Kids love scooters. Right from when they’re very small they give children the ability to keep up with adults and travel distances that would otherwise tire them out quickly. As they get older, though, the lure of more power becomes impossible to resist, and an e-scooter is sure to be at the top of many Christmas lists.
E-scooters for kids are effectively scaled-down versions of the ones adults ride. They’re smaller, lighter, less powerful, are limited to a lower top speed and don’t have the same range. All the rules still apply, however: it is illegal to ride them in a public place unless part of an e-scooter trial, where riders must be 18 or over and hold a driving licence. Then there’s the fact that e-scooters are treated as mopeds in UK law, and most children are simply too young to operate a motor vehicle in the eyes of the police. This may change, however, depending on the results of the ongoing e-scooter trials.
> Five of the best e-scooters - What can you get? How do they work? And are they legal?
Despite this, there are e-scooters available that are suitable for children to ride on private land. Things to consider include the handle height, weight limit and top speed setting, as well as whether the scooter comes with things like bells or reflectors to aid being seen by pedestrians. Kids’ e-scooters also may have solid plastic wheels, rather than the air-filled tyres you’ll find on adult models - the latter will give you a smoother ride, but solid wheels are puncture-proof, though they may wear out more quickly - and retractable kickstands are standard issue. Otherwise, it’s worth investing in a helmet, some chunky footwear, and a set of knee and elbow pads, just like a skateboarder, to keep the precious cargo safe.
Razor Power Core E100 - from £229
With a top speed of 11mph and a running time of around an hour, this scooter is light, maintenance-free as there’s no chain, and has a weight limit of 54kg. The 100W motor in the rear wheel hub puts out a decent amount of torque, and uses a kick-starter. Acceleration comes from a twist-grip on the handlebars, while there’s a brake on the front wheel that’s also hand-operated.
The deck is aluminium for lightness while the forks are steel for strength. The rear wheel is solid while the front is pneumatic, and the dual 12V battery system gives smooth acceleration. Note that the Power Core E100 is not the same as the plain E100 - the Power Core is a newer model that brings a better motor and battery, as well as a chain-free drive, and is much better overall.
Ripsar 24v
Topping out at 10mph, and with a 54kg weight limit, this chain-driven e-scooter has three-position height adjustment on its handlebars and a 120W motor. The front tyre is air-filled, while the rear is solid, and both acceleration and braking are controlled from the handlebars, with a twist-grip for the juice, and a caliper brake on the rear wheel.
Available in electric blue and pink as well as the more sober black, all colours feature a metal frame and footplate, making them robust enough for kids to play with without fear of breakage. Even so, it folds down nicely for transport, and can be easily pushed along if the battery runs out while in use.
HOMCOM Kids Electric Scooter
An e-scooter of slightly uncertain Chinese heritage, but with the specs to make it a potential winner. You get the same 2x12V battery system and accelerator twist grip as the scooters above, plus a caliper brake on the front wheel that’s operated from the (adjustable) handlebars. Top speed is a little low, at 7.5mph, but that could be a good thing, depending on how you look at it, while the maximum load is 50kg.
There’s an interesting safety feature on this scooter - a motor overload cut-out that shuts the scooter down and pops out a reset button that will need to be pressed in before it can be used again. This would only happen if the motor detects continuous high current likely to damage the motor, such as heavy uphill use.
The frame is alloy steel, but the fairings and deck seem to be polypropylene, which while strong is still a plastic and could shatter if hit hard enough, though the deck is large and nicely textured to ensure a good grip. The wheels are solid plastic too, which may lead to a rougher ride than those models with pneumatic tyres. The range of 10km is achieved from a charging time of up to eight hours, and the scooter is foldable for storage or transport.
Razor E Prime
Aimed at an older market than the others, with more of a small adult/large child crossover in mind, this is a nicely designed e-scooter capable of going at 15mph for the 40 minutes it will take you to burn off a full charge.
With teenagers firmly in mind you get bigger wheels (20cm in diameter, both solid rubber), a fully aluminium frame, and a maximum weight of 80kg. The throttle is a thumb switch rather than a twister, and the brake is activated using a foot, so it may be more complicated to ride than models with a bike-like lever on the handlebars.
The motor resides in the rear wheel hub, so there’s no belt to stretch or chain to misbehave, and the handlebars are easily adjustable to accommodate riders who may have undergone a recent growth spurt. It folds up easily, with Razer’s anti-rattle technology contributing to an easy transport and storage experience.
HOMCOM 120W Foldable E-Scooter
A seat! It has a seat! Essential for kids who have problems standing for long periods, this e-scooter has fully adjustable seat post and handlebars to tailor it exactly to its rider. The frame is fully metal, and it folds up for easy carrying when not being ridden.
The maximum speed is a respectable 6.2mph, which it can keep up for a distance of five miles before needing a recharge. Acceleration is through a twist-grip on the handlebars that’s adjustable, and there’s a hand-operated brake too, nothing is left to the feet except for a kick to get the scooter moving. The 15cm wheels are solid plastic, and the seat, which is nicely padded, can be removed if it’s no longer required.
Thanks to the seat and all-metal construction, this e-scooter is a little heavier than others, and its maximum weight capacity is 50kg. The 120W motor sits proud of the rear wheel and is connected using a belt drive, which can stretch and slip over time. Despite these caveats, the presence of the seat means this e-scooter will surely find plenty of homes out there.
