We already know that electric scooters are both extremely fun and extremely useful, and chances are, if you’re reading this guide, you’re either thinking of buying your first electric scooter, or you already own a budget electric scooter and you’re thinking of upgrading. In either case, you’re probably considering several options that are not exactly cheap, and you’re probably thinking of whether you should pull the trigger on one of them and just buy a higher-ticket scooter that will also be of a much higher quality level.
Think of your budget first
I’ve talked to several scooter owners that have bought scooters that they couldn’t really afford. Interestingly, in many cases, they don’t seem to regret their decisions in the least, and some of them have mentioned even getting financing for buying the scooter, but they have often mentioned financial problems in other areas, which prompts me to give you this tip.
Of course, the more expensive a scooter is, the higher its quality level will be, the longer it will last, and the fewer headaches you will have with defects and breakdowns. Not only will you get a better experience overall, but you will likely not have to buy another scooter ever, and you will end up saving some money.
But in my opinion, I still don’t think that’s a good strategy for people that are not in a good financial position now. I’m a scooter blogger, and not a financial one, but I believe it’s my responsibility as your guide to the electric scooter world to give you the best advice I possibly can, and in the case of the purchase of the scooter itself, buying a more budget-friendly model is much better.
That being said, buying a cheap electric scooter for adults may not be in your best interest either. Electric scooters can last a long time if made with quality parts. Some electric scooters can be sold cheaply because they were made cheaply, meaning costs were cut somewhere and its possible your cheap electric scooter will break down shortly after your purchase.
Why are electric scooters expensive?
The reason fastest electric scooters may seem expensive is mostly because they are still a new, only partially time-tested, and well-received but not yet fully adopted technology. They’ve only been used on a massive scale in the last two or three years, and that use has mostly been in big cities. As they get more universal and the technology improves, their prices will go down.
That has been a clear trend so far – the average scooter you get for around $600 today would cost more than double about 5 years ago.
Also, when you think about how much money you will save on not paying for bus or metro tickets, or God forbid taxis, while you basically charge your scooter for free at home, they don’t even seem that expensive anymore. They’re actually a pretty good investment.
One of the main reasons behind the high price of an electric scooter is its battery. The motor of the vehicle also had a considerable impact. The most expensive part of the electric scooter is the battery, without any doubt. The performance of the scooter mostly depends on this part. Like the other electrical components, the e-scooters also require one or multiple quality cells for a long duration of performance. Usually, most of buyers of the e-scooter make their choice based on the range and speed of the vehicle. Typically, lithium-ion batteries are used in electric scooters. They are smaller in size but can hold massive power. As a result, these batteries are the best and the costliest variations available in the market. As per some sources, the price of the e-scooter depends 30% on the battery.
Apart from the battery and motor, the shipping duty or import cost of the e-scooters is also very high. Especially if you are under the EU, you may need to pay as high as around 25% of the total cost of the vehicle. Another reason for the higher shipping cost of the e-scooter is that they are very heavy.
Another reason behind the high price of the e-scooter is their limited demand. Though the tiny vehicle arrives with a lot of flexibility, people are not yet ready to adopt the vehicle. It is mainly because of the different riding styles, limited range, and limited speed of the e-scooters.
Is it worth buying an electric scooter financially?
The financial cost of owning an electric scooter is much lower than owning other forms of transportation such as a car or a motorcycle. But you should still consider the costs. There are four components to the cost of owning an electric scooter.
Cost of the electric scooter: This is the most obvious cost and almost goes without saying, but yes, you need to pay for the scooter. And the prices do vary quite a bit. Electric scooters range from a few hundred dollars up to $1,500 or more. Do your research. The correlation between the price isn’t always strong, so understand which features are included, consider the price point that you are comfortable with, and read reviews.
Cost of protective gear: You’re smart. Smart enough to know that while electric scooters are fun, they’re not toys. Self-protection should be a top concern for you every time you ride on or in any type of vehicle that moves faster than walking speed. So, you’ll need to invest in the proper protective gear. This includes a helmet, elbow pads, and knee pads. After all, electric scooters designed for fast and easy commuting can reach top speeds up to 18 miles per hour. That’s fast!
Make sure your protective gear is certified to help protect your head from low force multiple impacts, and single high impacts.
Cost of the electricity used to charge the scooter: The battery of the electric scooter runs down, and so you must recharge it. Most electric scooter batteries recharge anywhere between three and five hours. Your local electric service provider should be able to estimate this cost.
Cost to replace scooter: Even though an electric scooter is much cheaper to purchase and operate than a motorcycle or car, it has a limited lifetime. Expect to replace your scooter every five years. But as the electric personal transportation market continues to mature, you can expect prices to drop.
As a wrap-up, electric scooters are indeed expensive, but this will not always be the case. Once they gain more popularity the price will drop. Even now, considering they don’t need a lot of maintenance and paying taxes for them, they are a reliable option.
Always compute the cost of ownership of a vehicle. While a motorcycle may seem a better option, there are some advantages like the portability of an electric scooter.
