The Best electric scooter for climbing hills

• Read Time: 16 min

You know the feeling, you've been on an e-scooter, maybe rented one, and there were some hills or inclines and you just felt the power sapping away at an alarming rate, wondering if you were going to have to start kicking the road. It's not a pleasant feeling... and now you think "which is the best electric scooter for climbing hills?"

The rental scooters operated by the different companies around the globe are not hillclimbers per se, but more adapted to straight surfaces. Top speed and long distance range is not a priority either. For climbing hills you need power and torque. And that is spelled watts in the world of e-vehicles.

To understand the concept of torque and why it is essential when looking at the best electric scooters for climbing hills, I can explain it like this:

People ask; "what is the difference between horsepower and torque, and why is torque so frequently mentioned when it comes to cars?". An easy way of explaining it is if you think of a bicycle. When you put your foot on the pedal and press down, the amount of power you have can be explained as the torque, how fast you can pedal is the horsepower. So if you have ever biked up a hill, you know its not the speed in the revolution of the pedals that is the main focus, but rather the power to press down repeatedly. And the steeper the hill, the more power you need. That's why professional bikers power output, when climbing, is measured in watts. The best guys produce a lot of watts.

So if you want to win the Tour de France...you have to be on the upper end of the watts scale or else....you will never win a tour.
Terrain vehicles of different sorts are not about outright speed but enormous torque, which is why they can climb obstacles and rocks you would need a mountain guides help to climb by hand.

This is important if you are about to invest in your own personal electric kick scooter and you live in a hillier area. You will want to know that you choose one with a powerful motor enough to do what you ask of it. Or maybe you are looking for an off-road toy, to take up into the mountains for some fun antics, without scaring the daylight out of the dears.

"Nice stable and fast scooter!
Widewheel pro scooter is just blazingly fast and fun to drive. The widened tires gives me confidence because its more stable compared to others. The dual motors are so powerful going up hills and braking with the front and rear disc brakes are very strong. Comes with a bell too! This is my first scooter by the way and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for performance. Definitely an A+ in my book!"

Another contender for the hills is the Inokim quick 3 that features a 450 watt rear wheel motor with a max output of 850watts. Top speed is 19 mph (30 kph). 10-inch pneumatic front and rear tires will help to provide a smooth ride since it lacks suspension.

Old school V-brake on the front is a bit surprising, but a proper rear disc brake is reassuring enough. A really cool feature of the Quick 3 is its low deck position. Ground clearance suffers, but riding handling is great due to lower center of gravity and also the wide deck is brilliant. Plenty of space for your feet. Max weight capacity is 260 lbs (120 kg). This is another great quality product from Inokim that also offers great portability. It weighs 36.4 lbs (17 kg) so not a beast to carry around.

Another option to consider even though it is an 800 watt single engine version, is the Q1 Hummer. It is very well built and offers a range of specs that are attractive. The big difference compared to the Whidewheel apart from the single-engine choice, is perhaps the 10 inch pneumatic tires which will provide a smoother ride when surfaces get a bit less pooltable like.

And...it will allow for a max weight capacity of 550 lbs (249 kg). So if you really like your pizzas...or....you are professional wrestler, that might seal the deal for you. Dual shock absorbers, dual disc brakes, foldable, it weighs slightly more than the Widewheel at 59 lbs (27 kg) which needs to be considered when adding your own weight. Top speed 37 mph (59 kph) and an acclaimed range of 68 miles (109 km).

At first glance of the Speedway Pro you don't think much of it honestly. It looks like the average rental scooter and not something built for hill climbing. But looks can deceive.

It has a 1 360 Watt hub motor that can tackle climbing angles up to 27 %. It weighs a mere 36 lbs (16 kg) which is a plus when all weight is being added up. The lighter the package....the better the performance. Max load, 265 lbs (120 kg). Top speed is 28 mph (45 kph) but in the US it is limited to 15 mph (24 kph) via speed limiting wire. But....there are probably ways to get around that so don't let that detail scare you off.

Regenerative braking system is a plus as that adds something back to the system when going downhill, but....drum brakes which....feels a bit old school. Foldable, handlebars as well makes portability a non-issue. It is a smaller wheeled scooter with a combination of 8 inch front tube & 8 inch solid rear. Dual suspension will help in providing a smooth ride. If all you want is to have a good e-scooter for your commute and you need to navigate some hills. This can be the one.

