Are you a business owner operating an electric scooter business online or offline but don’t exactly know how to choose the perfect e-scooter to help your business move level of a higher step?
Congratulations, you are just in the right place at the right time!
The competition of electric scooter personal market is fierce nowadays. Regular scooters with similar features can not stand out as the top dog.
When consumers face the increasingly homogeneous e-scooters, their requirements become individuation.
To avoid a cost-effective price war and increase the overall competitiveness of your company, we think you have to know clearly about your potential users, what they buy scooters for, when and where they would ride.
Now it is the time for the Niche!
First, we divided the class of electric scooters into three categories based on our experience: entry-level commuters, premium commuters, and performance scooters. And each of these categories targets a specific audience whose requirements in vary.
And then, we selected one or two king scooters as examples that can be particularly representative of each category to take you to dive into what features and advantages each class should have.
In the end, we’ll give you our recommendation of how to choose the correct scooter for each class and what extras you could add to the current scooter to make yours differ from others.
3 Categories Scooters To Choose From For Your Business:
1, Budget entry-level commuter
They have a reasonable range for shorter distance traveling users for daily commuting on relative flats without having lots of steep hills
2. Premium commuter
They have more powerful motors and sport a larger battery for their size, and as such, they own a longer-range and faster acceleration than the Budget commuter. This series has increased safety and ride quality due to its pneumatic tires, disc brake, suspension, functional app, and cruise control. However, the portability would be worse than the entry-level commuters;
3, Performance scooters
Acceleration on them is pretty brutal, thanks to their dual motors and massive batteries. They are built for advanced riders on those longer rides at high speed. The ride will be much more comfortable and safer due to the gigantic tubeless air-filled tires, hydraulic suspensions, more powerful light and turn signals, and a large deck that gives enough standing room. These scooters take all features of premium commuter yet have the characteristic of being too heavy of a beast scooter. Although they still can be used for daily commuting, their large tires are designed actually for off-roading.
Budget Entry-Level Commuter
The entry-level budget commuter has become the most popular scooter because of its low cost.
They provide an affordable solution for those who like to ride around the city or other less challenging terrains in fair weather, and they are concerned whether the scooter is easily carrying around much more than the range.
10-15 miles per charge range without slowing down is enough for them, and they get a relatively small enough power pack, making the scooter light enough to take along.
The entry-level budget commuter is where to start your business. They are built for first-time riders at entry-level prices to help you open the market.
They are usually featured with
- Around 15 miles reasonable riding distance
- Top speed at 10-20 miles per hour
- 250-300 watt motor
- More than one good quality brake system
- Under 35lbs, light enough for easy carrying around.
- Pneumatic or mixed tire
- Foldable
Here we pick the Xiaomi M365, the king of the entry-level scooter for the personal market, as a representative scooter to bring you into the features, performance, ride quality, and selling points of this series scooter should have.
In the end, you will know what kind of scooter in this series could help you expand the market.
Representative products- Xiaomi Mi M365
Xiaomi M365 has become the most popular scooter globally since Bird selected it as its first e-scooter model, which brought electric scooter sharing to the masses.
We are going to describe this class on the aspects of basic specification, performance, portability, ride quality and build quality
Retail Price: $400 to $800
Basic Specification
- Top Speed: 16.7 miles per hour
- Range: 14.6 miles
- Weight: 27lb
- Max load capacity: 220lb
- Water resistance: IP54
- Motor: 250W
- Battery: 280Wh
- Brakes: Regen + Disc
Performance
- Xiaomi M365 has an excellent performance score on acceleration, braking distance, top speed, and hill climb.
- 200ft hill climb: 20.8s
- 0-15mph acceleration: 6.6s
- Braking distance: 16.8ft
Ride Quality
The budget commuters tires are almost exclusively solid, while Xiaomi M365 is equipped with pneumatic tires. However, like many scooters at this price point, it lacks suspension.
Although these air-filled tires will cushion the most bumps on rough terrain or off-road, the ride quality won’t be as smooth as riding on paved roads.
