Best Electric Scooters 2023: A Guide to Buying an Electric Scooter in New Zealand

Explore the different types of electric scooters and find out what key factors to consider when buying one in New Zealand. Get to know the best options available and answers to frequently asked questions with our comprehensive guide.

Updated 6 February 2023

Summary

Electric scooters continue to be popular on the streets of New Zealand, offering an environmentally friendly, affordable, fast to charge, but above all, fun to drive experience.
This guide is designed to explain all about electric scooters and help you make an informed scooter purchase, while aligning your choice to match your unique needs and lifestyle.
We also feature a shortlist of the best electric scooters in New Zealand, based on variable budgets and requirements.

Our Electric Scooter Buying Guide Covers:

Know This First: Warranties for Electric Scooters?
Warranties for electric scooters typically cover the battery and the scooter itself. It's important to understand the warranty details before purchasing an electric scooter, as the coverage and length of the warranty can vary between models and manufacturers. Generally:

Battery warranties usually cover defects or a reduction in capacity below a certain level within a specified time. Depending on the manufacturer and model, this period can range from 6 months to 2 years or more. It's important to keep the battery well-maintained, as misuse or neglect can void the warranty.
Scooter warranties typically cover defects in the frame, motor, and other components. The warranty period for the scooter itself can range from 6 months to 2 years or more, again depending on the manufacturer and model. Some warranties may only cover defects, not wear and tear, so be sure to read the warranty details carefully.

Types of Electric Scooter

There are many ways to classify electric scooters. By size, by the number of wheels, by design. However, for the purpose of this guide, we will categorize electric scooters as follows:

Electric Kick Scooters
Off-Road Electric Scooters
Fat Tyres Electric Scooters
Electric Scooters for Kids

Although there are other vehicles considered as electric scooters, such as three-wheel scooters and self-balancing electric scooters, we consider that their peculiar characteristics make them deserve to be part of a completely different category to those scooters included in this guide.

Electric Kick Scooters

Electric kick scooters (aka e-scooters) are by far the most popular type of electric scooter nowadays. They feature the simple yet functional design of the classic kick scooter consisting of two wheels, along with a foot platform and handles. Its minimalist design allows most electric scooters to be foldable, meaning that after using the e-scooter you can take it with you to the office. This convenient feature, along with their ease of use, makes them ideal for cities with heavy traffic.

Electric Kick Scooters Highlights:

They have a simple design.
They are easy and fun to drive.
They are affordable.

Electric Kick Scooters - What We Like:

Portability. Since they are compact, most electric kick scooters can be folded and stored under your desk when not in use
Lightweight. Even non-foldable models have the advantage of being extremely light, meaning they are easy to maneuver and easy to carry in case of running out of battery
Short learning curve. If you ever drive a classic kick scooter then you can drive its electric version. It is very easy and fun to drive
Highly customizable. You can find electric kick scooters in almost all colours, different materials, with or without a seat, with different LED light setups, with or without Bluetooth connectivity, and more.
Ideal against city traffic. Its slim design makes electric kick scooters ideal for commuting in traffic-intensive areas
Silent operation. The tiny motor used in most electric kick scooters makes them almost silent, meaning you can use it everywhere without being noticed.

Electric Kick Scooters - What We Dislike:

Low range. The compact design of electric kick scooters reduce the available space for batteries which in turn affect their autonomy
Somewhat slow. Most electric kick scooters are slow due to their small motors.

Off-Road Electric Scooters

You can think of this type of scooter as a ruggedized version of the standard e-scooter. Expect off-road electric scooters to have special tyres that often are also bigger in diameter, higher capacity batteries, better suspension, and tougher materials to protect the motor and other components from debris and bumps. Similar to cars and SUVs, nothing prevents you from using an off-road electric scooter in the city for commuting. However, bear in mind that the sturdy design of this type of e-scooter is better suited to the beautiful landscapes of New Zealand. Off-road e-scooters are heavier, and in many cases, they are not foldable.

Off-Road Electric Scooters Highlights:

They are beautiful and sturdy
You can use them on-road or off-road
Better suited for trails and excursions

Off-Road Electric Scooters - What We Like:

Powerful. When going out for an excursion, it is common to find hills with somewhat steep slopes. To be able to climb these hills, the scooter requires a powerful engine. Some off-road e-scooters even have two independent engines (the 4x4 version of an SUV).
Heavy-duty construction. Mud, debris, and bumps are commonplace when enjoying nature. Off-road scooters are built with this in mind, they usually have protective covers around the motor, battery, and other key components.
Extended autonomy. Standard e-scooters are intended for travelling short distances and being recharged. On the other hand, off-road scooters are supposed to give you at least 2+ hours of fun under demanding conditions. To accomplish this goal, most models include larger batteries and/or easily replaceable batteries.

