Buy an E-Scooter: the 5 Purchase Criteria for Switzerland

Finding the right e-scooter is not a gut feeling, but a matter of five objective criteria: range, power, weight, road approval, and brakes.

Contents

• How much range do you really need?
• How much motor power makes sense?
• How important is weight?
• What is permitted in Switzerland?
• What matters when it comes to brakes and tyres?
• Lite or Pro: which one is right for you?
• Frequently asked questions
• Conclusion

How much range do you really need?

Less than most people think. Range is the figure manufacturers bluff about the most, and at the same time the one people most often get wrong. Manufacturers measure under laboratory conditions: flat terrain, no wind, a light rider, and a new battery. Your reality in Zurich or Bern is different.

Rule of thumb: Subtract around 25 to 30 percent from the stated range. Three things drain the battery particularly quickly:

• Inclines. Every hill consumes many times more energy than flat terrain. This is noticeable in a hilly city.
• Cold. Lithium batteries lose capacity in low temperatures. In a Swiss winter, the actual range is significantly shorter than in summer.
• Body weight and load. A heavier rider or a full backpack measurably reduces the range.

In concrete terms: If your commute is 8 km each way, or 16 km a day, a model with a 50 km laboratory range is more than sufficient, including a safety buffer. If you travel 20 km each way or only charge every other day, you should look at models offering around 100 km. A practical advantage many people only discover later: a removable battery. You can take it with you to your apartment or office and charge it there instead of hauling the entire scooter down to the basement.

How much motor power makes sense?

Enough that your steepest everyday hill doesn’t become a drama, but no more than legally permitted. In Switzerland, motor power is capped at 500 watts if the scooter is to be ridden without a license plate (more on this below). Within this limit, power primarily determines how the scooter performs on hills and when starting off.

The wattage alone says little. What matters is the climbing ability, meaning how steep a hill the motor can still climb smoothly. An example from our range: The E-Scooter Lite with its 450-watt motor can handle gradients of up to around 20 percent, while the more powerful E-Scooter Pro with 500 watts manages around 25 to 30 percent. In a flat area, you will hardly notice the difference. If you live on a hill, it is the reason one scooter climbs effortlessly while the other slows down.

Honestly: For purely flat urban routes, you are overpaying if you choose the most powerful model just because of its wattage. The extra power is worthwhile where terrain comes into play.

How important is weight?

Often more important in everyday use than top speed. This is the point almost everyone underestimates when buying. As long as you are riding, you do not notice the weight. As soon as you have to carry it, you do: the stairs to your home, the steps at the station, getting on the tram or train, or stowing it in the boot.

The difference between 19 and 23 kilograms sounds small, but it is not when you carry it up a flight of stairs. You can carry 19 kg, but 23 kg is better pushed or lifted by two people. Ask yourself honestly: How often a day do I really have to lift the scooter, and how far?

• Lots of carrying, stairs, combining with public transport: Go for the lighter model. Every kilo counts.
• The scooter usually stays on its wheels and you have ground-level storage: Then you can trade extra weight for more battery capacity and motor power.

Both points only apply if the scooter can be folded quickly and easily. Ideally, a folding mechanism that works in seconds turns the weight issue into a minor one.

What is permitted in Switzerland?

Up to 20 km/h and 500 watts, you can ride without a number plate, insurance or vignette. This is by far the most important figure when buying, because it determines whether you can simply ride off or have to deal with red tape. The key figures:

It is important to understand: As soon as a scooter travels faster than 20 km/h, it is classified as a moped and requires a moped registration plate, an annual vignette and liability insurance. That is why many reputable models are limited to 20 km/h, even if the motor could technically go faster. This is not a shortcoming, but the reason you do not have to deal with paperwork. If you want to know the exact details, you can find them in our guide on which e-scooters and electric scooters are permitted in Switzerland.

What matters when it comes to brakes and tyres?

Two disc brakes and sufficient tyre size, especially because Switzerland is hilly and often wet. Brakes are something you should not compromise on, and they are often overlooked in advertising copy. What to look for:

• Front and rear brakes. A disc brake on both wheels provides much more controlled braking on wet asphalt and downhill than a single brake or a purely electric motor brake.
• Tyre size. 10-inch tyres handle tram tracks, kerbs and cobblestones noticeably better than small tyres. In a city like Zurich or Basel, they are a real comfort and safety factor.
• Suspension. Suspension smooths out uneven surfaces. On long journeys and poor road surfaces, it is the difference between arriving relaxed and being shaken up all the way.
• Splash protection. An IPX4 rating means the scooter can withstand splashing water and rain from the side. That covers normal wet conditions, but it is not a free pass to plough through deep puddles.

Both of our models come with disc brakes, 10-inch tyres, suspension and IPX4. This is the basic equipment I consider the minimum for Swiss conditions, not a bonus.

Lite or Pro: which one is right for you?

Lite if low weight and price matter. Pro if range and hill-climbing ability matter. The buying criteria above ultimately come down to this one decision. Here are both models compared directly:

In short: The E-Scooter Lite is the right choice if you want to travel light, cover short distances and often have to carry the scooter. The E-Scooter Pro comes into its own when distances get longer, hills come into play or you do not want to charge every day. Anyone who wants to compare both options can find all models in the TWHEELS E-Mobility overview.

Frequently asked questions

How fast can an e-scooter go in Switzerland?
Without a licence plate and insurance up to 20 km/h in pure electric operation. Higher speeds are only permitted with a moped licence plate, vignette and liability insurance.

Do I need a driving licence or insurance?
From the age of 16, you need neither a driving licence nor insurance for a road-legal model up to 20 km/h. Between the ages of 14 and 16, a moped licence is required.

How far can I really travel on a single charge?
Allow for around 25 to 30 percent less than the laboratory figure. Cold weather, inclines and your weight reduce the range. A laboratory range of 50 km realistically becomes around 35 to 40 km in everyday use.

Is a light or heavy scooter better?
That depends on your route. If you often have to carry it or combine it with public transport, lighter is clearly better. If the scooter usually stays on its wheels, you can trade weight for more battery capacity and motor power.

Can I ride an e-scooter in the rain?
Yes, both models have IPX4 splash protection and can handle normal damp conditions and rain. You should still avoid deep puddles and standing water.

Lite or Pro if I'm unsure?
When in doubt, let the route decide. If you travel under 8 to 10 km each way and have to carry it often, the Lite is the better choice. Longer distances or inclines point to the Pro.

Conclusion

The best e-scooter is not the one with the biggest number on the spec sheet, but the one that fits your actual route. Go through the five criteria one by one: How far do you really travel, how steep does it get, how often do you have to carry it, do you stay within the 20-km/h limit, and does the scooter brake safely in wet conditions and downhill? If you answer these five questions honestly, the choice will almost make itself.

For short, easy trips around town, the E-Scooter Lite is the more honest choice. For long distances and hills, choose the E-Scooter Pro. Both can be used in Switzerland without registration, and both provide the essential safety features required by our weather and terrain. Get an overview in the E-Mobility overview and choose based on your route, not the loudest promise.