With motor scooters selling like crazy, their popularity is hardly a secret. But if you’re thinking seriously about putting money down on a scooter, you need to answer the question, “Do I need a gas powered or electric model?” I’ve seen websites that argue the merits of one approach or the other, as if one is drastically better–but if you click around, you notice that the type of scooter they endorse is the type they are trying to sell. I won’t take that stance, because there are pros and cons to consider either way. Let’s consider electric scooters first.
Electric motor scooters score points because…
- Electricity costs a lot less than gas–up to 75 percent less. Recharging an electric scooter costs mere cents a day. This is probably the most best argument in favor of an electric scooter.
- Battery technology is continually being refined, and will continue to improve–while buying gasoline gets more painful and problematic all the time.
- Electric scooters are environmentally green (no fumes). If your goal is to contribute to a greener planet, then give electric scooters a good long look. Gas scooters give off harmful exhaust. However, they produce dramatically fewer emissions than cars, so they’re a big step in the right direction.
- You can ride electric scooters inside the house. Just don’t give in to the temptation to perform stunts like jumping the stairs.
- You can recharge your scooter at home. Plug it in next to your cooking range, by your computer, wherever.
- You can pack electric motor scooters on trips, because they’re allowed in buses, planes, and trains–while gas powered scooters are not.
- Maintenance is straightforward and cheap. No oil changes, for example, and the battery acids are contained, so there’s no need to handle fuel.
- Electric scooters are very quiet, almost silent (low humming sound) and they start at the push of a button. Gas scooters are louder, and can be compared to a lawnmower or small motorcycle in terms of noise output.
To recap, electric motor scooters are especially a good fit for people who foresee short-range, urban use on a predictable schedule. For example, riding around a residential neighborhood, downtown community, or campus. Using an electric model with a regular schedule will give you the downtime you need to make sure it’s charged up.
After reading this overview, you may be high on electric scooters, and I don’t blame you! But hang on a second–some people have demands that are a better match for gas powered scooters. Do you want a scooter with more toughness and speed? Were you hoping to take your scooter off road, or on longer trips? To hear the pro-gasoline powered argument, keep an eye out for the argument in favor of gas motorized scooters and hybrids.
