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electric scooters on public roads

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

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). 

 

Range of an Electric Scooter

 

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. 

E-Scooter Elektrische Einräder

Electric Scooters vs Electric Unicycles | Which Is Better?

March 9, 2020 No Comments Uncategorized

Personal transport vehicles are becoming more prevalent in cities around the world. Traditional bikes, electric bikes, and electric scooters are common sights, and this trend is only going to increase. One of the most unique modes of personal transport is the electric unicycle. These are far rarer sights than the other vehicles mentioned, but you’ve probably come across them – a single wheel with a flap on either side upon which the rider stands. It’s very minimalist, and riders appear to glide along, often with their hands in their pockets (which we wouldn’t recommend!). A natural comparison is made between electric unicycles and another electronically-powered device – electric scooters. Since we know a thing or two about electric scooters, we thought we’d weigh in on the debate of electric unicycles vs electric scooters.

 

Riding experience

The riding experience on an electric scooter is vastly different from an electric unicycle for one obvious reason – the handlebars. The scooter’s handlebars make riders feel more secure and in control which allows for better steering. With an electric unicycle, the rider must rely entirely on using their body weight to steer. The handlebars of an electric scooter also make for easier balancing and better stability, even over bumps and dips in the road.

 

 

Range of an Electric Scooter

 

All of this means that electric unicycles have a far steeper learning curve than scooters. Most people will be able to hop onto an electric scooter and be able to ride it immediately. The same cannot be said for unicycles. The sensation of having to take both feet off the floor to step on the vehicle without having handlebars to hold is unusual and takes time to get used to. As such, it alienates a large group of people who may struggle to balance or feel uncomfortable with such a manoeuvre. Electric scooters, on the other hand, are incredibly intuitive and inclusive in this regard.

 

Electric scooters vs electric unicycles

 

 

Safety

The design differences also affect the safety of these vehicles. Of course, there’s a risk involved with riding any vehicle so it’s important to be careful when using either. The handlebars on most electric scooters have brakes on them, making it very easy to slow down and stop in an emergency. The increased control also helps riders to avoid potholes and collisions more easily.

Electric unicycle riders must lean back in order to activate the brake, which takes some getting used to. Some riders may prefer this to traditional braking, but it can be argued that it’s less safe. There is also a considerable lack of sideways manoeuvrability with electric unicycles.

 

 

Speed

The speed of an electric scooter or unicycle depends on the particular model you buy. Some can travel at approximately 15mph (24kph), whereas some suped-up models have clocked speeds of over 50mph (80kph)! For the most part, however, both e-scooters and e-unicycles will have top speeds of approximately 20mph (32kph).

That being said, the top speed that can be achieved is almost irrelevant since it’s hard to reach such speeds consistently within a city. Roads are bumpy, pathways twist and turn, and you have to stay vigilant at all times, especially when pedestrians are nearby. But it’s nice to know that your vehicle packs a punch – even if you rarely get to try it out.

 

 

 

 

Cost

Pricing-wise, electric scooters and electric unicycles are very similar. They can cost anything from £300 right up to £2000. It all depends on the power, design, range and extra features you want from your vehicle. For example, our very own Fuze scooter has regenerative braking. This means that excess energy that’s created while braking is stored and used by the battery, effectively charging it as you ride. It’s an added feature that most electric scooters don’t have.

Overall, unicycles are great fun for some users, but electric scooters offer a more complete experience for virtually everyone. Their design makes for an intuitive (and fun) riding experience. If you’d like to join in, check out our Fuze e-scooter. With its powerful 422Wh battery (or 576WH in the Fuze Max), a top speed of 25mph (40kph) and an elegant folding design, it’s the perfect personal transport vehicle.

 

Disclaimer: Currently, electric scooters are not legal for use on pavements and public roads in the UK. However, this is likely to change soon – we hope! 

Benefits Of Electric Scooters

5 Benefits of electric scooters

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!

Range of an Electric Scooter

How to Determine the Real Range of an Electric Scooter and its Battery

May 15, 2019 2 Comments Uncategorized
Before jumping into the Physics of it, you can access our online calculator here to determine the range of an electric scooter battery.Batteries are the lifeblood of any electric vehicle. They are not only their most expensive individual component of a vehicle, but they also define their range and performance. How are they characterised and what do their specifications mean for you, the rider?

Typically batteries are defined by 3 basic specifications, Voltage (V), Amp-hours (Ah) and Watt-hours (Wh).

Let us start by describing Voltage and Amps. Voltage and Amperage are characteristics of electric systems that can easily be understood by using the analogy of water flowing in a pipe. Voltage is akin to water pressure, the more voltage the more ‘pressure’ there is in the current. The Amperage is akin to the flow rate, or the amount of water that is flowing through the pipe. The more Amperage, the more current is ‘flowing’.

The Amps being akin to how much water is flowing, the Amp-hours (Ah) are therefore akin to how much water there is in the tank. 1 Ah is basically the ‘amount of electricity’ equal to 1 Amp of flow for 1 hour.

FuroSystems Battery Range Water Analogy

If a battery were simply a water tower, the Voltage is the water pressure (height of the tower) and the Amp-hours is the amount of water in the tank.

Now, how does all this relate to the range of an electric vehicle (electric bike, electric scooter)? The range is directly proportional to the amount of energy stored in the battery. The total energy capacity of a battery is defined in Watt-hours (Wh). Just like Amp-hours, a battery with 1 Wh capacity can provide 1 Watt of power for 1 hour.

You can easily calculate the Watt-hours (Wh) from the Voltage (V) and the Amp-hours (Ah):
Wh=V x Ah

And therefore, the range a battery can provide is directly linked to its Voltage and its Amp-hours. It is a common misconception that a battery’s capacity is measured with Ah. The capacity of a battery is actually measured by Wh which is equal to V x Ah. This means that a 48V battery with 8.8AH capacity (48×8.8 = 422Wh) is actually much larger and will provide longer autonomy than a 24V battery with 12AH (24×12 = 288Wh).

FuroSystems Battery Range Water Analogy Part 2

To sum up, whenever you want to compare batteries with regards to range, ensure you are not comparing Ah or V. You should be comparing Wh. And the Wh can easily be calculated from V x Ah.

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