Almost every kid has owned a scooter, but in the last few years, electric scooters for kids have become a big business.
The combination of ease of use, ease of storage, much lower prices than a full bike, and the fact that they’re incredibly simple to use and so much damn fun has pushed eScooters into the market in a big way.
But choosing a scooter for your kids is surprisingly difficult, because there are so many kinds out there, with dozens of different options, age ranges, and more.
That’s why we’ve written this guide, to help you make a smarter, more informed choice. Read on to find out precisely what you should be looking for when buying a scooter for your kids.
What Are the Best eScooters for Kids in 2022
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The Power Core E100 is an updated version of one of the earliest kids electric scooters to hit the market.
The main change? The motor. Switching from a chain-driven centre motor to a much more current, in-wheel hub motor. It’s very powerful, with an easy kick start system that engages when your kid kicks off, as they would with any other scooter, and tops out at an impressive top speed of 11mph.
The battery lasts for around an hour off of maximum charge, though obviously, this is dependent on speed and user weight, so smaller kids might get a little more out of it. The range is a good 10 miles, and the controls are very simple, with a grip twist throttle and rear brake.
Construction is excellent. Steel frame, with a wide and solid resin plastic deck, adjustable handlebars, and maintenance-free parts. Unfortunately, it’s not foldable, but the scooter itself is light and easy to manage 10 kilos.
Downsides are limited. It’s a reasonably pricey thing, topping out our list at the most expensive. And the wheels are solid instead of air-filled, so they can run loud and don’t offer a lot of cushioning.
But apart from these tiny little issues, the E100 continues to be king of the kid’s electric scooter market.
- Powerful, updated motor
- Great range and battery life
- Excellent construction
- Easy to use
- Solid tyres are loud
- Not foldable
[bestBox asin=’B08G8RNK9H’ pic=’https://www.trendyride.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Razor-Power-Core-E90-product.png’ chip_text=’Best General Scooter’ product_name=’Razor Power Core E90′ sub_heading=’A good all-round budget-priced electric scooter with a seat.’ text=”Although it hardly looks like a scooter, it’s extremely comfy, has a good set of features and offers top value for money too.” link=’https://www.pureelectric.com/collections/kids-electric-scooters/products/razor-power-core-e90-kids-electric-scooter’]
The E90 is a slightly smaller and updated version of the original E100 scooter. But the updated E100 (our top pick) makes it a harder comparison.
Compared to its bigger brother, the E90 is an exceptional scooter that’s aimed towards slightly younger kids, with its lower handlebars, lower top speed and slightly smaller overall size. This is definitely a good thing, as it gives the E90 its own niche; a smaller, easier to ride a scooter for younger kids.
Overall build quality is impressive; built to the same solid standards as the rest of the Razor Scooter line, with a solid steel frame and plastic fittings. Where the E90 excels, though, is the running time, which is a really impressive 80 minutes, giving this 13 miles of range.
It’s also very safe. The ride is slightly harsher than the E100, but the overall ride is stable, with a great set of brakes that stop this dead quickly and easily.
Overall, the E90 is another great scooter. We’d probably lean for the E100, only because it’s more suited to larger kids, so will last them longer, until they’re older, but if you want a great scooter for younger kids, the E90 does everything you need.
- Great ride time and range
- Hand brake is effective
- Wide deck and stable ride
- Reasonably rough ride
- Heavy, despite the small size
[bestBox asin=’B08G8RNK9H’ pic=’https://www.trendyride.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/GoTrax-Lithium-150W-product.png’ chip_text=’Highest Weight Limit’ product_name=’GoTrax Lithium 150W’ sub_heading=’A good all-round budget-priced electric scooter with a seat.’ text=”Although it hardly looks like a scooter, it’s extremely comfy, has a good set of features and offers top value for money too.” link=’https://www.funbikes.co.uk/p14162_kids-gotrax-150w-black-lithium-electric-scooter’]
Cheap and reliable, the GoTrax Lithium is a solid generalist scooter that’s great for kids of almost all ages. It doesn’t excel at anything in terms of performance, but has the single highest weight limit on this list, by a good 30lbs, so if you’re looking for a scooter for bigger kids, the GoTrax is by far the best option we’ve found.
