5 Long Range Electric Scooters Under $500
You can buy a safe, reliable, fast, and fun electric scooter these days for under $500. And since cheaper scooters have smaller batteries, they’re usually lighter and more portable; yet budget rides aren’t typically classified as long range electric scooters.
However, you can find a sub-$500 electric scooter that gets you to work/school/etc. and back without the dreaded range anxiety creeping in. We’ve tested more than handful of electric scooters that can travel between 15-20 miles on a single charge. Given that the average short commute is between 3-5 miles, these numbers are more than adequate for most budget riders’ needs.
Our range numbers come from real-world testing, every time. Manufacturer range numbers are often estimates based on ideal riding conditions and the lowest speed settings. We test scooters the way people ride them, at the highest speed settings, in stop-and-go traffic, and over lots of hills.
Below, you’ll find 5 ESG-tested electric scooters with longer ranges, as well as other features we feel make them worth buying, such as high reliability and great value. We’ve tested each scooter the same way each time. Your numbers will vary depending on your weight, the way you ride, and the terrain, average wind speed, etc. where you live.
Here at Electric Scooter Guide, we’ve been riding, testing, and reviewing electric scooters the same way since 2018. We work with the best brands in the industry to help them improve their products, and we share our data and expert observations to help you make the most informed decisions.
5 Best Long Range Electric Scooters Under $500
Dual Motor Climber
Hover-1 Journey Max | $412
What has two powerful motors, costs less than $500, and climbed the steepest hill in San Francisco in our tests…twice? The Hover-1 Journey Max has held the title as the cheapest dual motor scooter you can buy that will climb hills faster than anything else in its price range – and will take you farther than anything else, as well.
With a tested range of over 20 miles, the Journey Max is easy to recommend to anyone looking for a longer-range ride. We would only hesitate because its reliability score comes in a little low, at 7.3, due to its use of inner tubes, which are more prone to flats, and to its lower water resistance rating.
These are typical drawbacks, however, at this price and shouldn’t hold back interested buyers unless they need to ride in the rain. Heavier riders will especially appreciate the added power, range, and speed of a dual motor scooter.
20.4 miles of ESG-tested, real-world range
Reliability 7.3 | IPX4 | UL2272 | 44 lbs
Top: 5 Long Range Electric Scooters Under $500
Smooth Ride
H-1 Pro Series ACE R450 | $389
Coming right behind the Hover-1 Journey Max is its single-motor cousin, the ACE R450. Part of Hover-1’s H-1 Pro Series, this scooter has some nicer amenities, such as 10″ tubeless tires. It’s also not as fast or powerful as the Journey Max, so if you’re on the heavier side, you might want to go with the latter option.
Another feature the H-1 ACE R450 obviously has over the other scooters on this list is a motorcycle-style coil spring front suspension. This combined with tubeless tires gives you lots of vibration damping and shock absorption for rougher roads. If the streets you ride are hard on your joints, the R450 is probably your best option on this list, although it has a lower reliability score as well.
20.2 miles of ESG-tested, real-world range
Reliability 7.8 | IPX4 | UL2272 | 41.7 lbs
Top: 5 Long Range Electric Scooters Under $500
Top Reliability
VMAX VX5 Pro GT | $499
VMAX gives you absolute top reliability and value for the money, and we can always recommend their scooters without reservation. Each model comes in three battery sizes: the ST, LT, and GT, the largest size, which we always recommend for longest range.
While you don’t get features like suspension, an app, or fancy swag lighting with the VX5 Pro, VMAX scooters have some of the best build quality on the market, with some of the highest water resistance and best warranties we’ve ever seen.
The VX5 Pro GT is sleek, lightweight, minimal, and basic black, and it has all the best specs for the price, including tubeless tires and turn signals. And VMAX scooters cover more ground than almost all their competition.
19.7 miles of ESG-tested, real-world range
Reliability 9.5 | IPX6 | UL2272 | 36.8 lbs
Top: 5 Long Range Electric Scooters Under $500
No-Maintenance Durability
Segway Ninebot E2 Pro | $399
Of course, Segway needs no introduction. The Segway Ninebot E2 Pro has quickly become one of their best-rated electric scooters for the price, with a tested top speed of 15.5 mph and a very high reliability score from us.
This is one of our top recommendations for teens and college students because of its no-maintenance durability. It’s got self-sealing tubeless tires (that actually work!) and a regenerative + drum brake combination that requires almost no adjustment and never needs replacement parts.
16.0 miles of ESG-tested, real-world range
Reliability 8.8 | IPX5 | UL2272 | 41.4 lbs
Top: 5 Long Range Electric Scooters Under $500
Rock-Solid Build Quality
NIU KQi2 Pro | $419
NIU is one of the biggest makers of personal electric vehicles worldwide and it shows in the quality construction of all the standing electric scooters in their KQi line.
While the KQi2 Pro is an older model, it remains one of our favorite budget rides for all the reasons we loved it in the first place.
The NIU KQi2 Pro is a fun, ultra-reliable ride with a high top speed and long range for the price.
15.7 miles of ESG-tested, real-world range
Reliability 9.0 | IP54 | UL2272 | 40.6 lbs
Top: 5 Long Range Electric Scooters Under $500Summing Up
Long range is a relative concept, especially when it comes to electric scooters which can range (sorry) anywhere under $500 to over $5,000, under 10 miles per charge charge to over 80 miles. That’s a lot of variation, but when it comes to long range scooters under $500, the five above are the best you can get.
Not only do these scooters from Hover-1, NIU, Segway, and VMAX get you where you need to go reliably and safely, but they also help you expand your scooter-riding territory and keep range anxiety at bay.
We ride and test every scooter we recommend, and our reviews have helped millions find their perfect ride since 2018. If you still can’t find what you need, check out our extensive database and keep checking back for new and updated reviews each week.
Top: 5 Long Range Electric Scooters Under $500
