Does it make sense to buy an electric scooter?

The electric scooter rental season has begun in Moscow. However, the owners of these means of individual mobility went to the streets of the capital without waiting for the official opening of the season. Is it worth buying an electric scooter or is it easier to get by with a rental vehicle, Moskovskaya Pravda found out.

The new season for electric scooter enthusiasts has started with new rules. Thus, the movement of means of individual mobility (SIM), which include electric scooters, is now regulated by the traffic police. In particular, the inspector can, if necessary, stop the driver of the scooter and even hold him accountable for violating the rules.

In addition, only one person can ride a scooter, you cannot drive it while intoxicated, and the speed or even the ability to move in some areas of urban space is limited.

On the other hand, it is convenient to move around the city on an electric scooter – it is both fast enough and comfortable, and physically not very expensive. However, not everyone can afford to buy a high-quality electric scooter.

“Quality models can be found in the range from 26,000 rubles to 150,000,” said Sergey Shevelev, Digma brand manager. “It’s cheaper than scooters and e-bikes, and more comparable to regular bikes.

If you still think about buying such a vehicle, the expert advises paying attention to several factors: frame strength, the presence of a folding mechanism, electric motor power, battery capacity and tire quality. In this case, of course, it is better to choose models of well-known and trusted manufacturers.

For one-time recreational trips, Sergey Shevelev advises using kicksharing. Moreover, the cost of rent is low – an average of 5 rubles per minute.

“However, it should be borne in mind that kicksharing is comparable to car rental, and any damage will result in a fine that can amount to several tens of thousands of rubles,” the expert notes.

Own electric scooter is needed for those who use it every day. And not only for entertainment, but also, for example, for trips to work or study.

“You don’t need to stand in a traffic jam with it, it’s easy and inexpensive to charge it, you don’t need to look for a parking place,” Sergey Shevelev listed the advantages of this option.

Among the disadvantages of such an acquisition: dependence on the weather and injury risk. In addition, long trips are limited by the amount of SIM charge, when traveling off-road there is a risk of puncturing tires, the replacement of which requires additional costs, and to protect against theft, you need to fix the device on a strong bike lock.

So both buying and renting have their pros and cons. But, in any case, whichever option you choose, you need to ride an electric scooter following the rules in order to ensure the safety of yourself and others.

Alena Bodrienko.

Photo by Pelagia Tikhonova / Moskva Agency