Electric scooters are a fun, eco-friendly way to travel around town, and we’ve rounded up the best ones available to buy today.
These electric scooters should suit every budget, but we’ve also included the range you’ll need (how far the scooter can travel between charges), its top speed, and its weight, which is particularly important if you plan on using public transport.
We haven’t skimped on safety, either, as if you’re intending to ride at night, you’ll need to look for a scooter that has suitable lights. A wide footplate (preferably with a non-slip grip) can also make the scooter more stable, and electrically-assisted brakes will give you peace of mind when you need to come to a quick stop.
Here we’ve focused on electric scooters that are lightweight and foldable, instead of the performance models that boast much higher top speeds as they’re prohibitively more expensive for everyday riding.
It’s worth bearing in mind that some electric scooters are more readily available in certain countries (for example, it’s easier to get hold of a Xiaomi scooter in the UK than the US), so we’ve tried to cover the best electric scooters from a range of brands.
Depending on where you live, laws for electric scooters vary between countries and even cities. Some countries place no restrictions on the use of electric scooters, while others require you to keep below a certain speed, obtain a license, wear a helmet, or stick to a designated route.
In the UK, electric scooters will be road-legal from June, but only if you hire them from a company running a pay-as-you ride scheme. Previously, you could only ride them on privately owned land (with permission). To make sure you’re scooting on the right side of the law, check out our full guide to electric scooters and the law.
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![Segway Ninebot ES4]()
The experts at Segway know a thing or two about getting around on two wheels, and that experience has helped it build an impressive electric scooter that's surprisingly affordable.
Its real world performance will depend on how and where your ride, but the Segway-Ninebot ES4 Electric KickScooter has a quoted range of 28 miles and a top speed of 18.6mph, making it one of the fastest scooters in this price bracket.
Its footplate is reasonably wide, with a non-slip surface to make your footing more secure on damp days. Its stopping system helps keep you safe too, with an electrically-assisted front brake to slow you down gradually and a fender brake for slamming on the anchors in a hurry.
Add a rear light and an extra external battery, and you've got a practical, sensibly designed electric scooter that'll get you from A to B quickly and safely. For our money, it's the best electric scooter around.
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![Xiaomi M365]()
The Xiaomi Mijia M365 (the forerunner of the M365 Pro below) is hugely popular, and if you've ever hired an electric scooter there's a good chance it was one of these with different branding. Between them, the two scooters make up the bulk of sales outside the US, and it's easy to see why.
At just 12.5kg it's incredibly light, and it folds down small enough to carry on the train or subway for the final leg of a longer journey. Its charger is particularly compact too, and can be tucked easily into a bag or pocket if range is a limiting factor.
This model is a little more basic than the Pro version, with slightly less speed and power, but if you don't have to face too many hills on your commute then you might not mind trading the extra oomph for a lower price.
We prefer the Segway Ninebot's safety-first approach, but if you're on a tighter budget then it's hard to go wrong with the Mijia M365.
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![Xiaomi Mijia M365 Pro]()
This is the successor to the original Xiaomi Mijia M365 – one of the most popular electric scooters in the world. The Xiaomi Mijia M365 Pro is a little heavier than its predecessor, but its 27-mile range is a major improvement, and makes it a great choice for regular commuting without the need for charging every couple of days.
The Mijia M365's brakes have also been improved for quicker, safer stopping, and the slightly wider deck makes it easier and more comfortable to ride. Balancing on an electric scooter will always take practice, but having more space for your feet makes the learning curve a little less steep.
The only real disadvantages of the Xiaomi Mijia M365 Pro are that it's not the prettiest electric scooter on the block, and its brakes aren't as impressive as Segway's, but you'll be hard pressed to find a better electric scooter so affordably priced.
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![Unagi Model One]()
The Unagi Model One E450 is the ideal scooter for commuters thanks to its lightweight magnesium alloy handlebar, which is 33% lighter than aluminium, and easy to carry "one click" folding system.
It marries style with performance and includes dual motors, which power one wheel each. The motors provide a smooth and comfortable ride, and you can disable one motor to extend the Unagi's range.
Even though The Unagi Model One E450 tops out at 15mph, it handles slopes with ease and is great at climbing inclines of up to 15 degrees. It's equally capable in low-visibilty conditions, too, with a flush-mounted 47 lumen LED front light and rear blinking red LED.
Rounding up the alluring package is three ride modes to choose from – beginner, intermediate or advanced – and a handy kickstand so your new ride never topples over.
What lets the Unagi Model One down, however, is its limited water protection and lack of disc brakes. It's also not cheap, but you are paying for premium materials here.
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![Gotrax GXL]()
The Gotrax GXL is at the cheaper end of the scale, and its price has dropped significantly since launch. It should therefore come as no surprise that it's a pretty frill-free affair that doesn't have the most impressive spec sheet.
In theory it can hit a maximum speed of 15.5mph, but in our tests we only managed to hit about 12mph. Whether that's a problem will depend on where you're riding; for congested streets where you need to keep the speed down to avoid collisions, it's unlikely to hold you back.
It doesn't have the greatest range either, whimpering out after 10 miles during our test rides, but that's still sufficient for most small commutes. If it does run out of juice a little way from home, at 14kg it's not too much trouble to carry. This also makes it a good choice for taking on public transport.
The absence of a rear light means it's not ideal for riding after dark (unless you fit your own), but for the price, it's an effective, affordable scooter for everything but late night joyriding.
