The time has come in mid-June: As soon as the Small Electric Vehicles Ordinance comes into force, the traffic situation will be enriched by a "player", the so-called e-scooters. Naturally, opinions differ as to the purpose, benefits and dangers of the new type of vehicle - also in the bicycle trade. This could definitely benefit from the small electric speedsters.
Purist or pragmatist? When it comes to e-scooters, the bicycle trade can be neatly divided into two halves. "Stay away from me with the e-waste", says one when asked about the small electric vehicles. "Did we already. Stand in front, you can try it out in the yard”, says the owner of another establishment.
How is the bicycle trade reacting to the e-scooter trend?
Of course, rejection or acceptance also has something to do with what is meant by an e-scooter. On the one hand, this can be a rickety 100-euro toy from the hardware store, but on the other hand it can also be a high-quality vehicle between 500 and 1.000 euros, as offered by some companies in the automotive sector. And right at the top of the quality ladder is the big X2City, a co-production of Kettler Alurad and BMW-Motorrad, with pneumatic tires and high-quality bicycle technology, which costs almost two and a half thousand euros (however, is the first e-scooter to be approved). That such a vehicle can be fun in everyday life was shown in our test of the BMW e-scooter.
Getting annoyed with complaints for low sales, whether due to poor quality or difficult procurement of spare parts, can of course not be in the interest of a dealer - if e-scooters, then please high-quality and reputable. In this case, the small electric vehicles can mean an interesting expansion of the range, because what bike dealers offer is usually geared towards longer distances. The famous "last mile" (or the first, or both) is ideal for a compact, lightweight vehicle that's easy to carry, and even folding bikes are no longer very practical over a mile-long commute. Being able to offer customers a mobility aid here makes sense, especially since it is not to be expected that they will then no longer need a bicycle. On the contrary, the retailer can open up further mobility options for the customer: camper van owners who already have e-bikes, for example, could find an electric scooter exciting for trips to the campsite that are too long to walk but too short for the pedelec.
Another plus in the retail trade is the small footprint of an e-scooter: while a bicycle or e-bike takes up almost two square meters of retail space, the scooters do not take up much space. The effort to try it is therefore comparatively small.
E-scooter: The problem with the handlebar width
But whether junk goods from the Internet or serious technology from retailers: As long as the legal framework for e-scooters has not been clarified, buying or selling is not advisable. The Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure has already drafted a regulation on small electric vehicles (here directly to the draft at the BMVI), but nothing is official yet. "Only when it's published in the Federal Gazette do we really know where we stand", says a dealer who already offers e-scooters, but only for use on private property - and who also insists that the company premises are not left for a short test drive. Because electric scooters are still banned in Germany, and much of what is already commercially available will not be legal to drive even after the regulation comes into force. Apart from license plate and insurance requirements, the structural conditions are also precisely regulated - and this includes, for example "... a steering or handrail ... of at least 700 mm for motor vehicles without a seat", which is to be understood as a 70 cm wide handlebar, which most of the e-scooters on offer do not have to offer.
Beware of missing insurance coverage
Being on the road with a non-compliant scooter is not without risks. Although the fines are reasonable, if an accident occurs, the driver of an unregistered motor vehicle has a very bad hand – then any claims by the other party involved in the accident have to be paid in full out of your own pocket, with private liability insurance not even taking effect.
How does such an (illegal) electric scooter drive when you test drive it in a bike shop? With its 11 km/h according to the speedometer, it is quite manageable and not even overly wobbly; Driving tight corners with an inclined position is actually a lot of fun. But what the cyclist doesn't care much about or even give a damn about, depending on the tire width - namely thresholds and curbs up to several centimeters high - can be dangerous on the scooter, as can narrow longitudinal gullies in which the 3 cm wide tires threaten to sink. Even at 11 km/h it is difficult to tell how far the road is offset or how deep a pothole is; Caution and driving skills are therefore required, especially since the scooters that will soon be permitted will be capable of speeds of up to 20 km/h and will also be on the road.
At around nine kilos, the tested scooter is quite light, it locks when it is folded up and can then be pushed on the front wheel - very practical on the platform or in the pedestrian zone. The battery has a capacity of 250 watt hours, which according to the manufacturer is enough for a distance of up to 35 km. A thin lock could be fed through the rear wheel, otherwise there is no way to lock the scooter; there is no such thing as an immobilizer. The scooter must therefore be carried along at all times. The posture on the little speedster is unusual - the footboard is naturally too small to put both feet down completely, and the upper body is also slightly inclined. The e-scooter is definitely not a good substitute for the bicycle, let alone the e-bike; but those who don't like to walk and have to walk 15 to 20 minutes a day could find favor with the new micromobility.
