How fast are Electric Scooters? 2020 Updated Scooters Speeds

The average speed of an electric scooter is about 16 mph (or 25 km/h).

To get a better idea of the available options and best fit, it is advantageous to compare speeds obtainable by different brands. I will outline the most popular electric scooters, compute the average max speed, outline them and comment on factors influencing the maximum speed.

The maximum speed of electric scooters for adults

 

Scooter name (link to Amazon)	Max. Speed [mph]	Max. Speed [km/h]
E-twow USA Uscooters ECO	16	25
E-twow USA Uscooters Master	16	25
Uscooter Booster	22	36
GOTRAX GXL Commuting Electric Scooter	15.5	25
Segway – KickScooter Ninebot ES4	19	30
SWAGTRON City Commuter Electric Scooter	18	29
Segway Ninebot KickScooter ES2 Pro	15	24
Xiaomi Mi M365	16	25
Razor E300	15	24
Kugoo S3 Electric ScooterRazor E300	18.6	30
QIEWA Q1Hummer	37	59.5
NANROBOT D4+ Pro	40	64
Voyager Proton	15	24

As you can see, the average priced electric scooter’s maximum speed is between 15 and 22 mph (or 24 and 36 km/h).

Electric scooters for kids have a maximum speed between 15 and 18 mph (24 to 29 km/h).

My personal electric scooter, a Uscooters Booster (E-Twow Booster), can reach around 22 mph (36 km/h ) carrying a weight of 165 lbs (or 75 kg). This scooter has a 500 watts motor, and because it’s the Booster edition, it allows the top speed to be unlocked.

While this option gives you the possibility to reach the highest possible speed that the electric motor can produce, it is not common amongst all electric scooters.

For example, the Xiaomi Mi M365 can reach a top speed of 16 mph (25 km/h). The controller on the scooter limits the speed, even if you are accelerating downhill. This limiting factor can be removed. However, it is not straightforward using the provided phone application.

Some of these models are capable of higher speeds if unlocked. With a firmware change, the Xiaomi Mi M365 can also reach 30 km/h (19 mph). It is important to remember, however, that unlocking the speed will likely result in voiding the warranty – so think twice if it’s worth it. For a speed limit removal tutorial check this article.

What influences the maximum speed?

There are numerous factors that influence the maximum speed. With respect to the scooter itself, the most important ones are:

• Electric Motor Power – the maximum power (measured in watts, W) that the motor can produce
• Aerodynamic factor– how well the scooter lets air flow past, reducing the drag force
• Tires – airless tires mean less friction with the ground and no flat tires but they are less comfortable on rough terrain. Tires filled with air depend heavily on the tire pressure – higher pressure means less friction with the ground, faster speeds, and increased battery life. Tire pressure adjustments should coincide with the recommended values from the user’s manual; a too high a pressure can be dangerous and also lead to punctured tires.
• E-scooter’s weight – a weight difference as small as 4.5 lbs (or 2 kg) can influence the maximum speed

The rider also influences the maximum speed, for example:

• Rider’s weight – lower weights allow for higher speeds
• Additional weight – backpack, clothes, equipment, etc.
• Rider’s aerodynamic factor– minimize the area you are taking up; the wider you are the more resistance (drag) when riding

There are other factors from the environment such as:

• Wind speed (headwind or tailwind) – can increase or decrease your top speed
• Terrain – flat terrain will have less friction between the tires and ground than an “off-road” or rough terrain
• Terrain incline – downhill acceleration will increase your top speed

How to improve your maximum speed

The main factor that will stop you from reaching a higher maximum speed is the scooter’s hardware speed limitation. Most scooters are limited to a certain speed due to legal regulations and safety measures. I, by no means, encourage you to unlock this limitation and ride like this – it is simply an option. If you are willing to unlock your speed – ride it with care: on flat terrain and far from any cars or obstacles.

Here are my tips to improve your top speed:

1. Unlock your electric scooter – some can be done from the scooter’s control panel, a phone application, or with a firmware change. If you search your model on YouTube, you will probably find instructions on how to do it. Also, check our article on speed limit removal.
2. If possible, change your tires for a pair of airless tires – less friction leads to a higher speed
3. Limit the weight – get rid of backpacks or heavy clothes; less weight means higher speed
4. Charge your battery prior – you will need a fully charged battery and high voltage to reach the top speed

If you have a factory limited-speed option active, you won’t reach higher speeds than the ones presented in the user’s manual. Even when going downhill, the controller will limit the speed.

