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Micromobility is here to stay, and it’s changing how we experience urban life for the better. With Unagi’s membership program, you can enjoy all the benefits of a top-tier electric scooter without the sky-high price of ownership or the inconvenience of ride-sharing.
We’re excited to celebrate Unagi’s 5th Anniversary, and we want you to join the fun! To thank you for your support, we're hosting an exclusive $10,000 Airbnb giveaway. No purchase necessary—just enter for your chance to win! Hurry, the giveaway ends on 10/4/2024!
In today’s fast-paced world, finding an efficient and cost-effective mode of transportation is crucial. E-scooters offer a convenient and eco-friendly way to navigate urban landscapes. Unagi stands out not only for its superior design and performance but also for its affordability and unmatched rental program.
While e-scooters have been gaining popularity due to their convenience and relatively low cost, they have been getting more attention lately for another reason: battery fires. It's important to understand the potential dangers associated with the battery technology that lies at their core.
In South Carolina, electric scooters exist in a sort of legal gray area. There's no statewide legislation that specifically addresses them.
Understand which personal electric vehicle is best, the choice between an electric bike or electric scooter might already be made for you by some critical factors, including portability and storage capacity.
In the age of the smart e scooter, the best electric scooters for the daily commute are increasingly lightweight scooters, built for easy portability such as Unagi Voyager. Weighing in at only 13.4 kgs (29.6 lbs), it must surely be one of the lightest of the lightweight scooters currently available. The average e scooter can weigh up to 31 kgs (70lbs) or more.
However, lightweight scooters must stay within their weight limit!
The good news is commuter scooters are built to a robust strength-to-weight ratio, often with aviation-grade aluminum alloy. However, a lightweight scooter needs to stay within the manufacturer's specified weight limit - the maximum load they can carry.
So, what action is best to take if you:
In this ultimate buying guide ... we'll give you all you need to know about an e-scooter's weight limit, and how to ensure you find the ideal electric scooter for you and your riding needs.
Let's go...
An electric scooter's motor is designed to power and move a specific scooter's weight range. Additional weight will reduce power output, causing:
Unfortunately, that's not all. Exceeding your electric scooter's weight limit can do more than simply slow you down!
Extra weight poses a serious risk of:
Accident and injury
Carrying a heavier load can cause your scooter to wobble, lose balance and tip at any time. You can have real difficulties in controlling maneuvers, such as braking and turning corners.
*A fully loaded backpack, for example, can add significant pounds, and exceed your scooter's weight limit by as much as 5-10 kg (11-22lbs) or even more.
Exceeding an electric scooter's weight limit over time can impose harmful stress on the motor, and shorten battery life.
Motor overheating: caused by a motor's normal operating temperature rising to dangerously high levels, risking damage, fire or explosion.
Battery draining: faster than normal because of the added charge needed, which severely reduces the range available on a single charge.
Early wear and tear: will start to appear on other vital components too, such as tires, brakes, and suspension system starting to fail, with the need for frequent maintenance and repairs.
Particularly, if your electric scooter shows signs it's been carrying loads above the manufacturer's recommended maximum weight.
Plus, if an accident does occur as a result of exceeding a scooter's weight limit. You may be held liable for any damage or injuries caused to yourself, your scooter and other road users involved.
Adult electric scooters usually have a weight limit of:
However, weight limits will vary considerably according to the type of scooter design. This means, how a scooter is to be used.
Electric scooters designed for daily urban commuting - are almost always lightweight for easy-to- carry portability, and generally have a weight limit of:
Typical commuter scooters in this weight-carrying class include: Apollo City, Hiboy S2, Unagi Voyager, TurboAnt X7 and Emove Cruiser.
Heavy duty electric scooters built for off road riding in more rugged terrain, tend to have weight limits of around:
Heavy duty e scooters in this category include: Mantis Pro, Fluid Horizon, Wolf Warrior and Apollo Phantom.
It's not only a heavy duty electric scooter that's loaded with heavy duty parts. Even those designed for shorter range commutes can be a heavier weight. Because it's a dual motor electric scooter. Or it has both front and rear suspension.
The higher a battery's voltage the larger and heavier it will weigh. This is because of the extra charge needed to power an electric scooter, according to how it will be used. Whether purely for short range or long distance urban commutes. Or for an off road electric scooter and sports performance, higher speeds.
Almost all modern electric scooters come with a lithium-ion battery and a voltage of between 36v - 72v.
The average urban commuter scooter will generally be fitted with a:
- generally weighing between -
The heavier the scooter, the larger the battery - and therefore - the heavier the scooter will be.
A single e scooter motor tends to weigh around 3 - 4kgs ( 6.6 - 8.8 lbs).
However, an e scooter can be equipped with with one or two wheel motors, with its own combined individual, power output. Even between almost identical models within the same brand range.
For example, Unagi Voyager packs a pair of 500 watt motors giving 1000 watts peak power compared to Unagi Model One with 800 watts max. Even though Voyager is probably one of the lightest - if not THE lightest commuting scooter out there.
Here, greater power output does not always mean a heavier motor. It's often down to improved torque (the turning force of rotation around an axis).