Off Road Electrics Scooters for Climbing Hills

One of my definite favorites in the jungle of electric kick scooters. Its large wheels (in e-scooter world 10"x2.5" inch is considered large...ish) and pneumatic tires in unison with the phenomenal front and rear spring arms to handle the shock absorption, provides a smooth ride not many others can compete with.

It is not an outright off roader but....will be up to the task if not too extreme. Dirt roads, grass, gravel, no problem. It has a dual motor with a combined power output of a whopping 2000 watts. Top speed is an astonishing 40 mph (64 kph) and range 45 miles (70 km) depending on ride mode.

Choose between the eco option or...to hell with it all option... which is fun....but will probably (read definitely) shorten the range. This baby is not afraid of hills with a 35 % incline, which actually if you live in places like San Francisco or maybe in Austria, Switzerland, Norway etc, makes it one of the only viable options to look for. It clocks in at 65 lbs (29 kg) and can handle 265 lbs (120 kg), if you da big boy, you gonna like dis. Acceleration is madness and takes some getting used to. It has all the other things you would expect, fully hydraulic dual disc brakes, regenerative braking system, foldable, led lights and so on. Is this the best scooter out there? Some say yes.

Fantastic power scooter!
The Mantis is the perfect blend of low weight with powerful motors. The engendered steering makes the scooter feel light and nimble at low and high speeds. It feels light and maneuverable at sub 10mph just like a smaller scooter and rock solid at 40mph without any of the twitchy tendency’s other scooters in this class have. It’s also at the perfect price point. I like the hook for the stem when it’s folded down. This keeps it from swinging around. The size of the Mantis is perfect for RV’ers that want a compact mode of transportation that can travel at normal road speeds but takes up a small amount of space. The suspension is great for a person of my weight (190lb). It’s smooth and eats up the bumps. I could go on and on. What are you waiting for? Just buy one!

One of the highest quality e-scooters on the market and with a unique design is the Inokim OX. It has an innovative adjustable suspension system that features a single-sided swing arm, allowing you to change the tires without having to remove the whole wheel.

The whole scooter is built from custom made parts that fit perfectly together. None of that spare parts bin scrounging on this one. Fabulous quality. It has an 800 watt motor on the rear wheel with a peak power output of 1300 Watts. Acceleration up to 15 mph (24 kph) is a bit sluggish, but once there it comes to life and torque picks up. The benefit of that is an e-scooter that is not jerky under acceleration. This will affect hillclimbing performance, but it will get there in the end.

You do have to kick start it though keep in mind, as it is not a zero start scooter. Top speed is 28 mph (45 kph). Airfilled 10-inch tires and the double suspension system provide a phenomenal ride. Everything is super smooth and super quiet. Front drum and rear disc brake make sure you stop properly as well. 265 lbs (120kg) is its max weight capacity.

This one looks like one step further in the off road direction compared to the Mantis Pro. The front quadruple motorcycle style coile shock absorbers and those fat 10 inch treaded air filled tires stand out at a first glance. My guess is that someone at the design office for this baby, has to walk a lot of stairs when going to work and thought...."what if?" In fact, on Youtube you can see people bouncing down stairs on this one in a way e-scooters were probably not intended to do initially.

But hey...each to his own. Customers have reported though, that the front suspension, when tested in proper off road circumstances is a bit clunky and it bottoms out when you jump...ouch. Not what you want from an off road toy. This is another 2000 watt dual motor machine that will reach a top speed of 40 mph (64 kph) with a range of 40 miles (64 km) if you choose to ride "eco mode wise".

It weighs 67 lbs (30 kg) which is getting up there, but will accommodate for no less than an Uruk Hai on board, what with its accepted max load of 330 lbs (149 kg)! It will fly up hills and here, you have a great choice for your commute as well as weekend fun in the forest if not too extreme.

If you loved the Mad Max movie(s) you will love this monster. Because that is exactly what it is. A monster. This is designed for the ultimate off road experience. Power figures you ask? Sure...how about dual 1200 watts brushless motors with a peak output of 5400 watts that will climb 45 % inclines quicker than you can say Tom Hardy.

Add to that motorcycle grade inverted hydraulic front shock absorbers and rear spring brake to enable rides in any terrain, more or less. 11 inch off road pneumatic tires to handle the motor power delivery and terrain. It weighs 101 lbs (45 kg) as you would expect from a proper piece of kit like this. You can be a big guy as well since it accepts 330 lbs (150 kg) before it starts complaining. Top of the line front/rear hydraulic brakes to help you get to a standstill from its max speed of 50 mph (80 kph). Range in eco mode, 70 miles (112 km). If you love your off road hillclimbing....what are you waiting for?

"ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS!
I'm 41 years old and have owned many "toys" in my years, including a few exotic vehicles... I don't think I've ever enjoyed anything as much as this Kaabo Wolf Warrior 11. This scooter rivals the $6,000-$7,000 models and, in some instances, is far superior in my opinion for many reasons.

To make matters better, FluidFreeRide has been incredible to work with--all the way from the purchasing process to troubleshooting after ownership. Peter has chatted with me on the phone and via email to ensure complete comfortability with riding as well as mode settings. This truly has been an incredible experience all the way around--absolutely zero complaints and nothing but a smile on my face every time I ride!"

Another bad boy with big muscles, properly built and, in contention for the title of best electric scooters for climbing hills, or maybe even the title of best scooter overall. Dual hub motor with a peak power output of 5400 watts, top speed of 50 mph (80 kph) and a range of 75 miles (120 km) depending on...well you, how you drive and how much you weigh etc etc.

It looks phenomenal but not like an outright off road killer machine like the Wolf Warrior. If the Wolf looks more like it belongs in the X-games, this is the freeway left lane "get out of my way eat my dust" cruiser...as you would feel with a big BMW series or the likes. It weighs 95 lbs (43 kg) and will allow for a hefty guy or gal of 265 lbs (120 kg). ABS hydraulic disc brakes to calm your nerves once at full flight and you need to navigate the next corner. Led lights everywhere (it seems) to create your own Las Vegas experience. Fully adjustable three-way suspension system. The manufacturer claim it will climb 47% hills. Probably can.

The Uberscoot is a weird bird in the flock of electric scooters out there if you ask me. One would think it doesn't matter what an electric scooter looks like but....mmmm...it kinda does. It looks like it was designed for very young people, where taste and subtlety is not usually fully evolved let's say.It even comes with an optional seat.

But as far as powerful scooters go, it is up there and will climb hills. You can choose from 1000 watts or 1200 watts versions where 1200 is the most exclusive in the range. Single motor only though. It looks like a sturdy construction and one of the few that offers 12 inch off road tires. It only weighs 74 lbs (34 kg) and maximum weight capacity is 264 lbs (120 kg). Front and rear disc brake system. Top speed is 21 mph (34 kph) and range if you go full tilt is 14 miles (24 km) so not top of the line, but still makes our list as best electric scooters for climbing hills.

A serious contender and also a sturdy proper heavyweight powerful scooter in this segment is the Zero10X. It tips the scale at 80 lbs (36 kg) and is perfect for larger/bigger riders as its weight capacity is 330 lbs (150 kg). 10 inch tires are a big plus to offer that smooth ride you are looking for when going off road.

Dual motors at with a peak out put at 3200 watts provide enough power to climb hills without hassle. Front and rear spring hydraulic suspension is one of this scooters best features as it will soak up a lot of bumps with ease. 40 mph top speed ( 64 kph) firmly places this one into high speed scooter territory. Claimed range is 60 miles ( 96 km) although as per usual, in eco single engine mode.

You will probably have to do some research online and watch some youtube videos of the scooter you are interested in to see whether it will climb the hills where you live. As we've stated already, weight is a key factor. Your weight and that of the scooter itself. You will need a battery capacity that can handle whatever stands on the board.

If these last six options seem a bit too extreme for you, and you are just looking for something that will do the job anyway, you can bump up from 250-300 watts to a 500 watt version like the Horizon, which will tackle most normal hills with relative ease and the price is maybe more "acceptable" to swallow as well.

Riding up hills is fun, well....in a car or some other motorized vehicle that is, not necessarily on a bicycle. No we hate that. But hillclimbing has been a big part of motorsport since the first car was built. Now watch as the e-vehicles will start to dominate this type of sport as well.

The immediate torque and acceleration that electricity provides is just mind blowing. In case you haven't seen it, watch the Grand Tour season II, where they have a drag race between a Lamborghini, Honda NSX, and the Croatian super sports car Rimac with its 1200 bhp!! Jeremy Clarkson is full of confidence he will win in the Lambo until the green light....well the rest you have to see. You just can't compete as far as acceleration and torque goes. Whatever anyone thinks of the electric scooter, it is here to stay and only ever more people will switch to this way of one man transport once they have sat down with the calculator and seen the numbers.

They add up. Time gained not sitting in traffic jams. No pollution. Pick it up and almost put it in your pocket, (well....almost) when you don't need it. Perfect. Just remember, always always always wear a helmet, even if you go uphill.

fluid CityRider

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WideWheel PRO

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