Ridable small motorised road vehicles
A personal transporter (also powered transporter, electric rideable, personal light electric vehicle, personal mobility device, etc.) is any of a class of compact, mostly recent (21st century), motorised micromobility vehicle for transporting an individual at speeds that do not normally exceed . They include electric skateboards, kick scooters, self-balancing unicycles and Segways, as well as gasoline-fueled motorised scooters or skateboards, typically using two-stroke engines of less than displacement. Many newer versions use recent advances in vehicle battery and motor-control technologies. They are growing in popularity, and legislators are in the process of determining how these devices should be classified, regulated and accommodated during a period of rapid innovation.
Generally excluded from this legal category are electric bicycles (that are considered to be a type of bicycle); electric motorbikes and scooters (that are treated as a type of motorcycle or moped); and powered mobility aids with 3 or 4 wheels on which the rider sits (which fall within regulations covering powered mobility scooters).
History.
The first personal transporter was the Autoped, a stand-up scooter with a gasoline engine made from 1915 to 1922. Engine-powered scooters and skateboards reappeared in the 1970s and the 1980s. Twike and Sinclair C5 were 1980s enclosed hybrid velomobiles that also used pedal power.
With the rapid improvements in lithium batteries in the late 1990s and early 2000s, a range of new types of personal transporters appeared, and began to spread into use in urban settings for both recreation and practical transportation.
Dean Kamen applied for his first patent for a 'human transporter', the Segway PT, in 1994. This was followed by other patent applications prior to its product launch in late 2001 and first deliveries to customers early in 2002.
Trevor Blackwell demonstrated a self-balancing unicycle based on the control-mechanism from a Segway PT in 2004 for which he published open source designs (see Eunicycle). Focus Designs released the first commercially available self-balancing unicycle (which had a seat) in 2008 and in 2010 Shane Chen, an American businessman and founder of Inventist, filed a patent for the more familiar and compact seatless device which his company, Inventis launched in 2011.
Chen then went on to file a patent for a self-balancing scooter in February 2013, and launched a Kickstarter fund-raising campaign in May 2013 with multiple companies, mainly in China releasing similar products. 500,000 units from 10 suppliers were recalled from the US market alone in July 2016.
Louie Finkle of California is credited with creating the first commercial electric skateboards, offering his first wireless electric skateboard in 1997 and he filed for a patent in April 1999, though it was not until 2004 that electric motors and batteries had sufficient torque and efficiency to power boards effectively. In 2012 ZBoard raised nearly 30 times their target for a balance controlled electric skateboard on Kickstarter, which was well received at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas in January 2013.
In December 2016 "The Verge" magazine suggested that 2017 would be an "important year" for personal electric vehicles of all sizes. On 14 August 2018, a unicycle manufactured by InMotion caught fire in a British flat. About 1 week later, InMotion issued a statement to discourage customers from buying parallel imports. From 1 July 2019 onwards, Singapore enforces the fire safety standard known as "UL 2272" by banning the sales of non-certified products, and by publishing a list of legal products.
Terminology.
The terminology for these devices is not yet stable (As of 2017[ [update]]) as the media and legislators discuss a rapidly emerging potential class of motor vehicle and its relationship to laws relating to other transport devices, including electric bicycles and mobility aids such as mobility scooters. Commonly used terms are used for these new devices include:
Media: "rideable", "electric rideable", "electric personal transporter", "personal electric vehicle", "personal transporter" "portable electric vehicle". "portable personal vehicle"
Legislative: "personal mobility device" (Singapore, Australia - Victoria Transport Policy Unit) "personal e-mobility device" (Underwriters Laboratory), "electrically motorized board" (California, United States), "personal light electric vehicles" (European Union), "electric personal assistive mobility device" (Washington state, United States), "powered transporters" (UK).
Other languages: "Engins de déplacement personnel" (French), "средства индивидуальной мобильности" (Russian, lit. 'means of individual mobility').
