{{Short description|Electric-powered stand-up scooter}} {{For|electric motorcycles or mopeds|Electric motorcycles and scooters}} [[File:Xiaomi_M365_blanche.jpg|thumb|White Xiaomi M365]] thumb|Dashboard An '''e-scooter''' or '''electric kick scooter''' is an electric motorized scooter – a stand-up scooter powered by an electric hub motor in its front and/or rear wheel. It is generally designed with a large center deck on which the rider stands.
They are classified as a form of micromobility; e-scooters are included in scooter-sharing systems that use apps to allow users to rent them by the minute. Such systems are now present in major and mid-sized cities all over the world.
thumb|upright|A child on a smaller e-scooter, 2011
== Parts and other features== {{See also|Motorized scooter#Mechanics}}
Parts of an electric scooter include the deck, stem, handlebars, tires, suspension, lights, batteries, brakes, controller and motor.
E-scooters usually have two wheels between {{convert|8|and(-)|11|in|cm}} in diameter, connected by a platform on which the rider stands, with a handlebar for support and steering.<ref name="trellis">{{Cite web |date=2022-09-15 |title=The future of electric transportation can be led on 2 wheels|url=https://trellis.net/article/future-electric-transportation-can-be-led-2-wheels/ |access-date=2025-06-12 |website=Trellis Group}}</ref>
There are three types of tires: *Pneumatic (air-filled) tires.<ref name="techradar">{{cite web|url=https://www.techradar.com/best/best-electric-scooters|publisher=Tech Radar|title=The best electric scooters 2025: top picks for every need|access-date=2025-06-12}}</ref> *Solid tires. *Hollow tires are made of durable rubber.<ref name="techradar"/>
It is propelled by an electric motor, which makes gears unnecessary. It may support energy recovery by regenerative braking.
Range and speed vary considerably according to model. One reference shows ranges of {{convert|9|to|200|km|mi|0|abbr=on}}, and maximum speeds from {{convert|14|to|160|km/h|mph|0|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://eridehero.com/tool/electric-scooter-finder/|title=Electric Scooter Database}}</ref>
==Scooter sharing== {{Main|Scooter-sharing system}}
In 2017, some bicycle-sharing companies such as Lime, and some scooter-only companies such as Bird, began offering dock-less electric kick scooter sharing services. This segment of the micro-mobility market made large inroads in 2018, with numerous dock-less e-scooters appearing in cities worldwide.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.broadsheet.com.au/national/city-file/article/ride-sharing-company-taxify-announces-australian-dockless-electric-kick-scooter-service |title=An Electric Kick-Scooter Sharing Service Is Coming to Melbourne |last=Morris |first=Sarah |date=2018-09-06 |work=Broadsheet |access-date=2018-09-16}}</ref>
Transport mode shift from car to shared e-scooter ranges from 8% in France to 50% in Santa Monica, United-States.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Personal Mobility Devices |url=https://road-safety.transport.ec.europa.eu/document/download/6ed38dab-eb7c-42e0-a4a7-06bdd20677ec_en?filename=ERSO-TR-PersonalMobilityDevices-20241217.pdf |access-date=28 Oct 2025 |website=road-safety.transport.ec.europa.eu}}</ref>
==Safety and legality == ===Safety=== {{Main|Motorized_scooter#Safety|l1 = Electric scooter safety}}
E-scooters are a potentially environmentally friendly alternative personal mode of transportation that has appeal in urban settings and for short distances. However, they are not exempt from the vulnerabilities users may encounter in road traffic injuries similar to the exposures pedestrians and bicyclists when sharing the roads.<ref name=":1">{{cite journal |last1=Xu |first1=Jun |last2=Shang |first2=Shi |last3=Yu |first3=Guizhen |last4=Qi |first4=Hongsheng |last5=Wang |first5=Yunpeng |last6=Xu |first6=Shucai |date=2016-02-01 |title=Are electric self-balancing scooters safe in vehicle crash accidents? |journal=Accident Analysis & Prevention |volume=87 |pages=102–116 |doi=10.1016/j.aap.2015.10.022 |issn=0001-4575 |pmid=26656151}}</ref>
In Europe, before 2024, the majority of crashes did not involve another vehicle, while 80% of e-scooter rider deaths and 50% of trauma patients’ injuries resulted from crashes involving a heavier motor vehicle.<ref name=":0" />
In France, between 2019 and 2022, a 185% increase in e-scooter riders was admitted to trauma centres.<ref name=":0" />
=== Legality === {{Main|Motorized_scooter#Regulation|l1 = Electric scooter legality}}
== See also == {{Commons category|Electric kick scooters}} * Bicycle-sharing system * Electric bicycle * Electric trike, three wheeled electric kick scooter * All-terrain vehicle (ATV) or Electric skateboard, four or more wheeled electric kick scooter
== References == {{Reflist}}{{Human-powered vehicles}}{{Electric vehicles}} Category:Electric kick scooters Category:Personal transporters