E-scooter trials - but rental only. What do members think?

[whole diary]

[Marlburian]

I am being disingenuous in suggesting that vendors of e-scooters warn that it should only be used on private land. Shops stocking them do claim to do so when interviewed by the media.

[Marlburian]

E-scooters injuries in Berkshire revealed in new figures

[grahame]

E-scooters injuries in Berkshire revealed in new figures

South Central Ambulance Service provided information of the 43 reports following a freedom of information request submitted by the Bracknell News.

To give an idea of how significant that figure of 43 is, did they ask for the number of reports of accidents involving pedestrians and cars during that same period (however long it was?)

[TaplowGreen]

E-scooters injuries in Berkshire revealed in new figures

South Central Ambulance Service provided information of the 43 reports following a freedom of information request submitted by the Bracknell News.

To give an idea of how significant that figure of 43 is, did they ask for the number of reports of accidents involving pedestrians and cars during that same period (however long it was?)

Whataboutery.

[Surrey 455]

200 rental e-scooters have been burnt in a warehouse blaze in Bristol.

Metro

Hundreds of e-scooters were burnt in a ‘significant’ New Year’s Day fire in Bristol.

The rental devices were damaged after the blaze broke out in a warehouse in the suburb of Brislington at around 12.30pm.

Avon Fire and Rescue Service (AFRS) said they were on the scene for more than seven hours, leaving the industrial unit at 7.45pm.

The unit was being used to store hundreds of pink Voi e-scooters – a popular mode of transport in the city which can be found on most street corners........

[grahame]

200 rental e-scooters have been burnt in a warehouse blaze in Bristol.

How many are there in total?  Latest I can see is 400 in Bristol + 200 in South Gloucestershire - is that a pool of 600 based in that warehouse? 

I await the headlines confirming the huge fire risk of e-scooters, with 33% of the fleet having gone up in smoke within 2 years ...

[broadgage]

What CAUSED the fire ? was it a lithium battery in a scooter, or some unrelated event with the scooters being merely collateral damage.

[Bmblbzzz]

It's not yet known. The fire brigade are investigating. They have only said they do not think it was arson.

[TonyK]

What CAUSED the fire ? was it a lithium battery in a scooter, or some unrelated event with the scooters being merely collateral damage.

Or a small blaze from faulty wiring fuelled by the batteries? Someone will tell us one day, I am sure.

I await the headlines confirming the huge fire risk of e-scooters, with 33% of the fleet having gone up in smoke within 2 years ...

I don't think much will be said about it for very long, grahame. The press didn't have much to say about the three fires on aircraft in 2020 caused by batteries (2) and a charger, and this is trivial by comparison. After all, one or two e-scooters spontaneously combusting in the open air, where they spend most of their time, would not be a big issue, and when they are all alone in a warehouse for the night, nobody is likely to get hurt. I am sure that replacements with improved safety features will be cobbled together and shipped from somewhere distant as soon as the materials have been dug out of a huge hole in Africa. Then we can get on with improving the environment, at least in Britain.

[Bmblbzzz]

We know there are fire risks to lithium batteries but we also know those risks can be controlled, and in the commonest consumer items, they are. It's very rare for a fire to start from a laptop or phone battery, for instance. I've heard of fires from cheap Chinese bike lights bought on Ali Express or Ebay, but not from those made by manufacturers with reputations (that includes Chinese manufacturers like Fenix as well as the Americans or Japanese etc). Electric scooters are probably found at various points on this scale...

[TonyK]

We know there are fire risks to lithium batteries but we also know those risks can be controlled, and in the commonest consumer items, they are. It's very rare for a fire to start from a laptop or phone battery, for instance. I've heard of fires from cheap Chinese bike lights bought on Ali Express or Ebay, but not from those made by manufacturers with reputations (that includes Chinese manufacturers like Fenix as well as the Americans or Japanese etc). Electric scooters are probably found at various points on this scale...

Rare indeed, given that almost 2.4 billion mobile phones and an unknown number of other Li batteries do not catch fire each day. It's the "almost" that is the problem, and the laws of physics dictate that it will be in Bristol.

[broadgage]

Large lithium batteries make me rather nervous, and those of cheap or unknown origins make me very nervous.
The technology is arguably no more dangerous than is petrol, but petrol has been in general use for 100 years and society accepts the risks. Lithium batteries are still fairly new technology and society tends to be far less accepting of new risks.

And of course petrol is not meant to be taken on most public transport.

The other difference between petrol and lithium batteries is that MOST accidents involving petrol are due to misuse or stupidity, but poorly manufactured lithium batteries can catch fire even used sensibly.

And of course petrol should not normally be stored or used in living accommodation but lithium batteries are routinely used thus.

[Bmblbzzz]

We know there are fire risks to lithium batteries but we also know those risks can be controlled, and in the commonest consumer items, they are. It's very rare for a fire to start from a laptop or phone battery, for instance. I've heard of fires from cheap Chinese bike lights bought on Ali Express or Ebay, but not from those made by manufacturers with reputations (that includes Chinese manufacturers like Fenix as well as the Americans or Japanese etc). Electric scooters are probably found at various points on this scale...

Rare indeed, given that almost 2.4 billion mobile phones and an unknown number of other Li batteries do not catch fire each day. It's the "almost" that is the problem, and the laws of physics dictate that it will be in Bristol.

What about Newton's First Law of Tauntodynamics?

[froome]

While I'm on the Active Travel section, a small point but one that irks me. Can I just point out that e-scooters are not 'active travel', and are not akin to cyclists or walkers. They are electrically powered vehicles, but unlike e-cycles, do not need any activity to make them move, so play no part in giving users the health benefits that walking and cycling do. There are obviously other benefits they may give users and the general environment, but that is another matter.

[broadgage]

IMO^▸ (in my opinion), E-scooters are slightly active travel, more so than driving or sitting on a train.

Although electrically powered, they do do require a little effort, used standing up rather than sitting in a car, need one foot placed on the ground when static or nearly so, user needs to lean into corners.