Electric Scooter vs. E-Skateboard: Which To Choose?

Scooters and skateboards are some of the best budget-friendly transportation options these days. They’re much cheaper than cars and are efficient and convenient. But which one is better?

Scooters are a better mode of transportation since they tend to have stronger motors, allowing them higher maximum speeds, wider ranges, and better braking systems. They’re also safer, easier to learn to ride for beginners, and easier to use. 

Keep reading to learn more about each of these factors in detail. We suggest that you buy a scooter over a skateboard and will recommend our top choices below. However, if you insist on getting a skateboard, we also list the best models for those. 

What Is an Electric Scooter?

Electric scooters are motorized vehicles that run on electricity. Their maximum speed can go up to 20 mph. 

You don’t need to exert any energy to ride these devices. You control their speed using throttles on the handlebar or through a mobile app and their direction by turning the handlebar. 

Some scooters must be pushed off the ground using a foot while twisting the throttle to engage the motor.

What Is an Electric Skateboard?

Electric skateboards are another kind of motorized vehicle, manually propelled by the rider. 

You control the speed and direction by leaning a certain way. Some skateboards come with wireless remote control. They’re significantly smaller than scooters and are considered easier to maneuver. 

What Should You Get?

When trying to figure out if you should get a scooter or a skateboard, the best way to compare these vehicles is by comparing their features. Here are the seven ways we weigh up your options:

1. Terrain 
2. Budget 
3. Safety 
4. Range 
5. Top speed
6. Portability 
7. Skill level with riding

1. Terrain (Tied)

Both scooters and skateboards are equally incapable of driving on different terrains. Both should only be driven on smooth surfaces. 

These vehicles usually aren’t made with tires that can go off-road. Some skateboards have slightly larger wheels and high chassis, but they aren’t well-suited to rough terrain since they don’t have a handlebar. 

2. Budget (Tied)

Both electric skateboards and scooters can vary widely in price. You can find models that cost anywhere between $300 and $3000. The price tag depends on battery size, quality of materials, features, load capacity, etc. 

Defining your budget before you start shopping for either vehicle is important. However, this budget will not help you decide whether to get a scooter or a skateboard. 

3. Safety (Scooters win)

Electric scooters are typically safer than electric skateboards because they have better braking systems. They also have handlebars to keep you upright and a wider base, giving you a larger surface area to stand on. 

An electric scooter’s hand brakes are connected through hydraulic or cable wires and are operated using a lever on the handlebars. This system is quite similar to what a lot of bikes use. All you have to do is close your hand around the handlebar, and your scooter will slow down. 

Another kind of brake on scooters is their foot brake. Using your weight, you push down on the brake, which slows down your scooter using friction. 

On the other hand, skateboards come with wireless remote control devices. You initiate the brakes with this remote. It sends a signal to your skateboard, and that eventually makes it come to a stop. 

There can be a slight lag in this control. Also, the remote may disconnect from the skateboard. These risks make a scooter’s mechanical braking system much more secure.

4. Range (Scooters win)

Scooters have wider ranges since they’re able to carry bigger batteries. A lot of manufacturers store their skateboard’s battery in the stem. So they can use larger, more powerful batteries than skateboard manufacturers who don’t have that option.

5. Top Speed (Scooters win)

Electric scooters tend to have higher maximum speeds than skateboards. This is because scooters have larger motors and stronger breaking mechanisms. 

Rion RE90, the fastest electric scooter, has a top speed of 75 mph. That’s as fast as cars. However, this scooter is super expensive, much like all the others that go this fast. 

All the top-of-the-line moderately priced scooters go up to at least 20 mph.

6. Portability (Skateboards win)

Skateboards are much smaller than scooters, so they seem more portable. Most scooters have folding mechanisms which allow you to pick them up easily. However, they have bigger bodies which translates to more weight. 

Therefore, even if you can fold and pick up a scooter, you can pick up a skateboard more easily. 

E-skateboards weigh considerably less and can be carried under your arm. You can even get a special skater’s backpack or attach it to your regular backpack with a deck hook attachment. 

While scooters can be pushed on their wheels, carrying them up a flight of stairs is difficult.

