Electric Scooters: New revolution or hidden danger?

A new and efficient way to get around, or a danger in disguise?

Scooters have been around for quite some time, invented in Germany in 1817 by Karl von Drais de Sauerbrun. As all things human powered with time and innovation get propulsion upgrades. From the human kick through petrol in 1916 and finally electricity in 2003. A recent boom of electric scooters is fuelled by cost and simplicity of operation. What was just a fun toy or a leisure form of transportation, but now electrified, fits perfectly in a new concept of effortlessly moving in cities called micromobility. 

Photo by Volodymyr Dobrovolskyy on Unsplash (cc)

Two wheels, small size, effortless, fun, powerful, clean, enough range for running chores in cities. Sounds ideal, but as any new motorized vehicle it also comes with its own risks. An electric scooter is deceptively simple to ride for anyone. A press of a button, a secure handle, a big platform to stand on and no kick pushing. But what seems innocent can quickly take a wrong turn, literally.

Speed, on an electric scooter

Effortless-just a thumb twist away. But be warned, as speed increases, kinetic energy rises quadratically.
Taking into account a mass of 85kg, 20km/h is 1312 Joules of energy, 22km/h = 1587 Joules, 25km/h = 2050 Joules, 28km/h = 2571 Joules.

What seems like a small increase in speed is a big increase in kinetic energy. In case of a fall at 18km/h the injuries are minor: bruises, road rash. wrist fractures. A fall at 22km/h might pack a bigger punch: concussion, deep bruises, facial fractures, shoulder injuries.

The danger gets real when going 25+km/h: severe head trauma, broken bones, spinal injuries, rib fractures.

Wear a helmet, an accident is maybe just around a corner
Wearing a helmet is an extra layer of protection, not an excuse to go faster.

Drive slower, is a couple of minutes really worth it?

Driving a bit slower is a great solution even if you don't have a helmet.
Average electric scooter trip is about 3km, driving 20km/h takes 9 minutes, but driving 25km/h takes around 7 minutes.
A great way to be safer in case you don't have a helmet is just to ride slower.

Range, a typical battery is 250Wh, and offers a realistic range of 20-22km. You can extend the range by driving slower. Driving faster than 22km/h aerodynamic drag starts to rise and lowers your range by demanding much more power for not going a lot faster. Consuming just 200w for 18km/h turns into 600+w at 30km/h. Slower driving as mentioned keeps you safe in case of a fall. 

Flawed by design? 

Small wheels make them light, convenient and small. But they hide many setbacks, including higher rolling resistance, less gyroscopic stability, and more sensitive to rough terrain surfaces. Not being able to handle large holes or terrain obstacles demanding a great sense of balance and skill from the rider to not fall off.

Short wheelbase, high handlebars, a nice platform to stand on, guess what? All the things that make a scooter a scooter are also its downfalls. High speed instability, manoeuvring instability, a small steering angle input makes a big steering movement, when braking riders weight shifts towards the handlebar making the steering unstable. A high platform to stand on and the rider as a swinging mass turning the scooter into a pendulum and amplifies at every change of stance, terrain, and steering input.

Not just a kick, but an electric one

A kick scooter, self explanatory-you kick it to get going. Cruising at 15km/h, and pushing hard to achieve 22km/h. When kicking your weight shifts, suddenly your weight is on one foot balancing while riding and steering. Your leg swings back, rotating your hip, torso, and shoulder. The scooter reacts swinging on its yaw axis aka side to side, your body adjusts its ankle and foot to keep balance on the scooter platform. All happening very fast, a movement chain that requires skill and physicality. An electric scooter takes no effort, removes that physicality. Lowering the skill and making speed comfortable so that anyone can blast down the street at 25+km/h, but should they?

A lot of parts and engineering 

Scooters being electric and having their own propulsion carry a new set of problems. Many cheaply made, containing flammable lithium batteries, electronics, cheap construction and a lacking quality control. Having electronics, and fine mechanical parts requires maintenance and spare parts. 

Environmental consciousness 

Producing stuff uses resources. Being mechanical and electrical, lots of stuff can break. Complicated things don't usually last without regular maintenance. Economies of scale make them cheap and easily replaceable, but should you buy a new one or fix the broken one? Depends on whom you ask. 

The law 

See if your country or area has specific laws regarding electric scooters, they are there for a reason, so obey them. 

Final word

Just ride a bike. Better for you, better for the environment. 

Text by Fran Masnjak, maker obsessed with custom making and hacking e-scooters and e-bikes
April 29th 2025, Zagreb
Text written in addition to Fran's workshop Micromobility: DIY hack battery for e-mobiles and e-bikes, January 2025, @ Radiona.org
More here: https://radiona.org/mikromobilnost-diy-hack-baterija-za-e-romobile-i-e-bicikle/

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Električni romobili: nova revolucija ili skrivena opasnost?

Novi i učinkovit način kretanja ili prikrivena opasnost?

Romobili postoje već stoljećima – još 1817. godine u Njemačkoj ih je osmislio Karl von Drais de Sauerbrun. Kao i većina stvari koje su isprva pokretane ljudskom snagom, romobili su s vremenom dobili i vlastiti pogon: prvo na benzin 1916., a zatim i na električni pogon od 2003. godine. Današnji procvat električnih romobila posljedica je jednostavnosti korištenja i prihvatljive cijene. Ono što je nekada bila dječja igračka ili sredstvo za rekreaciju, sada se savršeno uklapa u novi koncept urbanog kretanja – mikromobilnost.

