What’s the best electric scooter for 2020?
Best electric scooter 2020: get around in style with best e-scooters for adults
Getting around is far more fun when you’re riding an e-scooter, come rain or shine, so we’ve rounded up the best electric scooters we sell & our top scooters for 2020
2. Kugoo G Max
3. Zero 9
4. Nanrobot N6+
If you want to get somewhere fast, an electric scooter might not seem like the most practical option – but you’d be surprised at what you can do with two small wheels and a battery. The best electric scooters are practical and fold into an easily-packable package. As a ‘last-mile solution’, there’s probably nothing better.
Electric scooters are more than just scooters with batteries. As glib as that statement may be, it's also true: they're a lot faster than regular scooters, they're a heck of a lot heavier, and the best electric scooters are also far more controllable than their manual cousins.
You're unlikely to be pulling off any sick tricks on these – and at top speed, you should not even be attempting it – but the benefit of a little torque in your wheels means you'll be expertly manoeuvring up hills in no time.
Our buyer’s guide includes Nanrobot D6+, the Kugoo G Max & G Booster, Xiaomi’s excellent M365 Pro, the Segway-Ninebot G30 Max, and our pick of the best electric scooter you can buy right now, the Zero 9. It’s a brilliant, high-quality scooter, offering something for everyone, and it’s surprisingly cheap against the stiff competition.
Things have changed a lot in the electric scooter market over the past year or so. A huge number of new companies have dipped their toes in the water, meaning there are now many more practical adult-sized scooters on the market. As the tech gets more widespread, it’s improving, giving you a much slicker ride for the most part.
And let’s face it, tech gimmicks or not, the enjoyment of riding an e-scooter that can rocket along at 25mph is something most people can appreciate, though admittedly it can definitely feel like too much power for some.
If you have a journey or commute that suits this kind of personal transport, there are electric scooters out there that can reduce your journey time and get you through the traffic. That said, the question of ‘are electric scooters legal’ is one that really depends on your local jurisdiction, so you need to exercise caution here.
Electric scooters are only growing in popularity, and if you’re keen to try one, we’ve found the best electric scooters you can buy right now. They’re nippy, fun, and might be the mode of personal transport you’ve been looking for.
HOW TO BUY AN ELECTRIC SCOOTER
Picking up the best electric scooter for you is absolutely imperative – it's a proper investment, so you need something you're going to want to ride. These things are essentially a narrow plank racing up to 25mph, so safety needs to be a concern. But those aren't the only things you'll need to consider…
Some electric scooters are well suited to a quick hop – the JSF Urban Sprinter, for instance, sacrifices distance for a vast weight reduction – and others, like the Egret Ten V3, pile on the battery for maximum range but leave themselves super-heavy in the process. It's a balancing act. If you're commuting a long way, put your money in batteries, but if you're just scooting that final mile, a lighter scooter might be a better choice.
Is the best electric scooter the fastest electric scooter? Not necessarily: top speed will get you where you're going fast, but you'll need a lot of nerve to take a super-speed scooter up to its maximum, particularly if you're weaving through traffic.
Lightweight materials like aluminium are a positive, since they'll cut the weight of your scooter when you're dragging it from place to place. But if you're using your electric scooter for more than play, avoid plastic components. Consider also the wheels – heavy use requires heavier duty wheels, and suspension or pneumatic tyres will give you a much smoother ride.
ELECTRIC SCOOTERS ROAD SAFETY RULES
Here's where things get a little complicated. Under UK law, most electric kick scooters are not legal for street use unless they're properly registered. Recently, though, the government has announced it's fast-tracking e-scooter trials, hoping to remove the current laws banning them (which are based on 1835 regulations surrounding horse and cart driving). This is to encourage more people to use alternative methods of transport when commuting.
Some high-powered e-scooters are technically classed as mopeds, though even that classification can be a little complicated. It is safe to assume that none of these scooters can technically be used anywhere other than on private land in the UK.
With big names entering the business, like Usain Bolt-fronted BOLT Mobility, and with concerns about the environmental impact of cars at the forefront, you can bet there’s at least some pressure on legislators to get things changed.
US law varies from state to state, so you really must check local laws before you purchase an electric scooter. So to clarify: wherever you are, riding any e-scooter on private land is OK, but make sure that you're going to be able to use your new ride for its intended purpose before you invest, otherwise you’re wasting your money.
Finally, take it from us: whether the laws in your location demand it or not, you’ll want to always wear a helmet when riding an electric scooter. These things move fast and are potentially very dangerous. Protect your head and always be considerate of other people near you.