The size of tire fitted should reflect how an e scooter is to be used. Most electric scooters built for urban commuting will have 8.5 - 9 inch diameter tires.
But an off road scooter is usually bigger and heavier. And tends to have bigger 10 inch tires, at least, for keeping the scooter balanced while tackling rougher terrain.
Another difference is between the three types of tires that can be fitted to an electric scooter:
Electric scooters mostly come with one of two types of suspension system:
Some scooters will have only a single shock absorber (usually twin spring on the front wheels) while others will also have a pair on the rear wheel forks( hydraulic).
A pair of heavy duty spring coil shock absorbers designed for 8-10 inch e scooter wheel forks can weigh around 0.70 - 0.80 kgs ( 1.5 -1.7lbs).
While a single hydraulic suspension can weight at least 1.2 kgs (2.6 lbs).
Some of the lightest urban scooters, such as Unagi Voyager, have no suspension system at all. Instead rely on honeycomb tire technology to supply a balanced, smooth ride.
A scooter intended for urban rides across town needs to have both a lightweight and strong, durable frame.
How portable your scooter is for the daily commute - how easy it is to carry up and down stairs and escalators - is determined by how much a scooter actually weighs.
The weight of a scooter is also an important factor in how much load it can carry.
Increasingly, commuter scooters are built with aviation-grade aluminum alloy, which has a high strength-to-weight ratio. Ideal for a lightweight and durable commuting scooter.
The weight of a solid, secure deck and sturdy handlebars are also key factors in an electric scooter's overall frame weight and load carrying limit.
A scooter designed for longer range commutes (with a larger capacity, heavier battery) will also tend to have a heavier frame.
Electric scooter laws in the US can vary a lot across different states.
There are FOUR states in which a maximum weight limit of 45.3 kgs (100 lbs) is imposed on an electric scooter.
The four states are:
This is important to know because the weight of a scooter places a limit on the TOTAL weight it can safely carry. Including, either heavier riders or even those riders simply on the heavier side.
Choosing the right electric scooter for heavy or heavier adults is essential for safety, riding comfort and performance. You should always start by checking out these 3 key factors:
An electric scooter must have a weight limit which is at least 10 per cent more than a rider's weight.
This means a rider's weight needs to be no more than 90 kgs (200lbs). Particularly, if usually wearing a backpack, which can add on several more pounds.
A high battery capacity can better handle heavier loads. The rated values to look out for are:
The average commuter scooter should have a motor capable of delivering 200 to 500 watts. Heavy adults should be looking to find an e-scooter with motor power of at least 350 watts. Or risk loss of speed, range, and a struggle to make hill climbs.
A motor rated at a minimum of 350 watts should be able to keep even heavy riders at a legal urban commuting pace (25 km/h/15 mph) in many states.
Here are some typical speeds generated by motor watts...
| Watts | Speed (average values) |
|---|---|
| 250 Watts | Up to 25 km/h (15 mph) |
| 350 Watts | Between 25 km/h (15 mph ) and 35 km/h 22 mph) |
| 500 Watts | Between 40 km/h (25 mph) and 60 km/h (38 mph) |
| 1000 Watts | Minimum 50 km/h (30 mph) |
While a single rear wheel hub motor is often considered more powerful than a single front wheel motor, in many cases a dual motor scooter is your best bet, if you're a moderate to heavy rider.
A dual motor effectively doubles power output. And can give you that extra reserve of power when needed for fast acceleration and hill climbs.
When looking around for the best electric scooter for heavier riders, you should always carefully check the manufacturer's specification for weight limit. This should be available on the scooter brand's website and in the specific model's user manual.
Several related factors affect most adult scooters' weight limits. And will directly impact whether you can have the optimal performance you want - and to ride comfortably and safely.
Top of the list of important factors are:
Finally
Electric scooters are designed and built to take the weight and balance of a single rider. It's not only seriously unsafe. It's also prohibited by law to have 2 people riding on the same scooter.
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In the U.S., most states don't require a license. For those that do, they usually just ask for a regular driver's license or a learner's permit.
Yes, you can bring an electric scooter on a plane, but it needs to have a lithium battery smaller than 100 watt-hours, which most don't.
Manufacturers advise against riding electric scooters in the rain. The main reasons are: water can fry the electronics, make the ride dangerous, and void your warranty.
“Is my scooter legal?” is a question many are increasingly asking. The micromobility industry is one of the fastest-growing and most exciting in the world—with promises for...in addition to abundances of the basics of time and money savings. And with this pace of innovation comes a struggle for regulation to keep up.
So, you're thinking about joining the electric scooter revolution, huh? You've seen those sleek and stylish scooters zipping around town, effortlessly gliding through traffic, and you can't help but wonder: Are electric scooters easy to ride?
In this guide, we'll break down what defines a lightweight electric scooter, why you should choose one, and the top features you should look for.
Want to get the most out of your electric scooter battery and extend your riding adventures? We've got you covered with our comprehensive guide full of maintenance tips and best practices.
*Disclaimer: Unagi, INC. has used best efforts, but does not in any manner guarantee the accuracy of the below findings regarding electric scooter laws in the United States or internationally. Electric scooter riders or those considering to purchase or begin…
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