Spoiled for Choice in the World of E-Mobility
While electrically assisted bicycles have long become popular among the German population and are an everyday sight on the streets, electric scooters are still somewhat exotic among electric two-wheelers. Let's take a look at both modes of transportation. But first – partly because the terms are still used somewhat interchangeably – let's address the potential means of transport from the field of e-mobility in general.
E-Bike, Pedelec, E-Scooter, Electric Scooter, E-Moped: What is What?
Because the various terms are still frequently used in a confusing way, let's first look at the exact definitions. After that, it will also become clearer where the advantages (and, correspondingly, the disadvantages) lie for the different electric two-wheelers:
Pedelec:
The simplest variant, which is also often somewhat misleadingly called an e-bike, is the pedelec. This is a bicycle with an additional electric motor that you can turn on while riding, but don't have to. The electric drive has a maximum of 250 watts and assists the bicycle up to a speed of 25 km/h. Legally speaking, a pedelec is a bicycle; therefore, there is no helmet requirement (although wearing a helmet is still more than sensible!), nor do you need a special driver's license or registration for this two-wheeler. There is also a special version called S-Pedelec; the "S" stands for "speed". An S-Pedelec assists up to 45 km/h and is therefore already considered a light motorcycle, which is why you need a license plate sticker, insurance, at least a moped test certificate, and definitely a helmet.
E-Bike:
An e-bike is also a bicycle with electric motor support. The difference lies in how the electric motor is used. While with a pedelec the motor can only be switched on to assist with pedaling, on an e-bike the electric motor can also be used without pedaling. ADAC describes it as follows:
“Bikes that reach a speed of more than 6 km/h without pedaling are no longer considered bicycles. These are motor vehicles! This means that at least a license plate sticker and a moped test certificate or, for more powerful bikes, a driver's license of the appropriate class is required - otherwise you are committing a criminal offense!”
E-Motorroller, E-Roller, Elektroroller:
All of these are terms for the same electric two-wheeler with the typical scooter appearance featuring a seat and a footrest in the middle. An e-scooter always has a maximum permissible speed of 45 km/h on public roads, requires a helmet, and, depending on age, an appropriate driver's license.
Advantages of an E-Bike or Pedelec
Let's limit ourselves to the electrically assisted bicycles known as pedelecs. That is, the e-bikes that you can use without an additional driver's license, insurance, or registration requirement. Initially bought mainly by older people, pedelecs have enjoyed growing popularity among younger people in recent years as well. We already took a closer look at this in our article on e-bikes. In summary, there are indeed very strong arguments for an electric bike:
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Thanks to the additional electric motor support, you are motivated to take longer trips. The extra motor assists you whenever you need a short break from pedaling or would have run out of breath on a small incline. In short: A pedelec acts as a motivator.
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You can use it to explore areas you wouldn't have ridden to on a normal bike without an electric boost.
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Elderly people, overweight individuals, or those with other health impairments in particular are motivated to get moving.
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The auxiliary motor battery can usually be removed and easily recharged indoors.
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You don't need an additional driving test, nor do you need to take out extra insurance for your pedelec.
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Electric bikes with motor assistance are allowed to use standard bike paths.
Benefits of an e-scooter
An e-scooter is certainly something for fans and lovers of scooters in general. You should simply know that the riding experience is not comparable to that of an e-bike or pedelec. Therefore, it is also necessary to present an appropriate driver's license for the respective model. This varies depending on the rider's age, model, and speed. Benefits of a scooter are:
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It is definitely the significantly more eco-friendly option! That is certainly the main argument: no gasoline for power, making it low-emission or emission-free.
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It is affordable. You only pay a fraction of the cost of gasoline for charging energy. Insurance is also likely to be cheaper than for models with internal combustion engines.
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Depending on the model, you can take a second person behind you on your seat.
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Depending on the model and charging port, charging at a standard wall outlet is possible.
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If you opt for a model with a removable battery, that's even better, as it allows you to charge the battery completely independently of public charging stations.
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With a well-designed model, you can often get a second battery. This is particularly recommended if the range of the primary battery is not very high.
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Lower repair costs than with a combustion engine. In general, an e-scooter is not as maintenance- and repair-intensive as a scooter with a combustion engine.
What should I look for when buying an e-scooter?
Think carefully about the routes you need your future e-scooter for. For short city trips or as a commuter vehicle with lower mileage, a model that manages maybe only 30 or 40 kilometers on a single battery charge will be sufficient. The great thing about removable batteries is that you can always carry a replacement battery with you, instantly doubling your possible mileage. Especially for urban use with many short trips, it's worth taking a look at electric scooters. In many cities or municipalities, purchasing an electric scooter is supported by subsidy programs. If you regularly want to transport loads/pull trailers, look for a powerful electric motor. You should also check the battery charging times if your e-scooter will be in heavy use. Your e-scooter should have a removable battery, as public charging options are currently not universally available.
The technology and range of e-scooters will continue to improve over the coming years, so that prices will eventually align with those of two-stroke models. And by then at the latest, the e-scooter will be a genuine, eco-friendly alternative to its gasoline-powered counterpart.
