Gas vs. Electric Scooters: Which One is for You?

Gas vs. Electric Scooters: Which One is for You?

Given rising gas prices and ever-growing awareness of preserving our air and resources, scooters are a great way to save money and be a good citizen. They're also fun to zip around on. As you look into buying one, you'll find that the options between gas and electric scooters can get confusing. As you do your research, here are some comparison points to help you out:

Energy used

Depending on your ability to 'charge up,' the electric scooter could be more cumbersome than the gas scooter, but if you're using your scooter to run short errands or run to work, the electric scooter could be better for you.

Gas: Gas scooters get great mileage anywhere from 50 to 200 miles to the gallon depending on the scooter. The larger the engine, the less gas mileage the scooter will get.

Electric: Electric scooters use battery power rather than gas. There's no oil or transmission fluid changes to make. You plug the schooner in to charge it. Some models run on lithium batters that last around 50 mph if you go pretty slowly. They require around 4-6 hours of recharge time, so it can become cumbersome if you want to use your scooter often and don't have the time to wait for a charge.

Cost

Scooters cost much less than motorcycles. Gas-powered scooters will usually cost less than the electric scooter at the outset. Gas-powered scooters between $800 and $1000. The faster your bike goes, the more it will cost. Electric scooters are between $2000 and $5000 on average. Over time, though, the electric scooter will cost you less money to operate. While you can drive 100 miles on two tanks of gas, that is still more than the $.50 it will cost you to operate an electric scooter for 100 miles.

Performance

Gas scooters are faster. Electric scooters go between 8 mph and 25 mph, while gas scooters will go up to 100 mph. If you ever need to take the freeway, you will have to buy a gas-powered scooter. In a drag race, though, drivers argue that electric scooters would win.

Noise

Electric scooters are quiet and gas scooters are just about as loud as motorcycles and leaf blowers. If you wan tot enjoy the speed of the gas scooter, but you don't want it to be too loud, you can get a California C.A.R.B Tier 2 motor.

Usability

Even though gas scooters are faster, there are some instances where electric scooters make more sense. Many, though not all, electric scooters qualify as bikes and can be driven without a driver's license. Laws are different in different states, so make sure that you find out what your state law is before going out without a license. Likewise, slower electric scooters are often exempt from state requirements for vehicle registration and insurance costs are often half as much as larger gas scooters.

Maintenance

Electric scooters will need to be plugged in after use to recharge the battery, but unlike gas scooters, you won't need to change the oil, gas it up, or bother with any engine fluids. Electric scooters will have to have the battery replaced if you have the bike for a long period of time.

No matter which kind of scooter you choose, you'll be making an economical decision to use an alternate to your family gas guzzler. Especially if you drive mostly to run short errands or to get to work and home, the scooter makes sense. Now you just have to decide whether to pump or plug in.

Jeff Kane is a power sports and off-roading enthusiast writing for Kenzie Powersports.