Best Cheap Electric Scooters 2024 – Our Top 5 For Buyers on a Budget

Here is our 2024 guide for the best cheap electric scooters, for people on a budget (which is probably most of us!). Electric scooters can save you money in various ways and they are obviously much better for the environment than petrol or diesel vehicles, but these scooters have been meticulously researched in terms of the best features for the price.

We consider the pros and cons of these electric scooters in an effort to help you make the best purchase for your individual context and considerations.

If you are really keen to invest in a decent electric scooter on a tight budget, it’s also worth thinking about paying your scooter off in monthly installments. Using services such as Klarna etc are options for all of our recommendations in this article. You will be able to get a decent cheap electric scooter for monthly payments from £15+ a month, as long as your credit is OK.

It’s an investment in a more ECO-friendly future!

Best Cheap Electric Scooters for Adults

1 Pure Air3 Electric Scooter – Best Budget Electric Scooter under £400

The Pure Air Electric Scooter range is not only Pure’s bestselling and most popular, it also happens to be the most affordable. This particular model has improved on previous ones to be more lightweight but also powerful.

The Pure Air Pro+ models are an improvement again but they aren’t just quite as affordable for the budget conscious buyer.

Pure Electric Scooters are manufactured in the UK, but also used worldwide. They have garnered a great reputation for delivering pretty powerful scooters at competitive prices, and for constantly improving their offerings without breaking the bank.

There’s a lot to like here for under £400, so let’s take a closer look at the specifications.

Specification	Detail
Maximum Speed	15.5 mph / 25 km/h
Maximum Range	Up to 18.6 mi
Motor Power	550W (Peak)
Speed Modes	3
Cruise Control Settings	Yes
Water Resistance	IP65 Rated – can be used in puddles and rain
Suspension	None
Wheel Type	Tubeless
Wheel Size	10 inches / 25.4 cm
Tyre Pressure	36 psi
Pre-installed Puncture Prevention Fluid	No
Frame	Steel
Max Hill Climbing Gradient	Designed for 14%
Drive Type	Rear wheel drive
Accelerator Control Type	Thumb press

What We Like

• A Very High Water Resistant Rating of IP65 (making it essentially waterproof for riding in heavy rain and through puddles) – higher than most scooters in its class or even above
• Decent power from the electric motor – it can operate at 550W peak which is very good for the price range
• 10″ tubeless wheels are sturdy, puncture resistant and great for the price
• The maximum range of 18.6 miles or 30km is decent for the price
• The maximum speed of 15.5 mph / 25 km/h is also pretty good for the price – this will feel fast for beginners
• It’s a lightweight scooter weighing only 15.9 kg or 35 lbs
• The foldable design makes it very portable and easy to store
• The Pure Air G3 has bright handlebar indicators, a 150 lumen front light as well as a very visible rear brake light for riding at night
• The Pure Steering Technology (TM) allows for all round better control even on rougher surfaces
• Having a front drum brake which makes for less maintenance, as well as a rear regenerative brake that helps to  recharge the battery when you use it (regenerative brakes have been largely pioneered by Apollo but at a much higher price)

Possible Areas of Concern

• There is no pre-installed Puncture Prevention Fluid (although this can be bought cheaply to protect against punctures)
• There is no suspension as such, which takes away somewhat from safety and general sturdiness
• The climbing gradient of 14% could be higher (20% would be make a big difference on hills)

 

2 RCB Electric Scooter R17 – Best Scooter under £300

Look we aren’t going to lie to you this is a Chinese scooter made by the company Kuantu, and if that’s a deal breaker for you then just move onto the next option. There are definitely pros and cons that go with buying a Chinese scooter when you are based in the UK or the EU. Different approaches to branding and business apply!

That being said this RCB electric scooter is below £300 and has quite a lot to offer, and if you are prepared to do a little bit of work yourself it could be a really good fit. There’s no denying that plenty of Western businesses outsource to China to reliably build their products, the mighty Apple among them.

They do also provide a reasonable After Care 24 hour service also. Let’s dive into the specs of this fairly cheap electric scooter.

Specification	Detail
Performance	350W motor, 25km/h speed, 7.8Ah Lithium Battery, 30KM range
Driving Experience	Double Suspension System for comfortable shock absorption
Safety Features	Double Brakes (Electronic + Disc Brakes), Headlights, brakes, and taillights
Speed Adjustment	3 Speed Design with cruise mode activation after 8 seconds of constant speed
APP Control	Electric vehicle data view and control via mobile phone
Portability	Ultra Portable & Foldable, LED indicator, one-button operation
Package Contents	RCB R17 electric scooter, user manual, charger
After-sales Service	24-hour after-sales service repair, friendly customer service
Age Range	Adult
Brake Type	Rear Braking
Color & Style	R17-black
Size & Team	Regular, Electric Scooter
Frame & Material Type	Aluminium
Weight	15 Kilograms
Features	Digital Display
Suspension	Dual Suspension
Wheel Size	8.5 Inches
Brand & Manufacturer	RCB, Kuantu
Maximum Weight Capacity	120 Kilograms
Department	Adult & Older Teenagers
Item Model Number	R17
Product Dimensions	108.1 x 47.6 x 114.3 cm; 15 Kilograms

What We Like

• The Dual Suspension for a safe and comfortable ride
• The price! At £269.99 it’s hard to argue with for the features
• Decent After-Sales service repair service
• At 15 kg it’s a lightweight and portable scooter for the price
• App compatibility means you can control aspects of your ride from your mobile phone – including monitoring distance, range and overall miles covered by the scooter
• Great safety features such as double brakes (electronic & disc brakes), headlights, brakes, and also taillights
• Portable and foldable – LED indicator with one-button operation
• Decent weight capacity at 120 kg or 265 lbs for heavier riders (or people who need to carry important things)
• 3 Speed design allows for versatility and control
• Double suspension system makes it decent for some off road contexts

Points to Consider

• At 8.5 inches the wheels could be bigger to ensure greater protection
• Not based in the UK or Europe so not necessarily conforming to safety standards and acceptable Customer Service (if you buy from Amazon you at least have 30 days to return which allows for certain accountability)

3 Chaos X3 48v 600w Electric Scooter – Best Budget Buy under £500

The Chaos X3 48v 600w Electric Scooter really delivers if you can stretch your budget just a little bit further to just under £500. It even outperforms more expensive scooters in certain areas, despite being a budget scooter.

Let’s have a look at the impressive specs.

Specification	Detail
Battery Type	Lithium
Boxed Dimensions	L120cm x W21cm x H60cm
Charge Time	4 – 5 Hours
Colour	Black
Gross Weight	24 Kg
Instrumentation	LCD Intelligent Display
Lights	Front / Rear
Max Rider Weight	120 Kg
Motor Size	600w
Assembly Required	Handlebar Section – Full Check
Suitability	Guide 18+ – Height, Weight & Skill should be considered
Terrain	Gentle Off Road, Tarmac
Tyres	F: 10 inch – R: 10 inch
Voltage	48v
Warranty	6 Months Manufacturing Defects (Parts Only)