Off-Road Electric Scooters - What We Dislike:

Expensive. Their powerful motor, larger battery and sturdy construction make off-road electric scooters more expensive than their standard counterparts
Heavy. Do not expect this type of scooter to be light. Depending on the model, it may even take some effort to get it out of your car.
Louder. A bigger motor, and in some cases dual-motor, make this type of scooter louder than the average e-scooter

Fat Tyres Electric Scooters

If you love chopper motorcycles then this might be the right e-scooter for you. Fat tyres electric scooters do their best to emulate the driving experience of a chopper motorcycle by using wide tyres, a comfortable seat, and raised handles. As you might expect, this type of e-scooter is not intended to be used as a daily driver, but more like a weekend warrior.

Fat Tyres Electric Scooters Highlights:

They are comfortable
Usually, they are highly customizable
Fat tyres electric scooters are meant for occasional usage

Fat Tyres Electric Scooters - What We Like:

Powerful. Fat tyres e-scooters feature motors with power far above the average traffic-focused scooter.
Fast. The bigger motor is there for something and is not hill climbing. It is for speed. Expect this type of e-scooter to hit the 40kph+ mark easily
Extended autonomy. One of the intended usages of fat tyres scooters is travelling with friends just as you do with conventional motorcycles. Expect good ranges in the order of 50Km+ for this type of scooter.

Fat Tyres Electric Scooters - What We Dislike:

Expensive. Fat tyres scooters are niche products. Do not expect them to be cheap, however, this is compensated by their high-quality and attention to detail in its craftsmanship
Heavy. Depending on the model and brand, this type of e-scooter could rival some small mopeds in weight.
Exclusive. This can be interpreted as both an advantage and a disadvantage. Exclusivity is an important factor for many New Zealanders. However, keep in mind that this exclusivity also implies that you will not have the same variety of models or the same number of brands to choose from.

Electric Scooters for Kids

To be honest, instead of creating a category called "scooters for kids" it would be fairer to classify all other scooters as "scooters for adults". After all, kick scooters are often associated with kids and teenagers. What makes "scooters for kids" different from scooters for adults is basically their size. They feature smaller batteries, less powerful motors, and thus reduced performance. Most products in this category are foldable, lightweight and inexpensive.

Electric Scooters for Kids Highlights:

They are affordable
Many colours and designs to choose from
Huge variety

Electric Scooters for Kids - What We Like:

Compact. Most e-scooters for kids are designed with portability in mind. Once folded, they are so compact that you can take them everywhere in the trunk of your car without sacrificing useful space.
Reliable. For most brands specialized in this type of scooters, quality and reliability are crucial. Do not let their name fool you, electric scooters for kids are not toys.
Great for kids. Arguably one of the aspect we love the most about this type of e-scooters is how good are they for kids. In a world dominated by video games, spending quality time with family is an invaluable experience, both for parents and kids.

Electric Scooters for Kids - What We Dislike:

Limited range. As a direct consequence of its size, the autonomy of this type of scooters is somewhat limited. Always prefer models with ranges above 15 km to avoid having to constantly charge the scooter
Price. We suggest buying this type of scooter only from recognized brands. As mentioned above, this is not a toy. Buying a cheap model will only bring you problems and frustrations.

Key Factors to Consider When Buying an Electric Scooter in New Zealand

Purchasing an electric scooter is not as complex as purchasing a new car. Nevertheless, that does not mean you should take it too lightly. For your convenience, we have prepared a shortlist with the key aspects you should consider when buying an electric scooter in New Zealand:

Intended usage. As explained in the previous section, not all e-scooters are designed for the same purpose. If your main goal is commuting to work avoiding the crowd and traffic in the process, then a foldable electric scooter might be your best option. On the other hand, if what you want is enjoying the countryside an off-road e-scooter could be better.
Autonomy. Just as with electric cars the autonomy, often referred to as range, is a crucial factor to consider. For commuting, it is a good idea to choose a range big enough to avoid running out of battery too early. For pleasure, we suggest e-scooters with swappable batteries since they allow you to enjoy hours of interrupted fun.
Ease of use. Most kick scooters are super easy to drive. When you talk about fat tyre models or bigger off-road models the learning curve might be a bit more stepper.
Speed. The term “speed” might sound like an exaggeration in this type of personal vehicles. However, it is not. Keep in mind that a collision at 40Kph against a stationary object might result in serious injury, even death if you are not using appropriate safety equipment. That being said, if you like speed, probably your best option is fat tyres scooters.
Brakes. The bigger and more powerful the engine the most important become the brakes. Nowadays some e-scooters come with sophisticated ABS-like brake systems, which in our opinion, is an option that worth considering.
Bluetooth and other gadgets. Some manufacturers include as part of the e-scooter features Bluetooth connectivity, LED lights, integrated display, GPS, and more. You might want to consider some of them, as LED lights for example, in case you plan using the scooter at night.
Max. Load. Our suggestion is to favour e-scooters able to handle 100+ Kg loads, even if they are for kids.
Charging time. The rule of thumb says the bigger the battery the longer it would take to charge it. However, depending on the brand and charging technology you may find models with big batteries and fast charging times.
Price. You get what you pay for. That is especially true in the case of e-scooters. Our suggestion is to avoid the temptation of purchasing electric scooters from unknown brands. Getting low-quality batteries and motors is a real risk if you do so.

