The best docking stations for electric scooters and bikes

An overview of docking station providers for rental fleets and personally owned electric scooters.

Updated as of March 10th, 2025: As electric scooters fleets become more ubiquitous, cities and private operators are demanding more secure and robust solutions in keeping their electric scooters and bikes organized and safe.

Apart from the benefits of security, a proper docking station can help automate the charging process and provide a more seamless experience for renting scooters. Many docking stations also support multiple types of vehicles, including not just popular rental fleet scooters, but individually owned electric scooters like the Levy and Levy Plus.

We are going to review the 5 top electric scooter docking stations below, along with an in-depth comparison of the features supported by each.

Kuhmute

Highlights: Supports widest range of vehicles, Quick charge compatible, Made in America

Kuhmute’s hubs are built for ease of use. Their one step platform bundles charging and locking scooters, and ending rental trips all together. Unlike other charging stations, Kuhmute is the only company that boasts a made in America product. Similar to their competitors, they support a wide array of compatible scooters, including the Ninebot max and the Acton M Pro. Their adapters (which cost $100) used for both charging and locking scooters to their hubs can take anywhere from 20 minutes to a few hours to install, but once everything is set up, the rest is “click” and go.

Adapters are also compatible with a wide range of other electric vehicles including bikes and skateboards. Their platform is open to both renters and owners of electric vehicles - a useful tool for anyone looking to integrate their fleets into the wider community of e-riders. They offer several options beyond their standard 1 year warranty to aid with maintenance and installation. Kuhmute also has an app available for users or fleet providers who are not already using another platform to manage their vehicles.

Overview:

• Vehicles supported: Acton M Pro, Okai ES400, Segway Max 2.0, at least 10 other non-scooter vehicle types

• Charger Specs: Internal wiring allows adapter to be primary point of charging; quick charge also available.

• Lock: Included as part of charging adapter

• Software Integration: Kuhmute’s docks are able to communicate with software, like Levy Fleets, to automatically verify that a trip is ended upon the scooter being returned to the hub.

KNOT

Highlight: Least Expensive

With over 30 thousand trips supported using their stations, Knot has a great deal of experience operating in the electric scooter market. Knot uses adapters or “sleeves'' that fit around the scooters’ stem and allow for an easy lock and charge mechanism with their docking stations. Knot’s docking stations support a wide array of compatible scooters including all Segway, Acton, and Xiaomi models, among others.

Their platform is open to both renters and owners of electric vehicles. KNOT’s platform is built with scooters in mind. From their locking and charging mechanism to the available software integrations, KNOT has focused their product on supporting electric scooters to create a more friendly environment for their growing use.

Overview:

• Vehicles supported: Segway Max 2.0, Okai, Xioami, etc.

• Charger Specs: Internal wiring allows adapter to be primary point of charging

• Lock: Included as part of charging adapter

• Software Integration: KNOT’s docks are able to communicate with software, like Levy Fleets, to automatically verify that a trip is ended upon the scooter being returned to the hub.

MetroMobility

Highlight: Cheapest and easiest installation - but only compatible with Segway bikes and scooters.

Metro Mobility offers cost-efficient charging and locking stations designed for e-bikes and scooters. The ChargeLock™ system uses a single cable for locking, charging, and rental management. It supports various vehicle types and can be installed on diverse surfaces like gravel or grass. The system is climate-resistant, easy to install, and compatible with Segway sharing vehicles. Metro Mobility provides turnkey rental and operations software, making it ideal for fleets in hospitality, corporate programs, and other sectors.

DUCKT

Highlight: Quickest turn-around time, Most software integrations

DUCKT is one of the largest operating docking solution providers on the market. They offer the widest range of docking configurations (available from 1 to 30 ports) and currently have “A1” adapters ready to go for all major rental scooter brands. The A1 adapter combines charging and locking scooters, and ending rental trips all in one step and can take as little as 10 minutes to install. Adapters are also compatible for several different types of electric bikes.

DUCKT’s platform has integrations pre-build for most major software providers and is constantly working on creating more integrations to expand their reach.

Overview:

• Vehicles supported: Acton M Pro, Okai ES400, Segway Max 2.0

• Charger Specs: Internal wiring allows adapter to be primary point of charging.

• Lock: Included as part of charging adapter

Software Integration: DUCKTS’s stations are able to communicate with software, like Levy Fleets, to automatically verify that a trip is ended upon the scooter being returned to the hub.

Swiftmile

Highlight: Full cost can covered through advertising model; Offers universal charger cord and adapter charger sleeve for some scooter models

Swiftmile’s docking solution is one of the most accessible, requiring the least set up and in some cases no money down. Their use of a universal charging cord removes the need for wiring adapters or sleeves into scooters. The built-in universal charging cords can be used for a wide range of electric scooters and bikes. Swiftmile stations do not have a built-in mechanism to lock scooters to their dock, but external locks can be used to secure scooters while charging.

