Best Electric Scooters and E-Bikes Under $500 – CNET [CNET]

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TurboAnt

I’ve been using the Turboant X7 Max as my main e-scooter for the past month or so, and I am impressed with the range and speed it seems to be able to maintain. I tested it on the same 3-mile ride with both me, a 270-pound man, and my 150-pound son, and we could reach the top speed of 20mph. The only difference is the range; when I ride it can do between 14-16 miles, but when he rides it is much closer to 24 plus. Turboant says it will do 32 miles on a charge, but in the real world somewhere in the 20s is much more likely.

Comfort-wise, it is excellent for the price and it feels very stable, even at high speeds. I have big feet and a tall frame, but the TurboAnt X7 handles it very well. My only gripe is the lack of an anchor point that I can use for a lock, but if you are taking it into your office, that isn’t much of an issue.

— James Bricknell

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Sarah Tew/CNET

The Swagtron Swagger 5 Elite is the least expensive product on this list, and that’s its greatest feature. This folding e-scooter doesn’t outperform any of the products mentioned here, but at $299 it’s hard to complain about it not being the best electric scooter in the overall marketplace. It has a single 250-watt motor that doesn’t put out much torque but can reach a smooth ride speed of 14 to 16 mph. The listed travel distance is approximately 11 miles on a fully charged battery, with a lithium-ion battery that will charge in 3.5 hours. The maximum weight supported is 320 pounds and the e-scooter weighs 26 pounds. Although it supports larger riders, due to its low-powered motor, you may get a slower takeoff and slowdowns on inclines. It may also lose its charge faster. See our gallery of the Swagtron Swagger 5 Elite.

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Joseph Kaminski

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Sarah Tew

The Levy Electric Scooter slides into this list due to its price-to-practicality ratio. An electric scooter that can hit 18 mph, costs around $500, weighs just under 30 pounds and has a removable battery is a pretty good all-around deal. Levy also has scooters available for rent through its iOS and Android app. 

The Levy has air-filled tires that make for a comfortable ride. The battery is located in the steering tube, unlike a lot of other scooters, so you get some body flexibility similar to a longboard for those bumpy roads. I really appreciate that the battery is removable as well. Anyone with a yard or stairs can leave it locked, and remove the battery to take into charge. 

The Levy is rated to travel about 15 miles on a full charge but that’s not at top speed. I would say most riders would get realistically about seven to 10 miles. But because it’s removable, you can buy a second battery for $139 and carry it with you.

For a closer look, check out our gallery of the Levy Electric Scooter.

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Sarah Tew/CNET

Great for a commuter with limited storage space. The Swagtron EB5 Pro is a folding pedal-assist bicycle with an electric motor that also has its own throttle (so you don’t really have to pedal at all). With a full battery, it can travel up to 15 miles at a speed of 15 mph. This folding electric bicycle is a single speed, and you can even turn all the powered features off and use it like a regular bike. It weighs a solid 37 pounds and the seat supports riders up to 264 pounds, but when the seat is folded down, this ride is surprisingly small. See our Swagtron EB5 Pro gallery.

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Sarah Tew/CNET

If you’re in an area where riding year-round isn’t an option, Unagi offers a subscription service for its E500 scooter which happens to be one of our favorite last-mile scooters. 

Equipped with dual, 250-watt motors, the E500 is carbon fiber and aluminum, weighing a hair under 27 pounds. The scooter retails for $990 but will cost $39 when paying month-to-month or $34 a month if you pay annually. It’s currently available in New York and Los Angeles with more cities to be announced. There is a one-time setup fee of $50 and the scooter will be hand-delivered within 24 hours of signing up along with a basic tutorial of how to safely operate it. And if you ever encounter any performance issues, Unagi can have a replacement ready within a 24-hour window. 

The electric scooter can support riders up to 270 pounds, hit a top speed of 18 mph, and a travel distance of 15 miles. To stop the scooter, just use the ABS electric brake or put a little pressure on the rear spoiler brake for those steep hills.

Other nice features include the bright display that’s easy to see in sunlight, and instead of sticking a bell on the scooter, they’ve put on an electric horn that’s loud enough to be heard through a closed car window. For a closer look at this electric scooter, check out our gallery of the Unagi E500. Read more on the Unagi E500.