Are electric scooters worth it?
A scooter powered by electricity dates back to 1996. But interest in them is just recently on the rise, especially on college campuses and in larger American cities. As a result, e-Scooter rental companies are on the rise, like Bird, Lime, and Uber, which recently announced their plans. The increased availability of rental scooters has prompted many people to think about purchasing their own. It boils down to one simple question: are electric scooters worth it?
It is extremely difficult to answer this question objectively. As unique as you are, it takes a process to determine the value of things. It may not be a worthwhile investment for you if it is for your neighbor or a family member.
We can discuss the costs of ownership and the benefits of owning an electric scooter to help you determine the value of ownership. After going over this information, you should be able to judge for yourself whether an electric scooter is right for you.
Will a Scooter Replace My Car?
You can benefit from owning an electric scooter. It goes beyond the economic benefits, though. An electric scooter may not be a good replacement for long-distance rides: Gotrax v2 scooter, for example, has a range of up to 16 miles. In most cases, this is more than sufficient for your daily commute and short trips around town.
So while you may still want to drive your car, you will use it much less frequently, and therefore contribute much less to traffic congestion and greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, you’ll also save time and money by relying on an e-scooter to commute. When you park at a garage or a meter, the cost of parking isn’t normally taken into account when estimating yearly commute costs, so you’ll save money on gas in addition to parking.
Are Electric Scooters Reliable?
E-scooters will last a long time with proper care, and you won’t have to worry about maintenance. In addition to regular car maintenance and frequent repairs, there is also the significant expense of yearly commuting estimates, which can be a huge drain on a family’s budget. The cost of a quality electric scooter such as the Hiboy scooter can be equivalent to one expensive car repair. It is also quite a bit more reliable to own your e-scooter than to use a shared bike or scooter, as shared vehicles are subject to heavy use and abuse.
Using an electric scooter for short trips and daily commutes is both economically and environmentally viable. A scooter is easy to store, easy to ride, and easy to transport on public transportation. In contrast to cars and bikes requiring routine maintenance, you will not only have to pay for routine maintenance after the initial investment.
A sleek, lightweight electric scooter with an easy folding mechanism, rugged yet high-tech engineering, and an affordable price, the Unagi will likely replace others in the short commute market-or you can combine it with other options to make public transportation more accessible. Is it worth buying an electric scooter?
Cheaper than renting
I encountered electric scooters for the first time at the 2019 South by Southwest conference, where Uber, Lyft, Bird, and Lime provided more than 8,000 electric scooters in downtown Austin. Despite the sheer number of scooters and people at the conference, the modest Austin hills were a blast to cruise up and down.
In San Francisco, I typically use public transportation, take shared Uber rides, or walk to get around. I haven’t owned a car for five years. Generally, I used ride-sharing only once or twice a week, usually on weekends or for soccer games, and it was affordable for a time. However, Lyft and Uber increased their ride prices in the wake of a new California law in January 2020. The shared rides were replaced with scooter rentals after a brief ban on electric scooters returned to the city.
My first ride
My first ride took me through Mission District and Mission Bay neighborhoods, costing about $4 to $9 per trip. I eventually figured out that it would be more practical to purchase my scooter rather than ride in an Uber carpool because I was having so much fun. Several years ago, I averaged nearly $20 per week on scooter rides, which amounted to just a little over $1,000.
To purchase an electric scooter, I began researching the available models. The Xiaomi Mi was the best-rated model. Amazon sold it for $377 at the time (it is now listed for $499). According to my budget, I expected to spend $150 per year on maintenance, such as replacing flat tires, and the scooter should last at least two years. I was able to calculate that the actual cost of owning a scooter over two years would be $700, much less than the cost of renting, which would have easily cost me $2,000 over those two years. I ordered the metallic black ride from Amazon several days ago, and it arrived in just a few days.
Pros and cons of an electric scooter
Pros of an electric scooter
E-Scooters can be quite convenient
In addition to being quite convenient to use, electric scooters help you get around quite easily.
Within seconds, you’ll be on your way, and after reaching your destination, you can park it nearby.
E-scooters are a perfect alternative for people who can’t drive yet and don’t have any other way to get around.
Don’t need a driver’s license
Electric scooters are suitable for most people since they do not require a driver’s license in many countries.
