Electric scooters have been popularized by ride-share companies, which offer them as part of their fleets. An increasing number of individuals who have used the ride-share electric scooters are looking to buy one for their own personal use.
When purchasing an e-scooter, one of the first questions that comes up is one dealing with the maximum carrying capacity of an electric scooter. This is because many people are looking to buy one for the purposes of commuting, but they still view them as kids’ toys, which they are not.
What is the weight limit for an electric scooter?
Depending on the model, electric scooters have a maximum carrying capacity ranging from 220 lbs (100 kg) to 550 lbs (250 kg).
If you are considering purchasing an e-scooter, the weight limit is a relatively important feature to keep in mind, but it should not be the sole deciding factor. Obviously, if you happen to be an adult of larger size, the maximum weight capacity will be something that you should be looking at, because e-scooters should never be ridden with weight higher than the manufacturer’s recommendations.
I may be wrong, but I would say that most adults weigh less than 300 lbs (140 kg). If that’s the case, then most individuals will be able to ride a majority of scooters available on the market. There are only a handful of reasons why anyone would get the most powerful and the highest carrying capacity e-scooter available on the market.
What parts are crucial for heavy-duty electric scooters?
The electric motor is the most important component. This is what will make you move, even with the extra weight. Some of the most powerful scooters have not one, but two motors for even more power.
Tires. This is especially true of the higher-end weight-limit e-scooters. Wide heavy-duty tires are the norm. They may be solid rubber or good quality pneumatic tires.
High-capacity battery. The larger the motor, the more powerful the battery needs to be.
Why does the maximum carrying capacity matter?
People are interested in knowing how much weight any given e-scooter can carry, because most e-scooters are used for commuting. May riders carry backpacks, school bags, etc. while riding their scooters. It wouldn’t be practical if they were unable to carry their personal belongings with them.
The maximum carrying capacity is an important specification. It is a specific number (weight) that should never be exceeded. Not following the manufacturer’s recommendations may damage your e-scooter.
The benefits of large and powerful electric scooters
The total amount of weight an electric scooter can carry is largely dependent on the power of the electric motor. For this reason, if you are a larger adult or you intend to carry larger loads, then you should at least consider getting a heavy-duty e-scooter.
With higher weight limit you will be able to travel with more weight and do so not only on level terrain (such as city streets). Some of the most powerful scooters will do just fine in off-road conditions or going uphill.
Drawbacks of heavy and powerful electric scooters
When you are looking to buy an e-scooter, “larger and more powerful” is not necessarily the best option.
Generally, the higher the power of the electric motor, the more weight the e-scooter will be able to carry. Powerful motors consume more energy and require larger batteries as a result. High-capacity battery and a powerful electric motor will increase the total weight of the scooter. This will have an impact on the acceleration, speed, range of distance and overall handling.
Most people want their e-scooter to be lightweight and foldable for easy transportation. Unfortunately, many heavy-duty e-scooters with high maximum carrying capacity are not lightweight, nor foldable.
Powerful, heavy-duty scooters usually cost more. Sometimes significantly more. This is because of the cost of a powerful electric motor (or motors), high-capacity battery and other less important components.
Learn why electric scooters cost so much.
Examples of e-scooters with high carrying capacity
Emove Touring
- Motor: 500 Watt
- Range: 24 miles (38 km)
- Tires: pneumatic (front), solid (rear)
- Climbing: 15 degrees
- Maximum load capacity: 265 lbs (120 kg)
- Weight: 30 lbs (13.5 kg)
- Durable, nice-looking e-scooter. Choice of colors: white, black, green, orange
Razor E300
- Motor: 250 Watt
- Range: up to 40 minutes
- Tires: Pneumatic
- Maximum load capacity: 220 lbs (100 kg)
- Well known manufacturer. The design and looks could get a facelift.
Uber Scoot
- Motor: 1,000 Watt
- Range: 12 miles (20 km)
- Tires: pneumatic
- Maximum load capacity: 260 lbs (120 kg)
- Weight: 84 lbs (38 kg)
- Dual shocks, optional seat and mirrors. Design and looks not everyone’s type.
Bladez Xtr
- Motor: 450 Watt
- Range: 12 miles (20 km)
- Tires: Pneumatic
- Maximum load capacity: 270 lbs (122 kg)
- Weight: 55 lbs (25 kg)
- The general appearance is not top notch, could use a redesign.
Other features to consider
Lightweight
Minimal weight is one of the main reasons why e-scooters became so popular. Many e-scooter riders who commute to work, simply take them into the office when they arrive. The fact that they are not as bulky and heavy as bicycles is a big advantage.
So, if you are looking to purchase one, make sure you look around to find one that suits your needs but also weighs the least.
Foldable
Some bicycle owners who switched over to electric scooters, say that they did so because e-scooters are foldable and easy to carry. At least most of them are. Being able to easily carry it with you almost anywhere can be extremely important to some people. A foldable scooter takes very little space compared to a bicycle. It can even be placed in the trunk of a car if needed.
Range of distance
The total range a scooter can go is another crucial feature, especially for commuters. Most electric scooters have a range of 15-30 miles (24-45 km), which is plenty if you don’t mind charging it daily.
Just be mindful that there are e-scooters that have a range of distance much lower than the average. This may be particularly true of the heavy-duty scooters with extra high carrying capacity.
Learn more about increasing the maximum range of a scooter.
Market popularity
This one is tricky. Some people will not care if the e-scooter they are riding is popular. For others it will make or break the deal. My personal opinion is that if you intend to modify or upgrade your scooter, then you should be looking at some of the more popular models. This is mainly because spare parts and custom sets will be easy to get and relatively inexpensive. If you are not planning on making any modifications, than I would say that’s fine. However, remember that scooters break, just like any vehicles do. If that happens, you want to be able to order spare parts relatively easily.
More popular models will also have much more resources available online regarding their use. Things such as regular maintenance and upkeep, troubleshooting and riding advice.
Conclusion
As with most other gadgets or modes of transportation, there is no single best model that will fit the needs of all buyers. Everyone has different expectations. I would say that there is one feature shared across all e-scooter models, and that is: they are fun! Besides that, you have to look into your own needs and make your own choice based on your research of the models available on the market today.
The maximum weight a scooter can carry is a relatively important specification, but it should not be the only deciding factor when making a purchase. For most potential riders, there are other more important features to consider when shopping for a new set of two-wheels.