Understanding Your Electric Scooter

Emmanuelle Chatel October 9, 2020 No Comments Uncategorized

The FUZE is a great way to move around and very easy to get used to. However, new regulations regarding personal mobility devices (PMDs) have been introduced and must be respected. If this is your first electric scooter, you will need to take the time to learn how everything works. Check our tips below and the mistakes you will want to avoid to get the most out of your scooter.

Familiarise yourself with your electric scooter in a secure area

Riding the scooter is very easy, it will only take you a few minutes to adjust to your scooter’s riding position and find your balance. Adjust the handlebars to your desired height to ensure maximum comfort. Be sure to make the most of the fair-weather conditions to start riding and choose a quiet place with little traffic, on flat and smooth ground.

Remember to wear protective gear

Although some protective equipment is not mandatory, it is strongly recommended that you wear a protective helmet and high visibility clothing if you are travelling at night or when visibility is poor. This will increase your conspicuity for other road users.

Find out about your local regulations

Make sure that you are aware of and comply with any new regulations and road traffic restrictions established by your local government and regulatory bodies.

The rule for private e-scooters

In the UK it is legal to use electric scooters on private land only with the permission of the landowner.

Beware of braking

The faster you ride, the longer your braking distance. On smooth surfaces, the electric scooter can slip under heavy braking, lose its balance and cause a fall. Braking requires anticipation so make sure to always maintain a safe distance from others and obstacles. Pay close attention to your surroundings so that you can brake in time.

Pay attention to your surroundings

Some electric scooter may seem slow unlike our fuze which goes up to 45kph, it’s important to stay alert and adapt your speed to your surroundings. Other people may present a risk for your safety if you drive carelessly or inappropriately. You are exposed to road accidents just as you are when you walk or cycle. Adapting your speed will help you to anticipate braking and prevent accidents.

How to take good care of your electric scooter

Check your FUZE before each use. When you notice loose parts, low battery warning, flat tyres, excessive wear, strange noises, malfunctions, and other abnormal conditions, stop riding immediately. When the electric scooter is not in use, keep it indoors in a cool, dry place.

Keep an eye on the charge level of your battery, we advise you to keep a charge of about 40%/60% when not using the vehicle for a longer time than a few hours. Make sure it is not left in an environment above or below -20°C/50°C (for example in a car exposed to direct sunlight).

Use a damp cloth to clean and remove stains from your electric scooter. Do not use alcohol, paraffin or any other corrosive product to clean your Fuze.

Folding and transporting

Slightly push the handlebar stem forward and pull the locking pin around the folding joint, allowing you to fold the handlebars onto the deck. Please also ensure your bars are set to their lowest height to avoid them hitting the rear mudguard. To carry your FUZE, simply grab it by the stem.

Download your Owner’s Manual

Test our autonomy calculator to anticipate your journey!

If you have any further questions after receiving your Fuze, please do not hesitate to contact us here.

E-Scooters to Become Legal for Road Use in the UK

Eliott Wertheimer June 23, 2020 No Comments Uncategorized

As our cities set out on the road to coronavirus recovery, we’re seeing a growing acceptance of electric scooters. In the UK, the public has become more supportive of e-scooters, and the government is revising road traffic regulations so councils can set up trials in their cities.

Here’s the latest on the UK government’s e-scooter plan, which should help reduce traffic congestion and air pollution low and prevent overcrowding on public transport. This is great news for e-scooter riders across the country. Let’s take a look at the progress that has been made recently.

E-Scooter Trials Get the Green Light

The UK is catching up with several European governments that have embraced e-scooters as a means of reducing car usage. The COVID-19 lockdowns have made the benefits of micro-mobility abundantly clear, as Hamish Stewart, the organiser of London Car Free Day points out:

“During the crisis, we have seen lots of people realising that they don’t need a car to make short trips and the decision to accelerate e-scooter trials will provide another non-polluting way for people to travel safely and take the pressure off public transport.”

To determine the impact that more widespread use of electric scooters will have on road traffic, air quality, and pedestrian safety, 30 city councils are planning pilot projects. The potential reduction in congestion and pollution is high as 60% of car journeys in the UK cover a distance of merely one to five kilometres. The results of coronavirus-related restrictions support this assumption, as we’ve seen a massive decrease in vehicular traffic and air pollution has dropped by up to 60% in parts of the country.

