SUMMARY
While micro mobility is rising across Europe, regulations can be quite different from one country to another. In order to weigh our full weight as a continental market for PLEV, we have to unify our regulations on PLEV, by creating common norms and regulations to which all EU users can refer, wherever they are.
The PLEV market in France has been on the rise, especially since the coronavirus burst and its impact on public transports. In one year, it has increased by 105% in France. In parallel, the free-floating business has multiplied fundraising announcements and their e-scooters have continued to flood cities in France, meeting their users despite the lack of tourists, main customers of these services. This quick and unexpected developpement has led EU members in general to raise the question of the place of PLEV in the urban area. However, regulations such as in France are still made at a national level, creating differences in terms of norms and uses, for the continent, and making it hard for this booming market to grow evenly as a continental force.
Thus, it is time for European organisations involved in building, commercializing, and recycling PLEV items to create long-term synergies and a common regulation basis, in order to make a difference on this specific market at a global scale.
Different practices across Europe
What we noticed regarding the practices across Europe is that they are really different from one country to another. For instance, if the German’s rules are a mix between pack and mopeds, England has legalized only free floating use and not ownership. Regulations are therefore born without coordination at European level, and for now, no national professional Organizations have made its voice heard at European level to discuss homogeneous measures.
The need to unite efforts at a European level
At the FPMM, we are working to contact other European national organizations so that we all have a precise vision of our European market, so we can share their good practices on regulations building, give feedback on efficient safety measures, etc. Countries have more experience than others and discussions will undoubtedly be on mutual benefit for professional organization and final users.
A great example of what professionals have to impact are current discussions on a revised European Machinery directive and, eventually, a new regulation at European level which will cover mobility products such as Personal Light Electric Vehicle (PLEV).
Today, PLEVs are not included into the type-approval regulation (R168/2013) and come under the Machinery Directive along with electric bikes (with pedal assistance up to 25km/h and 250W). That is, in meantime less constraining and in many way non relevant and cause of lot of confusion and discussion with market control authorities. The future of the new mobility market is pending a relevant and precise European regulation that needs inputs from the real industry makers and user associations, that is one of the reasons professional organizations have to unite their efforts.
Our ambitions for a European regulation
At the FPMM, we have brought together 44 and we are working with them to set up the best and safest regulation in France. Since user safety is our priority, we have collaborated with associations for user’s safety and put our knowledge to French authorities’ disposal to help rules of the road use by PLEVs when necessary.
One of the main achievements is the market barometer to monitor sales volumes in France, to know about distribution channels, market share etc , in order to follow the evolution of practices, and to get organized accordingly. Our micro-mobility observatory through the Mobiprox program will also help to better understand the social and eco-impact of e-scooters and monowheels , which is very unique in Europe.
FPMM has promoted micro-mobility as the best choice for urban mobility and intermodal connections in FRance. Our partnership with PLEV stakeholders, experts and committed companies has allowed us to raise awareness on micro mobility issues in France. We are now calling European stakeholders to set dialogue together, in order to make European micro mobility market thrive on the international scene.