electric scooter Frequently Asked Questions

As long as you follow these important safety tips, you will be perfectly safe:

• ALWAYS wear a helmet
• Respect your local traffic laws
• Wear all the safety gear you have
• Don’t drink or do drugs before riding
• Never ride too fast
• Turn carefully
• Check that your tires are sufficiently inflated and in good shape
• Make sure that all of your brake systems work
• Make sure that you have enough battery to get where you need to go
• Stay focused on your ride
• Avoid riding in the rain, snow, or wet weather
• Avoid ice or slippery surfaces
• Avoid pedestrian areas
• Avoid heavy traffic
• Ride as the manual instructs
• Only ride by yourself
• Always use your lights at night

In most places, scooters are either street-legal or unregulated. Only a few places in the world completely prohibit them on public roads, most notably London, UK. They will typically have a speed limit, usually 15 mph / 25 kmh.

Also, places that have special laws for electric scooters will sometimes have a minimum age requirement for riding them. Most of the time, wearing a helmet while riding is required.

When electric scooter usage is unregulated, usually the same laws for bikes will apply to them. Check your local regulations that apply to your area. 

Electric scooters are very easy to ride, with a few exceptions, and often take just five minutes to learn how. Keep in mind, the more powerful the scooter, the longer it will take to master that scooter. Generally speaking, adults, children and the elderly can quickly master the function and operation of a scooter. 

This is the simplest explanation possible about how every electric scooter works.

Every electric scooter will have the following basic components:

• Throttle (trigger throttle, motorcycle style throttle, etc.)
• Battery(s)
• Motor(s)
• Controller

Scooters, although simple, are complex underneath. Each scooter will have a powerful battery, control interface, and one or two motors. When you turn the scooter on, either with a key or the press of a button, power is fed through a controller into the motor(s). Once you actuate the throttle, power is supplied from the batteries directly into the motor(s), then off you go! The larger the battery and motor(s), the faster you can go. Scooters range in speed of 5 miles per hour all the way up to 70+ miles per hour (yes, there are scooters that can go 70 mph)!

The operation of an electric scooter is simple and should only take around five minutes to learn. 

The general process of operating an electric scooter is as follows:

• Make sure that you have all of the safety equipment on you
• Make sure that your scooter has sufficient battery charge
• Turn on the scooter; always start in the slowest mode available
• Put one foot on the deck and use the other foot to kick-start the scooter (if needed)
• Engage the throttle as you kick to start moving
• Keep the throttle engaged if you want to speed up 
• Lean forward if you want to speed up or when riding at an incline
• Steer by turning the handlebar and slightly leaning your body to the side that you want to turn
• Gently apply the brakes if you want to stop (forcefully apply brakes for emergency stopping)

The actual process is very simple,  you will get the hang of operating your scooter usually within a handful of minutes. For most people, it looks harder than it is if they have never previously operated an electric scooter.

Electric scooters manufactured in the last five years will be very reliable. Electric scooter technology has advanced significantly in recent years. Quality, motor power, and battery capacity have improved dramatically as the technology has advanced. Most of the newer models on the market have great range and, with proper care, will last for years to come.

Of course, that will not be the case for all electric scooters. Some scooters are simply low-quality models. Also, there are many old models still in use, which may have been of acceptable quality for their time, but are now obsolete. Keep in mind that when you get an electric scooter online, be sure to look into their ratings. 

Many online sellers have been unreliable in recents years. Buying your electric scooter at E-Go Depot gets you a warranty, should there be any issues; just bring it in to the store and we will take care of you. No long email chains, no waiting on hold forever, or waiting for a reply. E-Go Depot is an authorized dealer for everything we sell, so we are able to deliver quality electric scooters and peace of mind.

The most commonly reported defects and problems in electric scooters are problems related to the electronics of the scooter, including the wirings, the motor, and the controllers. They are the most common causes for dead-on-arrival situations as well. Battery issues are very common as well, ranging from the battery delivering much less than the promised performance, to the battery not working at all. 

Getting your electric scooter in our store eliminates the chance of problems the moment your electric scooter arrives. E-Go Depot tests every scooter in the store to insure it operates as designed and is trouble free. 

Most electric scooters are not stunt machines and are not designed to ride in an aggressive way. Jumping, over speeding, modifying parts, etc. all have risks and can cause premature damage to your electric scooter. Specific scooters are available that are designed to be stunt scooters and can take aggressive riding, which can be a lot of fun. However, most electric scooters must be handled and operated within manufacturers specifications. 

Electric scooters are an excellent commuting option. Many electric scooters are quick, nimble, efficient, and great for avoiding traffic jams. Electric scooters are perfect for most commutes. An important consideration when planning on getting your electric scooter at E-Go Depot with the intent to commute is to take into account how many miles it is to and from your destination. Can you charge your scooter at your workplace? Is there a place to store your scooter at your destination? These are just a few things to consider when looking at scooter options.

Compared to other means of transportation, electric scooters will usually be the better option, especially in big cities. Naturally, there will be some scenarios where an electric scooter will not always be the best fit as a commuting option.  

