Electric motorcycle vs. electric scooter: running cost
An electric scooter is cheaper to run: about $11 a year versus $131 for an electric motorcycle at typical use and 17.99¢/kWh, a $121 difference.
| Electric motorcycle | Electric scooter | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical watts | 1,300 W | 70 W |
| Watt range | 600–6,600 W | 40–200 W |
| Typical use | 20 miles a day | 8 miles a day |
| Energy per year | 731 kWh | 58 kWh |
| Cost per hour | 23¢ | 1.3¢ |
| Cost per day | 36¢ | 2.9¢ |
| Cost per month | $10.95 | $0.88 |
| Cost per year | $131 | $11 |
| Per year in Hawaii (43.51¢) | $318 | $25 |
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What drives the difference
- Electric motorcycle: Electric motorcycles use about 0.08-0.12 kWh per mile at the wall, a third of a car.
- Electric scooter: Kick scooters use about 15-20 Wh per mile, 0.02 kWh at the wall, so charging costs pennies a week.
Ways to cut either cost
Proper pressure improves range per charge.
See options on AmazonTracks charging energy and schedules off-peak charging.
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Frequently asked questions
Which costs more to run, an electric motorcycle or an electric scooter?
At typical use and the U.S. average rate (17.99¢/kWh), an electric motorcycle costs about $131 a year versus $11 for an electric scooter. That's $121 more, or 12.5× as much.
How many watts do electric motorcycle and electric scooter use?
An electric motorcycle typically draws 1,300 W (range 600–6,600 W). An electric scooter draws 70 W (range 40–200 W). Watts alone don't decide cost. Hours of use, cycling and standby matter just as much.
Rates: EIA, 12 months ending 2026-07. Methodology.