7. Riding Skill Level (Scooters win)

Scooters are easier to ride than skateboards for beginners. If you’re familiar with kick-off skateboards, you won’t have much trouble adjusting to an electric skateboard. However, if you haven’t ridden a skateboard before, a scooter will be a better option. 

Scooters are a lot more intuitive and easy to get the hang of. They have handlebars that can provide a lot of support. Additionally, these scooters have a wide base to stand on and straightforward braking systems. 

If you’re leaning towards buying a skateboard, consider the steep learning curve. It isn’t hard to learn how to skate, especially because many YouTube channels and blogs are devoted to teaching beginners. 

Even so, we’d recommend scooters over skateboards to beginners learning how to ride such vehicles. 

Just in case you might be wondering how a kick-scooter fares against an electric scooter, here’s a link a to my article about electric scooter vs kick scooter.

Conclusion: Why Electric Scooters Are Better Than Skateboards

With the main 7-point comparison out of the way, let’s look at all the points at which scooters come out ahead of skateboards. There are three main ones:

1. The less steep learning curve and safety
2. Higher top speed
3. Wider range

1. Less Steep Learning Curve and Safety

Scooters are easier to learn how to ride than skateboards. They’re more intuitive and have more straightforward controls. 

Electric scooters are much easier to ride than most skateboards, especially for beginners. They have a much wider base to stand on, making them more stable. They also have handlebars for steering.

2. Higher Top Speed

Since scooters can store larger motors, they can have higher top speeds. Skateboards only have a little space to store motors, so they have less power running them. Therefore, they tend to be slower.

3. Wider Range

Since scooters tend to have stronger motors, they also have wider ranges. This makes them better for long-distance travel. 

Both electric scooters and skateboards can be great ways to get around campus or town, but electric scooters are better. They have bigger frames that can hold big motors that do all the work and let you ride the scooter for a long time before its battery dies out. 

Conclusion: Why Skateboards Are Better Than Electric Scooters

Skateboards beat scooters in 2 categories:

1. Going off-road 
2. Portability

1. Going Off-road

It’s easier to do tricks with skateboards than it is to do with electric scooters. Skateboards are also easier to take off-road since they tend to have larger wheels. 

However, most skateboards don’t do well off-road. While they may do better than scooters, they perform poorly and should be kept on flat surfaces unless you have no choice.

2. Portability

Skateboards also win over scooters in terms of portability. Since they have smaller frames than scooters, they weigh less and are easier to carry. 

Best Electric Skateboards 

If you’ve decided that you want a skateboard instead of a scooter, here are our top 3 recommendations:

1. Tornado II
2. Meepo Mini 2 
3. Meepo V3

Tornado II 

The Tornado II is one of the best well-rounded electric skateboards you’ll find. It comes with safety features and plenty of support. You can get it for under $500. 

It has a top speed of 26 mph, can hold up to 264 pounds, and weighs 19 pounds. Even though the skateboard is slightly heavy, its other baseline features make it stand out against its competitors.

Moreover, it comes with a 6-month warranty and weighs 16 pounds. Users note that the machine distributes their weight evenly, even at high speeds, for a steady ride. 

The 2 LED taillights make this skateboard a safe purchase for people who like to ride at night. 

Visit Amazon to enjoy frequent discounts and make a quick purchase.

Meepo Mini 2 Electric Skateboard

Priced at around $500, this skateboard is a best-selling well-rounded machine. With a top speed of 28 mph, a load capacity of 330 pounds, and 2 (540 W) motors, you can’t go wrong with this one! 

The powerful motor is used to power the e-board’s acceleration and braking. So even though it has a high maximum speed, it also has a strong braking system, ensuring your safety. 

In case of any accidents, this board has a 6-month warranty covering most kinds of damage to the machine and its remote. Note that you can’t use this skateboard on rough terrain because its tires aren’t suited to such use. 

Also, some users have reported that the wheels are too soft for their liking. Despite this, most users report having pleasant smooth rides on their skateboards. 

Click here to go to the website and buy one for yourself.

Meepo V3

The Meepo V3 is one of the best budget skateboards in the market! With a top speed of 28 mph, an 11-mile range, and a 300-pound load capacity, there’s little it leaves to be desired. 

