A road-registered electric scooter is built to vehicle safety standards: ABS brakes, full LED lighting, registration and CTP insurance, and the power to ride with traffic instead of beside it. Most e-bikes are bicycles with a motor. They're limited to 25 km/h of assist, have no ABS and are expected to share the edge of the road. If safety is your main question, the difference is worth knowing.

By "electric scooter" we mean a seated, road-registered electric moped or motorcycle, not a stand-up kick scooter.

Why are so many e-bike riders looking at scooters?

E-bikes have become hugely popular, but the rules haven't always kept up. Many e-bikes sold in Australia go beyond the legal limits for power or speed, and NSW can now seize and crush non-compliant e-bikes. Plenty of riders aren't sure whether theirs is legal at all.

A road-registered electric scooter takes the guesswork out of it. It's registered, insured and built for the road, so you can ride with confidence. How to tell if your e-bike is legal →

E-bike vs electric scooter: side by side

Can I ride in the whole lane on a scooter?

Yes. On an e-bike, you're expected to keep left and let cars squeeze past. On a FONZ, you're a registered vehicle with the same right to the lane as every car around you. You sit in the traffic stream, not on its edge, where drivers see you and give you space.

Do FONZ scooters have ABS?

Every FONZ model has ABS. It stops the wheels locking under hard braking, especially in the wet. It's the same technology that's been mandatory on new motorcycles in Australia for years.

How visible is a scooter at night?

Every FONZ has full LED lighting. That gives you a bright, wide light pattern and helps drivers notice you sooner, from the front, the back and the side.

Can a scooter keep up with traffic?

Electric torque is instant. When the lights change, you're clear of the traffic behind you before it moves. That buffer matters, and an e-bike limited to 25 km/h can't give it to you.

Can an electric scooter replace a car?

An e-bike is great for a short ride, but it rarely replaces a car. A FONZ can.

• Under-seat storage: the Z Series has 25L under the saddle, enough for a helmet or a day's shopping.
• Top case: add a 29L to 45L top case to any model.
• Shopping: hang bags on the shopping hooks and head home.
• Luggage: a carry-on suitcase fits on the footrest, so even the airport run is covered.
• Passengers: ride on a motorcycle licence and you can take a pillion passenger.

That's why many FONZ owners have gone from two cars to one car and a FONZ. They keep the car for big trips and ride the FONZ for everything else, with less spent on fuel, parking and servicing.

Is a FONZ built to vehicle standards?

Yes. Every FONZ is road-registered and built to meet Australian Design Rules for its class. Our Powerpacks are made for road vehicles, and we can health-check them at FONZ HQ.

Any two-wheeler carries more risk than a car. The safest riders combine a well-built vehicle with good gear, proper training and experience. That's why we recommend getting your motorcycle licence.

Do I need a motorcycle licence?

We recommend it. Training is the single best thing you can do for your safety, and a motorcycle licence unlocks the full performance of every FONZ. It also lets you carry a pillion passenger.

There's a bonus too. Most travel insurers only cover you on a scooter or motorbike overseas if you hold a full motorcycle licence at home (Smartraveller, Travel Insurance Direct). Get licensed here and that holiday scooter in Bali or the Greek islands is covered. Always check your policy.

If you're in QLD, SA, WA or the NT, you can also ride most FONZ models on a car licence, speed-limited to 50 km/h. NKD models need a motorcycle licence. More on road-legal electric scooters →

Which FONZ is right for me?

• Z Series: 300cc-equivalent performance, 25L under-seat storage and fast charging.
• Arthur 7: classic style, 90 km/h top speed, with portable Powerpacks you can charge inside.
• NKD electric motorbike: 100 km/h top speed, motorcycle licence only.

Not sure which suits you? Compare our models.

Frequently asked questions

Is an electric scooter safer than an e-bike?

A road-registered electric scooter has safety features most e-bikes don't: ABS, vehicle lighting, registration, insurance and the power to keep pace with traffic. Rider skill and gear still matter just as much.

Is a FONZ legal to ride on the road?

Yes. Every FONZ is road-registered, so there's no question over power or speed limits like there is with many e-bikes.

Is it safer than a stand-up e-scooter?

Yes. A seated, road-registered scooter has larger wheels, proper suspension, ABS and full lighting, and it's ridden by a licensed rider in a traffic lane.

Can a scooter really replace a second car?

For many households, yes. With a top case, under-seat storage on the Z Series, shopping hooks and room for a carry-on on the footrest, a FONZ handles commuting, errands and even airport runs. On a motorcycle licence you can carry a passenger too. Many FONZ owners have swapped their second car for a FONZ.

Do I need to test ride before I buy?

No. More than a third of FONZ riders order without a test ride. Every model is road-registered, ABS-equipped and built for Australian roads. We fit riders from petite to 6'5", and we deliver Australia-wide. If you'd like to experience FONZ first, test rides are available.

Am I too tall or too short for a FONZ?

Probably not. We've fitted riders up to 6'5" with handlebar risers, and low-profile saddles and tyres suit smaller riders.

What does rego and CTP cost?

It varies by state. Budget roughly $200 to $400 a year combined.