The Right E-Scooter for Your Commute in 5 Steps
Every morning, the same traffic jam; every evening, the same struggle to find a parking spot. No wonder more and more commuters in Zurich, Bern, and other Swiss cities are considering an e-scooter for their commute. But which one is right for them? The same questions quickly come up: What kind of driver’s license is required? How far can you really go? And where do you charge it if you don’t have your own garage?
These uncertainties are valid, and they can be resolved. Here, you’ll find an honest, no-nonsense five-step guide to help you find the e-scooter that’s truly right for your commute.
How long is your commute, really?
The Swiss average is 13.7 kilometers per commute and about 30 minutes of travel time—a breeze for an e-scooter. Still, be sure to measure your own route precisely (Google Maps will do) and factor in the detours that come up in everyday life: the route to daycare, shopping on the way home, or a detour due to weather. Anyone who commutes to the greater Zurich area is familiar with the scene: around 400,000 people on the move every day, more than half of them using public transit. Here, an e-scooter often doesn’t replace the entire commuter network, but rather covers the last mile—or precisely the stretch where public transit is particularly impractical.
Rule of thumb: Write down your daily round-trip distance. This is the basis for Step 3.
What kind of driver’s license do you need?
That’s the question that causes the most headaches, even though it’s clearly defined:
- Up to 20 km/h: no license required for those 16 and older; for those aged 14–16, a Category M license is required.
- Up to 30 km/h: Category M, ages 14 and up.
- Up to 45 km/h: Category A1, ages 15 and up. Helmets are required.
- 125cc class (up to 11 kW): Category A1, ages 16 and older.
45 km/h or 125—which one fits your everyday life?
For the typical daily commute within town, a 45-km/h model is usually more than enough and is cheaper to maintain. If you regularly ride on main roads or cover longer distances outside town, a 125cc scooter will provide a more comfortable ride. It’s worth knowing about one special case: If you hold a driver’s license (Category B), you can also ride a 125cc e-scooter after completing a 12-hour Basic Practical Training (PGS) course—without having to take any additional test. For many car drivers, this is the easiest way to get started.
How much range do you need, even in winter?
Manufacturer range specifications (usually based on the WMTC standard) are laboratory figures measured under ideal conditions. In everyday use—which involves cold weather, hills, cargo, and brisk driving—the actual range is lower. This is especially true in winter: At temperatures around freezing, the range can drop by 20 to 30 percent—and even more in severe frost. Important to know: This is not a defect. The battery will return to full performance at warmer temperatures; the effect is purely physical and temporary, not a sign of wear and tear.
Practical implication: Take a model’s WMTC rating and generously factor in a one-third reserve for winter. For example, with a one-way trip of 13.7 km—that is, 27.4 km round trip daily—a model with a 120 km WMTC range still offers plenty of leeway even in winter for several days without needing to recharge. If you want to play it safe, it’s better to factor in some range reserve when purchasing, rather than optimizing exactly for your own daily commute.
Where do you charge your car if you don’t have a garage?
If you have your own garage with an outlet, you can simply charge it overnight, just like a smartphone. Things get trickier if you live in a rental apartment without your own parking space. This is exactly where it’s worth looking into models with a removable battery: You can take the battery out and charge it in your apartment using a standard household outlet. No wall box or permission from the landlord is needed. For many city dwellers, this is the very feature that makes an e-scooter practical for everyday use in the first place.
Buy, rent, or subscribe—which option fits your budget?
E-scooters for daily commuting generally range in price from CHF 2,500 to CHF 9,000, depending on the brand, speed class, and range. In addition, some cantons offer tax benefits: In the canton of Zurich, for example, e-scooters are exempt from motor vehicle tax. It’s best to check whether this also applies to the canton where you live.
If you don’t want to invest the full amount all at once, you can choose between financing, renting, or a subscription. And for anyone who’s still undecided, renting is a smart option anyway: it lets you test a model in real-life commuting situations before you commit. With daily rentals starting at CHF 60 and long-term rentals starting at CHF 10 per day, getting started is easy.
Conclusion: Four sizes to help you find the right e-scooter
The right choice depends on four factors: distance, driver’s license, range with a winter reserve, and charging options. If you clarify these four points for yourself, you’ll usually quickly narrow it down to two or three realistic models and then make a well-reasoned decision rather than a gut decision.
But the most reliable final step remains the same: experiencing the model of your choice in person. Numbers and spec sheets are great, but they’re no substitute for a test drive. The best thing to do is to take a seat behind the wheel yourself at our location in Regensdorf or Bern.
Until then: Have a safe ride! 🛵