Weight
E-scooters at this level weigh the lightest among all categories making them easy to carry upstairs or onto public transport.
Folding Mechanism
Though Xiaomi M365 weighs a little of 27lbs, its stem locks at an angle when folded, making it harder to carry because of the shifted forward center of gravity.
Xr Ultra, the same level scooter as the Xiaomi M365, has a better folding mechanism with a 90- degree angle stem when folded.
According to the place where the riders would use, portability is probably the most critical factor to consider when users buy entry-level budget scooters. They buy scooters at this price point to get the features of quick and easy fold instead of high speed and long-range.
So don’t just think about the weight, but also consider the golding mechanism and when to choose these budget commuters. And try to avoid some scooters with too large and thicker stems, making them less portable when grasped.
Build Quality
Appearance, how durable it feels, tires type, and battery brand are the four criteria when we evaluate the build quality of an e-scooter.
Tough this series of scooters are the cheapest, it doesn’t mean they have under-powered motors, low capacity batteries, and weak brakes. We must make sure the scooter features:
- Good appearance. This includes not creaking a lot, excellent fit, and finish.
- Stable build quality frame, some scooters even use lightweight, durable magnesium made stem, making the scooter feel solid.
- Good tires, some scooters at this level use tubeless pneumatic tires, which provide better resistance to punctures.
- Good battery, very few scooters at this price point use branded battery pack, but don’t worry, cause the battery is less related to the mechanical problems.
Summary
When choosing budget entry-level electric scooters, don’t weigh the long-range and fast top speed too heavily, as long as they are around the average value that this series should have. (Range from 12 to 25miles, acceleration from 15to 20 mph).
Focus on build quality and portability. Try to find the light item with relatively small folded dimensions and quickly folding speed. An excellent folding mechanism like XR Ultra would score extra points.
And please pay attention to the quality of components your supplier has been using to make your scooters. The stem and deck should be strong and solid. Magnesium alloy would be an ideal material for the frame, as it balanced the weight and durability.
And check how your supplier does the daily quality control for each item to ensure an excellent build quality without rattling parts and apparent scratches. However, don’t expect too much on the branded battery they are using. It’s impossible to get LG or Samsung cell-made batteries at this price range. You’d better get a good warranty from them as well.
Comfortable and safe ride configurations are becoming the bonus and ample sales opportunity!
Following features and configurations would increase the ride quality and safety, and if you could get a scooter at this price range with one or more of these features, you would stand out in the market.
- Drum + Dic brake
- Rear suspension or even dual suspension
- Large mixed or full pneumatic tire
- Optional cruise control
- Massive deck to give adequate standing space
- Brightness high-mounted stem light
- Under deck light for car noticeable from a distance
- Turn Signal and rear light to provide safe riding in crowded city environments.
Premium Commuter
People buy premium commuters because they’ve achieved the perfect balance of speed, range, and portability.
Due to their thrilling acceleration and long riding distance, users could ride it for fun without worrying about them being too heavy.
Premium often own more powerful motor and a slightly larger battery than budget one, and some competitive scooters in this price range have the boxes in terms of safety and comfortable ride, including powerful single or dual motors, rear suspension, massive air-filled tires, loud electric horn, functional app, cruise control, and more.
Here we pick Zero nine as the representative of premium commuters to get you into the features and big selling points the premium should have.
And in the end, you will know how to choose the premium commuter to help your business grow.
Representative products- Zero 9
Zero 9 stands out among premium commuters at around $1200. With less than 40lbs of weight and 22 miles of range, it offers a great combination of range, speed, and weight.
We are going to describe this class on the aspects of basic specification, performance, portability, ride quality and build quality.
Retail Price: $900-$1200
Basic Specification
- Top Speed: 28 miles per hour
- Range: 21 mile
- Weight: 40lb
- Max load capacity: 220lb
- Motor: 600W
- Battery: 625Wh
- Brakes: Disc + Drum
Performance
- Zero 9 is competitive for its outstanding top speed, hill climb time, braking, and acceleration performance.
