Lfearfully, electric scooters are a familiar sight in the metropolises. Electric speedsters, also known as e-scooters, are also becoming more popular in smaller cities. Strictly speaking, e-scooter is an incorrect name. Thanks to the electric motor, you don’t have to pedal anymore, apart from the often obligatory kick to start off.
This means that shorter distances can be covered just as easily as the vehicle can then be stowed away without any problems. Not only can you borrow it, you can also buy it.
Who is it for? How can you find suitable models among the now barely manageable range and what should be considered when buying?
Cover shorter distances quickly with an e-scooter
“The purchase is worthwhile, for example, for commuters who want to use the e-scooter for the last mile,” says Marcel Mühlich from the Auto Club Europa (ACE). Such a vehicle is also a useful means of transport for other regular trips, for example to sports or to the kiosk.
Lars Zemke can only confirm that. “Many trips by car or bus can easily be replaced by the e-scooter.” He himself uses his e-scooter for the last two kilometers for the daily trip to the office and even saves time, according to the chairman of the Federal Association of Small Electric Vehicles.
So get on and drive off? It’s not that easy. A prerequisite for being able to move your own e-scooter on public roads and bike paths at all is that it is street legal in accordance with the Small Electric Vehicle Ordinance (eKFV), according to Mühlich. A nameplate on the scooter shows whether this is available. It has to be explicitly identified as a “small electric vehicle”.
It must also be possible to read the approval number of the general operating license. You will also need this later for compulsory insurance.
Only the road approval ensures that criteria such as certain dimensions, maximum weight, engine power, the presence of two independent brakes as well as front and rear lights are met.
E-scooters: You can’t start without insurance
Motor vehicle liability insurance is also necessary. This must be proven by an insurance sticker on the back of the vehicle, said Zemke. He points out that this insurance cover is lost if you tune your e-scooter, i.e. make it faster than the permitted 20 km / h.
“If an accident occurs through your own fault, the owner of the scooter has to pay for any damage personally,” he warns. So it’s no wonder that colleague Mühlich sees the aspect of security as the most important criterion when making a purchase decision, before practicality and comfort.
The e-scooters are only allowed to take part in road traffic if they are street legal and have liability insurance
Source: dpa-tmn / Martin Gerten
“A test drive is compulsory, well-functioning brakes are the be-all and end-all, and a model with the largest possible wheels minimizes the risk of accidents through potholes,” says Mühlich.
Some manufacturers now even offer indicators, reports Zemke. “The driver then no longer has to give a hand signal when turning, and the risk of losing his balance is eliminated.”
Find the right e-scooter now on WELT Comparison
It should work for local transport
Practicability should also be kept in mind. “The weight of the scooter and the ability to fold it in are of fundamental importance,” says Zemke. If you want to use the vehicle to commute to work, every kilo plays a role when you take it with you in public transport or on the train.
If they are not too heavy and folded, they can often be taken with you as luggage free of charge. What else or exactly applies can be found in the provisions of the respective company.
When it comes to weight, the battery also comes into play. “A charger integrated in the vehicle does not have to be dragged along, a removable battery can be easily replaced,” says Marcel Mühlich.
In terms of comfort, he also advises air – instead of solid rubber tires. “They make for a better driving experience because they absorb vibrations better on uneven ground.” A suspension fork guarantees additional driving comfort.
If the e-scooter seems unstable – hands off
Such equipment options are not least a question of price. “While inexpensive models are available from discounters starting at around 200 euros, you have to dig much deeper into your wallet for high-quality vehicles that are equipped with pneumatic tires, wide handlebars and a powerful battery,” says Zemke.
Anyone who wants equipment details such as air-sprung tires on the e-scooter usually has to dig deeper into their pockets
Source: dpa-tmn / Tobias Hase
According to Mühlich, such a model can cost up to 2000 euros. Nevertheless, he advises against cheap offers. “The visual impression also plays a role: Cheap-looking components or an unstable overall impression of the vehicle are good arguments for not buying it.”
Bought an e-scooter – now you’re ready to go, right?
If you have finally taken possession of the object of desire and also insured it, you can now finally start. Or not? Yes and no is the answer. Yes for driving, no for driving in public traffic.
“You shouldn’t choose the main street for your first trip with the e-scooter,” Zemke’s advice was. After all, you have to get used to braking, acceleration and, last but not least, balance. For these practice drives, Mühlich recommends “a large open space, such as an empty, locked parking lot.”
Rightly so, because the fact that driving an e-scooter also needs to be learned is shown by the sometimes serious injuries from falls that the boom has brought with it. “Particular caution is required when turning and braking, especially on wet roads,” says Mühlich.
Cologne plans to ban e-scooters at night
Many cities can no longer be imagined without e-scooters. But the problems get out of hand. Many of the scooters end up in water – drunk drivers cause serious accidents. Cologne now wants to take action and is planning a nocturnal driving ban.
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