The Best Electric Scooters Available in New Zealand Right Now

Choosing the best electric scooter currently available in New Zealand is not an easy task. We have compiled our list (in no particular order) based on average consumer reviews collected from consumer.org.nz as well as other sources both in New Zealand and overseas.

1. Best Compact Sports Kick Scooter: Hero S9

More details: Hero s9
Pricing: From $1,799

What We Like	What We Dislike
Incredible neon lighting Very quick for the motor size IP54 waterproof	Not superlight, but manageable Colour display hard to read in bright sun

Hero Scooters are a recent arrival on the scooter scene, with a fresh range of contemporary scooter styles and distinctive acrylic neon lighting tubes set in the deck. These scooters really stand out, especially at night. The performance is very strong for the motor size, and we have found the S9 to be a ‘pocket rocket’ scooter and standout in the ‘Compact Sports’ category, outperforming scooters with much larger motor sizes.

The S9 is ideal if you are looking for a scooter with a good turn of speed and the ability to climb some decent hills, while retaining a compact form factor and portability that is lacking in the heavier, more high-performance scooters such as the Inokim OX and the Dualtron. It sports dual drum brakes, which while not having quite the bite of disc brakes, are very low maintenance and durable and provide reliable stopping power. At 13ah the battery is good for 40kmh of conservative riding, and with suspension front and rear, the ride is comfortable, for a compact scooter.

With a well-engineered and easy-to-operate folding mechanism, this scooter bridges the gap between a very lightweight and portable scooter that lacks performance and ride quality, and a full sports scooter that is often expensive and bulky. Perfect for the commuter with more than a short hop, and ideal for exploring your local area. It is also IP54 rated, meaning it has strong water resistance and can be ridden in the rain, which is a standard that the majority of scooters fail to reach.

Hero S9 Electric Scooter Key Features:

Recommended for: daily usage, moderate distances commuting
Range (autonomy): 40Km
Motor: 600W brushless high-output motor (1200w peak output)
Max. Speed: 45Kph
Battery: Lithium-ion 13Ah/624Wh. 48V system.
Controls: Trigger throttle, 3 output levels
Brakes: Dual cable-operated drum brakes
Max. Load: 120Kg
Weight: 20Kg
Charging time: 4-5 hours
Waterproofing: IP54 water resistance

2. Best Off-road Electric Scooter: Inokim OXO

More details: Inokim OXO
Pricing: From $3,895

What We Like	What We Dislike
Dual motors Awesome range Unsurpassed ride quality thanks to its 10-inch pneumatic tyres and off-road suspension	VERY expensive Heavy, even for an off-road e-scooter

You can think of the Inokim OXO as the Land Cruiser of electric off-road scooters. It is reliable, powerful, has an incredible range, and is built to last. It comes with dual 1300W motors which translates into an amazing acceleration and hill-climbing ability. Moreover, its integral car-grade LED lights and illuminated LCD display, let you enjoy the trail regardless of the time of the day. Hands down, the Inokim OXO is the perfect choice for New Zealanders looking for a powerful off-road e-scooter fully loaded with top-notch features. Perhaps our only complain, (aside from its price) is the weight of the Inokim OXO. While it can folded and used both on-road and off-road, its 33.5Kg makes the Inokim OXO more suitable for pleasure rides than for daily usage.

Inokim OXO Key Features:

Recommended for: off-road fun, occasional commuting (see weight)
Range (autonomy): up to 110Km in ECO mode, 100Km in full speed mode
Motor: 2x1300W brushless gearless motor
Max. Speed: 45Kph
Battery: Lithium-ion 60V 25.6 A/h (LG)
Controls: One button operation, integrated LCD display
Brakes: Front and rear hydraulic disc brakes
Max. Load: 120Kg
Weight: 33.5Kg
Charging time: 13.5 hours

3. Best Fat Tyre Electric Scooter: Storm Cruiser S

More details: Storm Cruiser S
Pricing: From $2,695

What We Like	What We Dislike
Beautiful design Powerful motor Fast charging time	Expensive

You will not find a better fat tyre electric scooter than the Storm Cruiser S. It has it all. Beautiful design, a wide range of customization options, excellent autonomy, low centre of gravity, a comfortable low height seat, and a powerful motor that let you reach maximum speed in no time. Moreover, the Cruiser S comes with exclusive features such as remote start, alarm & active anti-theft system, and detachable wing mirrors. While it is true that its weight and dimensions put the Storm Cruiser S in the same category of small mopeds, it is also true that this amazing fat tyre scooter is unrivalled when it comes to style and performance.