By allowing Swiftmile to advertise on the screens of Swiftmile stations, operators can have the cost of their stations reduced - in some cases down to zero. Swiftmile’s platform does not currently have integrations that allow a rental trip to be ended when the scooter is plugged into the docking station.

Overview:

• Vehicles supported: Acton M Pro, Okai ES400, Segway Max 2.0, etc.

• Charger Specs: Universal charger on dock plugs into scooter charging port.

• Lock: External locks can be attached to secure scooters into dock

Software Integration: Swiftmile’s docks are not currently able to communicate with software, like Levy Fleets, to automatically verify that a trip is ended upon the scooter being returned to the hub.

Bikeep

Highlight: Universal Locking with no adapter/sleeve needed; Geared towards personal use vehicles

Bikeep’s docking stations are designed to be a universal lock for e-scooters. There are no adapters required and outlets are provided so scooters can be charged while they are locked into the station.

Bikeep’s platform does not have integrations pre-built for software providers. Their stations are geared towards use of personally owned electric scooters and bikes.

Overview:

• Vehicles supported: Supports all e-scooters, as users can bring their own charger and plug into Bikeep's outlets.

• Charger Specs: Outlet on dock for personal chargers to be plugged in.

• Lock: Built-in lever locks scooter into station around the stem while in use.

• Software Integration: Bikeep’s docks are not compatible with rental software, like Levy Fleets

CityDock CityDock is a newer entrant from Romania focusing on “one-size-fits-all” docking stations. Their product reflects a blend of ideas seen in others: it’s a 6-port station that charges and locks vehicles, and they offer their own CityDock app platform for users . The station itself appears as a block with six stalls where one can insert a wheel or a part of the scooter/bike to engage a lock and charger. CityDock’s marketing is geared towards private operators (like residential complexes or universities) as well as municipalities.

Key Offerings: CityDock actually has two models: (1) a charging station that both charges and secures e-bikes/e-scooters, and (2) a simpler station that might not include the locking mechanism (just parking and charging) . Both types connect to the CityDock software platform for monitoring. Each station is outdoor-rated and uses a 220V supply. By providing an app, CityDock gives an end-to-end solution: end-users can locate stations, and owners can track usage. For instance, a company could install a CityDock at its office and only allow employees to use it (managing access via the app). CityDock emphasizes compatibility with “both e-scooters and e-bikes” for all its chargers , which suggests their locking/charging connector is adaptable to different vehicle shapes. Possibly, like Lyft’s solution, they employ a bracket on the bike or scooter that the dock latches onto.

Pros & Cons: Since CityDock is smaller scale, one benefit is customer attention and customization – they can likely tailor the software to specific client needs more readily. The integrated platform means a ready-to-go solution, which is great for a pilot or trial. Being a fixed 6-port unit means it’s simpler (electrically and in construction) than highly modular systems; this can be a pro for reliability but a con for flexibility. On that note, a con is the lack of modular expandability – if you need 12 ports, you install two separate 6-port stations side by side; there isn’t an 8 or 10-port variant. This could lead to higher cost if the last few ports are underused. Another con is that CityDock, having all charging hardware built in, likely has a higher per-station cost than something like Duckt (which can leverage external power sources more simply). However, for what it offers (charging + locking), the cost per port is likely reasonable. CityDock is part of a trend of companies trying to simplify the landscape by offering universal docks, and its success will depend on scaling beyond early adopters. Other Consumer Models Other simpler consumer solutions include things like Saris’s Scooter Dock – a rack that holds three e-scooters and a bicycle in a compact form . However, that product does not provide charging; it’s purely for parking and requires the user to secure the scooter with their own lock if desired . Similarly, companies like Ground Control Systems offer racks for scooters and skateboards that are essentially metal fixtures to organize and lock devices, aimed at schools or public racks. These consumer or light-commercial options lack the “smart” features (no software, no automatic locks or active charging electronics) but address the basic problem of neat storage and sometimes charging passthrough.

Industry Trends and Emerging Technologies The docking station segment for micromobility has evolved quickly in the last three years. Key trends and emerging technologies include:

• Hybrid Docking Models: The industry has gravitated towards a middle ground between fully dockless and fully docked systems. Many cities are experimenting with designated parking hubs for scooters and bikes to impose order without requiring every trip to start/stop at a dock  . For example, Washington D.C. installed on-street parking corrals for dockless scooters , and other cities introduced incentives (or fees) to encourage returning vehicles to charging stations  . Operators like Lyft even added a fee for not locking e-bikes to stations to nudge behavior . This trend benefits docking station providers, as more fleets consider deploying hubs to earn those incentives or avoid penalties.

