Your Commute
Your Electric Scooter
Compare Against
Your E-Scooter
vs Gas Car
vs Electric Car
vs Public Transit
vs Rideshare
E-scooter energy costs are compared against fuel or fare costs for each alternative. Depreciation (purchase price spread over lifespan) is shown separately. Comparison costs do not include vehicle purchase, insurance, depreciation, or parking. Defaults based on our real-world testing of 78 electric scooters.
What This Calculator Covers
This calculator estimates the annual energy cost of commuting by electric scooter based on your battery size, range, and electricity rate. It also shows your scooter’s depreciation (an expected lifespan of 4 years), so you can see when it pays for itself.
When you enable comparison modes, the calculator compares energy costs side by side (electricity vs fuel or fare) and shows how much you save by riding an e-scooter every year.
About the Defaults
The default battery capacity (620 Wh) and range (23.5 miles) are based on our real-world testing of 78 electric scooters. Each scooter was ridden at moderate speed on mixed terrain by a 175 lb rider until the battery was fully depleted. These are real numbers, not manufacturer claims.
Across all tested models, the average energy efficiency is 26.3 Wh/mile. At the US average electricity rate of $0.16/kWh, a full charge costs 10 cents (620Wh battery), and every mile costs 0.42 cents, so riding an electric scooter is roughly 33 times cheaper than a gas car.
How the Math Works
E-Scooter Electricity Cost
Cost per charge = (Battery Wh ÷ 1000) × Electricity rate
For a 620 Wh battery at $0.16/kWh: (620 ÷ 1000) × $0.16 = $0.099 per charge. Divide that by range to get cost per mile: $0.099 ÷ 23.5 = $0.0042/mile.
Gas Car Fuel Cost
Cost per mile = Gas price per gallon ÷ MPG
At $3.50/gallon and 25 MPG: $3.50 ÷ 25 = $0.14/mile. Roughly 33 times more expensive than the average e-scooter.
Electric Car Energy Cost
Cost per mile = Electricity rate ÷ EV efficiency (mi/kWh)
At $0.16/kWh and 3.5 mi/kWh: $0.16 ÷ 3.5 = $0.046/mile. Much cheaper than gas, but still about 11 times as much as an e-scooter. Electric cars are much heavier and less efficient per kWh.
What Affects Your Real Costs
Electricity rates vary widely. The US average is $0.16/kWh, but ranges from $0.10 in some states to $0.35+ in Hawaii and parts of California. Check your utility bill for your actual rate and update the calculator accordingly.
Real-world range depends on conditions. Cold weather, hills, rider weight, and aggressive riding reduce range. Lighter riders on flat roads get more range per charge.
Comparison savings are based on running costs only. The gas, EV, and transit comparisons count fuel or fare versus your scooter’s electricity. In reality, car ownership also includes insurance ($1,500+/yr), depreciation ($3,000+/yr), maintenance ($800+/yr), and potentially parking. The true savings of switching to an e-scooter are generally much higher than what this calculator shows.
Most electric scooters cost between $0.05 and $0.15 per full charge, depending on battery size and local electricity rates. A typical 500 Wh scooter at the US average rate of $0.16/kWh costs about $0.08 per charge. Even large-battery performance scooters rarely exceed $0.25 per charge.
For short to mid-range commutes under 15 miles each way, electric scooters are significantly cheaper. The average scooter costs under $0.01 per mile in electricity, compared to $0.15–$0.25 per mile for a gas car when factoring in fuel alone. When you include insurance, parking, and maintenance, the gap widens further.
Most lithium-ion scooter batteries last 500–1,000 charge cycles before capacity drops noticeably, which translates to roughly 2–5 years of daily commuting. Replacement batteries typically cost $150–$400 depending on the scooter model and battery capacity.
Annual maintenance for an electric scooter is minimal — typically $30–$75 per year. Common costs include tire replacements ($15–$30 each), brake pad replacement ($10–$20), and occasional grip or cable replacement. There are no oil changes, spark plugs, or transmission services like with gas vehicles.
Cold weather reduces battery effectiveness by 10–30%, meaning you’ll charge more often in winter and your effective cost per mile increases slightly. However, even with reduced winter range, electricity costs remain far below fuel costs for gas vehicles.
Buying is almost always cheaper if you ride regularly. Rental scooters typically cost $1.00 to unlock plus $0.15–$0.35 per minute, which adds up to $5–$10 per short trip. A purchased scooter pays for itself within a few weeks to months of daily commuting compared to rental costs.