Electric scooter or electric bike: what to choose?

To avoid traffic jams in cars or crowds on public transport, many city commuters are now turning to alternative means of transport. Among them, we find the electric scooter, but also the electric bicycle (or “e-bike”).

Reliable and practical, these new soft mobility vehicles are now in great demand - in Switzerland and elsewhere in the world. But how to choose between the electric scooter and the electric bike?

In order to choose the vehicle that best suits your needs, read our comparison below: we assess in 10 points all the advantages and disadvantages of these two means of transport, definitely very trendy!

1 - Light weight

For this first criterion of our comparison, no big surprise: an electric scooter is indeed much lighter than an electric bicycle. For the latter, count more than 20 kg, against a minimum of 12 kg for an electric scooter. An element to take into account if you have to carry your vehicle regularly especially in the stairs!

2 - Dimensions

For a compact vehicle, think of electric scooters: indeed, they are smaller than a bicycle, and all foldable. A major asset to make your life easier and also save space, especially if you live in an apartment! In comparison, an electric bicycle is much larger, and rarely foldable: it can therefore quickly become more bulky on a daily basis.

3 - Security

Thanks to its compact size, there is no need to leave your electric scooter outside: you can take it everywhere with you. By always having it in front of you, you will avoid any risk of theft or damage. In addition, it is possible for us to mount an integrated anti-theft device on more and more scooters, i.e. an RFID chip locking system: an additional guarantee of security, because the chip only unlocks in the presence of your personalized badge.

4 - Maintenance

If an electric bike will require more regular and more extensive follow-ups, this is not necessarily the case for an electric scooter: indeed, the maintenance of the latter is rather easy. You just need to take care of it on a daily basis and follow the manufacturer's instructions, in particular to properly maintain the tires and the lithium-ion battery. The KissMyWheels team of specialists can also help you with all your maintenance and repairs: click here to find out more.

5 - Travel

For all your commuting between home and work place, it is the electric scooter that has (once again) everything right: being foldable, it is easy and free to take it with you on public transport. Conversely, an electric bicycle will require the purchase of a ticket on SBB trains if it cannot be folded and if it is not in a transport bag. The electric scooter is also perfect for your occasional trips and trips: once folded, it will take up very little space in the trunk of your car or in your motorhome.

6 - Power

The electric bicycle is often preferred by people with long daily trips including climbs, where a powerful motor becomes a great help. Note, however, that many electric scooters can still overcome sloping roads: you just need to choose a model with a good motor (from 500 W and more). For more details on scooters suitable for use on slopes, see our dedicated article here.

7 - Speed

If you want to travel fast on Swiss roads, then one thing is for sure: you will ride faster on an e-bike. The electric bicycle is indeed favored by Swiss legislation, being able to travel up to 25 km / h maximum (in the category without plates). As for electric scooters, they must be restrained at 20 km / h to be able to circulate on the roads of the country (road legal scooters).

8 - Autonomy

A good point for the electric bike: it often has a better range than conventional electric scooters. Indeed, the latter can travel (on average) about 50 km in a single charging cycle, against 100 km or more for an electric bike. But that's not always true: performance scooters like the INMOTION L9 can work wonders! Powerful and robust, the latter can travel up to 80 km in one go, thanks to its two charging sockets.

9 - Comfort

If you like to get around in a comfortable way, the e-bike (with seat) is probably a great option. But did you know that an electric scooter can be as comfortable as a bicycle? Indeed, some models have the ability to have a removable seat! In a few seconds, your scooter transforms and allows you to sit down for all your longest trips. To learn more about scooters with a seat, check out this article.

10 - Budget

To buy an e-bike, your budget will have to be more important than for an electric scooter: indeed, if there is around CHF 1000 for a good scooter, you will however need more than double for an electric bike! And if you have a small budget, don't panic: electric scooters have a wide price range (starting at less than CHF 500) to satisfy all users.

Conclusion

Thanks to this little "electric scooters vs electric bikes" comparison, we can see that the scooter is the big winner of this duel! Depending on the models and options chosen, the electric scooter remains a definitely practical and maneuverable means of transport, which perfectly adapts to your needs and your lifestyle. So what are you waiting for?

For more details on electric scooters, do not hesitate to contact the KissMyWheels team: we will be happy to show you all the advantages of this ecological and economical means of transport. We are also at your disposal in our stores in Geneva and Zurich to show you our models during a "test drive": the assurance of choosing the perfect model!