Electric Bikes Versus Electric Scooters; Which to Choose?

    Electric bikes and electric scooters. Both are blowing up in popularity nowadays. From Europe to the US to the Middle East, sustainable micro mobility has been blowing up over the past couple of years. This poses the question, electric bikes or electric scooters. Here, ScootUp will compare the two, listing pros and cons, helping you choose the right one for you. 

Portability 

    Portability is a large part of micro mobility. Lots of people bring their last mile transit options onto trains, buses etc. When it comes to portability, I would say generally, electric scooters are better for transit than electric bikes. Most electric scooters have gold and lock mechanisms that allow the rider to fold and carry the scooter wherever they please. Some electric bikes have fold mechanisms; however, the bikes still remain bulky. Another con of electric bikes is the battery. Most electric bikes have detachable batteries to prevent battery theft. This can be convenient for charging, having multiple and is great for preventing theft, however, it can be massively inconvenient as you have to carry the battery around when the bike is parked. There are mechanisms to lock batteries to the bikes, but these can be overcome by thieves. Batteries are also expensive so replacing one can set you back a couple hundred dollars. In contrast to electric scooters, where the battery is generally protected in the deck and impossible to remove while parked. When it comes to portability, electric scooters win over electric bikes.

Performance

    Electric bikes generally have better performance than electric scooters. Electric bikes are on average faster, have longer ranges, more suspension, storage etc. Electric bikes can be mini motorcycles, with how fast they go. Features on a bike, besides speed, are also more consistent than electric scooters. Any bike you get will come with suspension, storage etc., while some electric scooters do not come with these features. Don’t get me wrong, some electric scooters have performance that exceeds some electric bikes, but these scooters are generally higher end, like Dualtron or Inokim electric scooters. All in all, electric bikes on average have better performance than electric scooters.

Price

    The price of electric bikes is similar to electric scooters. The price does not differ much. There isn’t too much variance when it comes to the prices. Lower end electric bikes tend to cost around the same as lower end electric scooters. Electric scooters although definitely dip lower in price than electric bikes. Price wise, it depends on what you’re looking for. Portability wise, electric scooters can be great, features wise, electric bikes will be what you’re looking for. This depends on user preference.

Where to Ride

    Electric scooters and electric bikes can have similar regulations when it comes to where you ride. However, in some places, one can be banned, or they can have differing regulations on where they can be ridden. This is Dubai however, so generally, you can ride both in dedicated bike lanes, or on roads. 

    Technically, you aren’t allowed to ride on sidewalks, but this is often unenforced. In some cities and countries, especially in Europe, electric scooters are banned, electric bikes are your only option. 

    Electric scooters and electric bikes are case dependent on which is better. If you’re looking for good features and longer battery life for a longer commute, an electric bike would be great! If you want more portability and don’t need all the features, an electric scooter could be better for you! It all depends on what you're looking for and what you want to ride. Happy riding!