- 200ft hill climb: 14s
- 0-15mph acceleration: 4.2s
- Braking distance: 10ft
Ride quality
Three usual ways of handling the bumps are used in premium series scooters: Solid tires + Suspension and Pneumatic tires + No suspension, and Pneumatic tires + Suspension.
The method Zero 9 adapted is front and rear spring suspension + 8.5-inch pneumatic tires, which soaks up bumps very well.
The solid tire can not handle obstacles very well when riding on uneven terrain.
Zero 9 also has a large deck leaving enormous room for feet in a comfortable position.
Portability
The lightest scooter in this range we’ve known is The Unagi, which has just 27lbs. It’s almost half the weight in the premium commuters.
The 40lb of Zero 9 is under the middle class. Not only does its stem fold, but it also telescopes, and the handlebars are foldable as well. The compact folding size is one of its most advantages.
Build quality
We think that how durable the scooter feels, what components the producers are using, how their quality control process looks like, and what certifications they have can tell the build quality of an e-scooter
Zero 9 has excellent quality but don’t think all scooters at such cost would have the same good build quality; still, we must make sure the scooter features:
- Good appearance. This includes not creaking a lot, excellent fit, and finish.
- Stable build quality frame, some scooters use sturdy metals while others use lightweight yet durable magnesium made stem, making the scooter feel solid.
- Good tires, some scooters at this level use tubeless pneumatic tires, which provide better resistance to punctures.
- Good motor and controllers, as these scooters step to the performance of fast speed, long-range, and more functional, we need to make sure the motor and controller in the scooter is good enough to handle the relatively complex task.
- Good battery, several scooters at this price point start to use branded battery packs like LG and Samsung, while most other manufacturers still choose the Chinese-made but high-quality battery.
Summary
In this series, you need to find a perfect scooter balance of speed, range, and weight.
The components your supplier uses, especially for the motor and controller, would be the critical factor in determining their final acceleration, braking distance, and uphill ability.
Your prospects who want to get their hands on the premium commuter will be more concerned about the performance and riding quality. They need longer miles between charges, and some of them live in a city with many steep hills and other rough terrains.
The powerful motor will help them reach the top fast but would consume more energy. It would help if you found a scooter that can still deliver long-range even with an electron-guzzling motor.
And try the best to find the scooter with the following comfortable configurations:
- At least 250 watt-hours battery capacity to ensure slightly long-range
- Rear Suspension or dual Suspension
- Large pneumatic or at least mixed tire for light off-road riding
- Large deck for a comfortable position
And try to have the below add-ons to increase its competitiveness of safety and fun.
- Disc braking
- Loud bell
- Stem mood light
- Under deck light creates an atmosphere, and cars can see the scooter from a distance.
- Turn Signal and rear light to provide safe riding in crowded city environments.
Performance Scooters
Performance scooters take all the great features of premium commuters and have super powerful dual motors from 1000W to 3000W to give serious riders the best riding experience.
However, the increased power capacity would make the performance e-scooter more expensive.
Here we pick two scooters, EMOVE Cruiser and Kaabo Mantis, as the representative of the performance series to bring you to get into the features and big selling points the performance scooter should have.
And in the end, you will know how to choose the performance to help your business grow.
We are going to describe this class on the aspects of basic specification, performance, portability, ride quality and build quality.
EMOVE Cruiser – Ultimate comfort
With a top speed of 26mph, EMOVE Cruiser is a slightly tame scooter but still can provide fast but not scray acceleration. This is how it is designed to give riders a super comfortable and reliable riding experience with an extra-long riding distance.
Basic Specification
- Top Speed: 26 miles per hour
- Range: 50 mile
- Weight: 55lb
- Max load capacity: 325lb
- Motor: 600W
- Battery: 1560Wh
- Water resistance: IP67
- Brakes: Disc
Performance
- EMOVE Cruiser is competitive for its excellent performance on top speed, hill climb time, braking, and acceleration.
- 200ft hill climb: 12s
- 0-15mph acceleration: 3.4s
- Braking distance: 11.4ft
Riding quality
EMOVE Cruiser has dual hydraulic suspension, massive air-filled tires, and a large deck for comfortable riding like most performance scooters.
