If you live in an urban epicentre in Australia, you’re probably no stranger to commuters cruising around the city on an electric scooter. This convenient, portable, and inexpensive motorised wheeled device is rapidly becoming the go-to alternative to conventional modes of transportation for micro-mobility, especially in tight traffic areas with parking issues and a stampede of pedestrians.
So, whether you’re headed to work, school, or anywhere else in the vicinity, this eco-friendly and ultra-popular option offers tons of distinct benefits for commuters. However, finding the perfect electric scooter for commuting in Australia can be challenging, given the abundance of options in shapes, sizes, features, and prices.
Therefore, in this post, we’ll share a simple guide on choosing the best electric scooter for commuting to work or school Down Under.
How to Find the Best Electric Scooter for Commuting
The following are some of the most important points to consider when buying a commuter electric scooter:
- Comfort
Any scooter you opt for should offer comfort. The last thing you want is an uncomfortable or tiring ride to work or school. So, when choosing a scooter in terms of comfort, here are some valuable tips:
The Wider, the Better
Ideally, you should seek an electric scooter with a spacious deck to maximise foot flexibility and prevent overcrowding, especially during long commutes. Secondly, you should steer clear of small or confined handlebars as they unnecessarily increase fatigue on your shoulders and arms. Wider handlebars prevent or minimise fatigue while maximising your control. Lastly, consider getting a scooter with wider tires to improve and maintain balance, especially on rough terrains.
Rider Position
No matter how comfortable a scooter is, you still need to maintain an ideal posture when riding it to reap the full benefits. Therefore, you should opt for one with a 75-degree stem angle for optimal posture.
- Power
Power is one of the main factors that sets most scooters apart. Depending on your location, you need to opt for one that keeps up in terms of acceleration when cruising through traffic and busy streets and torque to help climb hills and slopes with ease. Ideally, 300-350 watts of motor power should suffice for this purpose.
2. Range
The last thing you want is for your scooter to run out of juice on your way to or from work or school. Ideally, a commuter electric scooter should provide at least 20-30+ miles of autonomy on a single battery charge if you plan on using it every day.
3. Top Speed
Depending on how far you live from work or school, you need a scooter that can help keep pace with street traffic. Watching pedestrians brisk walk past you can be embarrassing and disappointing, so you should opt for a scooter that can go up to at least 25 kph. However, keep in mind that the max speed in Victoria, Western Australia, and other areas in Queensland is 10 kph. If you reside in any of these areas, you don’t necessarily need the fastest scooter in the market.
4. Safety
Although eScooters aren’t as fast as motorcycles, they can be just as dangerous since riders usually cruise along uneven terrains while dodging pedestrians. Therefore, you need to opt for a scooter equipped with some essential safety features:
Head and Tail Lights
Visibility is one of the most important safety features you should consider, especially if you commute to and from work or school at night. Make sure that the scooter is equipped with proper head and tail lights, as well as high beam and brake lights for additional safety when riding past pedestrians.
Brake Levers
Ideally, you should opt for a brake system that uses brake levers instead of thumb buttons, which can be prone to failure. For maximum dependability, we recommend looking for an option with regenerative braking, a braking feature that allows riders to slow down automatically as soon as they release the throttle.
Bell
Like motorcycles and vehicles, you need to ensure that your scooter includes a horn or bell so you can notify pedestrians, bikes, or other vehicles of your presence, especially at night.
- Features
If you’re going to be spending hundreds or thousands of dollars, you should get your money’s worth by opting for a smart electric scooter equipped with features, such as ride statistics, app-enabled security alarm, GPS tracking, and multiple riding modes (sport, battery saver, etc.).
2. Portability
Portability is among the most important factors to consider when buying eScooters, especially if you’re looking to ride it to work or school. Ideally, you should opt for one that can easily fold for storage in your office, dorm, or even public transit.
Conclusion
Hopefully, by learning how to choose the best electric scooter for commuting in Australia using the information in this post, you can make a more informed purchase decision. Of course, your budget will play a huge role in narrowing your options. However, if you do your homework and look around in the market, you can find a great deal.