Types.
Motorized scooter.
The earliest example of a motorized scooter, or standing scooter with an internal combustion engine, was the 1915 Autoped, made in the US until 1919 and in Germany until 1922.
Electric standing scooter.
An electric standing scooter with a small platform with two or more wheels driven by an electric motor which fold for portability.
Electric skateboard.
An electric skateboard is an electrically powered skateboard controlled by the rider shifting their weight and in some cases also a hand-held throttle.
Self-balancing scooter.
The self-balancing scooter is a category of personal transporter which includes all self-balancing powered portable devices with two parallel wheels; these include the Segway PT, the Segway miniPRO and self-balancing hoverboards.
Electric unicycle.
An electric unicycle is a single-rider electrically powered unicycle that balances itself automatically using computer-controlled accelerometers, gyroscopes, and a magnetometer.
Hybrids.
The Onewheel has elements of an electric skateboard (it is powered) and a self-balancing unicycle (it has one wheel).
Concept devices.
The Honda UNI-CUB and its predecessor the Honda U3-X are concept seated devices that are fully stable that can travel sideways as well as in the forwards/backwards axis.
Technology.
Batteries.
Most devices are powered by rechargeable lithium-ion vehicle batteries, and often 18650-size LiFePO4 batteries controlled by complex battery management systems. Lithium polymer batteries are being tested for higher performance.
Many devices now contain one, or sometimes two, batteries in the range, which fall within the sizes that can be carried on an airline. Airlines may restrict carrying some devices due to the earlier product defects. As a rule, every 100 WHours of capacity will provide 6–7 miles of range.
These batteries, which have good energy density, energy-to-mass ratio provide the range, torque, operational life required, unlike the previously available lead–acid, NiMH and NiCad technologies.
Brushless motors.
Many of these devices use brushless DC electric motors with permanent magnets attached to the moving hub which turns around a fixed armature which offer high efficiency, good speed-torque characteristics and low weight. This motor is often built into the wheel itself, eliminating gears and drive belts. Many devices have a motor in the 250-500 watts range which provides good performance for an adult rider on the flat and on an incline, with sportier models using motors in excess of 1500 Watts.
Brushless DC motors, which often have regenerative braking, also need complex motor controllers.
Use and regulation by country.
Asia.
Hong Kong.
Early 2019 according to secretary Chan, the Government is conducting a "consultation research (顧問研究)". That does not mean that personal transporter is legal. The Transport Department issued a 2015 statement that under the Road Traffic Ordinance, a personal transporter is classified as motor vehicle, since it is mechanically propelled. ;templatestyles src="Template:Blockquote/styles.css" / ;Registration and licence is required before any motor vehicle is used on the roads, including private roads. However, since the construction and operation of these motor-driven devices could pose a danger to the users themselves and other road users, they are not appropriate to use on roads, hence they cannot be registered and licensed.
According to police statistics, there were 9 complaints, 1 arrest and 1 accident between 5 July and 19 November 2019.
Israel.
In 2006, the Segway PT was approved for use on sidewalks and other pedestrian designated locations, and on roads without sidewalks, with obstructed sidewalks or sidewalks that lack curb cuts. The user must be over 16 years old. No license is required. The maximum allowed speed is , enforced by electronic restriction put in place by the importer.
Japan.
In a court, Segway PT was classified as a motorcycle, owing to the power output; however, there is no report of registration. Segway Japan, an authorized dealer, sells Segways only to corporations to use in facilities.
Saudi Arabia.
In Mecca they were banned after a video of a pilgrim, using it during hajj on a hoverboard was posted on social media.
Singapore.
In December 2016 the Land Transport Authority started a 6-month trial where devices were allowed on trains and buses at all times.
Personal transporters are not allowed on public roads. A bill in early 2020 bans all personal transporters on sidewalks / footpaths, and requires shops to give notices regarding this ban. Since sometime in 2019, riding personal transporters in the HDB common areas could result in a fine up to S$5,000. The fine also applies to bicycles and motorized bicycles.