What’s the fastest electric scooter?

From what I’ve researched, the fastest electric scooter on the market is the NANROBOT LS7 (link to Amazon) Electric Scooter. This monster scooter reaches a maximum speed of 52 mph (83 km/h) which is significant for an electric scooter. Depending on your state or country, this scooter may need to be registered as a road vehicle.

While it would likely be fun to ride the NANROBOT LS7 scooter, I don’t consider 52 mph (83 km/h) to be a safe speed for an electric scooter. If you decide to ride this model, you need to take all the possible safety precautions.

Why get an electric scooter that can reach higher than 25 km/h (16 mph)?

You will likely get bored of a 16 mph (25 km/h) limit after getting used to the scooter. If you have a lot of straight lines on your route to work or school, riding at 25 km/h (16 mph) will seem too slow; getting a scooter that can go over 16 mph (25 km/h) is a great option. However, depending on your local regulations, getting a faster scooter will require registering it as a vehicle.

How much speed is safe?

Personally, I ride mostly on bike paths. As there are very few obstacles and no cars, I go up to 19 mph (or 30 km/h) – in a straight line of course.

While riding on the road, keeping a speed between 12-16 mph (or 20-25 km/h) is safer. When driving near cars, keep a slightly slower speed as any obstacle on the road or a bump can shift your direction unexpectedly. By keeping a slow speed, you will be able to react quickly, brake in time and prevent any accidents. Check out these safety tips before riding.

Also, when riding on tiles I prefer keeping a speed of around 12 mph (20 km/h). I consider this speed to be safe because electric scooters have very narrow width tires.

Weather conditions

Weather conditions that affect the speed include rain, snow, wind, fog and hot/cold environments.

Rain

As you probably guessed, the rain will limit your top speed because the water forms a layer between your tires and the ground. This layer can lead to hydroplaning and is quite dangerous, for this reason traveling at your top speed on a wet terrain is highly dangerous. Also, be careful with the brakes! Riding fast on wet ground is dangerous with narrow tires as they are likely to slip when braking hard.

Read more about riding in the rain.

Snow

I don’t ride on snow nor do I advise it for two good reasons.

1. Narrow tires – they will most likely slip
2. Wrong tire profile – most electric scooters are made for 3 seasons (hint: not winter), so the winter tires are not part of the package

Reaching a top speed on snow will be probably when you fall in a valley.

Read more about riding on snow.

Wind

A tailwind can help you reach top speed while front-wind will prevent reaching the full potential of your electric scooter. The 100 m Olympic run wind for a record to be valid needs to be less than 6.5 ft/s (or 2 m/s). So, when you are bragging to your friends, consider the wind-legal limit of 6.5 ft/s (or 2 m/s).

Fog

Indeed, there is more humidity in the air which can impose more resistance when riding, so be aware of being able to break in time. Your brakes won’t work as well on slightly wet ground and the probability of you slipping is higher. Also, the safety of riding fast when foggy weather due to limited visibly is concerning.

Hot or Cold Environments

Hot or cold weather can affect battery performance. Batteries work better at temperatures of about 20°C (68°F). A too low or too high temperature will decrease the performance of your scooter’s battery, leading to your speed being slower.

How to protect yourself

There are certain ways to protect yourself when going fast:

• Wear a bike helmet
• Wear protective gear for elbows and knees.
• Adapt the speed to the weather, terrain and traffic conditions
• Get used to riding an electric scooter before driving at full speed
• Don’t take corners (even small turns) with high speed. Always ride in a straight line on flat terrain if traveling at full speed.
• Obviously, always keep both hands on the handles.

Check out my recommended accessories I can’t ride without.

Steep hills?

There are plenty of electric scooters suitable for hilly regions like San Francisco. They are usually equipped with a powerful electric motor of 500 watts up to 1000 watts. Check out our recommended e-scooters for climbing hills in this article.

Conclusion

Driving an electric scooter is fun, and most of the riders want to see how full speed looks like after getting used to riding. Always consider safety measures and ride at high speeds only when possible and safe: flat and dry terrain, no traffic and in a straight line. In this post, you can find our safety tips for riding an electric scooter.

Most electric scooters reach a speed of 25-30 km/h (16-19 mph) at full speed, but most of these electric scooters are factory limited, so they may be able to reach higher speeds if unlocked. Some models can be unlocked directly by going to the scooter’s control panel and disabling the speed limitation, while some of them require firmware change which is more complicated. Check out what’s the max speed you can ride an electric scooter legally depending on your state in this article.