and finally divided that by 2 for the car rides that you wouldn’t do with a scooter, like going somewhere with family, transporting some larger objects, etc. That gives us 562 miles, and since Americans probably drive more than people in other countries, I decided to further reduce that number to a nice round 400 miles (644 kilometers). I think that’s pretty fair to the case of cars in this comparison, if not somewhat generous.

Since the charging prices were chosen for the average scooter, we will be looking at the average car as well. According to figures released by the federal office of environmental protection in Germany, the average car uses 7.5 liters of fuel per 100 Kilometers (62 miles). Again, I think this is generous for cars since German cars are probably more fuel-efficient than the average car.

Putting the two together, we arrive at the conclusion that the average car that a person drives alone for about 400 miles / 644 kilometers in one month will need 6.45 refills of 7.5 liters, or 48.37 liters.

Country	Fuel price $/liter	Fuel price for month	Scooter charge cost for month	Electric scooter monthly savings	Months before scooter pays itself off
USA	$0.68	$20.4	$2.1	$18.3	27.3
UK	$1.51	$45.3	$3.9	$41.4	12.1
Australia	$0.94	$28.2	$3.6	$24.6	20.3
Canada	$0.94	$28.2	$1.5	$26.7	18.7
Mexico	$0.89	$26.7	$1.2	$25.5	19.6
New Zealand	$1.41	$42.3	$3	$39.3	12.7
Ireland	$1.49	$44.7	$3.9	$40.8	12.3
Germany	$1.43	$42.9	$5.1	$37.8	13.2
France	$1.58	$47.4	$3	$44.4	11.3
Switzerland	$1.43	$42.9	$3	$39.9	12.5
Austria	$1.26	$37.8	$3.3	$34.5	14.5

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How much money does an Electric Scooter Save you Compared to Car Spending?

On average, a common electric scooter will save you $33.47 per month when compared to the cost of fueling your car for your own personal rides only. In the USA, that amount is $18.3, $26.7 for Canada, and $24.6 for Australia. In the UK and Ireland, that amount is even higher at around $41, and it’s between $35 and $45 per month for most countries in the EU and Europe in general.

In countries where fuel prices are high, these savings will be huge. So countries in the EU will see huge savings with electric scooters.

How soon does an Electric Scooter pay itself off with Car Fuel Savings?

The typical electric scooter that costs around $500 will pay itself off in 17 months.

This number is even lower in countries with expensive fuel, like in some European countries (13 months in Germany, 12 months in the UK and Ireland, 11 in France and most Nordic countries, and just 10 in the Netherlands).

In countries where fuel is cheaper, this number is higher (27 months for the USA, 28 months in Russia, and even 44 months in Malaysia).

Electric Scooters vs Public Transport Costs

The other most common mode of transport is, of course, public transport.

While public transport is massively important, and it is great for the environment, many people find it insufficient in many ways. It’s often dirty, unreliable, or completely unavailable, and it reduces your flexibility.

How much Money does an Electric Scooter save you Compared to Public Transport Spending?

Averaged across the world, electric scooters will save you about $50 per month if you use them instead of buying a monthly public transport ticket. The savings are very prominent in countries where public transport is expensive (the USA with $65, EU countries where monthly tickets cost between $80 and $100, and Australia, Canada, the UK, and Ireland, all with $100 or more). This holds true even for countries where monthly tickets are very cheap (the Philippines with $11, Ukraine with $10, India and Pakistan with $9.5).

How soon will an Electric Scooter pay itself off with Public Transport Cost Savings?

Globally, an average $500 electric scooter will pay itself off within a year and a half (17.5 months) with money saved on public transport tickets. In developed countries, where public transport is expensive, this time frame will be a lot smaller (just 4-6 months in the UK, Ireland, EU, and Nordic countries, Australia, and Canada, and about 8 months in the USA). In places where public transport is very cheap, it will take a lot longer (5 years in India and Pakistan, and a whole 8 years in Vietnam!).

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Do Electric Scooters Last?

Even though early signs are very promising, it’s a bit too soon to confidently say how long will an electric scooter last.

Electric scooters have only been around for a few years, and they have been popular even less than that. They have come a long way, but progress is still being made.

I’ve done a great deal of research on electric scooters for this blog, and I’ve gone through many user reviews and forum discussions. I can confidently say that I’ve noticed a few trends:

• electric scooters released in the last three years break down much less than their predecessors, and have much fewer defects
• higher-end scooters break down less often
• companies listen to their customers, and usually, the newer model of a scooter addresses many of the issues the previous model had
• we are seeing a great increase in specifications and features important to users such as range, speed, and safety, and at the same time seeing a drop in prices

How Long do Electric Scooter Batteries Last?

The battery is somewhat of a different story than the scooter as a whole.

Most electric scooters have lithium-ion batteries, and like all other batteries, they lose their capacity over time. There will come a point in time when you’ll likely have to get a new battery.

