Best Electric Scooters

What is an electric scooter?

An electric scooter is simply an electrified version of your typical kick scooter. Instead of exerting energy pushing yourself along, an electric motor does the majority of the work for you.

Electric scooters range from sleek machines that aren’t much bigger than a typical kick scooter, up to gruntier models with higher top speeds and larger, thicker tyres.

Types of electric scooters

There are several types of electric scooters, each catering for a different need. They include kids’ electric scooters, foldable scooters, off-road electric scooters, and even Harley Davidson-inspired fat-tyre electric scooters, with dramatic curved handlebars.

However, the main categories you want to consider are:

Kids electric scooters

These are about the same size as your standard kids’ scooter. However, they contain a small battery that can provide some low-speed cruising. Some models offer extremely low speeds and range, which are ideal for young children, while others have a bit more grunt and are more suitable for young teens.

Electric kick scooters/foldable electric scooters

These scooters are fairly compact and often (but not always) sport a foldable design. Some models are extremely light and compact (the Segway Ninebot Air T15 comes to mind) while some models are a bit larger. Typically size affects the speeds and range on offer. So if you want something light and compact to get you from your house to the train station, and then the station to the office, smaller designs are ideal.

If you’re hoping to do the whole commute via electric scooter, a slightly larger model should offer enough speed and range.

Off-road electric scooters

Off-road, in this instance, doesn’t necessarily mean they are designed for mountain trails. But these scooters are gruntier and have larger, thicker tyres, so are more comfortable on uneven paving, gravel, dirt, etc. Think of these scooters like an SUV, compared to a standard hatchback (electric kick scooter). While they’re bigger and gruntier, they’re mainly driven on the same streets!

Typically, off-road electric scooters can reach higher top speeds, have larger ranges, and can handle hills and inclines better. You’ll often see people riding these on roads, as opposed to the footpath, as they can often hit inner-city/suburban speed limits.

How fast, and how far, can an electric scooter go?

Speeds vary depending on the make and model. Entry-level models typically reach about 20km/h. But larger, more powerful models can top over 50km/h.

Your average scooter-share scooter typically sits somewhere about 20-30km/h, depending on location. For example, in some locations (typically crowded inner city areas), scooter speeds are intentionally capped at slower speeds.

In terms of range, this also varies greatly between models. Cheaper electric scooters may only offer about 12-20km of range on a single charge, while more expensive models can hit 65km+!

How much does an electric scooter cost?

Basic models cost around $400-$600, while more expensive models can cost a few thousand. While they are not exactly cheap, if you’re planning on using a e-scooter regularly and for an extended period, buying one will likely be more cost-effective than hiring one regularly.

What about scooter-sharing?

If you’re ever in a major city, you’ll probably notice electric scooters littered everywhere, from brands including Lime, Neuron, Beam, Jump and Flamengo. To use one, you’ll need to download the relevant scooter brand’s app and upload your details and payment method. Then all you need to do is scan the scooter to unlock it and you’re away.

You’re charged a fee for the initial unlocking of the scooter, and then a per-minute fee for usage. While fees vary between brands and cities, it usually costs around $1 to unlock a scooter and anywhere from 15-45c per minute to ride it.

While these scan-and-go scooters are certainly handy, and are a cheap way to travel short distances quickly, they do have limitations:

• Locations – for-hire electric scooters aren’t available everywhere, so if you’re outside a major centre, you’re out of luck
• Availability – even if you live in Auckland, there’s not always a scooter available nearby. So if you want the best chance of scoring a ride, you’ll likely need multiple accounts with multiple companies
• Cost – the per-minute charges can really add up if you use them regularly and travel further than just around the corner
• Speed and distance – most electric scooters available through scooter-sharing aren’t particularly fast and don’t have a great range, especially if the battery isn’t fully charged
• Condition and hygiene – the fact that these scooters are available publicly means some of the scooters you’ll come across may be in less-than-ideal condition. You also might want to factor in the general hygiene aspect of sharing it (and its helmet) with anyone and everyone

Things to consider when buying an electric scooter

If you think grabbing an electric scooter of your own might be the way forward, there are several things you need to consider:

