BIKE/BOARD

How Fast Do Electric Scooters Go?

May 3, 2023

How fast do electric scooters go? That’s a slightly loaded question. Most e-scooters on the market, like the Turboant X7 Pro scooter top out at 15-20 mph, a fairly safe max speed for any small scooter. Most of the scooter-share scooters, e.g. Lyft, Lime, etc. limit speeds to 15 mph to comply with local laws.

_{Scooters are a fun way to get around, but slower speeds are safer. This TurboAnt X7 Pro can go up to 20 mph.}
_{Photo by Tony Donaldson}

Laws on this vary from state-to-state, locality or even country.

In New York, for example, even e-scooters are classified as Class C vehicles, which doesn’t require a license. This is especially great for residents of New York City, as many residents there don’t drive and therefore have no reason to have a driver’s license. The top speed allowed is 20 mph.

California is more stringent, requiring a valid driver’s license or learner’s permit and capping the top speed of 15 mph. Minors under the age of 18 are required to wear a helmet (I recommend everyone wear a helmet on a bicycle or scooter).

Scooter regulations:

Vary by state, municipality, country or territory
Some places limit the top speed of a scooter
Some places make scooter-share companies geofence scooters from some places, like sidewalks
Check your state and local rules

TO THE EXTREME

Of course, with any vehicle, some people aren’t happy with normal (and safe) speeds. There are a variety of scooters on the market that can go much faster than 20 miles an hour. I’d never recommend this for an inexperienced or even somewhat experienced rider. With those small wheels, they can be really unstable and crashes are more likely and may also be worse by the speeds.

Apollo Ghost – 37 mph