Scooters have come a long way from being simple rides for kids or skatepark stunts. Today, they’re a popular choice for commuting around the city, running errands, and everything in between. Whether it’s a sleek electric scooter zipping through your neighbourhood streets or a trusty old-school push scooter, you can find these two-wheeled vehicles everywhere!
But have you ever stopped to think about where it all started? We love exploring stories like this—uncovering how something as simple as a scooter evolved over the years. It’s amazing to see how they’ve transformed from heavy wooden boards with wheels into the lightweight, nearly silent electric rides we see everywhere today. So, let’s dive into the history and find out who first came up with this brilliant idea and how scooters became what they are now!
Who Invented the Electric Scooter?
You’ll be surprised to know that scooters, in one form or another, have been around for a very long time. The wooden kick scooter that had skate wheels came into being as early as the late 19th century and appeared around the same time as motorised bicycles. But when it comes to answering the question, “Who invented the modern electric scooter?” things get a little tricky.
If you search this up online, you’ll come across the name Arthur Hugo Cecil Gibson, the inventor of the Autoped, a motor scooter patented in 1916. However, the Autoped was powered by petrol, not electricity. Despite that, it shared many similarities with today’s e-scooters, like its 10-inch wheels, folding stem, and collapsible handlebars for easy storage. While some people dismissed it as a fancy toy for the wealthy, it was actually used by delivery workers, postal carriers, and even New York City traffic officers.
But, if we were to discuss who made the first actual electric scooter, there’s no clear record of who invented it or when. What we do know is that on December 1, 1895, Ogden Bolton Jr. received a patent for a battery-powered bicycle. While it wasn’t exactly an e-scooter, it was a key moment in the development of battery-powered transportation, and it likely influenced later scooter designs.
Looking even further back, in the 1740s, a Scottish monk named Andrew Gordon conducted experiments with early electric motors. Over the years, scientists like Michael Faraday and Joseph Henry continued developing electromagnetic fields and motors and laid the groundwork for the technology we use in scooters today.
We’ve broken down the history of electric scooters further below and dived deeper into how the modern electric scooter came to life and its fascinating evolution over the decades. Continue reading to find out all the details.
Who Invented the Electric Scooter?
Fifteen years ago, the terms “electric scooter,” “rideshare,” or “e-bike” weren’t part of our everyday language. Today, you’ll see them everywhere as people zip through city streets on these convenient, eco-friendly vehicles. While it might feel like these modern micro-mobility options popped up overnight, their history goes much further back. Believe it or not, scooters have been around for over a century, starting with simple, non-motorized designs.
The Wooden Kick Scooter
The story of the modern electric scooter begins with the wooden kick scooter. These early versions appeared towards the end of the 19th century, around the same time motorized scooters started to emerge.
The first wooden scooters were simple and handmade. They featured skate wheels attached to wooden frames, and the base was nailed together, with the handlebars slotted into an upright bar for steering. The design might sound basic by today’s standards, but it was a game-changer back then. These scooters provided an affordable, effective way to get around and were especially popular among children.
What’s even cooler is how accessible they were. Many kids even built their own scooters using scrap wood from factories! In a way, these scooters were eco-friendly long before the word became trendy!
The Autoped
After the simple wooden kick scooter came the Autope, introduced in 1915 by a New York-based company. This was the first motorized scooter available for purchase. As mentioned above, Arthur Hugo Cecil Gibson invented it, and it wasn’t electric; it ran on gas. But its design will feel familiar to anyone who’s seen today’s scooters.
This was likely the first motorized scooter of its kind, and it was both speedy and stylish. Its power came from a large engine mounted on the frame that allowed it to hit an impressive 25 mph top speed. Surprisingly, it even became the New York Traffic Police’s favourite, who used it to move through the bustling city streets.
Apart from being practical, the Autoped was also marketed really well. One memorable ad featured the “Autoped Girl” alongside the slogan, “Something new in transportation.” Whether it was thanks to the clever advertising or the scooter’s unique design, everybody seemed to love the Autoped, and it was a huge hit. Its popularity spread across the Western world, and eventually, its production even expanded to Germany.
Features of the Autoped
The Autoped, a gas-powered, two-wheeled scooter, was marketed as the “motor vehicle of the millions.” It claimed to get an impressive 125 miles per gallon and boasted a price that “almost everybody could afford.” While this wasn’t entirely accurate, it was still much cheaper than most four-wheeled vehicles of the time.
