So about a year ago I bought a cheap eScooter after selling my stupid car, and I’ve had a pretty good time! I live within 2 miles of my doctor, my dentist, a bunch of grocery stores, and even my mom AND my grandma!

The only problem is despite it advertising 12 mile range, it only goes about 4 before dying. I kind of expected it because it’s under $300.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07K9MB6X1/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I weigh 130 pounds so I don’t think that’s impacting it.

While I just uber whenever I need to go further 1-2 times a month, would be nice to have closer to 10 miles if I want to run multiple errands in a row. Any eScooters that actually have good range and are under $500?

  • litchralee
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    6 months ago

    This entire answer is mostly conjecture, but I think you’d have to be looking for the e-scooter that has the largest battery pack in that price range. Of course, such a pack would add weight and possibly bulk to the scooter. A quick search on Amazon showed this scooter, a Segway NineBot ES4 listed for $480.

    Your GoTrax has a 36V 5.2A battery pack, which works out to be 187 Wh. The ES4 has double the capacity, at 374 Wh. If the GoTrax could only muster 4 miles, then the ES4 should be double that.

    But I do think there may be something wrong with your GoTrax. 187 Wh per 4 miles means an efficiency of 30 Wh/km. But scooters tend to be closer to 12 Wh/km. For reference, a class 3 ebike cruising at 45 kph (28 mph) is 48-60 Wh/km. Scooters travel so much slower, and so should be many-fold more efficient.

    If we say 12 Wh/km is too optimistic for the ES4, then let’s conservatively assume it does 24 Wh/km. That would still mean it could do 10 miles, which is just within your parameters.

    • PlantObserver@lemmy.world
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      6 months ago

      Ya somethings wrong with your GoTrax. I’d reach out to them for warranty. Mine (same model) goes close to advertised range and I weigh 160lbs