Electric scooter (kick scooter)

[Fulltiming Felines]

Thinking about an electric scooter like this <Broken link removed> for £500

We currently have 2 e-bikes and don't use them much as they're a pain to get down from the bike rack.

Here are the pros and cons as far as I can see, without having owned an electric scooter before. I have done about 500 km on a non-electric kick scooter, mostly for doing errands from my house in London, not from a motorhome.

Advantages:

1. Lighter: takes up less payload
2. More compact: takes up less space, could fit in the garage or even behind the driver's seat
3. You can fold them and carry on your shoulder (but not easily) without having to lock them up

Disadvantages:

1. Shorter range than e-bikes. The Xiaomi M365 (a cheaper model than the Pro above) I've read an Amazon review that said the range drops to only 16 km after a few months of use. Though that's probably enough for our needs.
2. Less power up hills. You might have to just walk up some hills, while my cheap e-bike can do practically any hill
3. Less cargo capacity. Can only carry stuff in a backpack, while a bike can have pannier bags
4. "Laws in the UK and Ireland ban them from pavements and roads - the only place they can be ridden is on private land, with the permission of the landowner." Not a problem for us as we're on the continent and have no plans to go to the UK.

 

[Figaro]

the only place they can be ridden is on private land, with the permission of the landowner."

Is that not the case on the continent also ?

 

[Fragle]

We looked at the larger electric dog scooter while in France in September after seeing a bloke riding one on the beach. The French salesperson said they are becoming very strict on scooters in France and new laws are in the process and you would be very restricted on use. Basically put us off buying

 

[Fulltiming Felines]

Is that not the case on the continent also ?

Electric scooters are legal in France, Germany, and Spain with pretty sensible regulations like max speed of 25 km/h. "The UK remains the last large European economy to ban e-scooters", so perhaps that will change in the future.

France article: https://www.euronews.com/2019/10/26/france-introduces-new-regulations-on-electric-scooters
Germany article: https://www.euronews.com/2019/05/17/germany-legalises-e-scooters-but-bans-them-from-the-pavement

 

[Wissel]

Wish they would make them legal here in UK - I'd buy the one you originally mentioned in a heart beat.

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[suavecarve]

All this is conjecture however it makes a bit of sense.

E scooters currently being illegal on roads etc over here but e bikes arent.
Ebikes have a seperate legislation that makes them legal if the power isnt over 250 watts and the unpedalled top speed is 23kmph (fairly certain about the figures but someone might correct me)
The law is allegedly being looked at for e scooters in this country.
It would make perfect sense for the same size power source and top speed as E bikes.
If i were buying another one i would look closely at the power and the top speed in case they make the law the same

I have one like that now but i would buy bigger than 8 inch wheels.

PS I would fact check my statement as I havent dont so.

 

[romany]

I do know that their is ongoing discussion to ban them in Madrid Barcelona and Valencia due to several pedestrian being killed or seriously injured, If that happens then I suspect it would become nationwide.
The way they are ridden is and absolute nightmare wifes sister was hit by one last year in Valencia whilst walking along the sea promenade resulting in a broken wrist

 

[Red Dragon]

We have one, the Xiaomi MI 365 bought whilst on a promotion and delivered via Poland, we take it with us in the Motorhome and find it ace for popping of to the shops etc.

 

[Fulltiming Felines]

Yes, that's exactly what I want, the Xiaomi M365. Probably don't need the Pro.

Do you find it ok to carry it when you're going into shops, or do you lock it up outside?

 

[Red Dragon]

Fulltiming Felines I looked at the Pro but got the M365 for half the pro price during one of there frequent sales, I also bought the lock for it (snakelike red gadget on the scooter pic) try looking on GEARBEST.COM

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[rosalan]

Sorry to buck the trend but in Vitoria (Spain), Burgos (Spain) just walking on the pavement, let alone the road, you are forever dodging electric scooters driven by all ages, including the very young.
Much worse or better are the electric scooters in Gibraltar. During the evening rush hour the numbers of electric scooters makes riding a bike positively scary. I do understand that they are by far the best way to travel into La Linea but the few reckless riders will surely encourage limiting legislation to be introduced. It is this behaviour and the speed which I fear will spoil this mode of travel for the rest of us.

 

[suavecarve]

Hot news off the press.

Electric scooters 'set to be legalised on UK roads and cycle lanes'

A government consultation is reportedly expected to suggest e-scooters should be allowed on public roads and cycle lanes.

news.sky.com

In precis they are looking at the law and the speed limits that will be applied. No mention of the power but that would be a gimme. Consideration also about helmets, cycle paths and roads, probable cities trying it out first.

 

[Eggs]

I've got a petrol one, I've had it 20-odd years, does 30mph, I defy anyone to have ago and not come back with a smile on their face. It's illegal to use it on the road, so I was told by the police officer that nicked me in Frodsham, Cheshire. The courts found differently and the case collapsed... You are free to go, Sir.

 

[Fulltiming Felines]

I ordered the Xiaomi M365 on Amazon Spain! Will report back when I've given it a spin.

https://electric-scooter.guide/ is great, but is geared to the US market. Of their recommendations, the Xiaomi M365 seems to be the only one that's fairly easy to get in Europe.

 

[Fulltiming Felines]

We now have 2 of the Xiaomi M365. Bought used ones about €290 on Amazon.es. <Broken link removed> or so, same price as in stores like Alcampo.

On the streets of Seville, it seems like 70% of people use the same model.

Maya has been using it to go from our parking spot to her jujitsu class. 30 minute walk, 10 minutes on the scooter. I've used it to go from a wild camping spot to nearby restaurants. It's nice that it turns a distance that would be a chore and we probably wouldn't do, to something that's doable.

Shopping for groceries, the cargo capacity is limited to what you can carry in a backpack. You could try to hang shopping bags off the handlebars, but it's not as safe. On a bike, you can carry 2-4x more, depending on how many pannier bags you have.

They're great and compact, and we fit them behind the driver's seat. I suppose a folding bike would be similar and you'd get more exercise on that. I guess we're a bit lazy about that.

It really depends on how you intend on using them, but they seem to fit us pretty well so far, much better than our e-bikes.

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[busby]

I cannot see any problem with just walking.BUSBY??