The Autoped was quite advanced for its time. It had 10-inch tyres and an air-cooled, 4-stroke, 155cc engine mounted on the front wheel. This setup allowed it to reach speeds of up to 35 mph— which was quite thrilling for that era. The scooter had a unique control system, too. Riders would push the steering mechanism forward to engage the clutch and use a handlebar lever to control speed. To brake, they’d pull the steering column back. You might think this method is a little risky considering today’s standards, but it was effective enough back then.
One great feature that really made the Autoped special and impressed us was its foldable design. Its collapsible steering rod made it easy to store in smaller spaces—a big advantage during the Industrial Revolution when smaller homes became more common. Despite this clever design, the Autoped weighed over 100 pounds, and it’s far from portable when compared to modern electric scooters like the sleek and lightweight Unagi Model One.
The hefty price tag also meant it wasn’t exactly accessible to everyone. Still, Autoped exceeded expectations and found its way into the hands of a diverse group of users. It became especially popular for work-related transportation, with delivery men, postal workers, and even New York City traffic cops using them to get around. It’s hard to picture today’s officers patrolling on something like the Autoped, but back then, it was cutting-edge technology.
Wim Ouboter’s Kickboard Revolution
In 1990, the world of scooters saw a groundbreaking innovation. Swiss engineer Wim Ouboter created a lightweight, portable kick scooter to solve a personal problem: getting from his home to his favourite bratwurst shop in Zurich. While his initial creation was quickly forgotten, Ouboter didn’t give up.
In 1998, he introduced the Kickboard, a three-wheeled scooter, at Munich’s International Sports Fair. Its success was phenomenal, and by 1999, Ouboter launched Micro Mobility Systems, which developed a two-wheeled version of his concept. Marketed as the “Razor”, people went crazy over this model, and it became a global sensation.
The Razor scooter not only revolutionised the scooter industry but also laid the foundation for the sleek, everyday electric kick scooters we now see in cities. This first scooter showed just how practical, fun, and versatile it could be and paved the way for the electric scooter phenomenon we know today.
The Modern Electric Scooter
Moving on to 2003, when Razor, already a household name in scooters, introduced a new prototype with an electric motor. This was a cool idea, but it didn’t really take off. The real revolution for electric scooters began a few years later, around 2009, due to advancements in lithium-ion battery technology. Finally, scooters could be charged at home and this made them way more convenient for everyday use.
No discussion about modern electric scooters is complete without mentioning the Segway. Developed by Dean Kamen, this self-balancing, futuristic-looking device used Plymouth University’s innovative iBOT wheelchair design. While it was electric and undeniably unique, it was also pricey and impractical. So, it’s not surprising that Segways never became mainstream, partly because they didn’t offer the simplicity and safety that traditional scooters do.
Micromobility vehicles took a backseat for a while until 2015, when Shan Chen, an American entrepreneur, launched the Hoverboard. This self-balancing device became an overnight sensation, especially among celebrities. But let’s be honest—it was more of a trend than a reliable mode of transport. With little quality control, countless knockoffs flooded the market, and many of them had questionable safety standards.
But, despite its shortcomings, the Hoverboard craze got people thinking seriously about lightweight, affordable, and practical personal transport. It made people chase the modern electric scooter—a sleek, dependable option that combines ease of use with eco-friendliness. Plus, they’re also cheap, reliable, and sustainable.
Wrapping Up
The electric scooter we know and love today didn’t just appear out of nowhere. Instead, it’s the result of over a century of research, development, and real-world testing by countless inventors, engineers, and commuters. The result is a wide range of options to fit every individual’s needs and lifestyle.
For those that need portability, there are options like the Unagi Model One Voyager. It’s a lightweight scooter that folds up easily, and it’s perfect for when you don’t feel like walking to the bus stop or need to store it in tight spaces. Despite its compact size, this scooter can travel up to 20 mph and cover 25 miles on a single charge. It also has two 250-watt motors that offer a total of 500 watts of power (and 1,000 watts of peak power) to help you easily handle inclines and hills.
And, for those who want speed and high performance, there are options like the Inmotion RS. As the most powerful scooter from Inmotion, this model is built for riders who want top-tier performance, reliability, and design. It can reach a mind-blowing top speed of 110 km/h (around 68 mph) and features dual 2000W motors (with a peak of 4200W per motor). This lets it conquer steep hills with gradients of up to 50% and smoothly handle all kinds of terrain. Plus, with a range of 160 km (almost 100 miles), it’s perfect for long, adventurous rides.
From ultra-portable models to high-speed performance machines, the electric scooters of today come in all shapes and sizes to meet the needs of every rider. Whether you’re a city commuter or a thrill-seeker, there’s an electric scooter out there just for you.