If you have been shopping around for a top e-scooter and keep running into 500-watt and 1000-watt models, you may be wondering what other wattages are there for electric scooters. Don’t worry. We are here to help.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- Electric scooters are available in a wide array of wattages and designs to suit nearly any consumer.
- Budget-friendly scooters typically clock in at around 200 to 600 watts, while the most powerful scooters can feature as many as 5,000 watts.
- If you are looking to maximize the speed of your scooter, try adhering to the weight limit and keeping the battery charged and properly maintained.
What Does Watts Even Mean?
Before you can understand the sheer variety of electric scooter motors out there, it is important that you know exactly what watts are and how they work.
Watts (or units of watts) refers to the amount of energy the motor can handle all at once, which can help determine a scooter’s top speed. Motors can range from 200-600 watts, and more powerful motors require more energy to run. This is why the most powerful electric scooters have the highest wattage, as those are the ones able to reach higher speeds without draining their battery quickly.
Additionally, you can read about what type of motors electric scooters use.
This watt rating should not be confused with a peak watt rating, which illustrates how much energy the scooter’s motor can handle for a short period of time. Peak-watt ratings are typically used to denote how good the scooter will be at climbing hills and other “short burst” intense tasks.
The highest peak watt rating of any scooter motor is based on its hub motor size; the larger the hub, the more power it can generate. However, a scooter’s overall motor performance can still offer good speed and hill climbing even if it has a lower-than-average peak watt rating. Understanding the relationship between motor power ratings, hub motors, and overall motor performance is key when buying an e-scooter.
Insider Tip
Watts refers to the amount of energy the motor can handle all at once, which can help determine a scooter’s top speed.
What Other Wattages are There for Electric Scooters?
There are a number of different wattages for electric scooters, each with its own top speed. It must be noted, however, that a motor’s wattage is not the only signifier of maximum speed, as several other factors are at play.
Typically, cheaper scooters will boast between 200 and 600 watts of power. This will give them a top speed of around 14 to 18 miles per hour, but results may vary. Medium-grade scooters usually clock in at around 750 to 1,600 watts, allowing them to travel up to 18 to 28 miles per hour. For kids, try to compare the Razor E100 vs E150 electric scooter with wattages that allow up to 10 miles per hour. The most powerful electric scooters can reach wattages of 5000, allowing them to travel up to 60 mph or more.
A measure of power is the continuous power output, which indicates how much power the motor can provide. High-wattage motors usually require more power consumption, so it’s important to take this into account.
What Impacts a Scooter’s Maximum Speed?
There are a number of factors that can impact a scooter’s maximum speed, some of which will be detailed below.
Insider Tip
The most powerful electric scooters can reach wattages of 5000, allowing them to travel up to 60 mph or more.
Local Rules and Restrictions
Each city, state, and country places unique restrictions when it comes to electric scooters. For instance, many manufacturers are forced to hobble scooter motors to force them to meet these restrictions. In other words, a 5000-watt scooter could technically travel up to 60 miles per hour, but the motor may feature an inhibitor that caps it at 20 to 28 miles per hour. You should check with a local regulatory agency to suss out the rules and restrictions your area maintains.
Also, a scooter’s speed inhibitor can be removed, though the process will require some tools and mechanical know-how. Additionally, you will be voiding your scooter’s warranty if you undergo this procedure, and you are liable for fines and other legal penalties. While you are at it, you can out how to register your electric scooter if your local government requires it.
Maximum Weight Allowance
Most scooters will advertise a maximum weight restriction. Exceeding this weight limit by a slight amount will not automatically break the scooter, but it could lower the maximum speed. You should take care to adhere to this weight restriction for the overall longevity and efficiency of your scooter’s motor. Don’t forget to include items you are carrying or hauling when you are calculating your weight. These can include backpacks, groceries, clothing, and more. Regularly exceeding this suggested weight limit can also place an undue strain on the scooter’s battery.
Battery Maintenance
Many modern scooters are designed to automatically restrict energy to the motor when the battery is nearing depletion. This will lower the scooter’s maximum speed quite significantly. To avoid this, simply keep the battery from nearing depletion. You can do this by regularly charging the battery and taking care to keep it charged at around 40 to 90 percent of max capacity.
Doing this will help ensure your electric scooter battery functions optimally, and you’ll have the necessary battery power to reach maximum speed. Regularly checking and maintaining your battery will also guarantee a longer lifespan, giving you better battery performance in the long term.
Regularly depleting the battery will force it to complete charging cycles, which can lower the long-term efficiency of the battery. It’s definitely worth it to learn about the different types of electric scooter batteries. Proper maintenance can help you catch a problem before it becomes serious, like when an electric scooter caught on fire. However, it should be noted, that is not common at all.
Choose the Right Scooter
If you are looking to maximize the speed of your scooter, be sure to purchase one that has been built with speed in mind. An average scooter may be suitable for many, but a dual-motor scooter can provide an extra boost of power to help you get from point A to point B more quickly. For those on a budget, there are also budget scooters that will still help you get the job done.
In short, do your research and take your time when deciding on a product to purchase.
Warning
A motor’s wattage is not the only signifier of maximum speed, as several other factors are at play.
F.A.Q.
How much battery capacity do electric scooters have?
This will differ greatly depending on your scooter and the battery it has been installed with. Scooters can range from just 10 miles per charge all the way up to 60 or more miles per charge.
How much weight can electric scooters carry?
Again, this will vary depending on the make and model of the scooter. Some scooters intended for children have low weight limits of around 150 pounds. Others, however, can carry up to 300 or even 400 pounds without breaking a sweat.
Do I need insurance for electric scooters?
You may, depending on where you live. Most states do not require insurance for electric scooters, but certain states like California do require you to have a valid driver’s license or learning permit.
STAT: When someone advises that a 220 lb rider would likely need at least a 1,000-watt motor, he or she usually means 1,000 watts of peak power, as in the amount of power the scooter should be able to produce to drive the rider up a hill. (source)
