It's a common scene. You enter a store and you discover a multitude of electric scooters, your eyes marvel at the richness of the offer, but you have to choose only one! A difficult choice for any beginner who has not taken the time to do the necessary research to choose the model that will suit them.

Xerider will try to help you define your needs, by giving you some advice on 8 essential criteria which will define the choice of your EDP.

In many ways, finding the right electric scooter is like finding the right car for your needs. If you have a bunch of children, you will need a large vehicle to transport this large family. If, on the other hand, you're a carefree single, a two-door coupe might be more your cup of tea. You have to make the right choice based on the use you will have of your vehicle. The same goes for choosing an EDP. Selecting a scooter should lead you to ask yourself the right questions before purchasing.
If you need a scooter for your daily commute to and from work, an ultra-portable and lightweight scooter may be better suited to your situation.
Below, we will discuss the different key factors that will help you determine the type of electric scooter you need.

The weight

This is usually the main concern of many users. Weight is of significant importance if you have to carry or push your e-scooter. Daily users tend to look for a solution to the question “How do I navigate through the crowds during rush hour”. “Leisure” oriented users will have another concern in mind like “how can I have fun with my electric scooter”.

Daily users will generally prefer lightweight portable scooters weighing less than 10 kg. Generally, what you gain in weight comes at the cost of stability and comfort.

Some scooters, a little heavier (10-12kg), offer an interesting compromise between portability, comfort and power. They have features that allow them to be portable, such as an integrated trolley function while being quite comfortable and powerful. Scooters in this category include the E-TWOW, Inokim Light.

For users whose weight is not a primary criterion and who are primarily looking for comfort and performance, the choice widens greatly. These range from the Inokim Light 2 to the Dualtron Thunder, the most powerful electric scooter marketed to date.

Wheel size

This may not be an obvious concern to everyone, but wheel size is an important factor. Tire size can have a strong impact on the weight of your vehicle, but also the power, safety and driving comfort.

Wheel sizes for the smallest scooters range from 5 inches to 8 inches (ETWOW). Whereas a 10-inch wheel will already be considered a Ferris wheel. Note that all of these scooters have an integrated hub motor. The larger the wheel, the easier it will be to accommodate a powerful motor.

Electric scooters with small wheels tend to be lighter, but also less grippy and less powerful.
Electric scooters with larger wheels have more traction and generally provide better stability on wet surfaces. They are generally equipped with a larger engine with more driving power.

Engine power

The power and size of the wheel must be adapted. If you have too much power on a small wheel, you risk skidding, not very reassuring. Typical safe driving power is 250W, but this may be a problem on slight slopes.
350W-450W motors are the norm currently, but manufacturers have found a way to reduce the power in smaller packages, with up to 1000W of power in a single 10-inch wheel hub motor.

Also think about the elevation of the route you have to cover daily. If your route has steep slopes of more than 10 degrees, you will need at least a 400 W motor or more to climb the slope comfortably (consider ETWOW Booster Plus). Otherwise, a basic 250 W motor will be sufficient (think Inokim light 1…).

The budget

Even if you have significant financial means, the budget for an electric scooter must be taken into consideration and it would be a shame to make a mistake when purchasing one. The price range goes from €400 in a hypermarket or large specialist store, up to €3000 in a premium retailer.

As a general rule, with a budget of €800 to €1500 you have access to very good quality scooters.

If it's for your daily commute and you don't have to take public transportation, it might be worth investing in a more comfortable and powerful machine. Go for air tires with at least a 350W motor, which may cost a little more, but you'll thank us for the comfortable ride it brings afterward.

If you plan to take public transport regularly, choose a lightweight and portable scooter. You will only use your scooter for short distances, for the last mile, so it doesn't matter if your scooter is neither powerful nor comfortable. In this case, you can opt for an entry-level scooter between €800 and €1000.

Distance

This factor must be weighed against other factors. The greater the distance required, the larger the battery must be, which makes the electric scooter heavier.
Usual transport distances are between 2 km from the nearest train station and 10 km to/from the workplace. For this, a battery capacity of 5.2 Ah to 7.8 Ah should be sufficient.
For leisure enthusiasts who typically opt for long hikes of 35 km or more, opt for battery capacities of 10.4 Ah or more. Internal batteries can reach 20 Ah and. If equipped with an external secondary battery, the total capacity of an electric scooter can reach 26 Ah.

Battery quality

Given that the Li-Ion battery represents approximately 1/3 of the cost of an electric scooter, when purchasing an electric scooter, you will pay attention to ensuring that the battery is of good quality with the longest lifespan. long possible.
Chinese batteries are generally cheaper (about half the price) than Korean or Japanese cells from Samsung, Sanyo or LG.

Panasonic cells are the benchmark in Li-Ion battery technology. These are the same cells used in Tesla cars. However, they are also very expensive. Samsung cells are top quality with good value for money, while Sanyo and LG cells are slightly lower quality.

These premium batteries have an average lifespan of 500 charge cycles before their capacity drops to 70% of their original capacity.

Guarantee

A good quality electric scooter with a good battery will usually come with a standard one-year factory warranty.
Generally a good quality and respectable electric scooter manufacturer will guarantee your electric scooter for at least 12 months.

Why is this important? A battery generally costs more than a third of the price of the electric scooter. If you think you're getting a good deal on a scooter with no warranty, think again. You need to factor in the future cost of replacing a faulty battery or motor within 6 months. To save money over time, it is better to invest a little more in a quality product with a certain guarantee than to buy low-end and unguaranteed equipment that you will have to change every 6 months.

After sales service

Just like owning a car, an electric scooter requires regular repairs and maintenance. Make sure that the retailer from whom you purchased your electric scooter has the means and ability to take care of any repairs or maintenance. Parts such as brakes and tires wear out and a reliable after-sales service center will make your life much more pleasant in terms of service to get you back on the road quickly.

We hope that these 8 criteria, listed above, will help you define the type of electric scooter you need. If you are still having trouble defining the scooter of your dreams, Xerider remains at your disposal to give you personalized advice on choosing your EDP.