Electric Scooter vs Electric Bike: which one is better for your needs?

Electric scooter vs electric bike ? This is a big question for a lot of people before buying an electric vehicule for commuting.

Personal electric vehicles are becoming an increasingly popular transportation alternative, especially for people who live in big cities. This is good news for people who are looking to buy an electric scooter or an electric bike. With more people turning to electric scooters and electric bikes, we are also seeing more affordable models available on the market. 

But when it comes to choosing between an e-scooter and an e-bike, you might find it difficult to decide which one is best for you.

This “electric scooter vs electric bike” article will help you decide by looking at the following factors:

• Why you should invest in a personal electric vehicle
• Portability and storage
• Riding comfort
• Cost
• Long-distance rides
• Exercise
• Speed
• Beginner-friendly

Why you should invest in a personal electric vehicle ?

Have you ever sat in a car during peak hour traffic and thought: “I could walk faster than this”? The truth is, you probably could – especially within the city centre. 

In large metropolitan cities, cars are an inefficient way of getting around, which is why personal electric vehicles offer a quicker alternative. Not only are cars expensive to run, there’s also the added pain of trying to find parking.

Public transport can be equally frustrating, especially when there are disruptions on your local train line, or when you’re squashed in a train carriage along with all the other peak hour travellers. An electric scooter or an electric bike on the other hand, can get you from A to B without the stress and hassle of catching public transport.

Electric Scooter vs Electric Bike : Portability and storage

The winner: electric scooter

The average electric scooter is more lightweight than the average electric bike. You can easily store most e-scooters in the trunk of a car. This can’t be done with most e-bikes. Electric scooters are also easy to carry onto public transport as many models are able to be folded up, with some e-scooters being super lightweight, even weighing under 26 lbs (12 kg).  

Electric bikes on the other hand are usually much heavier due to their bigger tires and heavier frames. However, there are heavy-duty e-scooters that can weigh over 100 lbs (45 kg) to accommodate heavier riders, or to support dual motors.

Riding comfort

The winner: e-scooter

Sitting down on an electric bike means you have to put a little more thought into what you plan on wearing while riding. An e-bike can be more restrictive to what you can wear, especially if wearing a dress or a short skirt. Standing upright on an electric scooter means that the rider can wear their chosen outfit, without it impacting their comfort.

With no need to pedal, another advantage of riding an electric scooter vs electric bike is that you can get to your destination without breaking a sweat. Riding your scooter around town is more stress-free and relaxing than on an e-bike.  

Electric Scooter vs Electric Bike : Cost

The winner: electric scooter

There are expensive electric scooters available, but overall they are more affordable than electric bikes. For example, for $500 you can buy a decent e-scooter, but you’d struggle to do the same with an e-bike. The more money you’re willing to fork out though, means you can get a much better model. Electric scooters with a higher price tag often have better range and speed.

The cost of maintaining an e-bike is also much higher than an e-scooter, which is due to more complex configurations. An e-bike has bigger parts than an e-scooter, making it a more expensive vehicle to repair if required.

Long-distance and off-road rides

The winner: e-bike

The larger tires on an electric bike mean you’ll be more secure while you’re riding over bumps in the road, making them better for off-road riding. The average e-bike generally has a longer range than an electric scooter too, so you won’t have to worry about running out of power. While it’s rare to see an electric scooter with a range over 65 km (40 miles), it’s quite common with e-bikes.

Another added bonus about riding an electric bike vs electric scooter over long distances is that if your battery goes flat, you can continue pedalling like a normal bicycle which can’t be done with all electric scooters.

Although if your e-scooter does run out of battery, you can easily take it onto a train or put it in the trunk of a taxi. Also if you only need to recharge for a quick trip, then the e-scooter will be able to do so much faster than an e-bike.  

Exercise

The winner: electric bike

Some people like having the option of being able to do some of the work themselves. In this case, electric bikes allow riders to exercise as they pedal along. Although you can push some electric scooters along, you won’t be getting much exercise in comparison, nor is it very practical.

If you’re not worried about a personal electric vehicle that can give you a workout, then an electric scooter is more than fine. However, if you prefer having the option of being able to build up a sweat, an e-bike is the better choice.

Electric Scooter vs Electric Bike : Speed

The winner: e-bike

While an electric bike has an average top speed that is generally higher than an electric scooter, it’s actually a more complicated issue. That’s because many cities have speed limits on how fast a personal electric vehicle can travel.

In some places, an e-bike is classified as a moped, which means you can travel at higher speeds, but you’ll need insurance and a license plate to ride it on the road (and maybe a good bicycle turn signal lights set). In this case, it’s much easier to get around on an electric scooter as you can generally ride in the bicycle lane.

However, it’s best to check your local council and state regulations, as the rules can vary greatly between regions.

Beginner-friendly

The winner: electric scooter

For someone who didn’t grow up riding a bicycle, learning to ride an e-bike won’t be something they can pick up straight away. An e-scooter is incredibly easy to ride, as you can just hop on and away you go. 

On an electric bike however, you may need to adjust the seat and your feet aren’t touching the ground, which can take some getting used to if you haven’t ridden a bicycle for a long time.

If you’ve never ridden a scooter or a bike before, it’s a good idea to practice in your backyard or down a quiet side street until you feel confident riding alongside heavy traffic.

Electric scooter vs electric bike: which is the right one for you?

An electric scooter is a good choice for:

• Everyday commuting
• Low maintenance cost
• Great portability and storage capability (but you still need a bike lock)
• Easy to ride
• Affordable price

An electric bike is a good choice for:

• Off-road or long-distance riding
• High speed
• Exercise
• Stability
• Bigger size