Electric scooters are the best possible solution for the last-mile problem today. Their portability, low weight, and low space occupancy make them perfect for being both ridden through busy urban environments, as well as taken along on public transport systems like trains and buses.

There are virtually no scenarios where electric scooters can’t help with the last-mile problem.

Electric scooters are very good for the environment. They don’t cause greenhouse gas emissions and they also help to reduce traffic jams. Much of the materials used to manufacture electric scooters, including their batteries, can be recycled and/or reused.

Electric scooters can easily be ridden at night. They come with both headlights and taillights, and even additional lights on the bottom of the deck. Wear a fluorescent vest when riding at night, so that other participants in traffic can spot you even easier.

Not only can you ride your scooter at night, but it’s also very fun. The empty streets are simply a blast to glide through.

An electric scooter for an entry-level model can cost around $300, while a high-end scooter can cost well over $7,500. The average price range for a quality electric scooter is around $800 to $1,300. E-Go Depot has many electric scooter options to choose from and, when in stock, you can even take the scooter out for a test ride and make sure that the scooter fits to you. Not to mention, E-Go Depot will often match online prices from the manufacturer's website. 

In the United States, the AVERAGE cost of charging an average scooter from empty to full is $0.03. In the EU, the AVERAGE cost would be $0.04. In the rest of the world, the price is even lower. 

However, it is important to keep in mind how many batteries your scooter has, how big the batteries are, how many chargers the electric scooter takes, as well as other factors. At any rate, charging your electric scooter doesn't cost much at all. Even if you were to get the biggest and the best available, the cost would still be minimal. 

On average, electric scooters take around four hours to charge. Most regular commuting scooters will take between three and six hours to fully charge. Powerful off-road models can take up to a full day to charge.

There are some other factors in play here, of course. This will largely depend on your model, the charger, and the charging mode you use.

You should never let your electric scooter’s battery be fully depleted. Charging your electric scooter battery is ideal when your scooter reaches around 20%. If you use your electric scooter daily, charge it at the end of the scooter's use for the day.

Of course, there is a lot of variation on when and for how long you should charge your scooter. It is always best to refer to the manufacturer's recommendations for optimum results. 

At E-Go Depot you can pick up a specially designed charger that not only charges your battery, it conditions the battery. This charger by Grin Technologies (E-Go Depot is an authorized dealer for Grin Technologies) is available for purchase and will effectively almost double the life of your battery, if used properly. 

In short, no. 

It is not recommended to ride electric scooters in the rain or any other type of wet conditions/environment. No matter how water-resistant your scooter is, avoid riding in the rain and through bodies of water. That being said, most scooters will not be damaged by light contact with water. If you don't want to have to worry about your scooter being damaged by water, there are waterproof electric scooters available on the market. 

About half of the electric scooter models today come with some level of IP rating, which means that they are certified for at least some level of water-resistance. 

The scooters without an IP rating are very sensitive to water. Most models are only water-resistant, only a few are actually waterproof.

Many airlines strictly prohibit electric scooters on board. Some only allow electric scooters that have batteries smaller than 160 Watt-hours. Check with your airline for specific regulations, either by the TSA or the airline. 

Most electric scooters today can easily reach speeds to around 15 mph / 25 kmh. The average speed of an adult electric scooter is around 25 mph / 40 kmh. 

In most countries, the speed limit for electric scooters is 15 mph / 25 kmh. Many budget models today are able to travel at fast speeds. 

The fastest electric scooter in the world right now is the Rion2 RE90, capable of reaching speeds of 100 mph / 160 kmh. That's  C R A Z Y  F A S T!

Making your electric scooter go faster or capable of traveling longer distances is possible and can be done with significant results, if done correctly. 

HOWEVER, this will VOID any warranty and, if done with the slightest error, can cause your electric scooter to burst into flames at which point there is nothing you can do. Might as well grab a hot dog and a marshmallow. 

Most electric scooters can climb most moderate hills. The more powerful the electric scooter is, the better it will be able at climbing very steep hills. Many budget scooters will struggle with even the mildest hills.

Naturally, the hill-climbing abilities of the scooter will depend on the scooter itself and the weight of the rider.

There are many electric scooter options suitable for heavier individuals. Most electric scooters for adults have weight capacities of at least 265 lbs / 120 kg. There are also many models available with weight capacities of over 330 lbs  / 150 kg.

For individuals on the heavier side, it’s always best to get a scooter with a high weight capacity.

Follow these tips in order to store your electric scooter properly:

• Store it in a dry, dark room at room temperature
• Charge the battery to at least 60%
• Recharge your battery at least once a month; never let the battery drain fully 
• Make sure that your scooter is clean before you store it
• Make sure that it’s turned off, folded, and properly locked
• If you keep the original package and protective covers, store it in those; otherwise, store it in a fitting waterproof cover
• Check on your scooter occasionally to make sure that it’s in good condition and there are no signs of trouble
• When taking it out: make sure that the battery is charged, the tires are inflated, all of the electronics function well, and that the brakes work properly