Think an e-bike and e-scooter are the same thing?
You’re mistaken. While both can be great alternatives to using your car, and better for the environment, they are quite different.
How are e-bikes and e-scooters defined?
An e-bike looks like a regular bicycle but has a motor. In many places it will be defined as a regular bicycle. An e-scooter, on the other hand, is a two-wheeled scooter with a small electric motor.
But that’s just one thing about e-bikes and e-scooters that you should know about, especially if you want to purchase one but you’re not sure which one is best for you.
The decision between an e-bike and an e-scooter regarding the best personal electric vehicle may already have been made for you due to several important features, such as portability and storage capacity. However, there are a lot of additional factors to take into account, particularly if you’re just learning how to switch from more conventional modes of transportation.
So, with that in mind, let’s look at the most important differences between e-bikes and e-scooters.
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Contents
E-Bike Vs. E-Scooter: Which One Is Right For You?
You want a vehicle that will ensure you get the most use out of it, and achieving this will obviously depend on your lifestyle and what feels most comfortable for you.
But it certainly does help to know important features related to both e-scooters and e-bikes as this will assist you in making the best choice.
So, let’s compare these two modes of transportation, looking at factors such as price, speed, weight, and more.
Price
One of the most important factors to consider when you want to buy an e-bike or e-scooter is the cost.
To get a decent e-bike, you’ll have to be prepared to pay around $1,500 for it.
That said, you can find e-bikes that cost anything from $200 to $2,000, so there’s something available in every price range.
For a quality e-scooter, on the other hand, the average cost is around $300, but higher-end ones will cost around $600.
If you want to save money, then you’ll probably be tempted to purchase an e-scooter.
Speed
How fast do they go?
E-bikes can reach speeds of up to about 28 miles per hour, while e-scooters are the same.
With both, it’s important to bear in mind that there are many factors that can affect their speed, such as the terrain on which you’re riding, the weight of the rider, and wattage of the motor, to mention a few.
Weight
The weight of the e-scooter or e-bike that you choose is important because if you’re not strong enough to handle them this can be dangerous, especially when mounting or dismounting them.
The weight of an e-scooter is especially important because if it runs out of juice, you’ll have to push it around – you can’t simply pedal it home in the way that you would with an e-bike!
The average weight of an e-scooter is approximately 33 pounds, but you can find really light e-scooters that weigh no more than 10 pounds!
As for an e-bike, you’re looking at an average weight of between 38 and 70 pounds, but this will depend on various factors, such as its battery and motor size.
Ease Of Use
You want your mode of transportation to be convenient and easy, not filled with stress.
When it comes to ease of use, e-scooters tend to score high points because you simply press the throttle and their power will make you zip around the city with ease.
E-bikes are also easy to use, though. You can use your leg power if you want to cycle but if you get tired you can easily switch to the motor that will help you out.
So, both are pretty convenient!
However, it’s worth considering the worst case scenario that could happen: if your e-bike loses juice, you can still pedal it to reach your destination or the closest charging station, which is a nice feature.
When an e-scooter breaks down, however, you can’t pedal it with your legs! You’ll be stuck and will have to push it around or walk to your destination.
License
You generally don’t need a license to be allowed to ride an e-bike, but this will vary according to the state in which you live.
In many U.S. states, you don’t need a license for your e-bike because e-bikes are usually defined as regular bicycles.
This makes sense because you mainly use your own leg power to operate them.
When it comes to e-scooters, they usually don’t require licenses either, but in some places they aren’t allowed on the street so it’s worth checking e-scooter laws with your local authority.
Versatility
One of the biggest benefits of using an e-bike is that you can use it wherever you’d use a regular bike – even the sidewalk in some states.
E-scooters, on the other hand, aren’t allowed to be used on the sidewalk because they’re considered to be dangerous to pedestrians.
The good news for e-scooters is that in many places they can be used wherever you’d use an e-bike, such as bike paths.
For both e-scooters and e-bikes, it’s important to check your local state laws so you know exactly where you’re allowed to use them.
Safety
It’s said that e-scooters are very safe. Here’s why. If you need to stop quickly, you just need to make use of the scooter’s brakes and you’ll stop.
When riding at night, e-scooters tend to have more built-in lights to make you visible.
They also have indicator lights so that other people in traffic will be aware of you.
And, of course, making sure you suit up safely, such as by wearing a helmet, will go the extra mile of keeping you safe.
However, one of the biggest injuries that people sustain on e-scooters is falling off them.
A study published by E-Ride Hero has found that 80 percent of all e-scooter accidents involve falling.
But what about e-bike safety?
E-bikes can be very safe. For starters, you sit higher on them than on e-scooters, and this makes it easier for other people in traffic to see you. You can also fit lights to them to increase your visibility.
One of the biggest reasons why e-bikes are safer than many other types of transport, such as bicycles, is that their electric power can assist you when you need it.
For example, when you need a boost of energy to help you weave into traffic and keep up with it, therefore preventing you from lagging.
Are e-bikes safer than scooters?
The jury’s out on this one! Ultimately, the bottom line is that both e-scooters and e-bikes can be safe – it really comes down to how you ride them.
Durability
You want to choose a mode of transport that will last a long time. But e-scooters tend to fall a bit short when it comes to longevity.
The average, privately-owned, e-scooter will last around three years, as Escooter Rider reports.
Of course, with correct maintenance you could probably extend your e-scooter’s lifespan.
By comparison, an e-bike has an average lifespan of three to five years, so they’re worth investing your hard-earned money into.
Exercise
There’s no doubt about who the winner is when it comes to giving you exercise!
E-bikes are like two vehicles in one because you can use your leg power to pedal them or make more use of their electric power, therefore choosing how much exercise you get from them.
