The 3 Best Electric Scooters of 2025

Segway has voluntarily recalled all of its Segway Ninebot KickScooter Max G30LP scooters. According to the recall notice, “[the] folding mechanism can fail and cause the handlebars or stem to fold while the scooter is in use, posing a fall hazard to consumers.” The recall applies to scooters sold from January 2020 through February 2025. Segway will supply free maintenance kits to affected owners.

Most people who want to buy an electric scooter should get the Segway Ninebot KickScooter Max G30LP—no other scooter offers the combination of range, speed, a comfortable ride, and the peace of mind that comes with buying from an established brand.

It has great range. In our stress test, the G30LP ran for just about 20 miles in the default riding mode, over varied terrain, before the battery died. (The three driving modes are the default “standard” mode; a low-speed, energy-saving “eco” mode; and a “sport” mode, which offers higher speeds but less mileage.)

Although that’s short of the 25-mile range that Segway Ninebot advertises (such figures are based on very specific, best-case-scenario testing criteria), it’s only a few miles shy of the longest range we experienced with our upgrade pick, and it’s enough for some serious riding.

If you have a commute of less than 5 miles, you’ll be able to go for two days without having to charge—and you’ll have peace of mind knowing the battery won’t run dry and leave you having to walk the rest of the way.

It handles bumps well. Although the G30LP doesn’t have shocks, it does have 10-inch wheels with pneumatic tires that help it do a better job of handling bumps than some other scooters.

Even after I rode for a full two hours, my knees weren’t as sore as they were from 45 minutes on competing models, such as the particularly rough Bird One. As with almost every other electric scooter we tested, the G30LP has a recommended weight limit of 220 pounds.

Its handlebars fold safely. Most electric scooters’ stems fold at a point above the front wheel, so the handlebars end up over the rear wheel, which makes carrying the scooter much easier.

In 2019, we would’ve recommended the Xiaomi Mi M365 Electric Scooter (a joint venture between Xiaomi and Segway), but we found a potential safety issue with the M365’s folding mechanism, which we explain in more detail below.

By contrast, we found the mechanism on the G30LP (which wasn’t available in 2019) to be secure. The handlebars clip into place on the rear fender, and it balances well when you lift it.

Scooter enthusiast and subreddit moderator TJ Valiant found the KickScooter Max’s lock design—which is the same as the G30LP’s—to be secure, and he believes the shared design is excellent.

It’s very easy to ride. I found myself totally comfortable within just a few minutes. To go, you simply press down on the accelerator with your right thumb. To brake, you squeeze the lever in front of the left handlebar, much as you would on a bike.

The front mechanical brake, which is relatively uncommon on electric scooters, allows for secure braking. I found myself gliding to a stop rather than actively braking most of the time, but when I did have to stop more abruptly, the brake worked well. The 7-inch-wide deck provides enough room for you to stand comfortably with one foot in front of the other.

It has a helpful display. At the center of the G30LP’s handlebar stem, you’ll find a central display with a single button. That button toggles the scooter on and off, controls the headlight, and switches between riding modes.

The display shows your current speed, the drive mode you’re in, and the battery life, represented by five bar segments (you can get more detailed battery-life figures in the app). Although most scooters show the same information, we have tested a few that lack onboard displays—making us appreciate the information that much more.

You can use its app to control its settings. You need to activate the scooter with Segway Ninebot’s smartphone app, which connects over Bluetooth. It walks you through a few safety pointers and then gives you some basic information and control.

You can see the remaining battery percentage and mileage (although the latter figure is based on the promised 25-mile range, so it isn’t totally accurate), and you can toggle settings, including cruise control and a lock mode. When the scooter is locked, its lights will flash, and it’ll beep if someone tries to move it.

Its charger is portable. Although the G30LP doesn’t have the same integrated charger as our upgrade pick, its power brick is relatively small (5.25 by 2.25 by 1.25 inches) and light enough (about 12 ounces) that if you need to take it along, you can do so without much difficulty.

Segway’s products have been certified and used extensively in the real world. It’s UL-certified (PDF), and Segway Ninebot is one of the more prolific brands not only among scooters but also micro-mobility as a whole. (Yes, it’s the same Segway that used to make the self-balancing scooters you might see mall security guards riding.)

The company’s KickScooter ES2 is what many scooter rental companies originally used, so Segway Ninebot’s models have been tested in the real world more than most.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

The G30LP is heavy. At 39 pounds, it’s the third heaviest scooter we’ve tested, behind the now-discontinued 46-pound Boosted Rev and the 41-pound KickScooter Max. But the extra weight comes from the larger battery, and the larger battery allows for the scooter’s impressive range.

Segway Ninebot’s customer service was not great in the past. A handful of customer reviews on Amazon for the KickScooter Max from early 2020, before the G30LP was released, mention poor or nonexistent customer service.

Segway acknowledged the issue and said it stemmed from a pandemic-related increase in sales combined with a work-from-home transition for their customer service agents.

In 2024, we looked through the G30LP’s Amazon customer ratings, and reviews of customer service are mixed. This is something we will monitor for future updates.