For the poorer fraction of the local population, E-Scooters may also be affordable to use compared to cars because there is no high cost of acquiring a driver’s license.
Easy to use
Taking a motorized scooter for a spin isn’t any harder than riding a bicycle.
Since electric scooters can be operated within a relatively short period, the vast majority of people will be able to learn how to operate them.
Additionally, teens and children younger than 12 years old are also tempted to use these scooters instead of walking or cycling.
Greenhouse gas emission savings
The other benefit of electric scooters is that they emit significantly less greenhouse gas than automobiles.
Driving an electric scooter does not emit greenhouse gases. Despite this, E-Scooters still emit some greenhouse gases. How come? Electric scooters consume a high percentage of electricity that is generated from fossil fuels.
Even though electric scooters do not emit zero greenhouse gases, they are still much less than other modes of transportation like cars and motorcycles.
Cons
They can be dangerous
E-scooters can reach speeds exceeding 30mph and are extremely dangerous if operated by an inexperienced individual.
Many countries have reported fatal e-scooter accidents. Emily Hartridge, 35, died in a collision with a lorry after colliding with an e-scooter in July 2019. She was the first person killed by an e-scooter in the United Kingdom.
As e-scooters are so quiet and fast, pedestrians may not be able to discern their approaches on the pavement when they approach an e-scooter. Blind people are being threatened by them truly and genuinely, according to the Royal National Institute of Blind People.
There is a lack of public knowledge surrounding e-scooters
Over half of our respondents (52%) confessed they did not know the law surrounding the use of e-scooters, according to our recent survey. 29 percent of respondents believe that privately owned e-scooters can be used in public, and 16 percent believe they can be used on pavement.
Recharge time
Electric scooters can take a long time to charge. Battery types differ in the time taken to fully charge, but it usually takes anywhere between six and fifteen hours.
Are electric scooters safe?
When you ask are electric scooters safe, do you mean whether they are prone to accidents or the battery will explode? No need to worry. First, electric scooters are no different from vehicles and motorbikes when it comes to susceptibility to accidents.
You ride carefully, you will be safe and the likelihood of accidents will be reduced significantly. You may need to use safety gear such as helmets, and closed shoes. This is why experts say electric scooters are safe for kids.
Electric scooters batteries are safe and they will not explode. However, you need to take good care of them otherwise they will degrade.
Should I get an electric scooter or a bike?
We have arrived at a time of micromobility. As major cities move away from car-centric infrastructure, personal electric vehicles solve last-mile problems and replace car trips.
Electric scooters and e-bikes are becoming increasingly popular as commuter modes. they are faster and easier than riding in dreaded rush hour traffic or depending on unreliable public transportation.
Whether you choose an e-bike or e-scooter as your electric vehicle depends on many factors, including the availability of storage and portability. Does your tiny studio apartment have enough room for a full-sized electric bike? Will it fit on your steep stairs if there are no elevators? Your option maybe a scooter or a small, foldable electric bike if you don’t already own one.
The transition from more traditional modes of transportation, especially if you’re just getting started, has many other implications.
Best electric scooter
There are many factors to consider when buying an electric scooter. The needs and reasons vary from one person to another. For instance, one may want one for fun,( in the case of that case buy a Weped SST E-scooter) and racing while the other may want an electric scooter for food delivery.
Factors to consider include budget, range, lights, speeds, and many other factors. Check our guide on buying an electric scooter.
Best time to buy an electric scooter
If you do not know, Electric scooters are sometimes are annoyingly expensive. This is true when you are buying an upper-tier electric scooter such as the Hiboy S2 scooter.
We would advise you to always check on offers that are given from time to time by the dealers and manufacturers. This is mostly near the end of the year. If you cannot wait that long, you will have to spend substantially to buy an electric scooter.
Final thoughts on “ are electric scooters worth it?”
So Are Electric Scooters Worth It? Our answer is yes!
In the world of urban commuters and campus commuters, an electric scooter is an exciting means of personal transportation. You can easily understand why.
You can travel in style and be eco-friendly by using them. Battery technology has improved in the past few years, making batteries more affordable and lighter. The SWAGTRON e-scooters combine innovative design with industry-leading features at a family-friendly price.
If you’re looking for an electric scooter for last-mile transportation or to explore more of the world, there’s one out there for you.