Storm Cruiser S Key Features:

Recommended for: commuting, weekend fun
Range (autonomy): 50-70Km
Motor: 1200W brushless gearless motor
Max. Speed: 50Kph
Battery: Lithium-ion 72v 20ah
Controls: LCD display
Brakes: Hydraulic front and rear disc brakes
Max. Load: 200Kg
Weight: 60Kg
Charging time: 6 hours

4. Best Electric Scooter For Kids: Razor Power Core E100

More details: Razor Power Core E100
Pricing: From $449

What We Like	What We Dislike
Lightweight For ages 8+ Reasonably priced	Only the front tyre is pneumatic Only 60 minutes of autonomy

When it comes to electric kick scooters for kids, the Razor Power Core E100 is definitely one of the best options currently available. It is sturdy, lightweight, stable, and very easy to drive. Although is rated for kids 8 years and older, its 100Kg capacity allows the E100 to be used by adults in case they need to teach their children a new exciting trick or maneuver. Its compact design and its mere 12Kg weight make it easy to transport everywhere. All in all, the Razor Power Core E100 is the perfect gift for children with a strong desire to enjoy a high-quality electric kick scooter.

Personalised Sprite Scooter Key Features:

Recommended for: fun, playing, sharing with kids
Range (autonomy): Up to 60 minutes
Motor: n/a
Max. Speed: 18Kph
Battery: 2x12V
Controls: Twist-grip acceleration control
Brakes: Hand-operated, front calliper brake
Max. Load: 100Kg
Weight: 12Kg
Charging time: n/a

Frequently Asked Questions

How does an electric scooter work?

An electric scooter converts the energy stored in its rechargeable battery into electrical power, which is then used to drive an electric motor. When the rider steps on the deck and twists the throttle, the motor begins to spin and propels the scooter forward.

How far can an electric scooter travel on a single charge?

The range of an electric scooter depends on several factors, including the battery's size, the motor's power, and the rider's weight. However, on average, most electric scooters can travel between 15 to 40 km on a single charge.

How fast can an electric scooter go?

The top speed of an electric scooter depends on the model, but most have a maximum speed of between 25 km/h and 45 km/h.

What are the key factors to consider when buying an electric scooter in New Zealand?

Battery life and range
Top speed
Weight and portability
Safety features (such as lights and brakes)
Price
Warranty
Customer support

How much does an electric scooter cost in New Zealand?

The cost of an electric scooter in New Zealand ranges from around $500 to $2,000+, depending on the model and brand.

Do electric scooters require any special maintenance?

Yes - electric scooters require regular maintenance to ensure they are functioning correctly and safely. This includes checking the tire pressure, tightening loose bolts, and ensuring the battery is properly charged.

Are electric scooters legal to use on the roads in New Zealand?

Yes, electric scooters are legal to use on the roads in New Zealand, e-scooters can be used on the footpath or the road – except in designated cycle lanes that are part of the road (which were designed for the sole use of cyclists). A helmet is not legally required to be worn when using an e-scooter but is recommended by NZTA.

Is it safe to ride an electric scooter in New Zealand?

Yes, electric scooters can be safe to ride in New Zealand if you are careful and take basic safety precautions. However, as with any form of transportation, there is always a risk of injury, so it's important to be aware of your surroundings and take necessary precautions.

How do I fold and carry an electric scooter?

Most electric scooters can be folded down for easy carrying and storage. To do so, loosen the locking mechanism on the handlebar and deck and fold the scooter in half. Some models also have a carrying handle or shoulder strap for added convenience.

Are electric scooters environmentally friendly?

Electric scooters are very environmentally friendly. They produce zero emissions and rely on rechargeable batteries instead of petrol, which reduces their carbon footprint and helps to reduce air pollution.

Do electric scooters have any weight restrictions?

Yes, most electric scooters have a weight limit of 100 to 120 kg, although this can vary depending on the model. It's important to check the manufacturer's specifications before buying an electric scooter to ensure it can support your weight.

Can electric scooters be used in the rain?

Most electric scooters are not waterproof, so using them in the rain is not recommended. If you must ride in wet conditions, avoid puddles and keep the scooter as dry as possible to prevent damage to the electronics.

Related guides