Maj. Gen. Sermphan sent an official notice to all police stations on the island today (Feb. 22), informing officers that electric scooters are not allowed on public roads. Real? An electric bike is illegal on the streets, but a bicycle is not? I recently stopped at Phrom Phong BTS station to give scooters a chance. My destination was Donki Mall, Thong Lor 10. Since I had already downloaded the app and linked my credit card, I was good to go. A Neuron employee who checked the scooters outside the station gave me some basic instructions on how to use the scooter and use the app. “Electric scooters can be used in parks, but not on the streets,” he said. The electric scooters will be deployed in Bangkok`s Bang Kruai district, where three battery exchange stations will be installed to facilitate their continued use. “Bangkok already has a transit backbone established in the form of MRT and BTS. The next thing to do is to tackle the first mile and last mile connections; Improve them by offering more options, whether it`s bikes, scooters, or something else. Set up designated lanes and make them safe.
If we could do that, I think people would rely less on personal cars. The scooters have 3 kW (4 hp) engines and have a top speed of about 80 km/h (50 mph). They are capable of achieving a range per charge of about 100 km (60 miles). I believe that most BMS controllers, set at about 25 km / h on many small electric bikes and electric scooters, as a legal limit in many countries. Again, I haven`t researched the legal limits here in Thailand, as they don`t apply to myself. except for electric bikes, perhaps, which weren`t really a thing when these rules were enacted! A bit of a grey area, I would say. Some electric motorcycles/scooters are legal/registered/marked, which of course requires you to have a motorcycle driver`s license to drive. I own 1 myself.
If things haven`t changed recently, you can legally use an electric bike of less than 500 watts without a license or insurance. However, you should remember that the purpose of insurance is to insure the 3rd parties, yourself, passengers, fire, theft, damage, etc. Insurance could therefore be recommended regardless of the current legal situation (provided you can obtain it!). Then there are the small short electric bikes that look like a cross between bike and motorcycle, but most have pedals, others don`t. I`m not sure about the legality of those who drive much faster than 25 km/h and may or may not have pedals. The Indian market is also being targeted by local manufacturer Ola Electric, which has unveiled an affordable and fast electric scooter for its home market, starting at around $1,050. My first concern when I saw the scooters was whether it would be comfortable to drive. As you can see from the photo above, there was only just enough space for my big feet. The handlebars also had the right height.
However, if I decide to buy an electric scooter, I would probably opt for the Pro version, which has a slightly larger foot plate and the handlebars are also slightly higher. The Pro version also has a longer range of 45 km, about 15 km longer than the one I tested, and it also works better on hills up to a 20% slope. But the largest battery has its price. The scooter weighs about 1.5 kilos less and costs about 5,000 baht more. The charging time is also longer. Charging the normal scooter takes 5.5 hours. The Pro version lasts 8.5 hours. So no replenishment by stopping to eat a bite. You will need to charge it during the night or during the day if you drove it to work. But it has an advantage.
If you run out of power, bend it over and call a passing taxi! Small electric bikes don`t have these things. There is also no exception in the law for them. He explained that anyone caught on a public highway with an electric scooter can be fined up to 10,000 baht under Article 6 of the Motor Vehicle Law if they drive an unregistered vehicle on a public highway. Removable batteries allow drivers to carry the battery indoors to charge overnight at home, unlike electric cars, which require access to an electric vehicle charging station or power outlet. For anyone who doesn`t have a garage, finding a roadside plug can be a problem. Neuron, a Singapore-based scooter sharing company, unveiled its orange electric scooter lineup in Chiang Mai late last year. The company expanded its service to Thammasat University (Rangsit campus) in January before coming to Bangkok in May. In the capital, the service area began in Thong Lor before being expanded from Asok BTS stations in On Nut and Phetchaburi to MRT stations at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre. Neuron, collectively referred to as the Thong Lor area, provides about 200 electric scooters in this area. It is reported that users make about 500-600 trips to the area every day. Again, small scooters from 110cc to 125cc aren`t difficult to ride, but ask someone experienced to show you the ropes so you can (hopefully) save yourself the embarrassment of spending the rest of your Thai vacation scratching members together (a common sight among backpackers). “In an enclosed space like a college campus that you don`t have to share with other vehicles, it`s pretty safe to use scooters.
But in other areas, it could be dangerous,” she said. “The state is the best entity to decide which areas could be used for sharing. They know what should and should not be allowed. At the end of the day, we don`t want anyone to be in danger. In Phuket, electric scooters are a popular means of transport among tourists who can easily book a scooter tour of the island. Other E2 wheels may not be homologated for the road depending on the size of the engine, as they are not registered/marked. This can include a lot of things. Thailand is NOT the Wild West and scooters are definitely not tame ponies. There are rules here and you have to follow them or expect consequences, just like at home. In addition, she argues that electric scooters can be used to promote tourism and support the local economy. People caught driving electric scooters on public roads could also be charged with driving a vehicle without a valid license under article 64 of the same law, as there is no license to drive electric scooters because they are not recognized as vehicles by the Ministry of Land Transport and therefore cannot be registered, said Major General Sermphan in the order. “As long as Thailand continues to have problems with road traffic, people will look for alternatives,” Nate said.
“If there is a more reliable, faster, maybe even cheaper option, people will use it. In Bangkok, the infrastructure is not bad in all areas. There are places that can be good for using scooters. The boss reiterated that driving a Scoter on public roads is illegal under the current law and that violators could be fined up to 10,000 baht and would automatically be to blame in the event of an accident. I want to buy an electric scooter, a few options, a push bike with a supported electric motor or a small electric scooter, do I need a driver`s license? The legality (to register) or not being registered and driven on the road depends on the size/capacity of the engine, I think. Most motors are given in watts; 250W, 350W, 500W, 750W, 1000W and above. Personally, I haven`t checked to check the law, but most people state that 500w is the legal limit for 2-wheeled vehicles no matter what they are called; E-Scooter, E-Bike. If it looks like a motorcycle or scooter (Scoopy / Fino), it is better to be able to register. To avoid being exploited (I`ve never been, for the record. and I`ve rented scooters all over the country), always take pictures of the 4 sides of the scooter (with your phone) before leaving. This way, if you are wrongly accused, you will have images that prove your innocence.
Two years ago, I wrote an article about renting motorcycles/scooters in Thailand. While this is still a relevant guide to renting bikes in Thailand today, I failed to point out a few things that I thought were common sense but don`t seem to be with everyone. From what I can say, the law has not yet caught up with electric scooters. No one seems to me to be able to get a license plate for my 2000w electric scooter, although I think it`s technically necessary.