In terms of speed and performance, the best word to describe this is dependable. It’s powered by a decently powerful 25V 2Ah lithium battery which can push this to a max speed of 7.5mph. That’s the lowest on the list, but still enough to have fun with. Just don’t expect to be tearing down roads or going over jumps.
It’s very light, at just 17.5lbs (8kg,) but the strong metal frame and anti-slip footplate hold a very high 155lb maximum weight (70kg.) That’s huge. Literally high enough for some smaller adults. On top of this, the kick starts the motor, easy-grip handles and rear footbrake make this safe and easy for almost any child to use, especially if they’ve been using kick scooters their whole life.
- Safe and dependable
- Massive upper weight limit
- Well priced
- Slowest top speed on the list
- Rough on bad terrain
[bestBox asin=’B08G8RNK9H’ pic=’https://www.trendyride.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Chaos-Kids-Scooter-product.png’ chip_text=’Best for Younger Children’ product_name=’Chaos Kids Scooter’ sub_heading=’A good all-round budget-priced electric scooter with a seat.’ text=”Although it hardly looks like a scooter, it’s extremely comfy, has a good set of features and offers top value for money too.” link=’https://www.funbikes.co.uk/p11225_chaos-kids-electric-scooter-orange’]
Everything about the Chaos Kids Scooter is designed specifically for smaller kids, making this by far the best option for younger kids on our list.
The scooter is small and light, at just 17.5lbs (8kg) which makes it simple to manoeuvre with, both for your kids, and when you’re dropping it in the boot of your car when you’re travelling. Unfortunately, it doesn’t fold, but the whole thing is small enough that it’s easy to tuck away when you’re done using it.
Performance is precisely where we’d like this to be, with a nippy little belt drive motor that goes up to 8mph, powered by a 12V, 2.0Ah battery. Maintenance is simple, as every working part is locked away, meaning it’s reliable, but also safe from prying fingers.
The scooter is also incredibly easy to use, with a twist and go throttle, a footbrake that works exactly the same as a standard scooter footbrake, with a built-in motor cut out that shuts everything down when the scooter is stopped. The anti-slip footplate is grippy, and there’s a kickstand that can be easily snapped down when out of use to keep the scooter standing and the paint unscratched.
Factor in the 60 minutes of battery time, giving your kids a good amount of play on this, and you’ve got a really solid little scooter, which gets even better when you factor in the price!
- Very safe
- Easy to use
- Long battery time
- Very budget-friendly
- Only designed for smaller kids
- Lower top speed than other options
[bestBox asin=’B08G8RNK9H’ pic=’https://www.trendyride.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Chaos-Powerboard-200W-Kids-Scooter-product.png’ chip_text=’Highest Top Speed’ product_name=’Chaos Powerboard 200W Kids Scooter’ sub_heading=’A good all-round budget-priced electric scooter with a seat.’ text=”Although it hardly looks like a scooter, it’s extremely comfy, has a good set of features and offers top value for money too.” link=’https://www.funbikes.co.uk/p9510_chaos-200w-powerboard-electric-scooter’]
The scooter on our list with the highest top speed, the Chaos Powerboard is more suited for older kids, despite the recommended age range of 8 plus.
First off, that top speed. A heady 15mph, which is seriously impressive, especially when you factor in the high weight limit of 155lbs. Realistically, with the size of the thing, this is a scooter that can comfortably take lighter adults without issue.
The size is a consideration. It’s a hefty 37.5lbs in weight, and big. On the upside, the handlebars are foldable, which really helps with storage and transport. Everything can also be clamped down, so it’s not going to unfold and cause damage to itself. Or your car.
The frame is solid steel, and it features larger, air-filled tyres, which really helps absorb the force on rougher terrain and with stunts. It features the same twist-grip throttle you find on a lot of scooters, but unlike most here, actually has a functional hand brake, rather than the standard footbrake.