Based on a government consultation, the regulatory framework of the pilot programmes states that:

E-scooter riders can use public roads, cycle lanes, and tracks
E-scooters are exempt from vehicle registration
Riders must be at least 16 years old and hold a driver’s license
Riders require insurance
Riders are not legally required to wear helmets
Top speed: 12.5 mph (20 km/h)
Maximum e-scooter weight: 35 kg

Stay on the Road

The same consultation emphasizes that electric scooter use in the UK should only take place on roads (with the obvious exception of motorways) and in cycle lanes. The reasoning behind this is that e-scooters and bicycles travel at similar speeds.

It goes without saying that e-scooters are not permitted on pavements. This is a serious concern among pedestrians, especially in European cities that are coming to grips with an overabundance of rented electric scooters. Only responsible for riding and parking will result in successful trials and nationwide adoption of these eco-friendly vehicles.

The Benefits of E-Scooter Ownership

While the pilot projects in the UK are for rented e-scooters, there are numerous advantages that come with owning an electric scooter. Currently, one of the most important benefits is that you’re eliminating the risk of coronavirus infection. Shared e-scooter companies are doing their best to sanitize their fleets, but they’re also advising you to wipe the handles and wash your hands before and after riding, and wear gloves – all things you don’t have to think about when you’ve got your own e-scooter.

You’ve also got an awareness of the condition of your e-scooter that you don’t get with a rental. As its only rider, you’re aware of its performance, so you know when a part needs tuning or replacing. Rentals may be sturdy, but you still have no idea how much wear and tear they’ve been through.

Additionally, ownership may be seen as more socially acceptable. Rentals are seen at best an amusement for tourists, at worst the source of an American phenomenon that’s been dubbed “scooter rage”, which has prompted city residents to throw rented e-scooters into rivers. You can easily store our Fuze anywhere, including your home or office, so you’re not contributing to the piles of rentals that are taking up pedestrian spaces.

This is Great News for Electric Scooter Riders

We at FuroSystems will be keeping an eye on the progress of the pilot projects. Hopefully, their success will bring this sustainable, environmentally friendly mode of transport into mainstream acceptance, and help keep the UK’s roads clearer while lowering pollution levels. Watch this space for the latest news about the e-scooter trial, as well as advice on electric scooter use and maintenance.

Electric scooters to take to UK roads legally for the first time

Eliott Wertheimer March 17, 2020 No Comments Uncategorized

Back in January, the Government announced that it would discuss the legality of electric scooters on public roads. Since then, progress has been made with the Department of Transport unveiling plans for a trial period.

Starting in the next few months, four areas will be treated as test grounds before new regulations are rolled out to the rest of the country.

The four areas chosen are all designated ‘Future Mobility Zones’, where new and innovative solutions to the UK’s transport problems are trialled. These include Portsmouth and Southampton; the West of England Combined Authority (WECA); Derby and Nottingham; and the West Midlands.

Various rules and restrictions will be assessed during the test period. Amongst them, the programme will consider the minimum age of riders, speed limits, rules for helmet wearing, and requirements for insurance and licensing.

It’ll also look at minimum design standards for electric scooters, and assess the safest places for riders on the road (i.e bike lanes).

Whilst all aspects of riding electric scooters on the road will be under consideration, it’s likely that the eventual rules will be similar to those currently in force for electric bikes. This includes a minimum age of 14 for riders and speed caps of 15.5 mph (25 kph).

The programme will also benefit from insights gained from other EU countries that have already legalised electric scooters for use on public roads. Issues such as inner-city speed limits and where to park dockless electric scooters in public spaces will be informed from the experience of European cities like Paris, and will ultimately help to refine the UK’s approach to legislation.

The exploration into more agile, electric vehicles by the UK government represents a commitment to more environmentally-friendly ways of travel, especially in urban environments.

Alok Sharma, Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, stated:

“Decarbonising transport is key to ending our contribution to climate change. This review could drive down transport emissions by making greener ways to travel available to more people. Future Transport Zones will also help to spur low carbon innovation by providing our best and brightest researchers with testing facilities for the clean transport technologies of the future.”

Alongside the trialling of electric scooters on public roads, other technology-led transport solutions will be tested out. This includes the transportation of medical supplies via drone to the Isle of Wight and an app-based booking system for public transport.

