As personal electric vehicles become more powerful and affordable, e-bikes and standing electric scooters have become increasingly practical alternatives to traditional transportation methods for many people, especially those in crowded cities.
But when it comes down to spending your hard-earned money, you might be asking yourself which form of electrified two-wheel transport is best for you. I’m lucky enough to have been able to try a variety of these electric vehicles, continually weighing the pros and cons of each, so I’m here to help.
Why should I buy a personal electric vehicle?
Public transport is more affordable and great for the environment but is often crowded, full of annoying tourists, and smelly. It also doesn’t always get you where you need to go, only stopping at a few key locations that might still be a long walk from your destination. Besides, it sucks to not be in full control of your trip; there are few things worse than discovering your local train line is down for repairs when you’re in a hurry.
Portability
For the most part, this one is pretty obvious: the average electric scooter is smaller and lighter than the average electric bike. Most scooters I’ve tested fit in the trunk of a sedan. Most bikes do not.
Price
Electric scooters are, as a whole, more affordable than electric bikes. While there are some pricey scooters out there, for the most part, the barrier for entry is much lower than for electric bikes. Decent entry-level scooters from established companies like the popular Xiaomi M365, GoTrax Xr, or Nanrobot d4+ begin at under $500.
Speed
You’d think bicycles being speedier in their form, would have an easy win here. But not so fast — this is a more complicated question than it initially seems.
Exercise
This one’s a no brainer: unless you plan on bench-pressing your scooter, e-bikes are better if you want your transportation to double as exercise.
Range
Most e-bikes provide a much better range than similarly-priced scooters because they ask you to do part of the work. It’s rare to see a scooter with over 40 miles of realistic range, while with e-bikes it’s quite familiar — the Juiced CCX claims 70+ miles of content, which I’ve found to be practical, while the Vado above SL claims up to 120 miles of range using a range extender.
Safety
For the most part, e-bikes seem like the obvious choice for safety. The big wheels can mostly brush off potholes and debris and tend to provide better traction on wet roads. The big wheels and heavier frames mean better stability, and the larger size of a bicycle should also make you more visible on the road.
Utility
There’s no question about it. If you are using your electrical vehicle for cargo, an e-bike is the better choice.
Got a fat wallet? Why not both?!
If you can afford to get both an e-bike and an e-scooter, doubling up can help you get the best of both worlds. I usually keep a powerful electrical-bike and lightweight scooter in my apartment. For long rides and cargo errands, I pull out the bike, but when I need to make quick short trips or plan on combining the trip with a car or a train, it’s the scooter I’ll choose. for review and buying guide visit here
