Electric scooter vs electric skateboard: which one do you need to pick out to get around town? In theory, each is an excellent approach to commuting for shorter distances as they’re compact and extra environmentally pleasant than the use of a car.
However, there are a few caveats, a number of which will attempt to be explained below. The best electric scooters aren’t the simplest fun to use however, just like the best electric bikes, take the attempt from your commute.
Nowadays, many brands provide their version of an e-scooter, together with Pure, Xiaomi, and Segway, to name a few. Some are lightweight and foldable, making them less difficult to hold round, whilst others focus on power output to flatten the one’s hills extra efficiently in your commute.
Riding an electric skateboard might be a good manner to rip up the tarmac. You won’t see many people the use of e-skateboards, however, whilst you do, it`ll sure make you look. E-skateboards work in mysterious ways, and using them will make you sense like Marty McFly from Back to the Future.
Which one does need to you get: an electric scooter or an electric skateboard? Read directly to find out what’s your satisfactory option.
Electric scooter vs electric skateboard: Price
Thanks to more companies continuously coming into the market, electric scooters are comparatively cheap to buy nowadays. The satisfactory cheap electric scooters may be yours for much less than $500, £400, or around AU $700, that’s more inexpensive than even the most affordable e-bikes.
On the opposite hand, electric-powered skateboards aren’t cheap. One of the most popular – and in reality greater recognizable electric skateboards, the Onewheel XR, has an RRP of $1,800 withinside the US, £1,750 withinside the UK, and AU $2,700 in Australia.
You can get 3 and a half e-scooters for that price! Of course, now no longer all e-skateboards are pretty as expensive, however even the inexpensive ones retail for around $800/£700/AU $1,000.
Electric scooter vs electric skateboard: Speed
Most electric scooters and electric skateboards have limited max speeds.
Electric scooters are generally limited to 15.5mph (25km/h), similar to electric-powered bikes, to preserve their users (and pedestrians) secure.
In the United Kingdom and Europe, most rentable e-scooters additionally practice a so-known as geofencing technology(opens in new tab) that limits the rate of the e-scooter even greater in sure areas (e.g. in parks) to ensure the roads are as safe from speeding scooters as possible.
Electric skateboards are much less regulated, so in theory, higher speeds may be executed using e-skateboards. The Onewheel XR noted above has a max speed of 19 mph, however, a few electric skateboards can cross as fast as 28 mph (45 km/h).
Electric scooter vs electric skateboard: Safety
Neither electric skateboards nor e-scooters are the safest way to commute. Despite the velocity limitation, each can pass relatively fast, thinking about how light-weight they are. Accidents took place to people who rode electric scooters before, and a few even died driving into vehicle doors protection is paramount while driving those styles of motorized transport. However, early pilot research has indicated they can be safer than traditional pedal bikes.
Electric scooters have the competitive edge as they have got handlebars, making steering extra manageable and safer. Plus, it helps stabilize the frame and control your weight, making it more secure to experience them than e-skateboards that take care of extra or are much less similar to conventional skateboards.
Electric scooter vs electric skateboard: Terrain
Make no mistake: no matter how rugged a few electric scooters and skateboards look, they have to be ridden on the easy tarmac to keep away from accidents. Some models with large wheels and a greater rugged appearance would possibly try and convince you they can be used on all terrains however don’t permit this to fool you.
Electric scooters typically have smaller wheels and a low chassis even low curbs can reason issues, not to mention off-road riding. Electric skateboards have better chassis, however, because of the lack of a handlebar, they’re similar to bad driving on hard terrain as electric scooters.
Make no mistake: regardless of how rugged a few electric scooters and skateboards look, they have to be ridden on the easy tarmac to keep away from accidents. Some models with large wheels and a greater rugged appearance might try and convince you they may be used on all terrains however don’t permit this to fool you.
Electric scooters typically have smaller wheels and a low chassis even low curbs can reason issues, not to mention off-road riding. Electric skateboards have better chassis, however, due to the shortage of a handlebar, they’re similarly as bad riding on hard terrain as electric scooters.
Electric scooter vs electric skateboard: Regulations
Regulation is certainly a huge issue. Electric scooters and skateboards are so new that most countries haven’t begun regulating them and therefore are illegal to drive on public roads. In the US, “E-scooters… are allowed on roads without or with bicycle lanes so long as they run under 25 mph.
Riders ought to stay near the curb and comply with using and traffic rules like using at the proper facet of the road, observing traffic signals, and yielding to pedestrians”, Scooter Guide explains.
In the UK, things are slightly different. According to Halfords, “Electric scooters are presently classed powered transporters via way of means of the government and fall beneath the same laws and regulations that observe to all motor vehicles”, which means that it’s illegal to use them on pavements, in cycle lanes, and pedestrian-only areas. The one exception is ride-proportion schemes,
so you’d be the usage of publicly to be had scooters with in-built safety mechanisms, not privately-owned machines. Moreover, it’d handiest be legal to use them on public roads if they may meet the equal necessities as motor vehicles now no longer something that’s viable proper now.
