13 Best Electric Scooters For Adults in 2022

4. GOTRAX GXL

Looking for some true, ‘Plug and Play’ fun? Then take a page out of the book of some of the fans of this hot, high performance GoTrax GXL electric scooter, and make your daily commute or errand runs run fast, easy and hassle free. Just plug your GXL in for around 4 hours and you’re ready to play. The GXL comes to you pretty much assembled and fully charged, all you need is to quickly screw in the handlebars, which takes under 5 minutes for most owners. Your entire purchase comes complete with the scooter, handle bars, allen key, battery charger with indicator light, and a convenient air hose for tires. Owners also comment on the quick speed which their GXL was delivered.

Criteria Used for this Evaluation

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When it came to putting this list together we began our shortlist based on top-selling brands as well as smaller brands that had produced highly rated products. Where possible we´ve referenced independent consumer review sites and poured through real user reviews from confirmed purchases.

In order to help decide what buyers would want in an electric scooter we conducted extensive research into the types of engines, batteries, durability and braking systems. These aspects became the core criteria for our electric scooter evaluation. In addition to the core criteria, we also assessed price, looks and portability with added points for unique, or useful features.

Electric Engines

There are three types of electric engine found on electric scooters. Each type has its own positives and drawbacks. Choosing the right engine is important because it directly influences the speed, torque and efficiency of your electric scooter. Below we´ll cover each engine type in depth to help you choose the right electric scooter.

Chain driven engine

Chain driven engines are by far the most common engine for electric scooters. The engine is similar to a bicycle in that there is large gear, the Pinion, and a smaller gear, the Sprocket. These are linked together by a continuous metal chain. The battery turns the Pinion which sets the chain in motion turning the Sprocket.

Chain driven engines are typically sturdy and long-lasting. They also provide an efficient level of power. The only drawbacks to a chain-driven engine is the weight of the chain as well as surging. Surging results in speed variations and makes it difficult for the scooter to maintain a consistent steady mph.

Chainless DC Hub Motor

The Glion Dolly electric scooter uses a chainless DC Hub motor rather than a chain driven engine. The real advantage of using a chainless engine is that it´s compact. Sending energy through a drive shaft rather than through a chain. Chainless engines are more efficient plus they won´t suffer from surging in the way a traditional chain driven engine will.

Chainless motors are becoming increasingly common in electric bikes and scooters. One of the reasons for that is that power can be transferred in two directions. With the engine engaged power will come from the battery. However, if you push manually, the power you generate can be sent back to the battery to recharge it. Currently this technology is being used predominately on electric bicycles. In the near future though, I can see it becoming an industry standard on electric rides of all kinds.

Neo-dymium motors

Neo-dymium is an earth-magnet that produces a phenomenal amount of magnetic energy. So much so, that it is starting to be used in electric motors. These motors offer far more torque whilst fitting into a small space. Using magnetic force reduces friction significantly which means very little energy is wasted when in use.

Electric Scooters For Adults or Children?

While most of the electric scooters on our list will accommodate children both young and old, If you are a young adult looking to slash your commuting costs or just want a (comparatively) cheap way to run errands and get around town – You’ll definitely want to go focus on a more robust model scooter. Ideally, something that is capable of reaching a healthy top speed of 15+ mph, a strong battery and reasonable charging times. It’s true that a good quality commuter scooter will probably set you back a a $500+, but it’s nothing compared to the cost of owning a car.

If you are purchasing an electric scooter for a child or teen, It probably goes without saying that investing hundreds or sometimes even thousands of dollars may be a bit excessive if they haven’t already shown a strong interest in scooters or other electric rides. If you are just testing the water with scooters, We’ve gone ahead and noted several options that are great entry level choices for younger riders. While many of these scooters are also able to support an adult, performance will generally suffer from the extra weight and they generally don’t have the type of range and performance that will allow you to really commute to work and back on a single charge.

Batteries

Knowing a little about batteries will really help you to make an informed decision about your scooter. When we speak about power, we´re primarily talking about the strength of the wattage. Naturally, running more watts through an engine will increase its ability to handle inclines and tough surfaces. It also effects the weight capacity as well the acceleration.

As a rule of thumb, a battery that emits 250W, typically 12 volts is a children´s motor. That amount of watts just isn´t enough to carry a fully grown adult. You´ll also notice that motors in the 250W capacity the engine feels sluggish and will struggle on tougher surfaces. On the other hand, if you´re buying for a child, you´re not going to want a hugely powerful engine that could put their safety in jeopardy.

When you´re choosing an electric scooter think about what you´re going to use it for. If you´re planning on every day usage you´ll want a scooter with an output between 750W and 2000W. The higher the Wattage the higher price, so think carefully about what you actually need before you part with any money.

Lead Acid Battery
When electric scooters first hit the market-place they were fitted with a lead acid battery. These are found in all sorts of home appliances like fridges. They´re cheap to produce, reasonably efficient and they last a long time. The downside is that they take an age to charge. Typically, 12 to 24 hours. Another problem with lead batteries is that they are usually connected with wires which can easily come loose. Finally, as the battery decays, or if it´s damaged, it can run very hot and become a safety hazard.

Lithium Ion Battery
Lithium battery technology was developed largely because of mobile phones, tablets and portable computers. The trend was to make devices smaller and smaller. As a result extensive, and expensive, research was invested in Lithium Ion batteries.

In today´s market that research is being utilized in electric scooters. Lithium batteries are superior to lead batteries because of the low charge time; typically, 1 to 3 hours. They´re also much safer. Lithium use metal to generate energy which means, even as the battery decays, there is no risk of leaking fluid or catching fire. If you´re looking at an electric scooter as a long term investment we´d highly recommend getting one that uses a lithium ion battery.