E-scooter sharing is the latest major e-mobility trend from the USA. The use of an electric kick scooter is simply unlocked via the app and paid after the trip via the app. With the e-scooters, you will reach your destination at around 25 km / h. The price to make the city unsafe with such an electric scooter is a flat rate of $ 1 for the first half hour and then a few cents per driven kilometer or driven minute.
E-scooter from Bird and Lime
The biggest providers currently in the US are Bird and Lime. Founded in 2017, the Start Up Bird is already offering its e-scooter sharing service in 30 US cities, as well as in Paris. Since its founding year, investors have invested 363 million euros in the start-up. The American Start Up Lime was founded in 2017, but initially offers a bicycle sharing service. Electric scooters will come in the following year. In Lime, a total of 409 million euros will be invested. Lime is also expanding to Europe with Paris and Zurich. Both start-ups hope to gain a foothold in Europe through the first offer, in order to offer e-scooters in other European cities as well.
In Germany it is still a bumpy road
In Germany, the electric scooters are currently still banned, so even an e-scooter sharing provider can not currently offer its service here. So far, the electric scooter should be classified in the “vehicle class of small electrical vehicles”. To drive an e-scooter, a driver must be at least 15 years old, have a driving license, such as a moped driving license or normal driving license. At a speed of 20 km / h, an e-scooter may ride on the bicycle lane or on the road. A regulation issued by the German Press Agency also lists other regulations for electric scooters, including two independent brakes, turn signals and a bell. In addition, the e-scooter must have an insurance badge. As soon as the ordinance is passed, the e-scooters can go about their business on German roads and cycle paths.
3.2.1 lot for e-scooters in Germany
German companies and start-ups have long been ready for the e-scooter revolution. BMW Motorrad is also waiting in the wings and is awaiting the change in the law with its new electric scooter X2City. The X2City is made for roads that are not accessible by car or motorcycle. The e-scooter can travel up to 25 km / h. It is light and compact, so you can take it with you when you are in the bus or train or your own vehicle. One battery charge lasts a maximum of 35 kilometers, depending on how fast you drive. The battery is sufficient for the distances of a day. After 2.5 hours of charging a normal power outlet via an external charging plug, the X2City is ready to drive again. You can also charge your smartphone while driving on the e-scooter. The X2City costs 2,400 euros.
The company Metz Mecatech, which actually produces camera flash units, now also produces the E-scooter Metz Moover. The battery of the Metz Moover can last up to 20 kilometers. Also, the Metz Moover can easily collapse and so take the train with him or stowed in the car. At 16 kilograms, however, the Metz Moover is a relatively difficult companion in the railway. At € 2,000, the E-scooter from Metz Mecatech is a bit cheaper than the BMW Motorrad model. Overall, the company with a balance sheet total of more than 12 million euros and a net income of a good 181,000 euros in 2017 should be viewed positively (Source: Bundesanzeiger). Metz Mecatech sees great potential in the field of electromobility and gets a first foot in the door of the e-mobility industry with the Metz Moover.
Hamburg-based start-up Walberg Urban Electrics enters the e-scooter revolution with the Egret brand. Egret is the company’s own e-scooter brand. The Egret Ten V3 is available for 1,599 euros to buy. It reaches a speed of 30 km / h and has a range of 42 kilometers. The e-scooter from Egret weighs 17 kilograms. The battery of the Egret-Ten V3 is recharged within 6 hours. The Egret Eight V2 is for 1.199 euros the slightly cheaper model. This model weighs only 14 kilograms and runs at 28 km / h only slightly slower than the Egret Ten V3. The total assets of Walberg Urban Electrics GmbH in 2017 amount to more than 900,000 euros (source: Bundesanzeiger). Walberg Urban Electrics sees an “electromobile future” and wants to provide an alternative and supplement to public transport with their products. With the Egret E-scooters, users should be able to get from A to B in a reliable, emission-free and cost-effective manner.
The scooter has not left yet
As soon as the new regulation has been passed, there is nothing standing in the way of the e-scooter trend in Germany. Companies and start-ups who want to present their electric scooters on the road are already numerous with appropriate models in the starting blocks. However, if the electric scooters continue to be banned on German roads, the road to the e-scooter revolution continues to be bumpy. After all, companies have no choice but to build a market abroad. However, Germany is thus blocking a great opportunity to achieve success in the e-mobility sector. It remains to be hoped for the companies that it will soon be in Germany “full force ahead” for electric scooters.
Also published on Medium.