If you've thought about making the shift away from driving toward riding an eco-friendly electric scooter, there’s no better time than now to start looking! Major holiday sales are starting, and there are huge savings out there if you know where to look.
But when you start shopping for an electric scooter to help you reduce your carbon footprint and lower fuel costs, you can meet a bewildering range of options. How do you choose? What makes an electric scooter more or less sustainable?
Let’s look at some of the broader criteria for eco-friendly electric scooters, then we’ll dive in and survey some top choices for the top eco-friendly electric scooter for adults on the market.
Why long range is all the rage
One of the most crucial factors to consider when choosing an electric scooter is its range. The range refers to the distance the scooter can travel on a single charge. Opting for a scooter with a long range ensures that you can conveniently commute without worrying about running out of battery power.
By choosing an electric scooter over a gas-powered vehicle, you contribute to reducing carbon emissions and promoting a cleaner and greener environment. With a longer range, you can cover more distance on a single charge, maximizing the eco-friendly advantages of electric transportation.
Furthermore, a long-range scooter can save you time and money. With an electric kick scooter that can travel longer distances, you can potentially reduce your reliance on other modes of transportation, such as cars or public transit. This not only saves you money on fuel and fares but also helps you avoid traffic congestion and maximize your time.
Can you mix and match your e scooter with transit
Choosing an electric scooter which integrates with other modes of transportation gives you much more flexibility, and creates fewer scenarios in which you’ll need a car. But trying to move from an electric scooter to a bus or subway car can be challenging, to say the least, with a scooter that’s a bear to fold and carry.
If you live in a dense urban environment with a wealth of public transit and ride sharing options, a small, lightweight, portable electric scooter you can carry with you or slide into the trunk of a car is the ideal eco-friendly choice. On the other hand, portability might not be a high priority if you don’t live near transit and don’t need to carry your scooter up and down stairs.
Longevity: choose an e scooter that will stick around
Investing in a high-quality and durable electric scooter is essential for long-term use. Look for scooters that are made with sturdy materials and have a solid construction, ensuring their longevity. When investing in a scooter, it's crucial to consider the reputation of the brand. Reputable brands often go the extra mile to ensure customer satisfaction and offer warranty coverage.
The fact is, no matter where or how far you ride your scooter, you should expect that it will last its lifetime – usually around 3-5 years – and that you’ll get considerable use out of it before it needs any major repairs. Buying or leasing a high-quality vehicle ensures you’ll have reliable, carbon-neutral transportation for years.
Sustainable materials
One of the most important considerations when buying an eco-friendly electric scooter is the use of sustainable materials like recyclable aluminum, long-lasting carbon fiber, and other materials like magnesium and titanium that will stand the test of time.
Every electric scooter uses some plastic in its construction, but the most eco-friendly electric scooters reduce the use of unsustainable materials in favor of metals and other materials that are durable and usually recyclable.
The best eco-friendly electric scooters for adults
Commuter scooters
EMOVE Cruiser
Price: $1,399
Range: 62 mi.
Weight: 56 lbs.
Max speed: 33 mph
The well-known EMOVE Cruiser is now in its third version, the Cruiser S, with improvements in build quality and motor power among its latest features. Even before the latest update, the Cruiser has always been one of the most reliably performing electric scooters with a reputation for quality and impressive range.
The Cruiser is one of the most long range scooters under $1500, getting around 52 miles on a single charge. That means less charging between rides and more time spent on the road, commuting, running errands, hitting the gym, etc....
The Cruiser earns its name with front and rear spring suspension and 10-inch pneumatic tires that excell on long rides.
Pros: exceptional range, high speed, air-filled tires and suspension, IPX7 rating
Cons: while it folds up compactly, the Cruiser is heavy at nearly 60 lbs. Also, its single rear motor isn't the best at climbing hills
EMOVE Touring
Price: $799
Range: 32 mi.
Weight: 39 lbs.
Max Speed: 25 mph
The Cruiser's little sibling, the EMOVE Touring is a do-everything scooter with good range and speed and solid rear tire that won't go flat. The Touring is much more portable than the Cruiser, at 46 lbs., and it's built to last, with a two year warranty from its maker, Voro Motors.
Pros: portable and compact
Cons: single motor design slows the scooter down on hills
NIU KQi3 Max
Price: $999
Range: 40 mi.
Weight: 46.3 lbs
Max Speed: 22 mph
The KQi3 Max impresses with its quick acceleration and good looks. It's also a very well-built budget electric scooter proven to last. The NIU KQi3 Max offers a smooth ride quality thanks to its air-filled tires, and it's one of the best electric scooters you can buy with a single motor.
The KQi3 Max has a top speed of 22 miles per hour, and it's a comfortable ride with pneumatic tires, regenerative braking, and mechanical disc brakes. Most electric scooters offer high quality braking these days, but the Max goes above and beyond, with disc brakes that feel more like hydraulics.
Pro: a relatively high top speed of 22 mph, great front and rear lights for low-light riding
Cons: single motor limits climbing speeds
Unagi Model One Voyager
Price: $69/mo. by subscription
Range: 25 mi.
Weight: 29.5 lbs.
Max Speed: 20 mph
Both Unagi Model One electric scooters are two of the top eco-friendly electric scooters for their exceptional light weight, portability, and ease of use. The Voyager, however, has more battery capacity, and thus a longer battery life, without compromising on weight savings.
Indeed, the Voyager is the most lightweight electric scooter you can buy with dual motors and up to 25 miles of range. Unagi achieves its incredible power-to-weight ratio because it uses strong, but lightweight materials like carbon fiber, aircraft grade aluminum, and magnesium in its stem, deck, and handlebars, respectively.
