STACK #190 Aug 2020

LIFE TECH FEATURE

visit stack.com.au

OK, I’m in – where do I start?

B uying an e-scooter is no different to buying any product – you get what you pay for. The market is filled with cheap knock offs, so while they might save you a few bucks in the short term, they will cost you in the long run. Look for a reputable name in the manufacture and design of e-scooters with a good build quality on the unit – you want it to last. If you intend to take it off-road, you might want to consider an e-scooter with pneumatic tyres. Solid tyres are fine for pavement and road riding. Aim for a model with front and rear suspension for a smoother trip, and disc brakes will give you the best braking potential. Speed is generally capped at 25kph and trust us, when you’re cruising down a pavement or street on an e-scooter, this is more than fast enough. Another consideration is battery range; in other words, how far will it go on a single charge and how long will it take to charge a drained battery? Also ensure that the e-scooter you’re buying isn’t too heavy to carry on to public transport or load in the back of a car. 15kg and below is where you want to be in the portability stakes. And finally, the e-scooters’ kryptonite – hills. Now e-scooters have come a long way in this area, so climbing hills with a gentle incline is no hassle at all. However, don’t expect to shoot up a 20-degree hill with the same speed you achieve on the flat. And remember, if the hill is too steep for your ride, you can always step off and use leg power to reach the top. Invest in the Best When you’re ready to make your purchase, you want to know that your hard-earned is going towards a quality unit from a reputable company – as we’ve already mentioned, there’s a plethora of inferior product on the market. But with e-scooters, whichever brand you choose to go with, it really is a case of getting what you pay for. So we have pulled some recommendations together, available at JB Hi-Fi, to get you off on the right foot and help you pick the right model for your needs.

Scooter-Share San Francisco-based Scoot Networks introduced electric scooters to the city in 2012. However, these were required to be returned to a dock after use. Bird and Lime took the idea to the next level five years later by implementing a downloadable app that allowed users to pay the hire fee. Whenever the ride is completed, the scooter can be located by another user via a GPS chip in the unit, registering it ready for hire. The hire companies have incorporated alarm systems to prevent the scooters from being stolen. In May of this year, our very own Brisbane extended the e-scooter scheme for another year, deploying a further 1000 scooters to service its suburbs.

Please Note: Each State and

Territory in Australia has a different set of rules and regulations pertaining to the usage of e-scooters and e-boards (including where e-scooters and e-boards can legally be used and whether e-scooters and e-boards need to be registered with the relevant road traffic authority). Any user of this product must ensure that they check and abide by their local

by-laws and use responsibly. Ride with caution and always wear a helmet and protective gear when riding your e-scooter and e-board.

54 AUGUST 2020

jbhifi.com.au