It takes 2 to 2 ½ hours to charge this device fully. Once it’s charged, the 144 Wh battery will run for about 40 minutes. You can increase run time by riding the skateboard at a slower speed. 

To go through customer reviews and make a purchase, click here.

Best Electric Scooters

If you’ve decided that you want to get an electric scooter, we have three recommendations for you:

1. Emove Cruise Electric Scooter
2. TurboAnt M10
3. YYD Robo 150 Watt

Emove Cruise Electric Scooter 

The Emove scooter has a top speed of 25 mph, a load capacity of 352 pounds, and a 60-mile range. It takes 8 to 12 hours to charge fully, but once it’s charged, it can keep going forever!

This adult scooter has top-of-the-line 10-inch pneumatic tubeless tires and an air-shock suspension system. Both these features make for a smooth ride. 

The acceleration is so smooth that you can take off just one hand on the handlebar. However, we wouldn’t recommend it because that is slightly unsafe. 

The scooter has a single-hinge collapsible knob along with fold-down handlebars. This makes it easy to store. However, it weighs 52 pounds which is quite heavy. Carrying it around isn’t an option. 

Click here to buy one.

TurboAnt M10

Priced at around $450, this electric scooter has a top speed of 20 mph and an 18-mile range. It can hold up to 220 pounds which is quite consistent for electric scooters of this price range. It weighs 30 pounds (14 kg). 

Its basic features are pretty standard. What makes it stand out are its supplementary features. 

It has 10-inch inflatable tires that help absorb shock and ensure the rider enjoys a smooth ride. The scooter also has a fast charging time which complements its wide range. 

However, riding a long distance is more challenging than it sounds because even if your machine can go that far, you might not be able to – you may get tired and want to stop. This scooter also solves this problem by introducing ergonomic throttles that relieve your wrists over longer rides!

However, there are some downsides too. First, it has a 250 W motor which could be better, making it slightly underpowered. Second, much like every other scooter, this model doesn’t ride well on sidewalks. 

Visit the website to know more.

YYD Robo 150 Watt

The YYD Robo is the ideal scooter for kids because it balances advanced features with safety. You want your child to be able to use their scooter as an efficient mode of transportation, but you don’t want them to be unsafe. 

It has a top speed of 19 mph and a 13-mile range. It can hold up to 140 pounds and comes with app control technology. 

Most teenagers will be able to handle the high 19 mph speed. However, they can’t go super far since it can only go up to 13 miles on a single charge. It’s ideal for going to school, to the nearest grocery store, or around the neighborhood. 

One of its best things is its lights are fairly strong. You usually need to get extra lighting before using a scooter in the dark, even with expensive ones. Good lighting will keep your teen safe if they ride it after sunset. 

Click here to make a purchase.

Final Thoughts

Scooters come out ahead of skateboards when both vehicles are compared as a mode of transportation across 4 out of 7 points: safety, range, top speed, and skill level. Skateboards only win 1 point of comparison: portability. They are slightly better at tolerating uneven terrain, but not enough that they win that category. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) 

What is better: an electric scooter or a skateboard?

Electric scooters are a better mode of transportation since they are safer, easier to use, have higher top speeds and wider ranges, and have stronger motors. However, they’re bulkier than skateboards, making them less portable, especially if you have to carry them upstairs.

What’s safer: skateboard or scooter?

Scooters have higher maximum speeds, which come with the risk of speeding. However, they tend to have strong motors with efficient braking systems. So even though you can go up to 28 mph on a scooter, you can stop your vehicle smoothly and quickly. 

Depending on the models, some scooters may have wider bases than skateboards. But the opposite can be true sometimes. Whichever vehicle has more space to stand on is the safer option. This is usually the scooter, but it can be the skateboard sometimes. 

What are the disadvantages of electric scooters?

Electric scooters have bigger frames than electric skateboards, making them heavy and difficult to carry around. Most scooters have efficient folding mechanisms, so you can usually fold and pick them up under your arm. 

However, whether or not you can carry a 20-pound scooter up a flight of stairs depends on how often you hit the gym.