Speed Up! The Many Things to know About Electric Scooters

If you want to save yourself from insane gas prices when riding around town, you can consider buying an electric scooter. Electric scooters have fair prices and will definitely work. It is good for a distance of 20 to 30 miles. Electric scooters aren’t only limited to travelers. These scooters are also useful for people suffering from mobility problems who can’t go far distances. There are those which are well-designed for ease of operation, convenience and comfort.

These are some of the well known brands of scooters such as the Pride Mobility Electric Scooter Series. The price of the Price Mobility Electric Scooter Series starts from $1,999.00 up. Another brand is Shop Rider Mobility Series with prices ranging from $1,349 up. The Shoprider Xtralite 4 Portable Mobility Electric Scooter at $835 and Phantom 3 Wheel Scooter at a price of $749 and higher are also other popular brands.

These brands differ in the weight, seat, design, speed and capacity. There are added features such as headlight packages to provide you with pathway illumination. There are also innovations with regards to leg room, body styling, rear and anti-tip wheel and front basket.

There are still more brands of scooters than the ones listed above. Scooters features may be important but there is still one vital fact that shouldn’t be neglected which is the life of the battery and charging time. Generally, sizes of the battery can vary from 12 amperes to 100 amperes.

The variations definitely have considerable difference in the maximum range. Large batteries can go for a distance of 40 kilometers in just one charging while the smallest electric scooters can travel for only 15 kilometers. Average sized electric scooters on the other hand can travel for more or less 25 kilometers. Take note however that there are other factors that can add to the distance a scooter can travel such as your weight, other things loaded on the scooter, the terrain and the weather. Normally, the power of the battery is good for just one day.

You may also ask the question of how long must the battery be charged. Usually, two 12 volt dry and deep cycle batteries are utilized by all scooters. The batteries can be gel cell based or lead acid. The performance of these batteries are best when regularly charged. It is recommended to charge them after use or every night. You must not wait for it to drain before re-charging, since it will last longer when charged at once.

Modern chargers have an automatic cut out feature which means that you can leave it charging without fear of over charging. Once your battery achieves the necessary charge, charging will be completely cut out. Another important thing to think about is how long will the battery last. This will generally depend on the usage of the electric scooter but there are several other factors that can contribute to shorten its life such as the type, how often it is charged, the inclines and terrain the scooter travels, the load it is carrying and others.

Normally, a heavy user or those using the scooter 5 times a week, can use a battery for a year. Occasional drivers which use their scooters once or twice a week can keep the battery life for 5 years. It is advisable to change your batteries every two to three years. A 1-year warranty comes with every purchase of batteries. These only cover manufacturers defects and don’t include the normal wearing out of your electric scooter.

Riding an electric scooter is a fun and exciting activity everyone will love. Although scooters are just prototypes of those big motorcycles, good designs can add maturity to your vehicle. Superior performances of numerous electric scooters are so impressive like the electric deceleration system and linear power delivery; these all add to the ease of use and fantastic maneuvering.

Electric scooters are very useful in our everyday activities since they can speed up our routine of going to places such as markets, parks, and so on. The best thing is that they are a lot cheaper than vehicles which need to be fueled again and again. Buying one is a good move! Just be sure that it comes from a reliable manufacturer and carries a warranty.

Riding Your Scooter and the Law

If you own a scooter and enjoy riding it, you have to keep in mind that there are laws that govern its use. And you must comply with them. Failure to do so could lead to infractions. If it’s your first time, you’ll get a warning. But if you do it consistently, you might have to do some community service or worse, spend a day or two in jail.

Generally speaking, driving a scooter follows the same rules as driving a car or vehicle. But to be more specific, here the laws regarding scooters and using them:

1. In California, you have to own a valid driver’s license or at least an instructional permit before you can drive a scooter.
It is also a must that you are 16 years old and above. That’s the legal driving age in most states. Those who are younger than 16 years old can’t drive their scooter on public roads. The licensed riders must have a class E at least. But then again, some states don’t require a driver’s license. Instead, a tag is required.

2. Scooters don’t require registrations, PIP insurance, or license plates.
As you can see, driving a scooter isn’t as strict as driving a car. Scooters don’t need any motorcycle endorsements either. This is because scooters aren’t expected to go very far other than around the block.

3. The use of helmet is required.
Regardless of how old the user of the scooter is, the law requires that they use a helmet at all times. A bicycle helmet is sufficient. Never go without it as you can be stopped by an officer. Furthermore, using helmets will protect you from possible accidents.

4. Scooter riders can’t have any passengers.
Scooters are for a single person’s use only. You can’t invite somebody to ride with you. This is because scooters are light vehicles. It may not be able to withstand the weight of two passengers at certain speeds.

5. Have at least one hand placed on the handle bars at all times.
If you are going to ride scooters on a public road, you have to comply with this law. This is not only for your own safety, but for others on the road as well. Unless you are in a scooter exhibition contest, don’t remove your hands from the handle bars.

6. Don’t drink and drive.
Don’t think for a second that because you’re not driving a car you are exempt from the drinking and driving law. The law that pertains to people who are driving under the influence of alcohol is applicable to those who are driving a scooter as well.

7. Don’t go faster than 15 mph.
Scooters can only go as fast as 15 mph and that’s the maximum. Even if your scooter has the ability to run faster than that, the law prohibits you from doing so.

8. You can’t drive scooters on streets that have speed limits of more than 25 mph.
When driving scooters on public roads, always know what the speed limits are. If it is above 25 mph, you can’t go there. That’s because faster cars could run past you and you could lose your balance. You can only use roads with speed limits higher than 25 mph if it provides for a bicycle lane.

9. You can’t ride scooters on sidewalks.
Bicycle lanes aren’t the same as sidewalks. Don’t attempt to drive the scooter on sidewalks in the absence of bicycle lanes. You are going to be apprehended if you try.

10. Scooter riders can’t make a left turn at intersections.
If you need to do so, you have to stop and dismount the scooter. You should also do that from the right side of the road. Then do a complete turn and cross the intersection on foot.

11. The use of headlights and reflectors are required. Should you want to use the scooter at night, it should be equipped with a visible headlight. The scooter should be visible within 300 feet or so. The reflector, on the other hand, should enhance its visibility for as much as 500 feet.