Many of my readers are most interested in using their electric scooters for commuting to work on. Here’s a round up of some of the reasons that this is a great idea, along with a few of the downsides to doing this.
The scooter I have in mind as I write this is the 1000W 48V by EVO (C9316 model). The reason for this is this scooter is a road legal version they’ve recently brought out. It has many excellent features that make it the ideal electric scooter for commuters.
Upfront investment
Although there is an initial upfront investment cost to an electric scooter which kinda sucks, over the long term, your scooter more than pays for itself.
If in the past you’ve owned and driven a car, the savings are massive. Firstly there is no petrol, no insurance and no road tax needed. You do need to pay around £55.00 to register your scooter with the DVLA initally so that you can use it on the roads and street.
Within a few weeks, most people who have switched from a car for commuting to an electric scooter have found the scooter has already paid for itself in money saved.
Charging
Of course an electric scooter uses electric for its power, and inevitably needs charging. How often you will need to charge it depends on how far you travel on it, the terrain (smooth/bumpy roads) and your own weight.
The 1000W EVO road legal scooter can travel for up to 25km (that’s 16 miles) before it needs recharging. Not sure how far you’d be travelling at a time? Get onto Google Maps, and get the directions from your home to your work and it will tell you the number of miles between destinations.
Travelling with your charger is always a good idea in case you need to charge the scooter up whilst at work.
There are lots of people who use their scooters to get to the train on, when they will then get on, fold it, then unfold it and get off the train.
Freedom
I love that you can ride a road legal electric scooter anywhere these days (as far as you can go within charge distance anyway), and not have to bother with all the expenses and ties that go with cars and motor bikes.
Storage
The C9316 EVO 1000W folds up really easily, saving a lot of room when it’s not in use. As I’ve mentioned in previous articles, electric scooters are heavy so although it does fold up nicely, lifting it is not a good idea. You will need somewhere on the ground floor to store it. Unless you fancy carrying 48kg up and down a flight of stairs every day. I certainly wouldn’t be up for this!
Comfort
With an adjustable seat that is also nice to sit on, and a board for your feet, it’s a comfortable, smooth machine to sit on as you commute to work and back. Although there are front and back LED lights so people can see you in the dark, I would still advise you to wear safety gear, a helmet and bright clothing to stand out.
How to register your electric scooter so it’s road legal
Please bear in mind that not all electric scooters are road legal. The 1000W 48V C9316 model by EVO is because of its added features like lights, mirrors and safety features.
You first need a certificate of conformity which you receive when you buy your scooter. You then need to fill in a V55/5 form and submit it along with the certificate and your £55.00 registration fee and you should receive a new registration certificate within six weeks (usually earlier).
Read more about the road legal model and get your own here.
Any other questions about commuting on your electric scooter? Leave a comment or share your experiences!
good article Steve. i have a 1000w electric scooter myself & i wouldnt be without it.
Thanks Rob!
Is there a need for any sort of license/insurance with these scooters too? I only live a few streets away from work and thinking about buying one eventually.
Hi Dan, thanks for your question. I added a new post on electric scooter laws in the UK which answers your questions. http://electricscootersforadultshq.co.uk/electric-scooter-laws-in-the-uk/ Steve.
Please, without reading that article again. Can you answer Dan’s question. Because I Want to buy one too and I have a learner licence. Do I need any sort of Licence or insurance to ride such a small thing?
Hi Mazin,
I wrote a separate article all about this which answers your questions here http://electricscootersforadultshq.co.uk/electric-scooter-laws-in-the-uk/
Thanks
I use M5 before but its not road legal. for that I need to switch it. I think Evo 1000w is good for me. Thanks for suggest!
Hi admin ! I read your page everyday and i must say you have very interesting posts here.
Your blog deserves to go viral.
Thanks glad you like it so much
I used to be an electric scooter enthusiast and owned 5 last year. I was going to upgrade to a seated road legal one for a bit more indepence and speed, don’t get me wrong these things are very fun and for occaisonal journeys, short distance, hobbyists and people who live near safer roads (Not motorways, intersections and A roads like my area) I’m sure these scooters are fine. Anyone wanting one as main vechile though if like me you don’t drive a car, don’t be mistaken into thinking this could be a motorcycle substitute (moped/scooter/motorbike). That was my original idea, I thought it would be my natural progression as an electric scooter lover. However after weighing up everything including cost overall, distances I planned to do, reality checks such as the route i do daily includes a 3 lane 50 mph stretch of road, I’d rode proper mopeds before and with a moped having 30mph speed restriction which is close to the 28mph road legal electric scooter. the only roads mopeds can’t go on are motorways but on the road I mention, when the speed limit is 50mph that’s what most vechiles will do and even on a moped its dangerous being stuck at 30 when the traffic flow is 50 so I wouldnt advise taking an electric scooter on roads like that even if it says they’re road legal so that was one thing. another was without a drivers licence you can’t take CBT, not just that, I’d be interested if anyone’s done otherwise but generally speaking CBT is for motorcycles including mopeds but the bike definition of a moped is very different to the gov.org definition. In the bike world we don’t class them as mopeds (like I say don’t get me wrong electric scooters are still fun). Problem is no motorcycle training school will allow you to take your test on something they aren’t a qualified instructor in. You’re choice is 50cc moped or 125cc motorbike to get your CBT. On the certificate they tick the box you completed your test via and there’s no box for electric scooter. We learnt things like indicating, and electric scooters don’t have indicators which by definition shouldn’t allow them to be road legal enless you ride in cycle lanes. We had to do theory, emergency stops, and then a minimum of 4 hours on the road which wouldnt work for an electric scooter due to battery life. I’m not knocking them at all I used to go everywhere on them. If someone has taken CBT on one I’d be genuinely interested to hear about it 🙂 Like I say though having taken mine and motor bike test it just doeant seem feasible. Anyway the deciding factor for me was cost for the functions it couldn’t offer me which for me weren’t worth the cost as someone wanting a sustainable everyday multiuse ‘proper vechile’ So needless to say I chose to go with motorbikes, you don’t have a registration plate on an electric scooter which for me makes me question the road legal part, im not aware of any moped insurance for electric scooters, its something to purchase for a bit of fun to ride but if you’re after an actual vechile and don’t want a car, go with a scooter (motorcycle scooter) or motorbike…thats my verdict from both perspectives anyway!