The 33 Most Reliable Electric Scooters: We Tested Them All

Most Reliable Electric Scooters: How Do We Know?

We’ve tested the fastest electric scooters and found the best budget models, but how do you judge the most reliable electric scooters? That’s the question we we asked ourselves when we set out to make our “Reliability Index,” a number we use to grade the longevity and durability of the almost three-hundred electric scooters we’ve ridden.

Ideally, to get this number, you’d have to ride each scooter around 10,000 miles to test its long-term durability. But we did the math and figured this would take us 40 hours a week of riding for 28 years. Not happening.

Instead we did some more (insanely) complicated math, and came up with a formula that averages eleven factors of 277 different scooter models to determine reliability. Those factors are:

• Warranty length
• Water resistance rating (IP rating)
• Brand name or generic battery maker
• Availability of replacement parts
• UL listing
• Tire type (i.e. solid, tubed pneumatic, tubeless pneumatic)
• Solid or split rims
• Brake type
• Repairability
• Swappable battery
• Build quality

Our formula weighs each of these components according to their importance, and we’ve come up with the rankings below. We think our reliability score represents the best metric out there for determining an electric scooter’s long-term durability in advance.

We only review the best brands and we don’t waste time with white-label scooters or cheaply made models that we wouldn’t ride ourselves. Bear in mind that a perfect reliability score does not mean a perfect scooter. Issues arise, and defects happen. But it does mean the most durable electric scooter you can buy in 2024.

The Most Reliable Electric Scooters Under $400

1^st Place – NIU KQi 1/KQi 1 Pro

Reliability Score 8.84

Price $329

The winners for most reliable under $400 are the NIU KQi1 and KQi1 Pro, both with reliability scores of 8.8 out of 10.

NIU’s build quality is just unbeatable at this price, but it’s their two-year warranty (the longest we’ve seen for an electric scooter) that nudged the KQi1 series to first place in our most affordable category.

The KQi1 is the most affordable way to reliably get where you’re going.

2^nd Place – Segway Ninebot E2 Plus

Reliability Score 8.39

Price $349

The Ninebot E2 Plus takes 2nd place with a reliability score of 8.4

Segway Ninebots are famous for reliability. And the E2 Plus’s score gets pulled upward by semi-solid, flat-proof tires, and because Segway makes it easy to buy spare parts on their site if you ever need them.

But the E2 comes in second because of its shorter warranty.

Read our full review of the Segway Ninebot E2 Plus

Under $400 Runners Up

Hiboy S2

Score 8.21

Price $299

GOTRAX G3 Plus

Score 7.59

Price $399

The Most Reliable Electric Scooters Under $600

1^st Place – NIU KQi2 Pro

Reliability Score 9.03

Price $599

NIU takes another win for most reliable scooter under $600 with the KQi2 Pro and a score of 9 out of 10.

The KQi2 Pro has tons of range for the price, and takes the win on reliability because it uses drum brakes, which last longer than disc brakes and rarely need adjustment.

This is one of our favorite scooters to recommend to new riders because it’s so easy to ride, and so versatile because of the longer range.

Read our full review of the NIU KQi2 Pro

2^nd Place – Fluid Freeride CityRider

Reliability Score 8.8

Price $599

Fluid Freeride’s CityRider scores an 8.8 with its flat-proof semi-solid tires, reliable drum and regen brakes, and good water resistance.

The Fluid website lists 33 different spare parts available for this scooter, so you’ll be able to keep your scooter going long after the one-year warranty is over.

(And here’s a little-known secret. If you’re the original owner of a scooter from Fluid you get 50% off of the parts prices on their site.)

Read our full review of the Fluid Freeride CityRider

Under $600 Runners Up

NIU KQi3 Pro

Score 8.54

Price $699

Glion Dolly

Score 8.30

Price N/A

VMAX VX5 GT

Score 8.25

Price $599

The Most Reliable Electric Scooters Under $800

1^st Place – EMOVE TOURING

Reliability Score 9.35

Price $799

The EMOVE Touring takes the win for most reliable under $800 (which didn’t surprise us at all), scoring a *stratospheric* 9.4 out of 10.

The Touring is a top choice for heavy riders, awesome for climbing hills, and is the least expensive scooter on our list that uses brand-name battery cells. LG cells are among the very best, and the general wisdom is that you should get more years of life before performance falls off. 

This full-suspension scooter pulls off an old-school reliability trick you probably don’t know about. It uses an air-filled front tire for a smoother ride, but a solid, flat-proof rear tire. This eliminates almost all flat tires because 90% of flats happen at the rear tire.

Read our full review of the EMOVE Touring

2^nd Place – NIU KQi3 Max

Reliability Score 8.74

Price $899

In 2nd place, with a score of 8.7, it’s NIU again, this time with the KQi3 Max, which was designed to beat the original Segway Ninebot Max G30, and did. 

In our tests the KQi3 Max went further, faster, and climbed better than the G30 Max, and just beat it on reliability too. 

With a top speed of 22mph, dual disc brakes, and tons of range, this is a sportier single motor scooter, which is why our KQi3 Max spends more time at our tester Paul’s house than it does at the ESG office.

Read our full review of the NIU KQi3 Max

Under $800 Runners Up

Okai Neon

Score 8.60

Price $429

UScooters Booster Sport

Score 8.55

Price $879

Inokim Light 2

Score 8.39

Price $699

The Most Reliable Electric Scooters Under $1,000

1^st Place – Apollo Air

Reliability Score 9.42

Price $999

Normally, we talk about the Apollo Air’s long-range, ultra-smooth ride, and the premium feel of this scooter, because it shares a ton of features with their flagship Apollo Pro. 