The approximate range is around 12 to 15 miles, an hour of playtime, pushed by the twin 12V batteries powering this. Unfortunately, the charging time is long, so overnight is your only real option. But apart from that single issue, the Chaos Powerboard is a fast and fun little scooter that’s the perfect step up from everything else on this list!
- Fast: High top speed
- Controls like a dirtbike
- Air-filled wheels are well-cushioned
- Long charging time
- Big and heavy
Kid’s Electric Scooter Buyer’s Guide
Age and Size
The single most important thing when you’re looking at an eScooter for your kids is to make sure that it’s age-appropriate.
Every scooter on our list has its recommended minimum age listed. This is the age that your children should be able to safely hand a scooter of that speed, size, and weight. Generally, a scooter will offer several years of use if you buy it when your child hits the recommended minimum age limit.
However, it’s worth pointing out that you know your child best. If they’re particularly tall or large, or small and slight, look instead at scooters that are appropriate for children of that size.
The Motor
The motor is the heart of an electric scooter, as it’s the part that drives everything. Larger, heavier motors do several things;
- Put out more power, increasing the top speed of a scooter (which isn’t always a good thing. More on this later.)
- Increases the lifespan of a motor. Larger, heavier motors tend to deal with the stress of powering wheels for much longer.
- Increases the maximum weight a scooter can carry.
The Battery
The battery powers the motor, and there’s a surprising amount of difference in the batteries that you can find in electric scooters.
Ideally, you want lithium-ion batteries (li-ion,) which are much more powerful and hold a charge for much longer than traditional lead or cell style batteries.
The main things you should be looking for when buying batteries are how long they hold a charge for, and their lifespan. All other metrics aren’t important.
The Brakes
Brakes are much more important on an electric scooter than they are on a push model, because of the higher speeds involved, and the fact that there’s less control on the rider involved.
There are two things to look for regarding brakes on an e-scooter. What kind of brakes it has, and whether it has front and rear brakes or just front brakes.
There are two types of brakes. V brakes and disc brakes. Disc brakes are generally much better, because of the way they engage with the wheels, stopping the scooter faster, and with more force.
If possible, also look for a scooter with front and rear brakes. Cheaper scooters only have front brakes, which when they engage puts all of the force on the front of the scooter, affecting balance and could cause it to throw the rider.
Dual, front and rear brakes instead spread the force evenly, making braking much more effective, and safer.
Maximum Speed
Kids electric scooters tend to come with a huge variety of top speeds, based on the motor and battery strength, and the age of kids it’s aimed at.
The general ranges are:
- 7-8 mph, for younger children
- 10 mph maximum, for children up to teenage age
- 15 mph maximum, which is suitable for older kids and teenagers
When it comes to picking a top speed, don’t just base your decision on your age. You know your child better than anyone else. You know how co-ordinated they are, and where they’re likely to be riding it. So the final decision regarding their safety comes down to you.
Charging Time and Range
Most electric scooters need to be charged overnight because the expected charge time is around 8 to 12 hours.
Cheaper scooters might only have a running time of around 20 minutes. The better models might have an expected running time of up to an hour. But it’s worth bearing in mind that this doesn’t take into account the weight of the child and how fast they’re going.
You can expect a decent model to have around a 10-mile range. This is something to bear in mind if you’re buying a scooter to help your child commute to school.
Is It Foldable
Normal scooters are easy to fold away and store, whether overnight or for travelling.
But the increased bulk of the motor and drive system can make electric scooters much harder to store, and some might not even be foldable. Bear this in mind if you’re planning on travelling with yours.
Safety
The safety aspects of an eScooter should be at the forefront of your mind. Make sure that your children know what they’re doing; for example how to accelerate and brake, and how to stop the motor if necessary.
Make sure that younger children are supervised, until you are comfortable that they can ride it safely, and it’s also highly recommended that your children also wear protective gear, at the very least, a high-quality helmet.