Fast Electric Scooters

There are lots of models of fast electric scooters available on the market. If you combine your electric scooter with a green energy source like solar power, you can travel quickly and conveniently without leaving a carbon footprint.

These machines are generally very robust and reliable. The electric motors have few moving parts and almost all of them use brushless motors so the engines do not wear out.

Road Scooters

In general these vespa-like vehicles will have pretty good acceleration though their top speed will be lower than that of a car and will have a fairly limited range. Clearly these machines are designed for use in urban areas for short trips. Here are some of the recent models of fast electric scooters and their features.

The X-treme XM-5000Li

This may well be the best electric scooter around at the moment. It has a high top speed, a generous range and sufficient acceleration to keep you out of trouble on the roads.

It's also a pretty hot looking unit, so check it out and see how it compares with other fast electric scooters.

The Vectrix Road Scooter

The Vectrix electric 2 wheel scooter is a sleek looking, well performing vehicle. With a top speed that allows you to use it on both the freeway and city streets, this scooter offers both performance and convenience.

Features include easy recharge at any power point, a lockable storage compartment for the helmet, a reverse gear and lots more.

The Honda EV-Neo

The Honda electric scooter EV-Neo is scheduled for release in December 2010 but only in limited numbers to specific customers. The top speed of the vehicle is a slow 30mph but it has a fair 30 mile range.

Interestingly, the battery of this scooter can be quick-charged to 80% full within the incredible time of just 20 minutes.

Kids' Scooters

If I were a kid I'd love the idea of an electric scooter. However, as a parent I am more concerned about health and fitness and so I have to question the wisdom of buying one of these when a regular scooter gets the same job done while giving the child exercise at the same time.

That said, there is a large range of very good value fast electric scooters around for kids. Here are some of the recent additions to the market:

Razor E100

The Razor E100 Electric Scooter is a proven durable kids' toy. It has a top speed of around 10mph and can go for up to 40 minutes.

Retail prices for this item vary enormously so with a bit of care you'll be able to get yourself a good bargain. This scooter comes with a warranty so it's definitely worth considering.

Razor E200 / E200S

The Razor E200 scooter is bigger, heavier and faster than the E100. While it's still sold as a kids' toy, the seated version can be used as a little cheap run around for an adult, as long as the rider is under 100kg or 220lbs.

The version with the seat can have both the pole and the seat removed, allowing it to be used the same as the stand-up version.

Razor E300 / E300S

The biggest of the kids' scooter vehicles produced by Razor is the Razor E300 electric scooter. With large wheels, a long wide platform to stand on and a beefier motor than the smaller versions, this unit will cater well for a lightweight adult looking for a cheap mode of green transport.

Considerations

Things that need to be considered before buying a scooter:

1: Safety gear. An accident at 30mph will almost certainly result in severe injury or death if you are not wearing protective clothing and a helmet. Accidents at lower speeds can also cause serious trauma.

2: Warranty, servicing and parts. If you're buying a new fast electric scooter, find out what the warranty covers and how long it stands for. You'd also benefit from asking the dealer what kind of costs will be incurred in servicing the vehicle.

3: Battery life. An electric scooter is only as good as its battery. Find out what the expected battery life is, and how recharging it before it is completely depleted will affect its longevity.

4: Upgrades. Most likely, you will be able to purchase upgrades for both the battery and the motor of the scooter to make it go both faster and further. It's a good idea to assume that you'll have to do this at the beginning, and not set your heart on a scooter that is advertised at a low initial cost.

5: License requirements. Does your state require a motorcycle or vehicle license for you to ride the scooter on the road, or even on the footpath? For example in Australia, bikes with an electric engine that generates over 200W must be road registered in the same manner as motorcycles.