2025 EU Electric Scooter Policy

2025 EU Electric Scooter Policy Update

I. Core Product Compliance: CE Certification and Upgraded Technical Standards

In 2025, the EU will further tighten market access requirements for electric scooters. EN 17128:2020 remains the core basis for CE certification, applicable to personal light electric vehicles (PLEVs) with a maximum speed of 25km/h, weight ≤25kg, and motor power ≤500W. New key requirements include:

1. Enhanced Safety Standards
Mechanical Safety: Handlebars and pedals must withstand a static force of 1000N without permanent deformation; the folding mechanism must be equipped with a double locking device to prevent accidental unlocking during riding; it must pass a 1-meter drop test (3 times) and a 5000km durability test. Electrical Safety: The battery system must pass 8 UN38.3 tests, including overcharge, over-discharge, and short circuit tests. The battery management system (BMS) must have dual protection against temperature and current, as well as single-cell voltage balancing functions. The EU 2023/1542 regulation, effective in 2025, adds waterproofing requirements; the vehicle body (excluding the battery compartment) must meet an IP54 protection rating, which is stricter than the previous IPX4 standard. Braking and Lighting: Two independent braking systems are mandatory; wet braking distance must not exceed 150% of dry braking distance (dry road braking distance ≤ 4m); automatic activation of front white lights, rear red lights, and side reflectors at speeds > 6km/h; light brightness and waterproofing rating must meet specific standards.

2. Optimized Certification Process: CE certification requires four stages: "Technical Documentation Preparation → EU Notified Body Testing → Factory Inspection → Certificate Issuance," with a testing cycle of approximately 4-6 weeks. Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) testing accounts for 60% of the process. Key points to note: Technical documents must include design drawings, risk analysis reports (ISO 12100 format), etc., and must be retained for at least 10 years; Vehicles with wireless functionality (such as Bluetooth remote control) require additional certification under the RED Directive 2014/53/EU, and RF parameters must comply with the EN 301 489 series standards; After August 2025, battery test reports must simultaneously reflect the EN 50604-1:2016+A1:2021 standards, with testing costs expected to increase by 30%.

II. Usage Guidelines: EU Uniform Rules and Differences Between Member States

1. EU General Requirements (Fully Implemented by 2025)
Rider Age: Minimum 14 years old (some countries require a bicycle license for riders aged 12 and above);
Right-of-Way Restrictions: Priority use of bike lanes, prohibition of riding on sidewalks; Speed ​​limit 25 km/h (20 km/h in some urban core areas);
Behavioral Norms: Prohibition of tandem riding, driving under the influence of alcohol/drugs, and using a mobile phone while riding; Although helmets are not mandatory, the EU strongly recommends wearing them;
Insurance Obligations: Vehicles with a maximum speed > 25 km/h or a weight > 25 kg and a speed > 14 km/h must have third-party liability insurance; some member states (such as Germany) also require mandatory insurance for low-speed vehicles.

2. Special Policies of Major Member States

III. Environmental Protection and Traceability: Key New Policies for 2025

1. Battery Environmental Requirements
Lithium batteries, in addition to meeting UN38.3 transport testing, must also pass EN 50604-1:2016+A1:2021 standards to strengthen thermal runaway protection and cycle life requirements; Waste batteries must comply with the EU Battery Directive 2006/66/EC, manufacturers must establish recycling systems, and user manuals must include detailed recycling guidelines.

2. Product Traceability and Liability
GPSR Regulation (EU 2023/988) mandates: products must be labeled with a permanent traceability number, manufacturers must submit safety incident reports online within 24 hours; cross-border e-commerce platforms bear joint liability for compliance audits; mass-produced products must be consistent with certified samples, the EU customs inspection rate has increased to 30%, and non-compliant products will be returned in batches and blacklisted.

IV. Compliance Recommendations for 2025

Consumers should verify the CE mark (height ≥ 5mm) and notified body number when purchasing products, and prioritize products certified by authoritative organizations such as TÜV and SGS; Before riding, consumers should understand the specific rules of their country, such as Germany prohibiting riding on sidewalks and France requiring shared scooters to be parked in designated areas; Manufacturers should adopt the "design for compliance" concept, incorporating EN 17128 standard requirements during the R&D stage to avoid increasing later rectification costs by more than 30%.