Given the surge in dockless electric scooter fleets over the last few years, many manufactures previously focused on consumer products have used their scale to shift focus to selling rental scooters for some of the largest global fleet operators like Bird, Lime, and Spin. From the earliest days of renting out consumer grade scooters such as the Xiaomi M365, the industry has evolved significantly to build durable hardware made specifically for repeated rental use.
While some of the larger companies have been developing their own rental vehicles like Bird's Bird Three and Lime's Gen 4 - most fleet operators that aren't operating at that scale will choose to buy rental scooters from third party manufactures that specialize in vehicle production.
We're going to breakdown some of the most well known and reliable rental electric scooters currently on the market in 2022. Each of these models supports Internet Connectivity and GPS which is essential for operating large scale rental fleets.
Overview
Segway Max Pro
Segway is the most well known and ubiquitous brand in the electric scooter fleet space. They currently have three models, their Segway Max (2.0), Max Pro (2.2), and their latest Max Plus (2.3). As of Feb 2022, they are only producing the Max Plus and Max Pro and have phased out production of their first iteration Segway Max 2.0 that did not have a removable battery pack.
While both of their current models feature swappable batteries, the latest Segway Max Pro 2.3 features a Built-In GEN-3 IoT that allows for more precise GPS positioning. It also has a more powerful 400W Motor and a larger front tire (11.5" vs 10").
For the latest information on Segway's Fleet Products, see here
Pros:
Segway has a large global distribution and manufacturing scale, meaning these vehicles are generally easier to acquire than those from smaller brands.
Given their popularity spare parts are easier to acquire than most.
Segway's IoT features one of the loudest built in alarm / speakers which is a benefit for theft prevention.
Most fleet sharing softwares (including Levy) support these vehicles.
Cons:
Segway uses Pneumatic Tires, which means flat tires can and likely will arise in your fleet.
Segway uses a relatively low powered motor (350W) which may not be the best for heavier riders or areas where the allowable speed limit for electric scooters is above 15mph.
Basic Specs:
Weight: 52 lbs
Max Load: 300lbs
Range: 30 miles
Top Speed: 15.5 mph, 350W Motor
IP Rating: X7 Waterproof
Charge Time: 6 hrs
Operating Temp: 5°F ~ 149°F
Suspension: Front Fork Suspension
10" Pneumatic Tires
Front Wheel Drum Brake
15.3Ah 551 Wh Swappable Battery Pack
Communication Protocol:
Segway uses a built-in IoT made by Omni, which is easily integrable with most sharing software platforms including Levy.
LTE CAT4, with support for 2G/3G. BLE4.1 for bluetooth communication. 13.56 MHz NFC to lock & unlock
Acton M Pro
Acton is a US based company that manufactures both rental bikes and scooters for sharing. They started out as a consumer focused company but more recently have been shifting towards lightweight electric vehicles for shared fleets. For more information, see here.
Pros:
Their IOT is built directly into the top unit of the scooter, making it easier to access and repair if needed.
The Acton is very resilient to damage, the reinforced rear wheel covering is reliable at preventing cracks and damage to the brakes.
Acton has one of the longer decks when it comes to fleet scooters, which also features built-in LED / customizable lights.
Most fleet sharing softwares including Levy support these vehicles.
Cons:
Acton only offers their scooters with solid tires. Some riders prefer the pneumatic tires, which are also safer on wet / icy roads.
Acton's buzzer / alarm is quieter than most which could be a problem for theft prevention.
Basic Specs:
Weight: 54 lbs
Max Load: 300lbs
Range: 30 miles
Top Speed: 15 mph, 350W Motor
IP Rating: 66
Charge Time: 6 hrs
Operating Temp: 5°F ~ 149°F
Suspension: Front Fork Suspension
10" Solid Rubber Tires
Rear Wheel Drum Brakes
15.9Ah 572Wh Battery Pack
Communication Protocol:
Acton uses a built-in IoT made by Omni, which is easily integrable with most sharing software platforms including Levy.
LTE CAT4, with support for 2G/3G. BLE4.0 for bluetooth communication. GPS+GLONASS/GPS+BD for location tracking.
Okai ES400A
Okai is based in China and has been producing rental scooters for several years. Each iteration has become slightly larger & heavier, but with increased battery range. Recently Okai has pivoted to producing models with swappable batteries to serve demand of the larger European operators that require this feature for their fleets. See their full range of fleet scooters here.
Pros:
Their IoT is built directly into the interior stem of the scooter, making it very difficult to physically remove the IoT in the case the scooter is stolen.
The Okai scooters are larger than most, which can be a benefit for newer / less experienced riders that prefer the stability that comes with a bigger scooter.
Most fleet sharing softwares, including Levy support these vehicles.
Cons:
Okai scooters are the heaviest of the options we have presented in this guide.
Okai is harder to reach for support and spare parts. We generally only recommend these scooters if the operator is working with a very large fleet and has the staff to service these independently and purchase spare parts in bulk.
Basic Specs:
Weight: 64lbs
Max Load: 300lbs
Range: 38 miles
Top Speed: 18 mph, 350W Motor
IP Rating: 67
Charge Time: 6 hrs
Operating Temp: 5°F ~ 149°F
Suspension: Hydraulic Front Fork Suspension
12" Front & 9" Rear Solid Rubber Tire
Rear Wheel Drum Brake
16Ah 768Wh Battery Pack
Communication Protocol:
Okai uses a custom IoT developed internally, but it is also currently compatible with Levy's software in addition to Wunder, Invers, Vulog, Atom, Joyride, and goUrban.
LTE CAT4, with support for 2G/3G. BLE4.1 for bluetooth communication. GPS+GLONASS/GPS+BD for location tracking.
Theft Prevention:
Audible speaker
Automated alerting for fallen scooters
Built in theft-proof IoT.
Levy Max
Levy's new Max fleet scooter (launching Summer 2022) will be the lightest rental-grade scooter on the market, featuring two built-in battery packs for a total range of 34 miles.
The vehicle is also foldable, making it a versatile electric scooter that can better serve long term rentals and provide for more convenient distribution & storage.
Pros:
The Levy Max fleet scooter is built for ease of repair, with quick release wheels / motors for tire and brake replacements.
Levy utilizes two battery packs, one built into the stem and one built into the deck of the scooter. Both battery packs combined allow for a total range of up to 34 miles.
Max speed and acceleration can be programmed based on the fleet operator's needs.
It's the only sharing electric scooter model that can be folded.
Cons:
Levy does not use swappable batteries on their sharing model, meaning that the scooters would need to be brought to a charger.
Since Levy scooters are lighter and foldable, they could be prone to increased theft if not being used with docks or from indoor pickup / drop-off points.
Basic Specs:
Weight: 36lbs
Max Load: 280lbs
Range: 34 miles
Top Speed: 20 mph, 500W Motor
IP Rating: 67
Charge Time: 6 hrs
Operating Temp: 5°F ~ 149°F
10" Pneumatic or Solid Rubber Tires
Rear Wheel Drum Brake
14Ah 621Wh Battery
Communication Protocol:
Levy uses a built-in IoT made by Omni. In addition to Data and BLE connectivity, it also features and NFC / RFID reader for tap and go riding.
LTE CAT4, with support for 2G/3G. BLE4.1 for bluetooth communication. GPS+GLONASS/GPS+BD for location tracking.
Theft Prevention:
Audible alarm
Built in theft-proof IoT.
Front wheel locking
