New electric scooters and motorcycles are constantly appearing on the market. But before you choose, there are some things you need to pay attention to in order to make the right choice.
The electric proposals on the market are many and varied, but they have one common denominator: very low mobility and maintenance costs, which makes them very attractive.
However, as with petrol cars, there are different categories of electric cars that serve different needs. Below we'll break down what you need to look for before you buy, so that what you get meets your needs.
Is the top speed sufficient for the roads you're driving on, or will you be an obstacle and in danger?
Many electric scooters have a top speed of 45 kilometers per hour to be able to be driven with an AM license, for a 50cc. If you want it for moving around the village or city center and burning "crumbs" it's fine, but if your routes involve more open roads and highways, the low top speed won't suit you.
You'll be constantly "full throttle" and will drain the battery more quickly, and slowing down and going much slower than the rest of the traffic is dangerous for you and other road users.
Nowadays many scooters easily reach 100 km/h, and are specifically designed to withstand heavy adults. Shopping recommendations website Techodom, put a comprehensive article on the best electric scooters for heavy adults that you should check - if you fall in this category.
Are watts enough or will you be pushing?
The power of electric motors is measured in watts. These affect reps, top end, starting on a steep gradient, throttle response, load carrying or second person ability and generally more watts means more power.
Steep grades significantly affect the performance of the weaker electric motors and the vehicle's speed drops as the road gets steeper.
This is something to keep in mind before you buy. If you live in an area with a lot of ups and downs or need to carry a second person or heavy items, then you should choose an electric with more watts.
If you don't have an outlet in the garage, removable batteries are a one-way street.
Before buying an electric scooter you need to think about where the batteries will be charged. If your garage has an outlet that you can use, then that's not a problem and all you might need is a battery charger. But if you park on the street or don't have an outlet in the garage, then you should choose an electric with removable batteries.
The good thing is that the majority of models on the market have one or two removable batteries that you can charge at home, the office, and anywhere there is a household outlet. They usually weigh close to 10 - 15 pounds each, so carrying them is not difficult.
Is autonomy enough for you?
The biggest stress of an electric vehicle driver is autonomy. The number announced by the manufacturers has been achieved under specific and completely controlled conditions which, may differ from the real thing.
Sure they give an order of magnitude, but you have to keep in mind that the range is affected by the way you drive, the slope of the road, the weight and more.
Calculate the distances you'll cover and try to find out the actual range of the model you're interested in, so you can be sure it's sufficient.
Before you buy, think about:
- Is the top speed sufficient for the roads you drive on?
- Are the watts enough or will you be pushing?
- Do you have an electrical outlet in your garage?
- Is the range enough for you?
What other items would you look at before buying an electric? Are you interested in comfort, quality, practicality or would you sacrifice them on the altar of economy?
Photo by Denniz Futalan