The expected life of a lithium-ion battery is between 2 and 3 years, or between 300 and 500 charges, whatever comes first.

After about 18-24 months, you may start seeing noticeable drops in range and power. The majority of owners will likely have to replace their batteries after the third year.

Are Electric Scooters Reliable?

As mentioned, complete breakdowns are very rare, despite electric scooters being a fairly new technology.

Also, the range keeps improving year over year. Today, there are tons of amazing long-range scooters you can go for if you need more range.

Accidents are extremely rare, and very easily preventable with safe and responsible riding.

So overall, electric scooters are reliable

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Pros and Cons of Electric Scooters 

Pros of Electric Scooters

Lightweight and Practical

Electric scooters are made to be lightweight and practical. You can get electric scooters under 22 pounds, but most average about 20-25 pounds depending on the model and battery size. If you get a foldable electric scooter, you will find it very practical. You can fold and unfold it in 3 seconds, and it will fit under your desk. You can take it with you at work or school, and don’t have to leave it outside.

This is the main advantage of a foldable electric scooter versus a traditional bike or electric bike. 

Don’t need a lot of maintenance

An electric scooter doesn’t need a lot of maintenance, actually, almost none. You need to ensure screws are tightened properly once a month and lube it if needed. But, that’s all unless some parts break. In my experience, if you invest in a high-quality electric scooter, the parts are reliable. Even if you need to change a wheel, light, tire, or a broken mudguard, that’s nothing compared to the costs of owning a car.

Cars require a lot of maintenance, but we usually only compute the gas price. Wrong! Cars involve changing oil, tires, brake pads, fuel filters, and fixing broken parts. All of these can raise the cost per mile because car parts are expensive and not easy to change by yourself.

They are not expensive and operation is (almost) free. You can get a decent scooter for your commute for $600–700. If you use it to replace your 5-mile commute by car to work every day, you will save around $250 in a year just on gas. That does not count parking, the cost of your car, etc.

Cost per mile

We have a dedicated article on the cost of ownership and cost per mile for an electric scooter. Except for the buying price, which can be high especially if you already own a car, an electric scooter has an incredibly low cost per mile and ownership. As we said above, it needs very little maintenance compared to a car.

Fast

Electric scooters are pretty fast. Electric scooters are capable of delivering the same speeds as a traditional bike or e-bike but without peddling.

Convenient

We discussed the lightweight and practical aspects of a foldable scooter, but there is one more huge advantage. You can get to work without having broken a sweat. Comparing it to a traditional bike, you don’t have to do any sort of peddling, which can make you change your shirt or worse.

Green

It may not affect you directly, but, if we all use electric means of transportation, it will lead to cleaner air and environment. Cars, motorcycles, and non-electric scooters pollute the air, and this is observable in crowded cities. The air quality is very low.

If you don’t own a car, an electric scooter can be a good option to fill the first or last 1-3 miles to a public means of transportation. Choosing an eco-friendly vehicle will help to maintain clean air in cities.

Fun

I have yet to meet a person who doesn’t enjoy a scooter ride, but there may be some cases. Of course, a short ride doesn’t mean you are comfortable with riding every day, but it’s a start. Personally, I enjoy riding to work on an electric scooter. The feeling of freedom and fresh air is great.

If standing up isn’t for you, there are models which include a seat, so longer commutes are also possible.

Cons of Electric Scooters

Price

The price is the main obstacle for many of us. Electric scooters are pricy, especially high-quality ones. The reason behind the high price is the battery. Batteries are expensive and hard to produce, so scooters that offer a long range will be quite expensive.

If you don’t own a car yet, the idea of getting an electric scooter seems more logical. If you already have a car and pay all the taxes and maintenance, you can get a lot of gallons of gas for the price of an electric scooter. But, in the end, you will be eco-friendly if you choose an electric scooter.

There are many variables depending on your situation such as your way to work and the money you are willing to spend on an electric scooter. If you want to read more about the range and cost of ownership I left a link to those articles as well.

You have a short way to work

If you have less than 1 mile to work, you can always walk that distance, so getting an expensive electric scooter doesn’t make much sense. If you really want one, get a low-range scooter that is less expensive. As you have only 1 mile, it will do its job.

You have a long way to work

If you have more than 5-6 miles to work, a car can be a more reliable and fast alternative to electric scooters. If you have 5-6 miles, the ride will likely be much longer than with a car. But if you work in a crowded place, it may make sense to get an electric scooter as a last-mile vehicle.

Exercise

As stated above, you won’t give much effort to ride an electric scooter. If you have a short ride to work, a bike is a really good and less expensive alternative to electric scooters.

Range and environment

If you decide to buy an electric scooter, pay great attention to the specified range. It’s always advised to buy one with a slightly bigger range than stated by the manufacturer. This way, you will always reach your destination even if the battery or temperature outside is not the most favorable.

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