E-bikes Vs E-scooters: Which is the Better Option?

Electric-powered vehicles are on the rise, and it can be seen as our roads are flooding with different types of electric vehicles such as electric cars, electric bikes, hoverboards, electric scooters, and so on.

The rise in the demand for electric vehicles makes sense as they emit fewer greenhouse gases than petrol- or diesel-powered vehicles. People are becoming more aware of the environmental issues caused by global warming and want to play a part in reducing their carbon footprint.

The choice between traditional vehicles and electric vehicles is evident. However, amongst electric vehicles, what is the best option? Well, it depends on your budget and requirements. If you are looking to accommodate the whole family into one vehicle, then an electric car would make sense.

However, in this article, we are trying to figure out what is your best option as an individual, not as a family. Individually, you have to choose between an electric bike or an electric scooter, and so, we will be comparing the two to help you make a better decision.

We are not including hoverboards due to safety concerns. There have been numerous complaints of injuries resulting from fires, explosions, falls, and so on.

With that in mind, let’s proceed to figure out what is better between an electric bike and an electric scooter:

What is the Difference Between Ebikes and E-scooters?

An electric bike is pedal-assisted and has an electric motor that helps propel the e-bike. It gives you the option to ride on pedal assistance or go completely electric without the need to pedal. However, you need to give the e-bike a pedal before the motor can kick in.

On the other hand, you cannot pedal an electric scooter, but it does have an electric motor. Therefore, you are constantly being propelled by the motor without any need to pedal to start it off.

A major difference between the two is that you ride an e-bike while seated, whereas the electric scooter is operated while standing. There are a few exceptions to this, as some electric scooters come with a seat.

Moreover, an electric bike has an additional component that is its chain. The chain can sometimes come off, causing problems for the rider. The electric scooter does not have any chains, so you do not have to worry about fixing your chain.

Which is the Better Option?

To establish which electric vehicle is the better option, we must compare the two in different areas:

1. How Far can They go?

The range offered by an electric vehicle is crucially important because it takes time to charge it. You can’t just pull up to a station and get a full range in a matter of minutes like petrol- or diesel-powered vehicles.

When your battery runs out, taking either electric vehicle back will be a problem. However, you can ride the e-bike home by pedaling without any assistance. On the other hand, the e-scooter will have to be manually pushed.

The range of an electric bike depends on multiple factors such as the battery type, how much assistance you are using, how much of the throttle you are using, the power of the motor, the weight of the rider, and so on. However, on average, a typical e-bike can cover around 30 – 50 miles on a single charge.

The range of an electric scooter also is impacted by many factors, but on average, a typical electric scooter can go around 15 – 35 miles.

Therefore, if you plan on traveling long distances, the e-bike will be the better option.

2. Which is More Convenient?

In terms of portability, the e-scooter is the better option because it is smaller and lighter to carry. Plus, it fits easily in your car and home.

However, there are exceptions to this as some electric scooters are very heavy and can go over 100 pounds. In contrast, foldable e-bikes are lightweight and can fit anywhere easily.

Overall, on average, the e-scooter is more convenient.

3. Which One is Faster?

Technically, electric bikes tend to have higher maximum speeds than electric scooters. In fact, high speed is one of the reasons to buy an ebike.  Practically, it does not mean much of a difference because the law limits the speed at which you travel.

In most cases, you are not allowed to go over 15 miles per hour. Most electric bikes and scooters can easily reach 15 miles per hour, and so, it doesn’t matter which one you choose if you are choosing based on speed.

4. Which Option is Healthier?

You get some sort of exercise from both options. There is more movement required on electric bikes, and so, it might be the healthier option. However, that does not mean that electric scooters are not offering any sort of exercise.

Standing also burns a significant number of calories. The plus side of the electric scooter is that you get some exercise without breaking a sweat. So, if you are using your electric vehicle to get to the office, the electric scooter will be a better option.

Moreover, the electric bike allows you to go on multiple terrains and when you are riding up a slope, you can expect a decent workout. In our opinion, the electric bike is the better option if you are looking for more exercise.

5. Which One is More Affordable?

Electric scooters tend to be more affordable as you can get a decent e-scooter for around $500 to $1000. In comparison, a decent electric bike can be somewhere around $1000 to $1500.

Again, there are a lot of exceptions depending on what you are looking for, which brand you get, and so on. However, on average, the electric scooter is more affordable.

Keeping that in mind, if you think about the range offered by the two. You might shift towards the electric bike as you pay slightly more for a better range.

In the end, it depends on your requirements. In our opinion, you get more value from the electric bike as compared to the electric scooter.

6. Which One has Better Handling?

There is a lot of debate on this topic. Many people consider the electric scooter to have better handling as they are smaller in size and can easily zip through traffic.

However, we think that the electric bike has better handling because it has a better road grip due to larger tires. You are seated while riding, which gives you more control over the machine. Moreover, at higher speeds, we think that the electric bike is more stable and that is why we believe it has better handling.

7. Other Factors

When it comes to different types of electric scooters and electric bikes, electric bikes tend to be more versatile. You can find many kinds of e-bikes such as mountain bikes, foldable bikes, cargo bikes, and commuter bikes.

Electric scooters are not as versatile and usually support one passenger. Electric bikes, on the other hand, can easily fit two or more passengers, especially on cargo e-bikes.

Moreover, electric bikes are built to ride on multiple terrains whereas, electric scooters are meant for flat surfaces.

If your battery runs out, you will have to ride your e-bike manually and that can be difficult as the e-bikes are much heavier compared to electric scooters. If the battery runs out on your electric scooter, you do not have the option to pedal it home, but since it is much lighter and portable, you can pick it up and fit it in a car or bus easily.

The Final Word

While both modes of transportation have immense advantages and drawbacks, it is clear that the electric bike outperforms the electric scooter, according to the analysis above. Yet, the choice mostly depends on how you are going to use the vehicle. If you plan on traveling shorter distances, the electric scooter can prove to be a much better option.

In our opinion, electric bikes have much more to offer and are the upgraded version of an electric scooter. You get most of the features that an electric scooter offers. The problems with electric bikes are that they are heavier and more expensive; however, they perform much better in terms of speed, range, comfort, and handling.

If you want to try out an electric vehicle, you can experiment with an electric scooter, and once you decide that electric vehicles have a lot to offer, you can upgrade your electric scooter to an electric bike. It will be like taking your passion to the next level.

No matter which one you think is better for you, we recommend buying either one as that will be beneficial to our planet as a whole. Play your part in sustaining the future by making smarter purchasing decisions. We hope you enjoyed reading this article and found it useful in deciding what will be the next step for you!