Can Electric Scooters Ride Uphill?

Can electric scooters ride uphill? The short answer is yes. However, not all electric scooters can ride all kinds of slopes. Electric scooters are limited to a certain incline angle or hill grade. Most commuter e-scooters only have a 10-15% hill grade. This means it can only climb inclines with a 5-10 degree angle. 

Moreover, climbing hills is not that easy since the gravity, friction, and weight will slow you down. So, you also need to exert effort to climb. So, while electric scooters can climb hills, you and your e-scooter will need to work together to make it to the top.

To help you do that, this electric scooter guide will tell you all that you need to know about riding uphill with your electric scooter.

What is hill grade?

A grade is a slope or incline. Most manufacturers usually indicate the maximum hill grade or slope of an electric scooter in percentage (also called percentage grade). It can be difficult to calculate the percentage grade to a climbing angle, but there are slope calculators available online to help you convert percentage grades into angles instantly. 

Remember that the higher the hill grade, the steeper the climb. Most commuter electric scooters will have difficulty climbing slopes with a 32.5% hill grade or 18-degree angle. However, powerful e-scooters like those for off-roading can travel on 18-degree slopes with ease.

Factors affecting uphill climbing

No matter how powerful your electric scooter is, it still has some limits. That’s why it’s important to consider the following factors to know if your electric scooter can make the climb.

Slope Angle

Steepness will be the number one factor that will prevent your electric scooter from climbing. Only a few powerful off-road electric scooters can climb slopes of up to 45 degrees. This means that a majority of electric scooters can’t climb steep hills.

Before you climb a slope, know or assess its climbing angle. If it’s higher than your e-scooter’s capacity, don’t push your e-scooters limit and find an alternate route with flatter terrain.

Motor and Battery

How much power and battery capacity does your electric scooter have? Most 300W motors can ride 15 to 18-degree angles but will find it difficult to climb higher than that. Besides the motor power, a high battery capacity is also important, so your motor has enough energy to use to climb.

E-scooter and Rider Weight

Your weight plus your e-scooter’s weight will add more resistance to your electric scooter’s climbing ability. So, if a light and a heavy person ride the same e-scooter uphill, it could have two different results. So, it’s best to use an electric scooter with a higher load capacity or lessen the items that you bring. 

Tyres

The traction, size, and material of your electric scooter tyres will determine if you can climb a hill. If the tyre’s material and design provide more traction, then it’s easier to climb hills. Also, the larger the tyres, the easier it is to climb hills. These factors also put less strain on the motor, so you can be sure that your electric scooter can handle climbing uphill.

How to ride your electric scooter uphill

Whether you are riding in the streets or off-road, you should know how to ride your electric scooter properly when climbing hills. This will not only help your e-scooter climb but also keep you safe.

1. Pack light

First of all, if you have a bag with you, make sure that you don’t go over the maximum load capacity when climbing with your e-scooter. If possible, pack light or don’t bring items at all. As mentioned previously, your weight and the e-scooter’s weight will bring more resistance while climbing, making it difficult for your electric scooter to climb.

2. Try to gain momentum

If possible, try to speed up when you are near the foot of the slope. This will, hopefully, give you that extra push that your electric scooter needs when it starts to climb. Of course, if the hill is too steep for your electric scooter, then this might not be a good idea since it could put a strain on your motor. 

3. Learn to balance yourself

Make sure that your feet are positioned correctly and that your balance is centred as you approach the foot of the hill. Once you ride on the hill, lean forward to help distribute your weight in the front and bend your knees to lessen your weight on the e-scooter. However, avoid leaning over the handlebars.

4. Be mindful of your speed

You can speed up when you are slowing down, but always be mindful of your surroundings. If there are pedestrians and other vehicles near you, it’s best to keep a steady pace while climbing for your safety and others. Moreover, speeding up too much can work your motor too much and drain your battery faster.

Use an electric scooter that’s built for all types of terrain

Hopefully, this electric scooter guide can help you climb hills better with your electric scooter. If you need to climb hills during your daily commutes or occasional trips, then getting an off-road electric scooter might be the best option. 

Off-road electric scooters, like the Mearth GTS Series, offer the right power and battery capacity to climb steep hills. In fact, the GTS Series has a 30% hill grade, making it one of the best electric scooters that can climb hills. Learn more about the Mearth GTS Series, and see if it’s the perfect e-scooter for you.