Electric scooters
Starting today, 30 September 2022, new electric scooters must be equipped with specific additional equipment, as established in the decree of 18 August of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Sustainable Mobility. On the other hand, the scooters already in circulation will have until January 2024 to adapt to the new provisions.
At a time when electric micro-mobility vehicles have now become part of our daily life, becoming the protagonists of the movements of the 'last mile, it is essential to ensure greater safety both for those who drive the scooter and for motorists.
It is no coincidence, therefore, that the new decree provides that the new scooters are equipped with turn indicators and a double braking system, independent for each axle. As regards the arrows, the legislation introduces important innovations to be followed: the lights must in fact be amber yellow and flash with a frequency between 1 and 2 Hertz with a duration greater than 0.3 seconds.
if ( jQuery ("# crm_srl-th_motorlabs_d_mh2_1"). Photo by Okai Vehicles on Unsplash Turn indicators must be amber yellow. The flashing must occur at a frequency of f = 1.5 ± 0.5 Hz with a pulse duration greater than 0.3 s, measured at 95% of the maximum light intensity. These indicators must be placed both in front and rear position with respect to the driver and symmetrically to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, at a height between a minimum of 150 mm and a maximum of 1400 mm from the ground. If they are positioned in such a way that they are visible both from the front and from the rear (for example on the handlebars), only two turn indicators are sufficient.
Further important are the innovations introduced by the dl regarding the braking system, which is essential for total safety of the driver: the presence of the brake on both wheels is in fact required.
Electric scooters must be equipped with brakes on both wheels. The braking device must be independent for each axle and must be such as to act promptly and effectively on the respective wheels. The independent braking devices, one on the front wheel and the other on the rear, can act on the wheel (tire or rim) or on the hub, or, in general, on the transmission components. | ); }
New Dragonfly Hyperscooter Is a Rare 4-Wheel Electric Scooter
This unusual-looking ridable looks like a beefed-up skateboard with a steering column, but it's really a four-wheel electric scooter called the Dragonfly Hyperscooter. Despite the extra axle, it weighs less than 40 pounds, and can hit a top speed of 25 mph.
At least based on the specs and images I've seen, this is one electric scooter I'm very eager to test drive. It's currently available as a preorder from UK-based Dragonfly, with an expected ship date in December.
The Dragonfly Hyperscooter is powered by a removable key lock 48-volt battery and dual 550-watt motors with a peak output of 1,650 watts. With three riding modes, D1 (beginner, 10 mph), D2 (intermediate, 15 mph) and D3 (Pro, 25 mph), it has four-wheel steering along with a dual adjustable wishbone suspension for stiffness. You can choose between urban or all-terrain 10-inch pneumatic rubber tires upon purchase. The all-terrain ones are textured for off-road use, but wouldn't feel as smooth on city streets.
Aside from the tire choice, the Dragonfly comes in two body versions. The DF (£2,500, or about $2,720 or AU$4,175 converted) is narrower, and good for urban streets and parks. The DFX (£3,000, or roughly $3,265 or AU$5,000) is for off-road riding, with wider fenders and handguards. Both scooters have electric front brakes, a mechanical rear drum brake and a carbon-fiber deck.
Read more: Best Electric Scooter for 2022
The Hyperscooter is rated to travel approximately 50 miles on a full charge, but that may vary depending on conditions like rider size and terrain. Charge time is listed at three hours. Take this with a grain of salt, as manufacturer quotes are typically not what we see in the real world.
Both versions come with a 3.5-inch digital display that shows current speed, trip range, ride mode, light status and battery. It can also provide spoken navigation, a horn and ride sounds with the accessory sound pod. The scooter can be connected to smartphones via an app, and has twin headlights, front and rear LED pulsing turn signals and a brake light.
Both scooters have built-in security, and a four-digit passcode to enable and disable the system. There's also a built-in GPS and an audible alarm; if something happens, the scooter can be located via the tracker.
According to Dragonfly, these preorders should ship in December, but they're coming from the UK, so shipping, which is not yet listed, may be exorbitant for riders in the US and elsewhere in the world.