• Range – are you hoping to replace your daily commute with an electric scooter? If so, it needs to have enough distance to get you there and back (or at least there, assuming you can charge it while at work). And if you want to use it for a full day of weekend errands, it’ll need to go even further. Electric scooters can go anywhere from 10km on a single charge to 65km+
• Speed – do you want blistering speeds, or does the idea of zooming along at 50km/h sound too much? Furthermore, if the scooter is for a child, you can get scooters with child-friendly top speeds
• Compactibility – do you have room to store a large electric scooter, or do you need something smaller? Most kick scooters fold down so they take up less space and are easier to carry. Larger, off-road electric scooters don’t usually fold
• Charging – Can you charge your scooter in a garage, or are you fine with parking your scooter in your hallway or living area? If space in your home is limited, do you need something more compact? You also need to factor in charge times, which can vary from around 4-12 hours
• Power/hill grade – if your regular commute has its fair share of slopes, you’ll need enough power to get up them without having to kick yourself along. Look out for any hill-grade specifications. This can be listed in degrees or a percentage of 90 degrees (eg 20% hill grade = 18-degree slope)
• Size and weight – if you’re particularly tall (or short) you may need to consider a bigger (or smaller) scooter. It may also be worth considering the weight of a larger, gruntier model if you plan to lug it around
• Security – does the scooter have manual or electronic locking? Is there GPS tracking or an inbuilt alarm?
• Display – most electric scooters have an electronic display screen, to display info like speed, ride mode (sport, eco, etc), available range and more. Basic models may not have any screen at all
• Everything else – do you prefer a twist-handle acceleration or a push-type thumb paddle acceleration? Do you care about LED flashing lights or the overall design? Do you want a scooter that comes with its own smart app?

Once you’ve considered the above, you’ll have a better grasp on your scooter budget. Electric scooters can cost anywhere from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand, so it’s important you understand your needs before you go shopping.

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Best electric scooters

Below is a small selection of the electric scooters currently available. It is by no means a comprehensive list, and while it may serve as a good starting point, it’s important you do your own research before making any decisions.

Xiaomi Electric Scooter 3 Lite ($515*) & Pro 4 ($1298.99*)

Chinese brand Xiaomi is making some of the most popular electric scooters on the market, featuring great pricing and no-nonsense designs. The Electric Scooter 3 Lite is an excellent commuter electric scooter, and essentially an upgrade of the old M365 model (one of the best-selling electric scooters in the world). The Lite 3 offers plenty of range for day-to-day use and enough speed for a comfortable ride.

If your commute is a little more hilly, or you want to go cruising on sunny Sundays, the 4 Pro sports much the same design, with more range and 20 degree gradability (as opposed to 14 degrees on the 3 Lite).

3 Lite

• Top speed – up to 25km/h
• Range – up to 20km
• Hill grade – approx. 14 degrees
• Charge time – approx. 4 hours
• Max rider weight – 100kg
• Product weight – 13kg

Pro 4

• Top speed – up to 25km/h
• Range – up to 55km
• Hill grade – approx. 20 degrees
• Charge time – approx. 8.5 hours
• Max rider weight- 120kg
• Product weight – 17kg

Niu KQi3 Pro ($1199.95*)

An excellent all-around commuter scooter. Thanks to its excellent range, you should be able to commute to and from the office for days on end before needing to charge. It also sports a 20% hill-grade climbing ability, so you should be able to tackle most of the sloping streets with ease, all in a compact, foldable form.

• Top speed – up to 25km/h
• Range – up to 50km
• Hill grade – 20% (approx 18 degrees)
• Charge time – approx 6 hours
• Max rider weight- 120kg
• Product weight – 18.4kg

Inokim Oxo ($3895)

The Inokim Oxo is a bit of a beast when it comes to electric scooters. With over 100km of range and top speeds of 65km/h. This scooter will take you much further than the office.

• Top speed – up to 65km/h
• Range – up to 110km
• Hill grade – approx. 25 degrees
• Charge time – approx. 13 hours
• Max rider weight – 120kg
• Product weight – 27kg

Kaabo Mantis 10 Base ($1999*)

Another impressive scooter, this Mantis 10 Base sports 3-inch tyres, full hydraulic brakes, and even turn signals (ideal for users hoping to use it on roads).

• Top speed – up to 60km/h
• Range – up to 70km
• Hill grade –  unspecified
• Charge time – approx 8.5 hours
• Max rider weight- 120kg
• Product weight – 30kg

*Prices correct as of 03/11/23.

Charging an electric scooter? Get a power plan to match!

If you’re gonna be charging your electric scooter each night, you’ll want the best power plan to match! If you’re unsure if you are getting the best deal, Canstar Blue can help. We rate NZ power companies for customer satisfaction and value for money, see the table below for some of the results, or you can click on the button below for the full results of our survey.

Canstar Blue’s latest review of NZ power companies compares them on customer satisfaction. The table below is an abridged version of our full results, available here.

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About the author of this page

This report was written by Canstar Content Producer, Caitlin Bingham. Caitlin is an experienced writer whose passion for creativity led her to study communication and journalism. She began her career freelancing as a content writer, before joining the Canstar team.