You’ll get a better workout on an e-bike as compared to an e-scooter.
Even though some people say that e-bike exercise is not real exercise, that’s definitely not the case if you regularly make use of your leg power instead of relying on the e-bike’s motor.
The bonus of doing this is that it will save your e-bike’s battery life.
Portability
Thanks to innovations in both e-scooter and e-bike designs, these days you can find models in both categories that are much easier to transport than before.
Both e-scooters and e-bikes are super-convenient and portable. You can sometimes even fold them up for easier storage, whether in a cupboard or underneath your desk at work.
So, if portability is a big deal for you, it’s good to know that e-bikes and e-scooters both achieve it.
Average Age Group Of Riders
The average age of e-scooter riders is 37.1 years, with most e-scooter riders being in the age group of 20 and 40, as Movendi reports.
By comparison, e-bikes are mainly used by people who have the average age of 48.1 years, as Electrek reports.
That’s quite a difference, and it’s important because it shows how versatile e-bikes really are.
They are comfortable enough to be used by people of all ages, including people who are older and have health problems.
In this way, they come out on top when compared to e-scooters, which seem to be more appealing and comfortable for younger riders.
Range
One of the most important factors to consider when purchasing an e-scooter or e-bike is its range.
This refers to how far you’ll be able to travel before you need to recharge your vehicle’s battery.
The average range of an e-scooter is between 12 and 20 miles.
By comparison, the average range of an e-bike is between 20 and 35 miles, so you’ll probably get more juice out of your e-bike, which makes it more suitable for traveling further distances.
This is something to consider if you want to use your bike or scooter for long daily commutes.
That said, your range does depend on how you ride.
For example, you can shorten your e-bike’s range if you don’t use your leg power often and instead rely on its electric motor as this will drain the battery faster.
Comfort Level
Linked to the above, there’s no doubt about the fact that using an e-bike is much more comfortable than an e-scooter, especially if you have to use it for longer distances.
You can also find e-bikes that have wider seats which make them even more comfortable to use.
Eco-Friendliness
Are e-scooters eco-friendly?
While you might think so, research has found this to be a myth! E-scooters release approximately 202g of CO2 per km over their life cycle, as You Matter reports.
By comparison, e-bikes are much better for the planet. Bikes produce an average of 5g of CO2 for every kilometre that they ride.
This might sound strange because e-bikes don’t make use of fuel!
However, the rider’s food intake and the energy it produces to help the rider cycle can contribute to the carbon footprint, as Our Streets reports. It’s a minimal amount at best!
Uphill Performance
If you use your e-scooter or e-bike a lot, sooner or later you’re probably going to have to ensure that you can travel uphill with ease.
This will make your daily commutes so much less stressful.
How do e-scooters and e-bikes fare when it comes to their uphill performance?
E-scooters will battle to climb steep hills, with e-scooters that are less powerful not being able to tackle hills that have higher angles than 18 degrees, while more powerful scooters will be able to accomplish these without a problem, as Swagtron reports.
It’s clear that in some cases, choosing a more powerful e-scooter is your best bet.
When it comes to e-bikes, your e-bike will easily be able to climb hills, thanks to how its motor will compensate for a lack of leg power.
However, it’s worth bearing in mind that your speed will be lower when climbing hills.
The sensors that your pedal-assist e-bike has will also affect how well you can climb steep hills, and these should be considered before you purchase an e-bike.
Basically, e-bikes either have cadence or torque sensors.
Cadence sensors use electric energy to match your speed, which can be problematic if you need an energy boost from the e-bike’s motor to be able to get over a steep hill.
Since you’ll have to reduce your speed in order to navigate the hill, your bike will also slow down because it senses that your speed is slowing down.
This is why e-bikes that have torque sensors are more effective – they’ll give you power when you really need it, not according to your speed.
Charging Times
How long will it take your e-scooter to charge as compared to your e-bike?
Obviously, if you’re on the move you’ll want to be able to power them up as soon as possible, but both will take some time in order to charge fully.
Most e-scooters will be fully charged within three hours. E-bikes, on the other hand, will need a bit more time. They can be charged within 3.5 to six hours.
However, one of the cool features that you’ll gain from an e-bike is that you can charge it while pedaling.
Although this shouldn’t be your primary method for charging your e-bike because it will take many more hours and therefore lots of pedaling to achieve, it is nice to have up your sleeve if you need it, and you obviously won’t have the chance to make use of this feature on your e-scooter.
Is An E-Scooter The Same Thing As A Moped?
It’s an easy mistake to think that “e-scooter” is just another word for moped.
But while they seem to be the same thing, there are some important differences between the two.
Yes, they both make use of small motors but a moped has a motor that will assist its rider during the pedalling process.
When you use an e-scooter, you make use of the motor throughout your ride, which is probably what makes it seem so much more appealing if you want to use it regularly.
Related Questions
What batteries do e-scooters and e-bikes use?
It’s common for many e-scooters and e-bikes to contain lithium ion batteries. However, both can also contain lead acid batteries. Lithium ones are more effective and last longer.
What’s the general speed limit for e-bikes and e-scooters?
In many places, the speed limit for e-bikes is 20mph, while e-scooters have a speed limit of 15mph.
Conclusion
Thinking of purchasing an e-bike or e-scooter but not sure which one you should choose?
No worries! After reading this article, you hopefully have a better idea of which one is best for you.
In this e-bike vs. e-scooter guide, we’ve looked at some important differences between them that every potential rider should know about, such as when it comes to their speed, range, cost, and more.
While both e-vehicles will obviously have their pros and cons, the most important thing is to choose the one that will fit with your transportation needs and lifestyle.
In some cases, e-bikes do come out on top in this regard, especially if you like the opportunity to get a bit more exercise on your daily commute.
