Voi calls for a new category of zero-emission light vehicles for electric scooters in the UK
The micromobility company, Voi, urges the next government to introduce a new category of zero-emission light vehicles for electric scooters in the UK and calls for the requirement for drivers to hold a driving license to be abolished.
This request follows the general election on July 4, and Voi encourages voters to question parliamentary candidates on this issue.
Regulation too strict compared to other European countries
“The UK is one of the few countries in Europe to impose the same levels of regulation on electric scooters as on cars, despite their smaller size, weight, power, and speed,” the company said last year. “A new category of vehicles should eliminate the need for all drivers to hold a license, whether provisional or full, thereby opening micromobility to more people.” Voi also suggested that the required insurance be aligned with the regulations for electric bicycles.
“This would allow insurance companies to create policies better suited to electric scooters. Currently, operators must provide motor vehicle liability insurance, as for all powered vehicles,” it added.
Delayed regulation and extended trials
Private electric scooters cannot legally be ridden on public roads in the UK. In 2022, the government announced the creation of a low-speed, zero-emission vehicle category to allow their legalization, but this has seen many delays. Several charities, scooter operators, and retailers have also called for swift legislation, but PACTS (Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety) stated that the likelihood of legislating for private scooters with safety-focused regulations in 2024 is “nil”.
The rental electric scooter trials began in 2020, with a latest extension until May 2026. The maximum speed for a scooter is 15.5 mph and users must at least hold a provisional driving license.
Questions to ask candidates before the election
Before the elections, Voi proposes the following questions to ask parliamentary candidates:
- Will you ask the new government to set a date to permanently legalize electric scooter trials?
- Will you ask the new government to allow new cities to introduce their own trials pending legislation?
- Can you ask the new government to change the requirement to hold a driving license to use a rental electric scooter, as I choose not to drive a car?
Voi’s criticisms of the London electric scooter program
Voi recently criticized the London electric scooter program, calling it the “worst among more than 100 cities in Europe” where the company operates. CEO and co-founder Fredrik Hjelm claimed that heavily regulated electric scooter trials “cannot compete” with the capital’s rental bicycles. Hjelm indicated that Voi might have “no other choice” but to withdraw from the scooter trials or deploy 20,000 electric bicycles to “restore fairness”. These comments echo those of operator Dott, which pulled out of the London electric scooter trials, blaming the “rapid and unregulated growth of electric bicycles”.