Electric scooters have not been around for very long. Depending on the model and manufacturer, these little speedsters can deliver impressive power and speed. For this reason, some of these vehicles require street-legal certification. But what is special about an electric scooter that is street-legal? Who is allowed to ride one, and what regulations apply to these vehicles? We’ll explain it to you.
Who is allowed to ride a street-legal electric scooter?
Electric scooters are an innovative type of vehicle. They are perfectly suited for covering short distances in everyday life quickly and comfortably, whether you are heading to the bakery, school, or work. There is now a wide range of providers with a growing selection of vehicles. Well-known providers include Segway, Globber, Egret, Inokim, and E-Twow. The vehicles from these manufacturers comply with all safety regulations for public road traffic in Switzerland. In Switzerland, anyone over the age of 16 can ride such street-legal electric scooters without an additional license. With an additional test, even youths from the age of 14 are permitted to ride street-legal electric scooters.
Rules and restrictions for electric scooters
Some electric scooters have very powerful motors. Speeds of up to 30 km/h are quite realistic. However, you are not allowed to ride that fast with an e-scooter in public road traffic. The following restrictions apply:
- In public road traffic as well as on cycle paths, the maximum permitted speed is 20 km/h if the scooter does not have a license plate.
- With pedals, a scooter would even be allowed to travel at 25 km/h – for scooters, however, this is only a theoretical option.
- In pedestrian zones, you may not ride a scooter faster than 6 km/h – this corresponds to double the average speed of an adult pedestrian.
Advantages of electric scooters in everyday life
Although there are some restrictions for street-legal electric scooters, they offer many advantages in everyday life:
- You can cover short distances very quickly and comfortably with an e-scooter.
- In pedestrian zones, you are almost twice as fast as you would be on foot.
- An e-scooter is also suitable for longer distances. If you live in the countryside, you can quickly reach the next town, the bus stop, or the train station on an electric scooter.
- Foldable electric scooters can be stowed away quickly and easily. You can conveniently take them with you in the car, on the bus, or on the train, and store them at school or at your workplace.
Environmentally conscious mobility
In addition to all the benefits mentioned, electric scooters have another decisive advantage: they offer environmentally conscious mobility. They are powered entirely electrically without any emissions, thanks to batteries and energy-efficient electric motors in the scooters. Particularly for many everyday routes, a scooter can often replace a conventional car. In this way, you reduce the emission of CO2 and other pollutants with a street-legal electric scooter. You travel much more environmentally friendly than you would by car.
It all comes down to the battery
To ensure you enjoy your electric scooter for a long time, you need the right battery. Several factors are important here:
- Capacity: The higher the Ah/Wh rating, the more capacity the battery has and the greater the range. Furthermore, batteries with high capacity operate more reliably.
- Weight: The weight should be as low as possible.
- Charging cycles: The quality of a battery is particularly evident in how many times it can be recharged. Inexpensive batteries often only manage 250 charging cycles, while higher-quality ones manage up to 1,000 or more.
The battery is the heart of your electric scooter. It is therefore worth choosing slightly more expensive, but higher-quality batteries. In the long run, cheap batteries are often more expensive because you have to replace them with new ones more frequently. Do you have any questions about street-legal electric scooters or the right batteries? In our shop, you will find various high-quality scooter models that will provide you with long-lasting fun. We are happy to advise you personally. Tip: Also take a look at our website “Buy a hoverboard”, if you are also interested in this unique fun sports device.
