Buy an Escooter or Rent one? Which is better?

UPDATE [6 Aug 2019]: The PMD safety certification deadline has been moved forward to July 2020. All non-UL2272 certified devices will be auto-deregistered and cannot be used in public after July 2020. Users can continue to ride only UL2272 certified PMDs beyond the July 2020 deadline. New riders can only buy a escooter if it is UL2272-certified

Why is the e-scooter so popular? 

There's perhaps nowhere that's more conducive to ride an e scooter than Singapore – seriously. From Food Panda and Deliveroo riders who use it for their jobs to couples who want to go sightseeing on a date, the electric scooter is officially the next big thing in Singapore right now. 

We all know that transportation in Singapore is not the cheapest. Whether it is a privately-owned car or a $100 monthly train fare for adults, the costs do snowball rather quickly. 

The humble device saves you tons of cash while still serving as a reliable means of transport (or fun, depending on how you use your e scooter).

In fact, due to Singapore's extensive network of footpaths, shared paths and park connectors, you will have no problems getting around the island – even its only on an electric scooter. 

So long as we're working towards a car-lite society, the e scooter is here to stay. 

Which e-scooter Model is the Bestselling One?

With electric scooters being the hottest transport option right now, many retailers are hopping on the bandwagon right now. In the Singapore market, there are hundreds, perhaps thousands, of e scooter models for customers to choose from. 

However, there is one particular model that edges out the rest: the Segway-Ninebot ES2.

It's not hard to see why.

The ES2 is one of the only UL2272-certified and LTA-approved e-scooter model in Singapore. 

What that means is that electric scooters that carry the UL2272 safety mark are the least prone to fire and electrical hazards. How so? The ES2 have undergone numerous tests to ensure they are fire-safe before they are certified. So if you want to buy an escooter, the ES2 is the safest option out there for you

Moreover, the ES2 is LTA-approved because it fulfils all of the Land Transport Authority (LTA)'s criterion for personal mobility devices. 

For those who want a budget-friendly e scooter that can be used in the long term: we are offering the ES2 at only $649 (Usual price is $799). 

E-scooters as rentals

Scooter-sharing became a thing for a similar reason as to why bike-sharing started: people want convenience without investing in their own transportation device.

In Singapore, scooter-sharing has started picking up pace with companies like Grab and Beam entering the scene. 

Provided that Beam successfully receives the operating license from LTA in Jan 2019, its scooters will be subsequently rolled out to the public. 

However, there's a con to this. Beam's scooters are not UL2272-certified. This makes them more prone to fire hazards. As a commercial fleet, Beam's scooters are fixed with an additional commercial battery pack and a built-in GPS system. 

Moreover, Beam's fare system quickly adds up. Riders have to first pay $1 to rent the electric scooter. Next, they have to pay $0.15 for every minute travelled on the e scooter. 

Still not convinced? We have the cold-hard numbers for you: 

Is it better to rent or buy? 

Renting:

You use the e scooter for your first and last mile commutes every day for seven days a week, and you spend 30 minutes on each ride. How much would renting a Beam scooter for a year cost you? 

Daily amount spent = [$1 deposit + cost of a 30 min. ride] x 2
                                = $[1 + (30 x 0.15)] x 2
                                = $11

Amt. spent every month = $11 x 30
                                        = $330

Amt. spent every year renting a Beam scooter = $3960

Buying:

You will only have to pay a one-time cost of $649 if you buy an escooter, like the ES2, from us at www.OhMyBike.com. After that, you can use the electric scooter however much you want and it won't cost you a single cent.

(Moreover, the great thing about the ES2 is that because it is UL2272-certified,  you can use it past mid-2020, something you can't do for the other electric scooter models out there.)

More reasons why you should buy and not rent

• Customise, customise, customise

The best thing about owning your own e scooter is you can decorate, paint and add as many accessories as you want. You can't do that to a rental e scooter - that's vandalism. 

Buy the ES2 from us and get access to many tailored customisation options:

1) adding an external battery to your ES2 if you want to extend the maximum distance range or need an additional boost of speed 

2) adding a foldable seat if you prefer to sit while riding your ES2 

3) hanging a pouch on the e scooter to hold your valuables (what's more impressive is that the pouch fits an entire water bottle)

• Option to bring it into public transport

The ES2 can be folded in one swift step. As the electric scooter falls within LTA's size criteria of 120 cm x 70 cm x 40 cm for PMDs and foldable bicycles, you can confidently bring it with you in the MRT or bus. This lets you to virtually travel to any station, stop or remote part of the country. 

On the other hand, the Beam scooter is totally not foldable as the external commercial battery pack is in the way. 

• Being 100x more convenient than rented scooters

Rented scooters are a big hassle because they are public property. Anyone can just grab it and scoot away. There's no telling if your ride today will still be there tomorrow.

If you are someone who likes the convenience of owning your own e scooter, you should definitely consider buying the ES2 to fulfil your long-term transportation needs with minimal hassle. 

No more hunting down your next ride when you can literally wheel it out of your door and zoom away. 

Conclusion: definitely buy

Rental electric scooters might seem like a fantastic idea at first, but when you get into the nitty gritty and really calculate things, they aren't really that value-for-money.

Instead, why not buy an e scooter so you can get more out of it? With the $599 deal for a UL2272-certified, LTA-approved electric scooter, there is no better time to shop than now. 

Opt for express delivery when you order online or come down to 259 Lavender Street to test ride the ES2. You might just fall in love with it.