Both electric scooters and skateboards offer a fun, fresh way to ride around town, explore a local park, or even commute to work.
Deciding which to choose, however, can be tricky, as each has positives and negatives. Considering each point can help you pick what works for you.
Comfort, Stability, and Ease of Use
If you’re familiar with traditional skateboards, an electric skateboard might feel comfortable and easy to ride.
For most people, however, an electric scooter offers a much simpler learning curve than a skateboard. Scooters have a handlebar that helps with balance and stability, so you’re less likely to fall off or tip over as you learn to ride.
Electric skateboards are often wider or longer than traditional skateboards, and wide wheels make for a more stable base. However, because there are no handlebars, they can be more difficult to handle, especially for novice riders.
The handle of an electric scooter also offers added comfort, particularly over long rides. Having to balance on an electric skateboard can put strain on your knees, calves, and ankles.
Brakes
Electric scooters brake in a similar way to many traditional scooters. The brake is on the handlebar, and you can simply squeeze down to slow the scooter, similar to how you might brake on a bicycle.
There is also a foot brake that you can press, which gradually slows the scooter. This is similar to putting your foot down when riding a traditional scooter.
Because these brakes are familiar to most people, they’re easy to learn how to use, and because they’re directly attached to the scooter’s wiring, they’re reliable.
Electric skateboards usually have a hand remote with a button you can press to brake. This may not feel quite as natural as the brakes on a scooter, but it’s still relatively easy to learn.
Most remote brakes are very reliable, but because it’s wireless and not directly attached to the skateboard’s motor, disruptions can occur.
These disruptions are rare, but it’s important to note that the brakes on an electric skateboard are slightly less reliable than those on an electric scooter.
Battery Life
Once an electric scooter or skateboard has been charged, it can only be used for so long until it needs to be charged again. In general, scooters have a longer battery life and can travel for longer distances.
Scooters are usually larger than electric skateboards, so they can be fitted with a larger, and therefore longer-lasting, battery.
The exact battery life, however, depends on the brand and make of the scooter or skateboard. A high-end skateboard, for example, might have a better battery life than an inexpensive electric scooter.
Speed
How fast a skateboard or scooter will go also depends on its battery and the power of its motor. Because scooters are usually larger, they often have better batteries and more powerful motors, so they can often go faster.
It’s also usually safer to travel at higher speeds on a scooter. As mentioned above, scooters are more stable and are easier to brake. Traveling at higher speeds with a skateboard, on the other hand, can be risky.
Excitement
Both electric skateboards and scooters are fun and exciting to ride. Which is more exciting largely depends on personal preference.
However, electric skateboards can usually make sharper turns, and they offer a smooth, gliding ride. For many people, this is more exciting than riding a scooter, but it all depends on what you want and where you’ll be riding.
Electric scooters have a longer battery life than an electric skateboard.
Portability
When it comes to portability, electric scooters and skateboards each have benefits. Electric skateboards are usually smaller, so they can be tucked into a backpack or carried under your arm, making them very portable.
They can be quite heavy, though, despite their relatively small size. It’s also easier to store an electric skateboard once you reach your destination.
Electric scooters are heavier than electric skateboards. They’re also bulkier, which can make them harder to carry, particularly if you need to bring them into any tight spaces, such as up a stairwell or onto a bus.
However, because they have a handlebar, you can walk an electric scooter, which is often much simpler than carrying it. Many electric scooters can also fold into a more compact shape, making them easier to carry or store.
Commuting
Either an electric skateboard or an electric scooter is a good choice for commuting, but for longer rides, an electric scooter is often the top choice.
Electric scooters are heavier and a bit harder to store, but they’re also more stable and more reliable, so you’re more likely to get to work safely.
Scooters tend to be faster, cutting down on commute time, and they can usually travel for longer distances without needing a charge.
Maintenance
Most electric scooters and skateboards require only minimal maintenance, and they usually use most of the same parts. This makes maintaining either a scooter or skateboard relatively simple.
However, electric scooters have been on the market and in use for a longer time than electric skateboards, so more people are familiar with how a scooter works and how to fix it if something goes wrong.
Having an electric skateboard fixed or finding replacement parts, on the other hand, can sometimes be a tiny bit more challenging.
Overall Cost
Both electric scooters and electric skateboards are available at a wide range of price points.
Inexpensive electric scooters and skateboards start at about $300, while premium scooters and skateboards can cost $3,000 or more.
More expensive skateboards and scooters will often have more powerful or dependable motors, bigger batteries with longer lives, and better designs that offer added comfort and safety while riding.
When considering cost, it’s also important to think about any changes or additions you might want to make after you purchase the scooter or skateboard. For example, you can purchase grip tape or cushioning to add to a scooter or skateboard. Grip tape, in particular, can make riding easier and safer.
Different wheels can also be placed on the scooter or skateboard, replacing the original wheels. In general, scooters have bigger wheels that offer more stability, but you can put larger wheels on a skateboard as well. This helps with balance and can make it safer to travel at higher speeds.