Europe.
The European Committee for Standardization (CEN) has been in the process of defining a standard for personal transporters, referred to as 'personal light electric vehicle', including both self-balancing vehicles and standing vehicles with maximum speeds of up to and is expected to complete its work by the end of 2017. In the meantime some countries have allowed personal transporters to be used on public roads with certain conditions.
The European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization (CENELEC) has adopted the IEC standards as European Standards: ;br ;
– EN IEC 63281-2-1:2024 - "E-Transporters - Part 2-1: Safety requirements and test methods for personal e-Transporters" ;br ;
– EN IEC 63281-1:2023 - "E-Transporters - Part 1: Terminology and classification" ;br ;
which provides relevant terminology and specifies safety requirements and test methods for personal e-transporters (PeTs). These European and International standards are applicable to electrically powered personal e-Transporters (PeTs) which are used in private and public areas, where the speed control and/or the steering control is electric/electronic.
Åland islands.
A law revision by the Government of Åland concerning "small electrically powered vehicles" means the Segway PT and all other mainly one person electrical vehicles have been classified as bicycles since 14 March 2012.
Austria.
The type Segway i2 is (width 63 cm) narrower than the width limit and has a low-enough maximum speed to come under laws relating to electric bicycles and therefore has to use cycle lanes and paths, otherwise street lanes. The type Segway x2 reaches with its bigger wheels 84 cm width and is, therefore, an electric vehicle, that needs a license and insurance. Neither type may use sidewalks (lengthwise) or pedestrian zones (unless exemption stated).
Belgium.
In Belgium the law was recently adjusted allowing electrical motorized devices to the public road. Art 2.15.2.
Devices with a max speed of can ride on the cycle path. One can also use these devices on sidewalks at a walking pace. Devices with a higher maximum speed are subject under the existing rules for motorised vehicles. An insurance and protective wear will be required in any cases.
Croatia.
Use of a Segway PT is allowed within city limits wherever pedestrians and bicycles are allowed, i.e., sidewalks, bicycle paths, parks, etc. Segways can be rented for city tours in cities of Zagreb, Split and Dubrovnik.
Czech Republic.
Legal status.
Until February 2016, legal status of Segway was controversial and unclear. At least since the autumn of 2010, the Ministry of Transport enforced the interpretation that a rider on the Segway is considered as a pedestrian (with possible reference to the legal definition of a pedestrian which mentions "persons on skis, rollerskates or other similar sport equipment" and with an uttered rationale that the device is quite ineligible to fulfil requirements for vehicles). The central Prague district Praha 1 and the city of Prague, supported by some of transport experts including academic Petr Moos, strongly opposed this interpretation. The ministry was preparing a legal change which would mention PT Segway and skateboards explicitly in the definition of a pedestrian (which should cover also unicycles and roller shoes implicitly). The city of Prague proposed to bring PT transporter to the act as a quite new and special category of road traffic vehicles/participants.
The amendment act 48/2016 Sb., in force since 20 February 2016, defines a new strange term "osobní technický prostředek" (= personal technical device/medium) for "personal transporter with selfbalancing device" and "other similar devices". However, the text of the act uses the term "osobní přepravník" ("personal transporter") in that sense instead. The factual regulation is similar to users of skis and rollerskates, i.e. they fall under rules for pedestrians and in addition, they can use cyclist lanes and cyclist paths. Compared to rollerskates, PTs have their speed limited to "speed of walking" at walkways. Municipality can restrict their traffic by municipal decree, but such a restriction needs to be marked by road signs. Since 21 March 2016, a new ordinance of the Ministry of Transport, 84/2016 Sb., which introduced several new road signs, is in force:
Kick scooters are explicitly considered as bicycles by law. Personal transporters which are not "self-balancing" are not treated specifically.
Usage.
Segways are