Webshops mislead buyers about fast electric scooters, consumer group says

Some Danish online shops fail to clearly tell customers that electric scooters capable of speeds of up to 70 kilometres per hour cannot legally be used on public roads, DR reports. The consumer group Forbrugerrådet Tænk is considering referring the issue to the Consumer Ombudsman or other authorities.

Electric scooters may be ridden on public roads, but they must not be able to travel faster than 20 kilometres per hour under their own power. According to Forbrugerrådet Tænk, several webshops do not make that restriction sufficiently clear in their marketing or product descriptions.

“Much of the marketing we have seen is misleading because it fails to provide the important information that these electric scooters are not actually legal to use on public roads,” said senior legal adviser Daniel Mathias Bager.

At DR’s request, Bager reviewed a number of Danish webshops selling electric scooters, including both legal models and models that travel too fast.

Rules for electric scooters

Riding electric scooters became legal on 1 January 2019, when a trial scheme came into force. Riders must be at least 15 years old and wear a helmet, while the scooter must not be capable of exceeding 20 kilometres per hour under its own power.

Forbrugerrådet Tænk criticised the websites for using images and videos of fast scooters without making it sufficiently clear that the products cannot be used on public roads. The group also said some product descriptions did not clearly highlight when scooters could exceed the legal speed limit.

“You have to search for a long time to find the small print saying that this scooter cannot be used on public roads,” Bager said.

Forbrugerrådet Tænk will now investigate whether misleading marketing is a widespread problem in the sector. If it finds grounds to do so, it may refer the case to the Consumer Ombudsman or other authorities.

Bager said consumers also have a responsibility to familiarise themselves with the rules and understand that scooters capable of travelling at 70 kilometres per hour are not legal on public roads.