Unagi's dual motors mean it powers up hills with little difficulty, and its solid tires and fully electronic braking system mean there's next to no maintenance. Instead of leaving your scooter at home with a flat tire or warped brake rotor, you'll cruise out the door every day with a great scooter that fits on public transportation.
Unagi's folding mechanism works with one hand in seconds, and the Model One Voyager is so easy to carry in and out of the office, the grocery store, the bar, coffee shop, etcetera, you might find that you rarely go anywhere without it, and that you hardly ever need to use fossil fuel-based transportation to get around.
Unagi is also the only electric scooter available by subscription, making it a more accessible option than any other electric scooter. Not only is the Unagi Voyager easier to ride, carry, store, and maintain than other electric scooters, but it's also easier to try before you buy, or simply lease indefinitely with no commitment. This makes it easier than ever to let go of old commuting habits slowly and ease into the world of electric scooters.
Pros: all access subscription, exceptionally portable, no maintenance, best electric scooter design on the market available by monthly subscription with no contract
Cons: solid tires don't deliver a smooth ride off pavement
Segway Ninebot Max G2
Price: $999
Range: 43 mi. (25 mi. at maximum speed)
Weight: 54 lbs
Max Speed: 22 mph
Big name Segway still dominates much of the electric scooter market thanks to classic electric scooters like the Segway Ninebot Max, which became a popular sharing scooter renowned for its ability to take abuse. This updated version of the classic Segway Ninebot kickscooter is no less ready for miles of hard riding.
Segway has added suspension, and 10 pounds, to the Max, making it much less portable than before. Front and rear suspension are a nice option to have in an electric scooter, however, and they help increase the scooter's max rider weight and comfort level for larger riders.
Pros: great for bigger riders, durable, reliable brand, high advertised range
Cons: a bit heavy to carry around on regular urban excursions
Apollo City Pro
Price: $1,799
Range: 43 mi. (in eco mode)
Weight: 65 lbs
Max Speed: 32 mph
The Apollo City Pro, just updated for 2023, has cruise control, bar-end turn signals, access to Apollo's high-tech app and IoT-enabled firmware updates and multiple riding modes. It's only one of the only scooters with an IP water resistance rating as high as the EMOVE Cruiser, which makes it an easy choice if you commute in Seattle or Portland (Maine or Oregon).
The City Pro shines in so many areas, but especially as a hill climber; its dual motors scale steep inclines with relative ease, a characteristic of all dual motor electric scooters and one of the reasons the City Pro is an excellent car replacement. Like the Model One Voyager, it won't leave you chugging along at embarrassing analogue bike speeds when you hit a hill.
Like most other scooters from Apollo, the Apollo City Pro is made from high quality aircraft grade aluminum that is 100% recyclable.
Pros: stylish looks, dual braking and suspension system
Cons: Heavy, awkward, and bulky to carry for longer distances when folded
Best budget electric scooter for eco-friendly commutes
GOTRAX G3 Plus
Price: $399
Range: 18 mi.
Weight: 35 lb
Max Speed: 18 mph
The GOTRAX G3 has more plastic in its build than many of the other electric scooters on this list, but on the whole, it's a very well-built budget electric scooter that will outlast most competitors.
The G3 has surprising hill climbing abilities for a single-motor budget scooter, and at only 35 lbs, it's also a fairly lightweight electric scooter you can carry most anywhere.
The G3 also comes with pneumatic tires for comfortable ride quality. Where it falls short is in its short battery life. Although this scooter has an advertised range of 18 miles, it will fall short of that in real world conditions and may require you to carry a charger to plug it in at the office.
While more frequent charging is a hallmark of owning a budget electric scooter, it shouldn't dissuade you from leaving the car behind and going small electric. You can always upgrade later, or you can subscribe to an Unagi Model One for a small upfront initial fee and manageable monthly payments with no contract.
Pros: high top speed and good hill climbing for a budget scooter
Cons: short battery life
Best eco-friendly heavy-duty and off-road electric scooter
Apollo Pro 2023
Price: $3,999
Range: 62 mi (in eco mode)
Weight: 93 lbs
Max Speed: 44 mph
On the other end of the price spectrum from the G3, the new Apollo Pro represents a huge leap forward for electric scooter technology, with integrated IoT sensors and other smart features that make this electric scooter a great buy.
The Pro can travel long distances on a single charge, won't require any brake adjustments ever, since it uses drum and regenerative braking to stop, and can reach a respectable top speed of 43 mph.
Not only is the Pro one of the best urban commuters you can buy for its ability to fly over hills with ease, but it's also rated one of the best off-road electric scooters for those weekends on the trail.
For a scooter that will get you to work and get you out in nature without slowing down, the Pro is a top eco-friendly choice. But, of course, as a heavy-duty "hyper scooter," it's also heavy and expensive.
The Pro is not built for portability and if storing a personal electric vehicle in a small space is a concern, the Pro should not be on your list.
Pros: long range, high tech, very comfortable ride, built to last
Cons: heavy, heavy, heavy, pricey, pricey, pricey
Conclusion
Any electric scooter you can ride will be more environmentally-friendly than driving the same distance, but when it comes to investing in an eco-friendly electric scooter long-term, you need to make some considerations.
You want an electric scooter that's built to last, one that can take you where you need to go without inducing too much range anxiety and climb hills without making you late for work. And you want a scooter designed and built from sustainable materials.
And if you're serious about ditching the car, you want an electric scooter that integrates with other sustainable transportation options, whether that means public transportation or ride sharing. Portability definitely gives electric scooters the biggest edge over other means of personal electric transportation, so look for an eco-friendly scooter you can take with you wherever you go.
