Skateboards and bikes have been the traditional outside activity for kids of yesteryear. With the emergence of scooters, that trend is changing. Granted, scooters have been around for decades but have not really caught on until recently. Now, the kick scooter has evolved from gas and electric powered, which opens the door to "green" fun. There are obvious differences between the players in this trio: power. Electric is normally powered by two different types of batteries such as lead acid or lithium ion. Lead acid batteries are usually standard with optional lithium ion on some models. So what is the difference between electric, gas and kick scooters?

Price: When it comes to cost the categories are, in ascending order: non-motorized, electric and then gas being the most expensive. Beginner scooters can be found for around $100.00 with costs increasing for larger, faster scooters. High end scooters, that can handle off road environments, can cost hundreds and in some cases, thousands of dollars. The point being, for you dollar, you can purchase a scooter that agrees with your wallet.

Velocity: Gas offers more velocity, up to 18 miles per hour. You can expect speeds of 12-25 miles per hour in electric and less than two miles per hour on a kick scooter. Velocity is highly influenced by terrain, motor size and the rider weight. Specialty scooters, usually gas, are designed for off road use but are very expensive. These specialty scooters can sustain a high velocity off road and even endure heavy abuse, like jumps.

Noise: Electric and kick scooters are barely audible were gas engines are noisy lawn equipment. If you live out in the country, noise is usually not an issue, around suburban areas gas engines can be a nuisance. Noise reduction is one of the primary reasons families choose electric powered scooters over gas counterparts.

Environmental Impact: Electrical motors and kick scooters do not produce smog emissions like their gas counterparts. If gas still interests you but you’re still concerned about environmental impact, C.A.R.B. motors will produce less exhaust emissions. Electric motor scooters have the convenience of claiming "green" due to the zero emissions. However, the emissions that are produced by gas scooters is quite nominal.

Range: Electric motors can go up to roughly 10 miles before it needs a charge. This figure depends on the motor size, rider weight and terrain which can limit battery endurance. It is important to note that velocity and range numbers do not include rider weigh, which obviously cannot be accounted for. Gas scooters need a mixture of oil per increment of gas but can be used repeatedly. So the value of convenience is the cost of refueling versus the time it takes to recharge the electric motor. Recharging and electrical scooter can take several hours. Most riders due not ride long enough to drain the charge and simply recharge over night.

Warranty: All electrical, gas and kick scooters should come with a warranty. Any viable manufacturer will offer some sort of warranty. If you come across a manufacturer that does not offer one a strongly suggest avoiding them. Like cars, warranties differ between manufacturers but are usually at minimum 30 days.