I still believe that electric scooters have a significant role in the future of transportation.
I still stand with the proverb that “necessity is the mother of invention,” and electric push scooters are invented for special needs.
I can list how electric scooters are making changes and how it continues to reform the way many of us travel.
But, this is not the time for it.
As we look for value in the products we invest in, we need to understand its exploits. It is to help us understand the limitations of the product and prepare to meet the circumstances resulting from it.
I’d like to use the word “challenges” of electric scooters because these instances are not absolutely unredeemable.
#1 Exposure to the weather and other outdoor elements
Another reason why an electric scooter is appropriate for the “last mile” is because of the high exposure to the weather.
In the US alone, different places have various climate conditions and more so for the rest of the world. Riding on an electric push scooter will expose you to from hot to sweltering, cold to freezing weather with less protection.
The vehicle might not be a good idea when it is very cold or very warm. This might be a problem if you will be using scooters for main transportation even if your destinations are near.
Unlike cars, electric push scooters are very open. Most scooters only have the brake system for safety. The rest? It is up to you. There are no airbags nor hard metals to cover you. Thus, you need to be extra careful and to always put on your gears.
Before you hop on one, be sure to this in mind and create a plan on how to redeem it.
#2 Limited battery and power
When I say limited battery, I mean charging time and power. Let’s tackle them one by one.
Most of the electric push scooters we’ve found have a charging time of 12 to 24 hours depending on the product. Despite the long hours of charging, it can run at best for 80 minutes of continuous use.
Now, this is not necessarily bad because it will again be dependent on your use. It becomes a challenge when you are having fun and then it stops where there are no charging stations.
But! Most of the scooters can be set to manual or un-motorized driving. So you don’t have to carry it, you just need to push like the traditional ones.
As to power, this transport can run for up to 15 mph. Some consider it fine, while others see this as too slow. If you are using it for distant destinations, then you might have to recharge along the way as it only runs for 15 miles an hour. You better plan your travel properly!
#3 Few charging stations
All over the US, there more than 48 thousand charging stations and outlet as of December 2017.
The number of charging areas in the US is quite small if you think critically about. In China, there are around 150,000 stations as of 2017. You also need to account where these places are concentrated. Some cities may have more than others. Considering these factors, some riders think that there is still a scarcity of charging places.
One implication of these figures is that if electric scooters are advocated to be an alternative transport, then more stations must be built. But of course, there are other factors that have to be noted before putting up one like the source of electricity.
It is, therefore, important that you note the charging areas in your place. You can take advantage of mobile applications such as the Open Charge Map.
#4 Use of electricity
Electric Kicks Scooters are geared towards minimizing environmental impacts like harmful gas emissions. On the one hand, however, it also uses energy.
According to the Friends of the Earth International, the manner in we use our energy is unsustainable and generally harmful. With the advent of electric push scooters, millions might now have another reason to overuse our energy sources. Hence, defeating the purpose of the “eco-friendly” vehicle.
This calls for the ethical use of our energy sources., which means that users, manufacturers, and leaders have to work together to ensure that electric scooters will not add to environmental harm.
One electric vehicle (EV) company, Gogoro, aims to solve this through battery swapping with the use of solar energy. It does not only reduce battery issues, but also helps create sustainable energy usage for EV riders.
#5 Ability to tackle different road surfaces
Based on the reviews we have conducted for electric kick scooters, we have seen and experienced riding on them on different land surfaces.
We were impressed by their powers on rough and uphill grounds. However, there are scooters that are not meant for these kinds of activity. Some may be able to tackle challenging grounds, but it is not strong enough for extended use.
What I want to emphasize here is that electric scooters are good for the city or urban driving, where there is even and smooth ground. If you want a more rigid riding course, you also need to find a powerful scooter for that because most have minimal capacity when it comes to dirt and uneven ground.
Additional: Vandalism on e-scooter sharing
We’ve talked about the wonder that is electric kick scooter sharing and the benefits it can give to the community.
With the influx of mobile hiring applications like the Bird in Santa Monica, this poses an issue for order and safety.
For instance, in China, bike-sharing problems include unmindful dumping on the roads that it becomes a nuisance. No docking station for e-scooters are also forwarded in the US, but without proper regulation, it may also be a problem.
This may be a problem specific to bike sharing. Distinct from the sharing phenomenon, the e-scooters may be an issue if no specific regulations to govern them be enacted. There may again be a road-sharing problem or threats with the rider themselves for not wearing gears.