Electric scooters are designed to make transportation from A to B easier than when using a conventional kick scooter, with a powerful lithium-ion battery typically taking the place of the rider’s kick action.
With that said, there may be instances where you want to push or kick your electric scooter, for example because your battery has run flat while you’re still away from home. There are lots of resources out there with mixed answers as to whether you can or can’t push an electric scooter if you need to, so we’ve written our own guide to give you all the answers you need.
Pushing an electric scooter
Those who invest in an electric scooter usually do so because they want to travel without the effort of a kick scooter, or to get around faster than they could on a manual scooter. But if you’ve forgotten to recharge your battery before heading out on a ride, or suffered a punctured tyre, there might be a time when the slower slog of manual scootering is needed.
Because electric scooters are not designed for manual use, you will find that they are not the easiest to push or ride without the motor. Some of the main reasons for this include:
- Weight: An electric scooter can weigh anything from 12kg to 55kg.
- Large wheels: Most tyre widths are around 8-11”, which is a wide surface that can allow for a lot of friction when not in power-assisted mode.
- High, wide deck: Electric scooters aren’t designed to accommodate manual riders and have higher, wider decks than traditional kick scooters.
- Electric motor and braking: your e-scooter’s wheels are connected to the motor, and many scooters have built-in braking systems that may automatically engage when the scooter is powered down. Both of these facts mean that there is a natural resistance, and an e-scooter will not roll freely in the same way a kick scooter will.
When to push an electric scooter
Some manufacturers advise that you should not ride their electric scooter like a kick scooter if you want to extend its life for as long as possible. With that said, this doesn’t mean that you can’t push or manually ride an electric scooter. In fact, there may be instances where you may need to push it, such as:
- If the battery runs flat
- If you get a flat tyre
- If you have an electronic malfunction
- If your brakes aren’t working properly
- If you lose your helmet/safety gear
- If you don’t feel well/have an accident
Of course, some of the things mentioned above can be avoided. Checking your specific scooter brand’s handbook to find how far it can travel and planning your route around this will ensure you’re not caught out by a flat battery.
But other reasons listed are unforeseen issues which may leave no you with no choice but to get off and push. While pushing your electric scooter won’t harm it, we always advise you carry a mobile phone, so you can call someone to come and pick you (and your electric scooter!) up if needed. If you own a more heavyweight scooter, like the Kaabo Wolf King GT Pro – which weighs in at 52kg – a little help to get home in the event that you’ve had an accident will be invaluable.
If you require any further information about a specific electric scooter stocked by The E-Scooter Co., please feel free to get in touch with a member of our team.
