The Best Electric Scooters in Canada

E-scooters have become more readily available and popular across most of Canada for being cheaper and easier transport for commutes and general travel around cities. The bylaws and laws surrounding them are still in a grey area, but there are scooters available to buy within each province and online that are fine for personal use. 

In this article, we’ll cover the best e-scooters you can buy online in Canada to take the guesswork out of what to purchase, and we’ll also cover the various regulations across Canada regarding scooters, with the addition of more information such as what to look for in an e-scooter and how to stay safe while riding them. 

Size – The size of the scooter itself is an important choice based solely on your needs. Distance, weight, foldable, height, etc. are all factors in the size of the e-scooter itself and how you need it to work and behave. A smaller foldable scooter might be good for easy short commutes, and a large scooter may be better if you’re having to deal with a lot of hills, inclines, and longer travelling times and adventures.  

Motor power – An e-scooter motor provides the power and acceleration it needs to climb inclines and other hills. The higher the wattage, the better it can deal with difficult terrain and uphill climbs. Speed, acceleration, and climb are all related to the motor power and a bigger motor may weigh more, so if you’re looking for a slim, foldable, and lightweight e-scooter, it’s good to check the size of the motor. 

Speed – Speed and safety are very important factors when it comes to choosing an e-scooter. Manufacturers have a top-speed limit, which may or may not be higher than the local speed limit set by your city/town/province. While it might seem like speeding fast is the best option, sometimes going the fastest isn’t always the best, especially depending on the terrain and other factors. 

Weight – Weight may not be a big factor if space isn’t a large issue for you, but for others they may want the lightest e-scooter available, folding style, or something that’s easy to put away for commuting and travel. Weight will determine the stability and maneuverability of the scooter itself while riding. An example being that a heavier scooter may not turn as well, but it will feel more stable and secure. A lighter scooter may be able to turn sharper and be much more easy to steer, but it can end up crashing easier depending on the terrain. 

Battery – Battery life intertwines with range, as the size of the battery will determine how far your e-scooter will go on a single charge. A bigger better battery will ensure that you can get further and the time between charging is less. It’s also important to keep in mind that bigger batteries will also add some weight onto your e-scooter, so if you’re determined to have a small, compact, and lightweight e-scooter be sure to check the battery as well. 

Range – Range is the distance that you can ride an e-scooter on a single battery charge. This is important if you’re using your e-scooter to commute or travel longer distances and may not have the ability to charge the scooter while out and about. A long travel range between charges is important and can save a lot of headaches. If you’re only using your scooter sporadically, it may not be as important to you.  

Following these, the regulations across Canada differ between province, and even city to city. Before we talk about the best e-scooters available to purchase, we’ll go over some of the quick regulations that are in practice across the country. 

Regulations vary from province to province, and even from city to city. For example, they all typically cover the topics of: 

• Age restrictions 

• Helmet Laws 

• Speed limits 

• Riding on sidewalks 

• Parking regulations 

• Insurance requirements 

Nationwide, e-scooters are recognized under the broad category of personal mobility devices, with specific rules that ensure public safety without stifling the freedom to ride and use them. Key regulations can include mandatory use of helmets under a certain age, and restrictions on riding on sidewalks vs streets to prevent pedestrian accidents. The laws governing electric scooter use, such as maximum speed limits vary. 

E-scooters used to be banned across most of Canada not too long ago and in recent years they have been picked up again as a popular mode of transport. 

 British Columbia 

Vancouver is testing e-scooters in a 3-year pilot program that started back in 2021. 

• E-scooters are allowed on local streets and protected bike lanes 

• They are not allowed on sidewalks, major streets, or the Seawall 

• Maximum speed allowed is 24 km/hr with a maximum motor power of 500W 

• Brakes and lights at night are required 

• Riders must be at least 16 years old 

• Wearing helmets is mandatory 

 Alberta 

Calgary allows for ride shared e-scooters in bike lanes, pathways, and quieter sidewalks. Riding on major roads like Macleod Trail isn’t necessary illegal, but it is to be avoided.  

• Only one rider per e-scooter, no double riding is allowed. 

• You can be fined $400 or more for reckless operations or collisions, and $75 for carrying a passenger. 

• Parking in designated areas is mandatory, as illegal parking will get you fines. 

• Some areas have a 15km/hr speed limit ‘slow zone’ for e-scooters.  

• Riders must be 18 or older 

• Helmets are recommended but not required 

• Maximum speed allowed is 20 km/hr 

 Edmonton has e-scooters allowed, with some restrictions. Privately owned e-scooters are not allowed as there is a lack of regulations and there are safety concerns. To ride e-scooters in the city of Edmonton, you must use the approved share program ones that are available publicly, such as Lime. 

• E-scooters are allowed on cycle paths and on roads with speed limits of 50km/hr or less. 

• Riders must be at least 18 years old 

• Helmets are not mandatory, but highly encouraged 

 Manitoba 

Winnipeg has some limitations with e-scooters, similar to Edmonton. Personal e-scooters aren’t allowed just yet legally, but as of now, you can use the approved shared program e-scooters available. 

• E-scooters can be ridden on bike lanes and on roads with lower speed limits, max of 50km/hr 

• Helmets don’t seem to be mandatory just yet, but they are always encouraged 

 Ontario 

Toronto’s stance on e-scooters has been a rollercoaster over the years, much like other cities across the country. Private property is fine to ride e-scooters around on, but an e-scooter going over the speed of 24 km/hr fall under the same laws as motorcycles and thus fall into that category and would need to meet the same legal requirements. 

 Ottawa has laws about e-scooters, but they are a bit more lenient than other cities/provinces. 

• E-scooters are allowed, the rules are a bit different depending on if you’re riding a personal e-scooter or a public share one in the city. 

• Personal e-scooters need to be “legal”, as in max speed of 32km/hr, lights, brakes, and all of those restrictions.  

• E-scooters can be taken on bike paths, cycling tracks, and calmer roads. 

• Shared e-scooters must be used by 16 years or older age ranges 

• Helmets are mandatory if you’re under 18 

• Specific parking spots are needed to be use 

• No riding on sidewalks is allowed 

 Quebec 

Quebec has a pilot program regulating the use of motorized personal transport devices, such as e-scooters to see if they can be used alongside regular traffic and if any changes to the highway safety code are needed. 

• Riders must be at least 14 years old 

• Helmets are mandatory 

• E-scooters can be used on roads with speed limits of 50 km/hr or less on bike paths 

• E-scooters must not exceed 25km/hr 

• At night, a white front light and red rear lights are required 

• E-scooters must have working brakes 

• Carrying passengers on an e-scooter is not allowed 

Violations of these rules could result in fines and tickets being issued. 

 Quebec City has a pilot program for shared e-scooters, and private e-scooters will not be legal on public roads. Shared e-scooters that are available within the city are allowed, with some rules, of course. 

• Bike lanes and roads where the speed limits don’t go above 50km/hr are allowed 

• E-scooter rentals have speed limits built in, so there is no worry about going too fast. he Government of Canada has a page up on their website with regulations and rules here.  

For this article, we chose the best e-scooters based on top Amazon reviews, and also based on customer reviews on trusted peer websites. We also looked at different price points, features, and other factors to ensure that we had the best choices for anyone looking to get an e-scooter.