The Rise of E-Scooters in Europe and the UK

In recent years, e-scooters have become increasingly common and popular across cities in Europe. They arrived on the biking scene in 2018, and since then, have grown in popularity due to a multitude of factors. For instance, there is a growing use of shared scooters in urban and city areas.

They’re used as an eco-friendly transport alternative for faster, simpler travel. There are many cities like Berlin, Lisbon ad Reykjavík who have fully embraced e-scooters which have made this process super easy. Sadly, other cities such as Paris and places in the Netherlands have made it harder — banning e-scooters or imposing bans. With this in mind, it’s not plain sailing throughout Europe either. There are regulations wherever e-scooters are found. This includes fleet size limitations, and a shift toward better-managed urban mobility to ensure there are other options available too.

Of course, the increased use of e-scooters does have significant impacts on the way transport in the cities works. Practical benefits right off the bat include reduced car usage, quicker urban transport options and better space efficiency throughout the urban landscape. This is in direct response to recent micromobility discussions incorporating features such as light mobility lanes, transitions from car-centric infrastructures and so on.

Choosing the Right E-Scooter: Features and Smart Shopping

With many cities offering e-scooters for rent, or short term single journey usage, more people are looking at purchasing their own e-scooters. However, while it may seem like a simple process, there are many different types of e-scooters, each of which have various features. You should be considering battery life, charging time, speed, portability, UK compliance marks such as UKCA or CE, and warranty. You also need to consider various safety considerations. For one, you need to ensure you’re buying from a reputable seller. This will ensure that the e-scooter actually is properly maintained and has the features you expect it to have. On top of that, purchasing from someone reputable means that you can avoid getting scooters that have been tampered with or converted in some way. When purchasing, make sure that the right chargers and manufacturer-approved batteries are also being used and provided with the e-scooter. You should make sure that you check the safety warnings from UK councils about lithium-ion batteries and subsequent fire hazards. This includes the best practices for charging, maintaining the e-scooter and storage.

For anyone looking to buy an e-scooter, brand new ones can be expensive. There are many top platforms out there where promotional offers are available, as is the case of eBay promotional codes for online users and others deals. These offers can actually significantly reduce the price of many trusted e-scooter brands. Because of this, e-scooters are becoming more accessible on the wider market. Not only that, but by using sites like this, you can balance price with product reliability. Trusted brands with discount options are a very smart entry point for beginners or those who are conscious of their own budget. It also means you won’t necessarily have spent so much if things go wrong, or the e-scooter doesn’t quite meet your needs and preferences.

Safe Riding and Long-Term Maintenance

Once you’ve got your e-scooter, it’s important to learn how to look after it properly. There is a lot of practical safety advice and home care recommendations that you should be considering. For one, when you are actually out driving it, you need to practice safe driving practices. This means wear a helmet, avoid wet or uneven surfaces to avoid slipping, stick to local laws, and make sure you are respecting pedestrians at all times. 

At home, make sure you regularly check the brakes, tyres and battery health to ensure it is always in working order when you need to use it. This also means ensuring it is stored properly in a cool, dry place and that you use safe charging practices with the right equipment. This means not charging overnight, and the avoidance of incompatible chargers. You should also never try to modify the battery or make adjustments to internal components as this can negatively impact the performance. Extend the lifespan of your e-scooter by practising these maintenance techniques, and ensure you get a reliably performing scooter at all times.