Electric Bikes vs. Electric Scooters – Which is Better?

Looking for an electrically powered personal vehicle? Weighing the pros and cons of electric bikes vs. electric scooters? Then learn about the differences, similarities and everything in between! Let’s face it, we all want to change the world for the good (hopefully) but we don’t always know exactly where to start. Sometimes even the smallest motion toward change can cause a chain reaction and start something big going.

One of the biggest issues we face as a species, whether you believe it or not, is the toll emissions have taken on the environment, whether it be plant ecosystems, animal life or human life. There is something you can do— the small part that may trigger a chain reaction—and that’s to reconsider the way you commute.

Hold on a minute, you say, but you only commute ten or fifteen minutes twice a day. Ironically, this type of commuting does the most harm to the environment, as cars are least fuel efficient and most polluting at the start of trips and on short trips. The easy part is making the switch for these quick trips to an electric bicycle or electric scooter! Maybe you’ve even considered this notion before and are in the market for one or the other but aren’t sure exactly what the difference is or which will be right for you. Never fear! EB-UK are here to help by breaking down the differences, similarities and everything in between.

For our electric scooters, we’ll briefly cover the two major styles:

Electric Mopeds

If you’re looking to change your daily commute. The electric moped might be the way to go. These e-scooters look very much like their gas powered counterparts and many of them will exceed 650 watts which will get you up to street legal or more at higher wattages.

The unfortunate part is that when you start getting into higher wattages and higher speeds, you might need to get a special license (or just have a regular driver’s license) depending on the laws and regulations in your own country.

Electric Kick Scooters

The manual versions of these were all the rage way back when but now their electric counterparts have slowly begun to become more prevalent.  These little kick scooters are easily modifiable while remaining relatively inexpensive if you’re the type who might want to give your scooter a little more speed, wattage or just trick it out a bit.

Now, many e-scooter companies produce designs similar to the E300 with step-through and seated varieties for quick commutes and fun rides.

Electric Bicycles(E-Bikes)

Electric bicycles come in many shapes and sizes. Think of them like your basic bicycle with some power attached to it. Therefore, you can have all of the same styles you might find with standard bicycles such as mountain, cruiser, road and fat boy.

Most e-bikes work on a system known as “pedelec.”

A pedelec system actively tracks your cadence as you ride and adjusts the amount of support you might need via the motor. The exact amount of assistance is dependent upon the rate and force of the pedalling and the overall speed of the bicycle. So, if you’re struggling while riding, the bike will kick the motor into gear and help you out.

Electric bicycles are great if you want to get a little exercise but not too much. They’re also great if you’re one of those people who sweat a little too much and don’t want to arrive at work soaking wet.

Okay, so now you’re basically an expert on both electric bikes and electric scooters. Let’s break down the key differences between the two…

The Case for E-Bikes

• Similar to a standard bike albeit a bit heavier and motorized.
• Much faster charging time than most e-scooters.
• Further range than most e-scooters.
• Many are built from the same quality parts as readily available standard bicycles.
• Standard parts are easily purchased at local bicycle stores.
• Much easier to service, especially if just maintaining parts other than the motor.
• No need to have a license or insurance in most countries (this, of course, is subject to speed and wattage).
• You can ride in any bike lane or commuter trail.
• If you’ve got a mountain bike, you can go off-road.

The Case for Electric Scooters

• In most cases, you’re not required to have a license or insurance (still subject to speed and wattage)
• Some models are allowed in city-sanctioned bike lanes and commuter trails
• Most models have all the same security features as their gas-powered brethren such as wheel locks and alarms.
• Most models have lockable, waterproof storage in a compartment under the seat.
• No pedals or pedal assist.
• Simple “twist ‘n go” operated motor.
• Many models are reasonably priced but can still be as expensive as e-bikes.
• So you get the key differences but you might still be asking yourself…

Electric Bikes vs. Electric Scooters: Which is Right for Me?

Well… we don’t know. Really, it’s going to depend a lot on your needs. Both e-scooters and e-bikes are going to go about the same speed and both are mostly street-legal. And, to be honest, much of it is a question of aesthetics. Do you want something closer to a regular, standard bicycle? Get an e-bike! Want something a little more like a gas-powered scooter? Get an electric scooter!

Of course, personal physical activity comes into play as well. If you don’t want to do any work at all, get an electric scooter. If you want to put a little pedalling and get some exercise in your daily routine, get an electric bicycle. Both an e-scooter and an e-bike are going to help the environment and, in the long run will save most people money. There are pros and cons to each, so we hope this article has cleared some of them up. If you have any other questions about e-bikes do let us know in the comments below or via our Contact US page.