Perth police have been confiscating & destroying electric bikes & scooters because they can go over 25 km/h, making them an “unregistered vehicle” it seems.
It’s another sign that when it comes to electric mobility Australian governments remain in the slow lane.
Consumers are voting with their feet though. We bought about 350,000 tiny electric mobility vehicles in the past few years and demand is outstripping supply according to the Fin Review.
This despite the fact that its pretty much illegal across the country—apart from Queensland and the ACT—to ride ‘non-pedal-assisted electric mobility devices in public areas’. NSW & Victoria—the most populous states—are the most restrictive.
Local government is doing a lot more I’m glad to say and there are a range of trials of shared scooter schemes underway at the local level these days.
There’s also a bewildering number of options out there now as big and small business picks up on the pent up demand for cleaner, more accessible travel despite no consistent legal status even for electric bicycles.
The options are mind boggling! From electric unicycles in almost limitless varieties, e-scooters from companies as major as Mercedes-Benz & Volkswagen or as niche as Australian startups, e-skateboards, and of course electric bikes which are predicted to become a global market worth$US80.6B by 2027 and with models from the likes of Audi, Porsche and even Ducati.
There’s even a car & scooter mash up called the Microlino. Of course they’re still not legal here so I’ll happily stay riding my Unagi from Japan. It only does 25 km/h but I get to work faster than by my car…. go figure!
Cheers, John Fennell
