Apollo’s app even lets you customize the scooter’s performance, and has a remote-locking function, which engages the scooter’s brakes, so that others can’t ride it. If you’re looking for something sleeker, the Razor Power A2 has a similar range but uses a lithium ion battery, which makes for a slimmer deck. Razer says that the Icon’s 36V battery is good for about 18 miles of range under ideal circumstances; I came closer to 10 in my riding, which included a number of hills.
The Icon got me around pretty easily, both in my neighborhood and up and down the avenues in New York City. It has a nice, smooth pickup, and its motor was strong enough to get me up my test hill (and its 6% grade) at around 5-6 MPH. On level terrain, I was able to easily hit the scooter’s max speed of 18 MPH. Razor’s razor power scooter mechanism for folding the Icon is pretty simple and foolproof. You loosen and then pull a small lever at the base of the downtube to unlock the handlebars, which then swing down and lock into the stored position. It feels a lot more secure than on scooters which require you to latch the handlebars to the rear fender.
Extra features like headlights, reflectors and available speedometer also factored into our commuter picks. I also liked the very clean design of the Hiboy S2; there aren’t a lot of dangling wires and such. The one caveat is its rear latching mechanism, which was a bit finicky. The S2’s 350-Watt motor proved up to the task for most situations, but like most budget scooters, I found it had trouble on hills. Its battery life is good for a scooter in this price range, but expect to charge it every few days if you plan on doing a lot of riding. Regardless of the electric scooter you choose, we suggest plenty of practice before you hit the road.
It comes in a variety of colors and features twist-grip acceleration controls, as well as a hand-operated front brake. The E100 tops out at 10 mph but offers enough torque for heading uphill or over steep bumps. And with 40 minutes of drive time, that’s plenty to get to school and back with a pit stop in between. Thanks to its dual 250-watt motors, the Unagi Model One Voyager powers up hills with aplomb, razor electric scooter zipping along twice as fast as other scooters with just a single motor. Using both motors (you can opt to use just one) causes the battery life to drop significantly lower than the scooter’s advertised 20-mile range. Commuter scooters don’t need to be the fastest things around, but it helps if they can manage at least 15 MPH for a sustained time so that you’re not holding up anyone in the bike lane.
Down here is where you’ll also find the power switch and charging port. At the time of this update in 2024, its regular price hovered around $200. Just above the front wheel is a small triangular cutout through which you can conceivably thread a bike lock, but it’s a pretty small opening. Why you can trust Tom’s Guide Our writers and editors spend hours analyzing and reviewing products, services, and apps to help find what’s best for you.
To test electric scooters, we ride them around a New Jersey suburb and, if the scooter is light and small enough, we take it on a train and into New York City. As increasing numbers of people are bringing scooters on public transportation, we like to see how easy it is to lug a scooter up stairs, and to see how well it can be stowed under a seat. Almost all electric scooters will also come with a bell or horn so you can warn others that you’re approaching — but this doesn’t mean you should ride recklessly.
There’s nothing worse than having to fumble with a latch when you’re rushing to catch a train — and your fellow passengers will appreciate it, too. We also really like that the Balto comes with a side-view mirror, lights, and turn signals, which made us feel safer in traffic. And, the Balto’s battery is removable, so you don’t have to park the scooter near an outlet. As a bonus, you can also use the battery to charge your phone — but you’ll need to buy an adapter first.
Read on for all of our favorite picks for the best electric scooters. He found the controls to be well placed and let him quickly brake or accelerate while riding. The handbrake, which connects to the front wheel, was strong enough to bring the E100 to a fast stop, even when going quickly down a hill. However, the lack of suspension made bumps in the road and on sidewalks a little tough on the scooter.
This scooter costs less than $400, but will get you where you need to go. While not the most powerful, it’s light and compact, and has large tires to smooth out the road. Razor estimates that the E100’s dual 12-Volt batteries will last up to 40 minutes of continuous riding; In practice, Chase was able to get between 60 and 80 minutes, depending on how fast he was going.