Electric Vehicles: Regulation
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that the regulatory framework for small electric vehicles, including e-scooters and e-bikes, supports safe access and use, including by addressing barriers to obtaining insurance.
Answered by Simon Lightwood
The Government has committed to pursuing legislative reform for micromobility vehicles, including e-scooters, by creating the Low-speed Zero Emission Vehicles category when parliamentary time allows.
This will create safe, legal routes for people to use new transport technology, and help the police to crack down on those who use them in an irresponsible or anti-social way.
E-bikes are already regulated, and when an e-bike does not fully comply with the Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycle requirements, it is treated as a motor vehicle in law under the Road Traffic Act 1988, making most of them effectively illegal to use on the road. There are no plans to change this, though we will continue to ensure the police have the powers they need to enforce the law.
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