See all Motoring AdviceDespite being a common sight among day-to-day traffic, e-scooters are not yet legal to take onto Irish roads. They have also courted controversy in other countries – such as in Paris, where rental e-scooters were banned in April over safety and cost concerns.
However, e-scooters are soon set to be legalised in Ireland, thanks to the passing of the Road Traffic and Roads Act of 2023, which was signed into law in June.
The law greenlit the drafting of new regulations classifying e-scooters as “personal powered transporters,” or PPTs for short. The Department for Transport can also specify which power, top speed and weight figures are appropriate, as well as any other technical and usage requirements.
“These provisions will help encourage more people to choose new convenient ways to travel that help them avoid time-wasting congestion and gridlock,” said Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan at the time.
“In doing so, they will contribute to freeing up road space, which in turn means that we can allocate more space to provide improved, faster and more frequent public transport and walking and cycling infrastructure.”
In light of this news, many people may now be considering an e-scooter as a practical and efficient solution to tool around town. Here are some of the models on offer today.
Indi EX-1/2
Image: Halfords.ie
One of the cheaper full-size e-scooters on sale, the Indi comes with a 20km range, rain and puddle resistance and an “average” hill-climbing ability, with a price tag of €355.
The scooter is fitted with a 5.2Ah lithium-ion battery, teamed with a rear-mounted 250w motor, which together offer three riding modes, as well as a walking mode.
Reviews are mostly positive, too – with buyers praising the brakes, price and speed – although fragile mudguards and an inconsistent range seem to be common pitfalls.
The Indi range doesn’t end with the EX-1 – the EX-2 offers a 30km range and “excellent” hill-climbing ability, though for a higher price of €419. Those with an extra ten euro to spare can opt for a shiny “neo chrome” finish on their EX-2.
Xiaomi Mi Essential/3 Lite
Image: Halfords.ie
Further up the e-scooter ladder is Xiaomi’s Mi Essential scooter – a more advanced model than the Indi, with a 36v 5.1Ah battery and an automatic electronic regenerative brake with e-ABS, all for €449.99.
Three riding modes are available – pedestrian, standard and sport – with a top speed of 20km/h and a cruise control setting.
Folding is possible too – the entire scooter weighs just 12kg, allowing it to be carried around relatively easily.
Equipped with a 20km range, the scooter can also be connected to your smartphone via the Mi Home App, allowing for greater connectivity between scooter and rider.
The slightly higher-end 3 Lite model features a top speed of roughly 25km/h, as well as 8.5-inch pneumatic wheels and a 300w motor linked to a 5.2Ah battery.
This gives the 3 Lite a maximum range of around 20km, with a battery warranty of 24 months to boot.
Carrera impel is-1
Image: Halfords.ie
Moving firmly into the upmarket e-scooter sector, the Carrera impel is-1 is a rear-wheel-drive, rain and puddle proof e-scooter, with a top speed of 25km/h and a price of €475.
For that amount of money, however, you do get some extra features – such as LED headlights and taillights, folding capabilities and a built-in padlock and PIN code for added peace of mind.
Buyers liked the wide base, quick folding and nippy handling, but had problems with sourcing parts once things went pear-shaped – although parts availability also depends on which retailer the scooter is bought from.
The impel is outfitted with a 350w electric motor, capable of a range of nearly 30km. Battery charging times aren’t the worst but are still rather pedestrian – the impel takes anywhere from three and a half to four hours to fully recharge.
Carrera impel is-2 2.0
Image: Halfords.ie
Coming in at €639, however, is the impel is-2, with 35km of range and a power output of 350w.
This premium model features four riding modes, as well as a walking mode and front, rear and side reflectors and LED lights.
The impel-2 is equipped with 10-inch anti-puncture tyres, which help to offer best-in-class hill climbing capabilities, as well as dual disc brakes which provide plenty of stopping power.
Power is sourced from a 12.8Ah battery and a 350w motor, working to offer speeds of roughly 25km/h, with a recharging time of approximately six hours.
Reviews are, for the most part, glowing – buyers loved the battery and performance, but were less enamoured with the scooter’s weight – nearly 20kg – which can make it a pain to carry around despite its practical folding frame.