Guide: How To Choose The Right Unique Electric Vehicle

Electric scooters, hoverboards and mono wheels. Single vehicle electric vehicles have radically changed the urban landscape in recent years. Furthermore, all who have the opportunity are now urged to avoid public transportation. The trend has accelerated.

– The pandemic has definitely diluted demand for this type of product, says Alexander Kjellman of Motorsweden, which is a distributor of many electric vehicles.

Some see it as a sustainable alternative for the car, but the benefits are mostly financial, Kjellman thinks. A vehicle costs from a couple of thousand crowns and more, after which the operating cost is low.

Markus Pilebro, CEO of Nordbutiker, who among other things runs the online store rull.se, sees another aspect.

– It is often a time saver because you can avoid traffic jams and avoid looking for a parking space. Those who choose electric bikes also get health benefits because electric cycling provides much more exercise than many people think, he says.

But how to choose between all the different options? There are mainly two parameters to take into account: what range and load capacity you need. A good rule of thumb is that lighter vehicles are better suited for shorter distances, while, for example, electric bikes and electric mopeds are better suited for longer distances.

A person who needs a vehicle for short-distance travel and shopping, therefore, should primarily think about the carrying capacity.

– An electric bike with a connected bike cart is perfect for shopping. Alternatively, an electric box bike that can fit both children and luggage, says Markus Pilebro.

Alexander Kjellman believes that it depends on how much you buy at a time.

– An electric scooter works well if you only have two bags, so you can have one bag in your backpack and the other on the handlebar. If, on the other hand, you have five suitcases, it may be better with an electric platform moped. In the middle is the alternative electric moped, he says.

Although the lighter vehicles They don’t have that long reach, they are often easy to fold up and take with you. In this way, they can be adapted to those who have the opportunity to recharge at school or work, even if it is far away. However, comfort is worth thinking about, if it feels good to travel a longer distance on your feet.

In recent years, electric scooters have made headlines about high accident statistics around the world. Even in Sweden, electric scooters account for a relatively large proportion of all road accidents.

Marie Nordén, general secretary of NTF, the national association for the promotion of road safety, sees that there is the same risk for several of the single passenger vehicles.

– These vehicles are usually driven by slightly less experienced drivers who may not understand the rules that apply. Many people think you can drive on the sidewalks, but you hit pretty high speeds, so you have to drive on the bike path, he says.

To avoid accidents we recommend Drive safely, read the rules, and wear protection.

– The biggest risk is because you have high speed and you still do not use protection. Since few use a helmet, we also see that head injuries are a huge risk, he says.

On the NTF website, there is a guide to the rules that apply to different vehicles. There, they recommend that floating scooters, electric unicycles, and skateboards only be run in a fenced-in area.

– If you have a vehicle that exceeds 20 kilometers per hour and has a power greater than 250 watts, they are defined as “other vehicles” and are currently not allowed to drive in traffic. But you may wonder what control is like, says Marie Nordén.

Despite the risks, you still see advantages with vehicles from a road safety point of view.

– The more people choose to ride a bicycle, walk or travel in this type of vehicle, the fewer cars we find in traffic. And that in itself is a gain in road safety, he says.