Here's a quick list of 10 things to check before you buy an electric scooter: 

1. Cost 
2. Range
3. Weight Limit
4. Scooter Weight
5. Warranty
6. Performance
7. Charge times
8. Lighting
9. Spare Parts and Service
10. Country of Origin.

Let's have a look at each item in detail so you can learn the pros and cons of each.

1. Cost 

When it comes to cost- it may not be as obvious as you think: there is a difference between Price and Cost. Price is what you pay at your initial purchase, but cost is what you end up paying in the long run. For example; if you buy a e-scooter simply because it has a budget price- you may end up needing to buy a second, better scooter shortly after if it runs too slowly or has a limited range or no direct factory support. When you buy a electric scooter from the manufacturer direct; you will likely get the best and highest level of support.

2. Range

When it comes to riding range, or how far you can go on a charge- a lot of manufacturers "fudge the numbers" to say the least - a high performance foldable electric scooter typically has a range of 14 to 19 miles on a full charge, with a new battery. Keep in mind that as the battery is used, there is a limit to the number of charging cycles and as you approach this limit- the range will inevitably decrease. Typical charging cycles for battery packs vary- but most packs will start to drop off after 100 to 150 cycles- most good packs. If you find a budget battery, you may get much less than you paid for so research warrantees and sources carefully before buying. 

3. Weight Limit

The weight limit- or load weight of a electric scooter is the combination of the rider's weight, and the weight of anything the rider is carrying- such as a back pack. Many electric scooters may be sized for children or young adults- also known as skinny people. According to Wikipedia, the average American male weighs about 200 pounds, and females typically come in at an average of 170 pounds. If you get a scooter with a limit that is over 300 pounds, you should be good to carry yourself and just about as much as you could possibly carry while walking- so be careful. You'll also want to choose a scooter which has a low deck height so that you can easily step on or off without straining yourself. A electric scooter with a deck height of 2 to 3 inches should satisfy this ease of entry need.

4. Scooter Weight

Once you get where you're going- you'll need to stow or carry your scooter. A small foldable electric scooter such as the ones made by the Electric Scooter Factory come with an "S" hook which allows you to hang the scooters from pegs or on a coat rack. If you get a budget scooter, you can of course buy a hook- but be sure to check that the scooter is light enough (25 pounds or less) and designed to be hung up for stowing. Also be aware that a electric scooter which weighs over 25 pounds will be difficult to carry far or for long- so check the specifications carefully.

5. Warranty

It should be obvious that warranty is important, some budget products have very short periods of warranty- in fact many budget sellers have a warranty equal to the return period for the product (often only 30 days). When you buy from a maker with a longer warranty- do your due diligence and make sure everything is covered for materials and workmanship for at least one year to make sure you'll be able to get a good return on your electric scooter investment. Also- make sure spare parts are available from the seller or maker before you buy - a scooter which is sitting idle because of a simple broken part is of little value. You want to be sure parts are available and are reasonably priced before committing to a purchase. 

6. Performance

There could be nothing more frustrating than buying a sleek looking new scooter and finding out it could only move you about as fast as you can walk, so be certain the unit has a maximum speed which is much greater than you would typically travel- say 16-18 MPH. You might need the extra speed momentarily to get out of the way of a hazard. A scooter which only moves you along as fast a a frog could end up leaving you feeling, well, a little flat. Another thing to consider is the torque of the motor- some motors may move you fast on the flat areas- but they might go super slow up a hill. Torque is what makes the power needed for speed going up inclines. Makes sure you get a scooter which can handle inclines- such as or Regen scooter which can handle inclines up to 20 degrees.

7. Charge times

Just like a cell phone after doing some work, the battery built in to your electric scooter will need a charge. Your e scooter will need to be plugged in for a few hours to charge back up. Many budget scooters may come with a high power battery, but a low current charger- which means the battery may take a long time to charge. Of course, limiting the current flow is something a well designed charger should do- but some chargers are quite simple on the low end. If you have a large battery and small charger- you may be waiting over 7 hours for a full charge. A good charger and battery system should typically charge a battery fully in around 4 hours or less.

8. Lighting

It seems obvious that you should avoid riding your Electric Scooter at night- but should you need to ride at night- you should choose a scooter with a built in headlight; even during the day these are useful to alert oncoming drivers of your presence. As a matter of safety, don't choose any scooter which does not have at least a headlight- and preferably, choose a scooter which also has a flashing taillight as well. Day or Night, Rain or Shine- a headlight is must-have safety gear for your scooter choice.

9. Spare Parts and Service

One thing to consider when browsing the online bazaars full of sellers of imported electric scooters is whether or not you will be able to keep using your electric scooter should any parts fail- either due to wear and tear or accident. Does the brand or maker offer spare parts on the same site where they sell the electric scooters? If not, you may want to consider passing on the 'bargain' brand and choosing a slightly more expensive product from a reliable source who have spares and support available, should you need it.

10. Country of Origin

With worldwide tariffs and embargoes ever looming- you might want to consider a domestic made product- something made in the USA does not have the huge tariffs or import handling fees- buying a offshored product may mean that half or more of your purchase price is consumed just for getting the product off the ship and to you- and adding the extra tariffs on top you can quickly just be paying for not much product at all. When you buy made in USA electric scooters, the majority of your costs are for the product you get- which gives you real benefit- not just tariff fees to the government- which gives you diminished buying power. The easy way to get the best value is to buy American made whenever you can- and the Electric Scooter Factory sells direct to you from the factory in Massachusetts, USA. 

These are 10 things to consider when buying an electric scooter in the USA. There are many brands and types to choose from with new models coming in 2023. Companies like The Electric Scooter Factory are working hard in America to bring you the latest in electric scooter technologies at the best values in the Country.  We hope this short guide will help you to choose the best possible folding electric scooter for your needs. Did we forget anything which you feel should be on this list? Let us know in the comments here or contact us. We'd love to hear from you!