Electric Bikes vs Electric Scooters

Every cloud has a silver lining and electric bikes and scooters have become an increasingly popular means of transport because of its exceptionally environmentally friendly attributes.

You may not realize it, but the demand for electric scooters and bikes has spiked in the last couple of years with more sophisticated models being introduced to the market.

If you’re like most people going through this article, you must be curious as to what the sudden rave and popularity about this special type of electric powered vehicles. But before then, let’s take a look at what electric bikes and scooters are.

Given the increased interest in both electric scooters and electric bikes, it is highly important to note that the two terms are not in any way interchangeable.

An electric bike is essentially built of traditional bike designs, only this time featuring a controller, battery pack and electric hub motor. Simply put, an electric bike is a bicycle that boasts of some form of electric propulsion. On the other hand, an electric scooter which invariably looks very much like a gas scooter with its platform for the feet of the operator and an admirable step-through-style architecture, is a purpose-built machine with electric propulsion. There are varying models ranging from the small electric scooters with pedals, tricycle-style models to those classified as power-assisted bicycles.

For a more fun yet clinical excerpt description, we could liken riding on an e-bike to sitting on a sunny beach and standing on an e-scooter to dancing in the air.

It is now common knowledge that these electric powered vehicles are the in-thing, thanks to their great suitability for short distances and fun rides. If you’re undecided on which suits your needs and budget, then this article would help you garner enough points to enable you settle comfortably for one of these lovelies.

Before digging out comparatives in law, speed, safety, noise, convenience and usability, let’s consider the features of both electric bikes and electric scooters.

Features of an Electric Bike

The definition of an electric bike previously given would be incomplete without detailing its features. Some of the features of an e-bike include:

  • It is composed of larger tires which makes it very suitable for surfaces and trails.
  • They’re easy to maintain since they have largely same parts as regular bikes.
  • It can still very much function as a normal bicycle without the function of its battery power.
  • Most types do not have a built-in alarm system.
  • They are treated like regular bikes, hence, allowed on commuter trails, bike lanes and similar areas.
  • Storage on an e-bike is mostly done by the rider either by an attached saddle bag, bungee cord to the rear carrier or a worn backpack.

Features of an Electric Scooter

An electric scooter is the newer of the two inventions and bears much semblance with a regular gas scooter. It has some features which highlights its difference from an electric bike, some of which are:

  • Unlike electric bikes, they have smaller tires which enhances their maneuverability.
  • Most of them are lockable and have a waterproof storage located underneath the seat.
  • Unlike electric scooters, most of them have a built-in anti-theft alarm system.
  • They really do not function properly as bicycles when there’s no battery power as their tires are pretty much smaller than those of electric bikes.
  • They are often smaller and lighter than regular e-bikes.

Pros and Cons of Electric Bikes

The are several advantages of electric bikes. It is indeed an improvement on conventional bikes and is a popular choice for people in search of a means of transport that is cheaper and cleaner than a regular car. Here are a few benefits of owning an electric bike;

  • The battery provides you with that extra bit of power when riding uphill.
  • Although maintaining a bike can be quite expensive, it is an even cheaper alternative to a car.
  • They are healthier than regular motorbikes owing to their environmentally friendly nature, meaning that with e-bikes on the roads, there is less pollution.
  • They are harder to steal as they are heavier as compared to a scooter and some of them require a key for them to be operated.
  • They have a quick charge feature; meaning you can charge them quickly in just about anywhere. You can charge your e-bike from a socket for a fraction of what it would cost you to fill your regular bike with fuel.

For all of the benefits electric bikes have to offer, they still have some cons. Some of them are:

  • They are more expensive – they can cost more than twice the amount of regular bikes.
  • Unlike scooters, it is considered illegal to ride one without a license.
  • Battery replacements can be very expensive as well buying batteries that can last for longer journeys
  • They are a lot heavier than regular bikes or scooters and can be difficult to pedal uphill if your bikes runs out of battery.

Pros and Cons of Electric Scooters

As great as e-bikes are, not everyone can ride one and for these set of people electric scooters are a better alternative. Even if you can ride an electric bike, e-scooters remain an excellent ride regardless. Electric scooters, the new buzz electric powered vehicles have a lot of advantages, some of which are:

  • There is no need to own a license neither is there need for inspection or registration.
  • They have great portability attributes. Its foldable design affords you the luxury of keeping it in your car, boat or parking it in a really tight corner.
  • Its highly compact design makes it a perfect choice for sightseeing in a crowded urban area.
  • They are a great way of having a taste of the electric mobility lifestyle without spending a fortune.
  • They are designed to be smaller, easier and lighter to control and handle than electric bikes.

Even with all of these seemingly faultless advantages of electric scooters, they do have demerits of their own, some of which include;

  • Most scooters lack hi-tech fast charge capabilities, and as such, charging actually takes more than double the time to refuel one with a combustion engine.
  • Unlike electric bikes, electric scooters aren’t built to go long distances.

Electric Bikes Vs Electric Scooters

Having detailed the pros and cons of each of these electric powered vehicles, let’s take a look at how they compare against each other with a view to helping you make a better choice based on your needs.

Costs

In terms of costs, electric bikes are more expensive than electric scooters. Therefore, if you are working on a tight budget, you might consider acquiring an e-scooter over an e-bike.

The Law

Although, the use of electric scooters on the streets are now on the rise, it is still classified as illegal in most other cities. Owners of e-bikes on the other hand do not face this problem if they keep to speed limits.

Speed

When it comes to speed, both electric scooters and bikes are very comparable. You can always go faster than normal on either of them. However, you do at your own risk as it could fetch you a fine for violating traffic laws.

Noise

Both e-bikes and e-scooters score equally when noise is the subject of discuss. Even with their tires hitting the road, they are relatively quiet. They are highly recommended for cities that want to control incessant noise pollution and continuous honking of horns by commuters.

Safety

During the day, riding an e-bike is apparently safer because as you sit higher up, you are usually easily visible to other vehicles. On the other hand, foldable e-scooters are better for rides at night considering that they have more lights than e-bikes.

Convenience and Usability

Because of its larger size and heavier weight, electric bikes are heavier to handle when you need to carry around as compared to electric scooters. They are also your best bet when it comes to providing stability. In contrast, electric scooters are easier to lift to places like coffee shop, subway and so on.

Theft

When it comes to the risk of your electric powered vehicle being stolen, electric bikes come out tops. This is not unrelated to the fact that they have an in-built alarm system which can be connected to a mobile device and even in some cases a GPS tracker. Contrastingly, most electric scooters aren’t facilitated with such anti-theft properties.

Conclusion

Based on the above listed benchmarks, there is arguably no “best” option when it comes to choosing between e-bikes and e-scooters. The better of the two ultimately boils down to personal needs and preferences. If you want an electric powered vehicle that travels long distances, and charges pretty quickly then e-bikes are your best bet. Conversely, if you prefer one that is cheap, lightweight and easy to control, then go for an electric scooter. Regardless of whichever you opt for, make sure it fits well into your needs and offers you real value for your money. Otherwise, it could end up as a showpiece or master art for your garage without being utilized for the main reason why it was gotten in the first place.

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