• Universal and Interoperable Infrastructure: There’s a clear movement toward universal docking standards. Companies like KUHMUTE and Duckt have championed hardware that multiple vehicle types and operators can share  . City governments also prefer universal solutions to avoid installing separate docks for each scooter brand. The Paris pilot with Duckt in 2021 is emblematic: it aimed to unify charging for all scooters citywide with one standardized system . Similarly, standardization efforts are happening on the technical side – for instance, the emergence of the Micromobility Charging Interface (like KUHMUTE’s MCLS from 2018) is analogous to the standard charging plug in electric cars . The goal is that future e-scooters/e-bikes might come with a universal port or adapter so they can use any public dock (much as any EV can use a Type2 or CCS charger). In fact, Swiftmile’s CTO now chairs a new committee for SAE international standards on micromobility batteries , indicating serious work toward interoperability.

• Charging Technology Improvements: Docking stations have seen innovation in charging methods. A standout is wireless charging for e-scooters. Meredot, a startup from Latvia, unveiled wireless charging pads that can charge scooters without physical plug-in, using electromagnetic induction . These pads could be embedded in the ground at scooter parking spots. While Meredot’s solution is still in pilot phases, it represents a forward-looking tech – eliminating cables means less wear-and-tear and easier user operation (just park over a pad). Another wireless effort, Bumblebee Power (UK), has been exploring efficient wireless power for e-bikes and scooters . Over the past three years, we’ve also seen faster charging and battery swapping enter the conversation. Some docking providers opted out of charging entirely and instead facilitate battery swaps (e.g., Tier’s Energy Network in Europe places battery vending machines, though that’s a slightly different niche). Nonetheless, the general trajectory is making charging more seamless, whether through improved wired docks or futuristic wireless tech.

• Solar and Off-Grid Deployments: Initially, bike-share docks (prevalent in the 2010s) were solar-powered to avoid trenching power cables. In the 2020s, as charging became necessary, hybrid approaches emerged. Swiftmile’s Oasis station (launched in 2020) combined solar panels with battery storage to run scooter charging with minimal grid input . Big Street Bikers’ Locky Docks in New Zealand are solar-powered as well, supported by an energy utility partnership  . The trend is toward sustainable energy integration – solar can’t always provide full charging power, but it can run the station electronics and offset some energy. Where solar falls short, some cities run on-street power to curbs (for example, Chicago’s new Divvy e-bike docks are connected to the grid so they charge bikes when docked ). Over the past few years, more city RFPs for scooter programs explicitly mention charging hubs with solar or renewable energy sources as a preference, reflecting a push for green infrastructure.

• Software Ecosystem and Integration: Docking stations are increasingly viewed as part of the smart city infrastructure. This means integration with mapping services, payment systems, and mobility platforms. In recent years, providers have built out APIs so that data from docks (availability, usage, energy consumed, etc.) can feed into city dashboards or third-party apps. There’s also a trend of incorporating digital services into stations: for example, some stations have screens not just for ads but for wayfinding (maps of nearby bike lanes, tourist info) . This enhances their value to cities beyond just charging hardware. Moreover, as mobility-as-a-service (MaaS) platforms grow, docking station data and access might be integrated such that a commuter can locate a scooter dock and possibly reserve a slot in advance via a city-wide app.

• Emergence of New Players and Consolidation: The past three years saw a number of startups entering the docking space (e.g., Duckt, KUHMUTE, CityDock all around 2018–2020). At the same time, bigger companies like Lyft and Uber (via Jump, before selling to Lime) looked into docking solutions for their bikes and scooters. There has been some consolidation: traditional bike-share companies (PBSC, Nextbike) were acquired by rideshare firms (Lyft, Tier respectively), merging docked and dockless paradigms. We’re seeing knowledge transfer – bike-share tech being used for scooters (as with Lyft’s triangular adapter), and dockless know-how influencing dock design (making them smaller, cheaper, more flexible). It’s likely that in coming years, a few dominant standards will emerge, and we may see partnerships like the one between KUHMUTE and Joyride become more common (hardware + software bundles).

• Focus on Security and Vandalism Reduction: A very practical trend is the engineering improvements in locking mechanisms. As shared scooters faced theft and vandalism, docking stations responded with more secure locks (reinforced materials, better tamper detection). For instance, Bikeep added loud alarms to deter tampering, and Locky Docks include CCTV cameras sending footage to cloud for security . Ensuring docks themselves are vandal-proof (since they are unattended equipment on the street) has been a priority – hence many docks are made of heavy-gauge steel, and some have retractable parts (so nothing is sticking out to be broken when not in use).