But it also has a nearly perfect recipe for reliability: an ultra-high IP66 water resistance rating, Samsung battery cells, flat-resistant tubeless tires with sealant built-in, and a braking system where the dedicated regen brake lever is your primary brake, so the brakes are going to basically last forever.

Apollo has been focused on reliability for years now, and it has really come together in their lastest models.

Read our full review of the Apollo Air

2^nd Place – Segway Ninebot Max/Max G2

Reliability Score 8.58

Price $973

Second place is a tie between the original Ninebot Max G30 and the new Ninebot MAX G2, both with scores of 8.6

The original Max G30 was famous for long range and reliability, and both scooters are still benchmarks by which we measure other scooters.

But the reason the original Max G30 and the new Max G2 come in second is mainly because their “one year” warranty only covers the battery for 6 months. 

That said, the G2 is in every way a worthy successor to the original Max.

Read our full review of the Segway Ninebot Max G2

Under $1,000 Runners Up

UScooters Booster V

Score 8.55

Price $899

Okay Neon Pro

Score 7.59

Price $669

The Most Reliable Electric Scooters Under $1,500

1^st Place – UScooters GT Sport

Reliability Score 9.43

Price $1,099

The ultra-lightweight ultra-portable Uscooters GT Sport wins the under $1,500 category with the highest reliability score on the entire list, coming in at 9.43 out of 10, thanks to Samsung battery cells, excellent parts availability, and solid 100% flat proof tires. 

This little-known fact pushed the GT Sport into the very top spot: the solid front tire is mounted on a split rim, so to change it, you just unbolt the rim and take it apart. 

It’s no wonder we see so many Uscooters with tons of miles on the odometers.

Read our full review of the UScooters GT Sport

2^nd Place – NIU KQi Air

Reliability Score 8.93

Price $1,399

It’s NIU again, in second place, with their brand-new ultra-lightweight KQi Air. This carbon-fiber-framed scooter has a reliability score of 8.9, and a tested weight of just 26.2 pounds.

That’s less than half the tested weight of the new Segway Ninebot Max G2. In our range test, this scooter went two thirds of the range of a Max G2, and beat the G2 in both acceleration and hill climbing. 

If this is the direction scooters are going in 2024, we’re all in. 

Read our full review of the NIU KQi Air

Under $1,500 Runners Up

Unagi Model One Voyager

Score 8.21

Price $1,490 or $69/mo

EMOVE Cruiser S

Score 7.59

Price $1,199

UScooters Booster GT

Score 7.59

Price $969

The Most Reliable Electric Scooters Under $2,000

1^st Place – Apollo City Pro 2023

Reliability Score 9.09

Price $1,699

The Apollo City Pro 2023 wins most reliable scooter under $2,000 with a score of 9.1.

The City Pro is a premium dual-motor scooter for cross-town commuting that has become our benchmark for dual-motor scooters in this price class. 

Apollo’s build quality took another big step forward in 2023, from the satisfying clonk of the new stem latches, to the handlebar-end turn signals, updated tool kits and UL-approval for most models.

Read our full review of the Apollo City Pro 2023

2^nd Place – Inokim OXO Super 2023

Reliability Score 7.88

Price $1,999

The dual-motor Inokim OXO has an ultra-smooth ride, a ton of style, and very good reliability, coming in 2nd with a score of 7.9.

Plusses for the OXO include excellent parts availability and easy-to-change tires due to the single-sided swingarms, but the score is pulled down by the tires not being tubeless.

Read our full review of the Inokim OXO Super 2023

Under $2,000 Runners Up

Apollo Ghost

Score 8.21

Price $1,299

Vsett 8+

Score 7.59

Price $1,367

Kaabo Mantis V2

Score 7.59

Price $1,599

The Most Reliable Electric Scooters Above $2,000

1^st Place – Apollo Pro 2023

Reliability Score 9.29

Price $3,999

The winner for most reliable scooter in the cost-is-no-object category is Apollo’s new flagship: the Apollo Pro with a score of 9.3 out of 10

This scooter wasn’t designed to be the fastest, or the cheapest. It was designed to do two things: have the best ride quality and outlast any scooter ever made.

To do that, it’s got all of the things other Apollo Scooters have like flat-resistant tubeless tires, brakes that last basically forever, and UL certification.

It also has Samsung battery cells and a self-diagnosing battery management system (or BMS) that costs more than some whole scooters.

In our opinion, this is one of the best riding scooters out there, and one of the best-looking scooters ever made. 

Read our full review of the Apollo Pro 2023

2^nd Place – Kaabo Wolf King GTR

Reliability 8.82

Price $3,995

2nd place in the unlimited category also happens to be the second fastest electric scooter we’ve ever tested: the new Wolf King GTR with a reliability score of 8.8.

It’s got all the main ingredients, but scores slightly lower on reliability due to disc brakes which are higher maintenance than the Apollo Pro’s drums, and the GTR also has a lower water resistance rating.

If you love fast scooters though, the GTR and the Wolf King series are ridiculously fun and offer amazing performance per dollar.

Read our full review of the Kaabo Wolf King GTR

Above $2,000 Runners Up

EMOVE Roadster

Score 8.61

Price $5,795

EMOVE Roadrunner Pro

Score 7.59

Price $$2,395

Segway GT1/GT2

Score 7.59

Price $2,499

Conclusion

So that’s it, folks, the most reliable electric scooters you can buy or own. Keep in mind that we only review the top brands.  So even a 7.2 out of 10 is like winning a bronze metal in the olympics… it’s still very good. 

But also keep in mind that even a scooter that scores a 9.9 isn’t going to be perfect all the time. Even the best scooters can have a bad cell, or a failed motor controller, and all scooters are subject to random shipping issues 

But on the whole, a top score on this list means these scooters are state of the art and the most reliable scooters in 2024.