The suspension in this level scooter should be soft enough to handle bumps and vibrations but also need to be stiff to keep riders stable on the road. Apparently, EMOVE did it.
Kaabo Mantis stands out among the performance scooter on the aspect of 2.5s 0-15miles brutal acceleration and great 9.2s score for 200ft hill climb.
Kaabo Mantis– Beast Scooter
Basic Specification
- Top Speed: 37 miles per hour
- Range: 29 mile
- Weight: 62lb
- Max load capacity: 265lb
- Motor: 2000W
- Battery: 1050Wh
- Water resistance: None
- Brakes: Disc
Performance
- Zero 9 is competitive for its excellent performance on top speed, hill climb time, braking, and acceleration.
- 200ft hill climb: 9.2s
- 0-15mph acceleration: 2.5s
- Braking distance: 11.1ft
Riding quality
- Kaabo has front and rear hydraulic suspension, large pneumatic tires, and a big deck like most performance scooters.
- Its quality spring suspension can soak bumps well and prevent riders from getting shaken at high speed.
Portability
Even we preferred scooters to balance range and weight, but there is always a trade-off here.
The performance scooter is the perfect choice for people who want to rely on it for a long riding distance at not slow down the high speed. However, only a large capacity battery and powerful motor can achieve this high performance, where the extra weight comes from.
Both EMOVE Cruiser and Kaabo weigh heavy, around 60lb. And the lightest model at this price is 40lb, making it a little hard to lift or carry, even folded.
Summary
This type of scooter is designed to travel long distances and is built to last on all kinds of terrain.
Those who wish to take their scooters off-road and handle different terrains will want to find models with powerful batteries, motors, and upgraded components that will enhance their performance and durability.
There are two directions you can go after when you choose performance scooters.
One is for comfortable, like EMOVE Cruiser. You could find scooters that use the best, neither super soft nor stiff suspension system with massive tubeless pneumatic tires and wide handlebars.
You need to focus on how the acceleration of them feels. We need these scooters comfortable, so we need still fast acceleration but not scary or simply brutal.
Another is for performance direction like Kaabo Mantis, and you will find scooters equipped with the most powerful motor to output thrilling feels of acceleration on flats and steep hills. You will focus on the database of their performance on acceleration time and braking distance.
And these types of scooters offer an extended range; as a result, they also need an excellent suspension for a long ride. Dual rubber, dual spring, and hydraulic breaks are widely used for performance scooter series that provide better traction, float, and comfort.
And they will need to allow users to reach destinations in extreme environments. So make sure they are mass-produced under very strict quality-control conditions.
Their build quality should be very close to the sharing scooters on the street, which has a stable build quality frame to complex and rugged terrain, including gravel, snow, and sand.
Water-resistance is another index to consider. Try to find some with IP67 or IP66 for when users get stuck in the rain.
Below features are what we think essential for series riders, and some of them are the easiest to overlook
- Front and rear suspension for a smooth ride in the most challenging terrain
- LCD digital control panel. Advanced onboard digital computer giving a complete control, support mobile control.
- Superfast charging. Durable, safe, and long-lasting lithium battery
- Bottle holder. Flexible to fit most common bottles in the market
- Phone holder. Adjustable phone holder for a safe, purposeful, and hands-free ride
- Super bright LED headlights. Powerful LED headlight for better navigation
- Build-in USB charger. Keep your phone fully charged.
- 10” pneumatic, all-terrain tires. Anti-skid all-road tires for extreme surfaces
And try to add these add-ons if possible to make your scooter stand out.
- Stem mood light
- Under deck lighting to create an atmosphere, cars can see the scooter from a distance.
Final Toughts
Push some features that were supposed to be in the higher class down to the current series, and holding the price would be an efficient way to make your scooter more competitive.
Functions, design, build quality and ride quality are still the core competency you should focus on.
AuroaElectrio is the leading e-scooter manufacturer located in China. Feel free to contact our specialists to get our recommended product list and more information.
English 
Spanish 
Portuguese 
German 
French