When Should You Upgrade Your Electric Scooter Motor?
Upgrading an electric scooter motor can make sense—but only if it is done for the right reason and in the correct order.
This applies whether you are riding a NIU scooter, a Segway, ZEEHO or another performance-oriented model.
Before changing any components, the first question to ask is simple:
The Three Main Reasons to Upgrade an Electric Scooter Motor
- To increase top speed
- To fit a wider tire
- To increase wheel size (for example, from 10-inch to 12-inch, or from 12-inch to 14-inch)
Among these, upgrading for speed is where most misunderstandings occur.
The Biggest Misconception: Bigger Motor Equals More Speed
A common assumption is that upgrading from a smaller motor to a larger one will automatically increase top speed.
For example, a rider might think:
“I have a 60v battery and a stock controller. If I upgrade from a 1500W motor to a 3000W motor, my scooter will be faster.”
In reality, this often does the opposite.
The motor does not decide how much power it receives—the controller does.
How Power Is Actually Delivered on an Electric Scooter
The controller is responsible for:
- How much power is drawn from the battery
- How much current (amperage) is supplied to the motor
- How aggressively the motor accelerates
Motor performance depends heavily on current delivery. As a general rule, an electric scooter motor performs best when it can briefly receive around three times its rated power during acceleration. You want your scooter output to fall in between the range of 2-3x.
Original Setup Example
- Battery: 60v
- Controller: 45A
- Motor: 1500W
Calculation:
45A × 60v ÷ 1500W = 1.8x
This value is reasonably close to the motor’s usable performance range.
Motor Upgrade (Common Mistake)
- Battery: 60V
- Controller: 45A
- Motor: 3000W
Calculation:
45A × 60V ÷ 3000W = 0.9
This means the larger motor is receiving far less current relative to its size.
The result is:
- Slower acceleration
- Lower efficiency
- Reduced riding range
- Often less real-world speed
In this situation, upgrading only the motor is effectively a downgrade.
What a Proper Performance Upgrade Looks Like
To properly support a 3000W motor, both the controller and battery must be upgraded.
Balanced Upgrade Example
- Battery: 72V
- Controller: 100A
- Motor: 3000W
Calculation:
100A × 72V ÷ 3000W = 2.4
This value is much closer to the motor’s optimal operating range and allows it to perform as intended.
The Correct Upgrade Sequence for Electric Scooters
If performance is the goal, upgrades should always follow this order:
- Upgrade the controller first
- Upgrade the battery second
- Upgrade the motor last
If you are not planning to upgrade the controller and battery, there is little benefit in changing the motor.
An underpowered motor will be inefficient and unable to deliver its rated performance.
Reason 2: Upgrading the Motor to Run a Wider Tire
Another valid reason to upgrade an electric scooter motor is to fit a wider tire.
This may be done to improve grip, stability, or aesthetics.
Many stock motors—especially on commuter scooters such as certain NIU and Segway Ninebot models—are limited to tire sizes like 90/90.
If you want to install a wider tire such as 120-width or 130-width, the original motor casing often does not provide enough clearance.
In this case, upgrading the motor is necessary to physically support the wider tire.
However, wider tires increase rolling resistance and require more power.
If you upgrade the motor only to fit a wider tire—without upgrading the controller and battery—you may experience reduced acceleration and lower top speed.
For this reason, even when upgrading mainly for tire width, pairing the motor upgrade with a stronger controller and battery is strongly recommended.
Reason 3: Upgrading Wheel Size (10-Inch to 12-Inch or Larger)
The final common reason to upgrade a motor is to increase wheel size, such as moving from a 10-inch motor to a 12-inch motor, or from 12-inch to 14-inch.
Larger wheels can increase top speed and improve ride comfort, especially on rough roads.
However, they also require more torque to accelerate.
If you are not planning to upgrade the controller and battery, the safest option is to use an original-spec motor designed for that wheel size.
This reduces the risk of power loss and compatibility issues.
One important detail to watch for is wiring.
When switching from a 10-inch motor to a 12-inch motor, the motor cable and connector layout may differ, requiring additional modifications or adapters.
Final Takeaway
Upgrading an electric scooter motor only makes sense when the rest of the system can support it.
Larger motors require higher voltage and more current to function properly.
Without those upgrades, the scooter may feel slower, weaker, and less efficient than before.
In short: the motor should be the final upgrade—not the first.