Foto: pony on Unsplash (cc)

Dva kotača, mala masa, jednostavna vožnja, zabava, dovoljno snage, čista tehnologija i domet primjeren gradskim potrebama. Sve zvuči idealno. Međutim, kao i svako prijevozno sredstvo koje razvija brzinu, i električni romobili sa sobom nose određene rizike.

Na prvi pogled sve djeluje vrlo jednostavno: staneš na platformu, pritisneš gumb i voziš. No upravo ta prividna jednostavnost može biti varljiva.

Brzina – najveća zamka

Brzinu na električnom romobilu postižeš gotovo bez truda – dovoljan je lagani pritisak palca.
Međutim, pritom treba imati na umu da kinetička energija raste kvadratno s povećanjem brzine.

Primjer:

• Tijelo mase 85 kg pri 20 km/h nosi 1312 Joula energije.
• Pri 22 km/h ta energija raste na 1587 Joula.
• Pri 25 km/h dolazimo do 2050 Joula.
• Pri 28 km/h energija raste na 2571 Joula.

Što znači da i mala razlika u brzini značajno povećava snagu udara u slučaju nesreće.

Što to znači u praksi?

• Pad pri 18 km/h najčešće rezultira lakšim ozljedama: ogrebotinama, nagnječenjima, možda prijelomom zapešća.
• Pad pri 22 km/h može donijeti potres mozga, prijelome lica i ozljede ramena.
• Pad pri 25 km/h ili više nosi rizik ozbiljnih ozljeda glave, kralježnice i rebara.

Rješenje je jednostavno: nosite kacigu

I još važnije – vozite umjerenom brzinom.
Prosječna vožnja romobilom traje oko 3 km. Ako vozite 20 km/h, trebat će vam 9 minuta. Ako vozite 25 km/h, samo dvije minute manje. Je li vrijedno riskirati ozbiljnu ozljedu zbog par minuta uštede?
Ako nemate kacigu, još je važnije da usporite

Domet i potrošnja
Većina električnih romobila ima bateriju kapaciteta oko 250 Wh, što omogućava realan doseg od 20–22 km.
Međutim, vožnjom brzinom većom od 22 km/h naglo raste aerodinamički otpor, pa se potrošnja energije povećava, a domet smanjuje.

Primjerice:

• Vožnja pri 18 km/h troši oko 200 W.
• Vožnja pri 30 km/h troši preko 600 W.

Dakle, sporijom vožnjom ne samo da ste sigurniji, već i produžujete životni vijek baterije.

Konstrukcijske slabosti
Mali kotači omogućuju lakoću i kompaktnost, ali nose i određene nedostatke:

• Veća osjetljivost na neravnine i rupe na cesti.
• Smanjena stabilnost pri većim brzinama.

Kratki međuosovinski razmak i visoko postavljeni upravljač, iako praktični, povećavaju nestabilnost pri skretanju i kočenju.
Kada naglo zakočite, vaša težina se prenosi prema naprijed, što dodatno destabilizira upravljanje.

Uz to, zbog visoke platforme i visine vozača, svaki pokret tijela dodatno ljulja romobil poput njihala, što otežava održavanje ravnoteže.

Što razlikuje električni romobil od klasičnog?
Kod klasičnog romobila vožnja zahtijeva konstantno održavanje ravnoteže, sinkronizaciju pokreta i fizički napor – jednom nogom se odgurujete, tijelo vam se zakreće, aktivirate cijelo tijelo.
Kod električnog romobila, fizički napor gotovo da i ne postoji.
Stojeći na platformi, vozač vrlo lako postigne brzine od 25 km/h bez svijesti o tome koliko je ta brzina zapravo opasna.

Kvaliteta izrade i održavanje
Električni romobili, osobito oni jeftinije proizvodnje, često imaju probleme s kvalitetom baterija, elektronike i mehaničkih komponenti.
Mnogi su skloni kvarovima i zahtijevaju redovito održavanje i zamjenu dijelova.

Često se postavlja pitanje: popraviti kvar ili kupiti novi romobil?
Odgovor ovisi o cijeni popravka, dostupnosti dijelova – i o vašoj brizi za okoliš.

Propisi i sigurnost
U mnogim državama i gradovima postoje posebni propisi za vožnju električnih romobila.
Oni određuju maksimalnu dozvoljenu brzinu, obaveznu upotrebu kacige, i zone u kojima je dopuštena vožnja.
Pravila su donesena s razlogom – kako bi vas zaštitila. Poštujte ih.

Zaključak
Ako imate mogućnost – vozite bicikl.
Bicikl je zdraviji za vas, manje rizičan i ekološki prihvatljiviji.

Autor:
Fran Masnjak, maker opsjednutog izradom i hakiranjem električnih skutera i bicikala, 29. travnja 2025., Zagreb.
Tekst napisan kao dodatak Franovoj radionici Mikromobilnost: DIY hack baterija za električne skutere i električne bicikle, siječanj 2025., Radiona.org
Više ovdje: https://radiona.org/mikromobilnost-diy-hack-baterija-za-e-romobile-i-e-bicikle/