FuroSystems welcomes this announcement which sees the UK move closer to legalising electric scooters for public roads up and down the country. We’re well aware of the benefits that electric scooters can bring, and we’re confident that ourFuze model is ahead of the curve both in terms of quality and sustainability.

To keep up-to-date with news from the trial, and other tips on how to use and maintain your electric scooter, check our blog regularly.

5 Benefits of electric scooters

Eliott Wertheimer November 8, 2019 No Comments FuroSystems

Disclaimer: Currently, electric scooters are not legal for use on pavements and public roads in the UK (without licence and insurance). The below advice applies to cities such as Paris and Madrid where they are currently legal. We hope the UK follows suit in the near future.

Electric scooters have become a symbol of modern urban transport; they’re a common sight in big cities such as Paris, Madrid, and San Francisco. The trend looks set to move in only one direction – upwards! While we think this recent boom in popularity is excellent, we can’t deny that there are many who remain unconvinced. Do you consider yourself in this category? Perhaps we can change your mind!

1. Portability

Rivalled only by folding bikes, electric scooters are perhaps the most portable mode of powered personal transport. Many people would like assisted forms of transport but find them too cumbersome or too technical to be practical. Motorbikes are great, but you need a license and insurance to ride one. Push Bikes are excellent, but you’ll often need to leave it chained up outside and at risk of being stolen, and they’re too large to be considered truly portable. Electric scooters are light and fold up, allowing for easy storage and portability. You can simply pull it along much like you would a small suitcase, meaning you can take it virtually anywhere. Then, when the time comes, you simply unfold it and you’re on your way!

electric scooter portability

2. Eco-friendly

We can’t write an article about the pros of electric scooters without mentioning the environment. The era-defining geopolitical story of our time is climate change. Our collective search for more environmentally-friendly modes of transport and reduced emissions is seeing some progress, with electric scooters being one of the frontrunners so far. They only use a small amount of electricity and don’t emit any emissions, which is better for the air quality in our cities and for the lungs of their residents. As a reliable, affordable, and eco-friendly way of travelling, it doesn’t get any better than an electric scooter.

3. Noise pollution

Travelling around a city and silence never go hand-in-hand. Virtually any method of travelling around comes with a significant amount of noise pollution – cars, motorbikes, buses, trains – they’re all incredibly loud. Even walking can be noisy if you have hard-soled shoes on! Enter the electric scooter; a whisper-quiet mode of transport that’s the fastest and quietest way to get from A to B.

We’re sure you or someone you know has had a neighbour who works very early or very late hours, and when they arrive home late at night or early in the morning, the sound of their car or motorbike is a jarring disturbance. If they had an electric scooter, you wouldn’t hear a thing.

4. Balance + movement

Another struggle mankind is facing today is our increasingly sedentary lifestyle. Many of us work in offices or jobs that are largely seated, and most of us will drive or take a train to and from work. Throw in modern communication technology (FaceTime, Skype, Whatsapp, etc) allowing us to socialise without actually going anywhere, and movement becoming less and less necessary, and people struggling to find the time to exercise. With an electric scooter, for smaller journeys that you would usually drive or use public transport, you can get your body moving. Of course, we know riding an electric scooter isn’t a replacement for a workout, but it will activate your core and improve your balance. Using a scooter is a great way of substituting a chair for something a little more active.

5. Safety

Every mode of transport comes with an element of risk. When you travel any faster than walking pace, your risk of having an accident increases – even something as simple as tripping or bumping into someone whilst jogging. Compared with other personal modes of transport, such as cycling, roller skating, or using hoverboards, scooters are potentially the safer option. For one, you can simply step off if you see an imminent collision occurring. This is something you can’t do with bikes or roller skates, and you have immediate access to the brakes, which hoverboards lack. Electric scooters are fast enough to be useful and fun to ride, but give you enough control that you feel safe and secure while riding.

It’s probably not surprising, but we can’t speak highly enough of electric scooters! Our very own electric scooter – the Fuze – is a powerful example of how good they can be. With a range of up to 55km, extremely effective Electronic Regenerative Braking, and a top speed of 40km/h, the Fuze is one of the fastest and most exciting ways to get around town. Don’t believe us? Check out our reviews from satisfied customers!

FUZE

FURO X

Aventa

Tag: E-scooters