Scooter is an imprecise word. It can refer to the mobility scooters for the disabled and elderly, kick scooters used by kids, or motorcycle-like scooters that can achieve high speeds on open roadways. Here we will discuss the usefulness of the electric folding variety of scooter as a primary mode of transportation, as well as a way to supplement mass transit use. Can this sort of scooter really replace a car? In some situations, yes. Let’s start by comparing these two rather different vehicles.

Cars vary tremendously in their speed, engine type (diesel, gasoline, electric, or hybrid), amenities, and size. As a commuter, you may want a car that is small, fuel efficient, not too expensive to buy, reliable, and of practical design. Think something along the lines of a Toyota Prius or Honda Accord. A humble vehicle like this can go over 100 miles per hour on flat ground, has a maximum range of more than 400 miles on a tank of gas, and can carry more than 900 pounds of passengers and cargo. A lightly used vehicle of this type might be has for around $15,000 in good condition, and will cost you a few hundred more every year to insure. Plus a few hundred more per year in maintenance and repairs. Plus around $1000 a year in gas.

An electric folding scooter is a comparatively modest machine. Depending on your price range and desired characteristics, they boast a max speed ranging from 13 to 40 miles per hour, a range of 5 to 30 miles (real world conditions), and they tend to weigh between 15 and 60 pounds. There are some exceptions to these ranges, including some performance scooters that can hit 50mph, or heavy-duty models for larger riders that weigh over 100lbs. The price range is fairly huge, ranging from roughly $200 and $2000, but there are no additional fees like insurance or registration, and usually only minor costs for repairs and maintenance. Also, please invest in a quality helmet. With the differences in price, range, and speed, it leads to an obvious thought: Can anyone actually replace a car with an electric scooter and save thousands in the process?

Distance: A nice scooter might have a range of between 20 and 30 miles, giving you a maximum one-way trip distance of 15 miles or less. Interestingly, according to ABC News this is very close to the 16 miles of the average American commute. Roughly half of all Americans should be able to scooter to work, in terms of distance. But how long would that take?

Speed: The maximum speed of a scooter will vary tremendously, but a 25 mph machine is not too difficult to find. At those speeds, a scooter will get you to work 15 miles away in about 36 minutes, probably close to 40 if you stop occasionally for lights or slow for pedestrian or vehicle traffic. This is a bit slower than the average commute times in most states. Only the most traffic-logged states like New York, New Jersey, and Maryland have commutes commonly over half an hour.

Passengers and Cargo: This is where the entire concept of a scooter breaks down for many people who have families and live in the suburbs. For some people, they practically live out of the back seat of their SUV, hauling children and groceries around on a daily basis. This is obviously not possible with a scooter, but it is a handy device for quick trips around the city, even grocery shopping. Many scooters are lightweight enough to carry around a store or are designed to easily pull behind you like a piece of wheeled luggage, making shopping relatively easy with the scooter. Toss some groceries in a backpack on your way home from work, school, or the gym!

So who is an electric folding scooter for, and who is it not for? As a primary means of transportation, it is ideal for people who need to travel in urban areas between one and ten miles and who do not have need of the cargo/passenger capacity of a car. A scooter can also be combined easily with mass transit options, and can be easily stored in a home or office, rather than being parked on a street. A scooter is a vastly cheaper vehicle to buy and own, and may be ideal for students, young professionals, and those who live in denser urban areas. A person trading in a car for an electric scooter will have a vastly reduced impact on the environment as well as much cheaper ownership costs. In future posts I will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of an electric folding scooter vs other small personal vehicles like ebikes.