Electric skateboard vs electric scooter- both are fun, easy, and eco-friendly ways to get around, and although the differences to some degree are obvious, knowing all of them will help you choose which is the best electric scooter or skateboard for you.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- Electric skateboards start at a lower price point than e-scooters but are far less practical for commuting purposes.
- E-scooters are easy to ride, energy-efficient, and good for commuting, but more feature-rich models come at a high price point.
- Both e-scooters and e-skateboards are relatively safe and comfortable options, but the lack of a real braking system and increased learning curve of e-skateboards make e-scooters the more road safe and user-friendly option.
Electric Skateboard and Electric Scooter Comparison
An electric skateboard (sometimes called a motorized skateboard) and an electric scooter can both vary significantly in price, depending on size, power, components such as motor, and other variables. Electric skateboards typically start in the $200-$300 range but some models can go for upwards of $3000, while inexpensive e-scooters start in the $300-$500 range but a high-end e-scooter easily be priced well over $3000.
Since they’re both accessible to everyone regardless of budget, it’s worth exploring what both can offer, and what they can’t. If you’re open to other transportation options, it might be worthwhile looking at the differences between electric scooters and onewheels.
Insider Tip
An e-scooter’s ease of use, top speed, efficiency, and safety features make it an optimal light commuting vehicle
Though both are relatively safe ways to get around city streets if ridden responsibly, e-scooters easily win out when it comes to safety- both for their ease of use and their hydraulic braking system and pneumatic tires.
E-skateboards, like a regular skateboard, aren’t safe for riding in traffic, are harder to learn to ride, and generally lack a real braking system, though their lower top speed counteracts this somewhat. The learning curve difference between the two may not be as extreme as it is between electric scooters and electric unicycles, but it’s certainly a factor.
Speed
This is a factor that can vary quite a bit from model to model, but the large frames of e-scooters allow for much larger and more powerful motors capable of much higher top speeds than the most high-powered e-skateboards, and that rider weights are less of a factor in drag, especially compared to an e-skateboard with a heavier deck.
Cost
Though the range of prices between e-scooters and e-skateboards is somewhat similar, the edge goes slightly to e-skateboards. While high-quality e-scooters can be found for under $300, the selection is definitely slimmer, and the price ceiling is considerably higher and more component-dependent.
Learning Curve/Ease Of Use
The basics of operating an e-skateboard are minimal- however, the balance required to ride safely and the fact that most people are familiar with riding a bicycle make e-scooters easier to control right away and get used to for most people.
Warning
E-scooters are a more practical choice in many ways than e-skateboards, but they’re a bigger investment, especially for higher-end models.
F.A.Q.S
Does an electric skateboard need maintenance?
E-skateboards are fairly easy to maintain in good condition- occasionally replacing the grip tape, keeping it charged when not in use, and an occasional light cleaning of each wheel and board with a damp cloth is all it should require to stay in good working order.
Which is more practical, an electric skateboard or an electric scooter?
If you’re looking for an electric vehicle for commuting that provides a comfortable ride, an e-scooter is far more practical, given its longer range per battery charge, higher top speed, and ease of use.
Is an e-scooter as fast as an e-bike?
Not quite- the fastest e-scooters usually top out at about 22 miles per hour, whereas an electric bike with a powerful motor can often reach top speeds of 30mph or higher. The differences in the electric motor, frame, and the larger wheels of e-bikes all factor significantly in this.
STAT: The Guinness Book of World Records holds the fastest speed ever reached on an electric skateboard as 59.99 mph (source)
STAT: The average speed of an electric skateboard riding normally is around 10mph (source)
STAT: A recent study showed that about 70% of commuters questioned said that an e-scooter is a good way to commute. (source)
REFERENCES:
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352146516308717
- http://ijece.iaescore.com/index.php/IJECE/article/view/19250
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shE9lpr3AdUr
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352146518305933
- https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/03611981211017133
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQWQqqG3xVg
