Electric Kick Scooters Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Battery (Sealed Lead Acid, NiMH, Li-Ion), By Voltage (Below 24V, 36V, 48V, Greater Than 48V), By Region (North America, Europe, APAC, LATAM, MEA), And Segment Forecasts, 2021 - 2028

Report Overview

The global electric kick scooters market size was valued at USD 2.5 billion in 2020 and is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.3% from 2021 to 2028. Kick scooters have emerged as a cost-effective urban commute option in recent times. This is attributed to the sleek design and the ease of use they offer. Rapid developments in the electric scooter sharing industry are also expected to generate growth opportunities for the kick scooters market over the forecast period.

Countries such as France, Spain, Germany, and the U.S. have recorded a significant rise in the adoption of kick scooters over the last couple of years, a trend expected to continue over the next few years. Additionally, electric scooter sharing start-ups are collaborating with top manufacturers in the market to expand their customer base and enhance their product offerings in the market. Low-cost transportation, lesser parking space requirement, growing focus on environment-friendly transportation options, and the ease of use in traffic-congested cities, are expected to favor the demand for electric scooter sharing services across the world.

The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted the overall micro-mobility industry in 2020. Several electric scooter startups, such as Bird and Lime, have laid off employees due to stagnant demand. Nevertheless, these are short-term consequences of the pandemic and the micro-mobility industry is expected to revive in the near future. Moreover, the market is expected to benefit from the rising demand for more environment-friendly and hassle-free transportation options, due to an uptick in demand post-COVID-19, and favorable government policies.

Growing carbon emissions due to fuel-based vehicles have been a key concern for government authorities worldwide. Electric kick scooters are a viable, eco-friendly option for short-distance commutes, creating promising growth avenues over the forecast period. Moreover, as regulatory authorities focus on smart city development, electric transportation options like e-scooters are expected to become increasingly popular, albeit at a slower pace than passenger vehicles/buses. In addition to environmental benefits, these scooters are ultra-quiet, making them an ideal choice for cities seeking solutions to the rising issue of noise pollution. Since electric kick scooters run on batteries, they do not directly contribute to any carbon or greenhouse gas emissions.

The market presents different requirements to manufacturers based on how electric kick scooters are perceived by consumers across the globe. While consumers from Latin America, Middle East and Africa, and the Asia Pacific see electric kick scooters as a means for short-distance transportation, consumers from North America and Europe tend to consider the use of electric kick scooters more as a lifestyle. Vendors focus on benefits such as durability, maintenance cost, and performance to retain customers. Therefore, vendors focus on launching technologically-advanced vehicles taking into consideration design/style and range and speed specifications. For instance, in April 2020, Xiaomi launched the Mi Electric Scooter 1S and made it available across China's e-commerce platforms with international shipping options. The scooter has a range of 30 km on a full charge with a maximum speed of 25km/h.

Battery Insights

The lithium-ion battery segment dominated the market and accounted for over 60.0% of the overall revenue share in 2020. Performance and environmental advantages of Li-Ion batteries over sealed lead acid batteries are expected to position Li-Ion technology as the global mainstream battery technology for electric kick scooters over the coming years. Moreover, sealed lead-acid batteries involve the risk of lead contamination during manufacturing and disposal. As a result, manufacturers prefer Li-Ion batteries over sealed lead-acid batteries for electric kick scooters.

Continual improvements in battery technology have helped improve the storage capacity and reduce the overall cost of Li-Ion batteries, making them a popular choice for mobile, low-cost devices such as kick scooters. Furthermore, prolonged battery discharge cycles, high current density, a long usable lifespan, and reliable thermal stability work are expected to favor segment growth. Moreover, Li-Ion batteries with digital battery management offer faster charging time and longer battery lifecycle as compared to sealed lead-acid batteries.

Voltage Insights

The 36V segment dominated the market and accounted for the largest revenue share of more than 55.0% in 2020. 36V batteries are popular owing to their capacity, which enhances the E-scooter's driving range. 36V batteries utilize NiMH or Li-ion technology as this voltage range calls for a compact design and enhanced charging time. In addition to the design and charge time requirements, Li-ion batteries are eco-friendly in comparison to sealed lead-acid batteries.

Electric kick scooters with voltage greater than 48V offer advantages in terms of range. These kick scooters emit carbon dioxide at acceptable cost levels. Furthermore, 48V products provide features such as air conditioning compressors and turbochargers, which are difficult to implement in 12V or 24V scooters. The need to reduce carbon footprints is estimated to drive the demand for high voltage electric kick scooters over the forecast period.

Regional Insights

Asia Pacific dominated the electric kick scooters market and accounted for the largest revenue share of over 70.0% in 2020. The growth of the regional market is attributed to the presence of several OEMs such as SEGWAY INC., Xiaomi, Jiangsu Xinri E-Vehicle Co. Ltd., and YADEA Technology Group Co., Ltd., in China. These companies generate their major revenue share by selling their scooters to electric scooter sharing service providers worldwide. Governments of several countries, such as China, Japan, and India, are setting regulations and standards for vehicle charging infrastructure, which is expected to have a positive impact on the regional growth prospects over the forecast period.

In North America, the market is expected to emerge as the most lucrative regional market due to the rising demand for eco-friendly travel options and a rapidly developing charging infrastructure. A gradual shift to electric kick scooters for short-range commutes will likely pave the way for wider acceptance over the next 8 years. In addition to consumer awareness and acceptance, the need to reduce carbon footprint, through measures such as replacing the existing fleet of scooters with their electric alternatives, is anticipated to create avenues for the market in the near future.

Key Companies & Market Share Insights

Mergers and acquisitions particularly focused on streamlining technology have been one of the most popular growth strategies used by OEMs in this industry. In addition to developing technology, these collaborations or mergers and acquisitions help vendors expand their geographical presence and reach out to untapped markets. For instance, in February 2020, TIER Mobility, a German-based micro-mobility solution provider, acquired a fleet of 5,000 electric mopeds and the charging infrastructure from Coup Mobility to enter the European e-moped sharing market. Similarly, in June 2019, Bird Rides, Inc. acquired Scoot to offer riders technologically-advanced vehicles and offer its service in other cities. Some of the prominent players in the electric kick scooters market include:

• Jiangsu Xinri E-Vehicle Co. Ltd.

• YADEA Technology Group Co., Ltd.

• Bird Rides, Inc.

• SWAGTRON

• SEGWAY INC.

• Xiaomi

• iconBIT GmbH

Electric Kick Scooters Market Report Scope 

Segments Covered in the Report

This report forecasts revenue growth at global, regional, and country levels and provides an analysis of the latest industry trends in each of the sub-segments from 2016 to 2028. For the purpose of this study, Grand View Research has segmented the global electric kick scooters market report on the basis of battery, voltage, and region:

• Battery Outlook (Volume, Units; Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2028)

  • Sealed Lead Acid (SLA)

  • Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH)

  • Lithium Ion (Li-Ion)

• Voltage Outlook (Volume, Units; Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2028)

  • Below 24V

  • 36V

  • 48V

  • Greater than 48V

• Regional Outlook (Volume, Units; Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2028)

  • North America

    • U.S.

    • Canada

  • Europe

    • U.K.

    • Germany

    • France

  • Asia Pacific

    • China

    • India

    • Japan

  • Latin America

    • Brazil

    • Mexico

  • Middle East and Africa