DEKRA presents new standard for safe micro-mobility

DEKRA, a leading international expert organisation, has presented its new Micro-Mobility Standard – an integrated approach to safety and sustainability for e-scooters and other micro-vehicles.

The new standard comprises a total of more than 120 individual testing items across eight areas. The main target groups for the collective expert services are providers in the “Mobility as a Service” sector - such as e-scooter rental companies - and cities offering corresponding rental systems in their transport domains.

The DEKRA Micro-Mobility Standard was developed over the past few months in consultation with numerous international DEKRA experts in, among other things, vehicle safety, homologation, product testing and connectivity. The development was coordinated by DEKRA Digital GmbH. The subsidiary - founded in 2018 - maintains close contacts with many startups, including a number of micro-mobility providers. An important partner in the development of the standard was the provider Circ, which currently provides e-scooters for hire in 40 cities around the world.

“DEKRA has been promoting safety for more than 90 years now,” said Dr. Kerim Galal, Managing Director of DEKRA Digital GmbH. “The issue of micro-mobility is highly relevant in cities around the world and will become even more important in the future. As the global partner for a safe world, we want to contribute our specialist knowledge and neutral expertise to ensure greater safety and sustainability for new mobility concepts.”

The current safety standards and the rules for using the new mobility services differ not only from country to country, but often even from city to city, which is why the regulations play a decisive role in ensuring the safety of these services. While micro-mobility is regarded by many as a building block for pioneering mobility concepts, the new vehicles also entail new risks in already complex traffic situations.

The holistic DEKRA Micro-Mobility Standard examines the mobility offerings under analysis from all important angles. The DEKRA experts examine in detail the following eight areas, which depend in part on local legal requirements:

1. Technical design of the vehicle: Frames and wheels, brakes, lighting, driving dynamics, electrical safety, battery safety, harmful substances, electromagnetic compatibility, functional safety, wireless connections, etc.

2. Production, transport and assembly of the vehicle: Quality management, health and occupational safety, environmental protection, etc.

3. Authorities, insurance and infrastructure: Insurance, designated/permitted parking spaces, geo-fencing (e.g. not allowing the vehicles in pedestrian zones), age limit for users, etc.

4. IT security and data protection: Data security, network security, data protection, etc.

5. Training and user behavior: User training on an app / online, recommendations for protective equipment (helmet), information about applicable road traffic regulations, responsible marketing, etc.

6. Use and application of the vehicles: Provision of the vehicles, integration in local public transport services, reporting and investigating accidents, environmental standards, etc.

7. Maintenance and storage: Maintenance intervals for vehicles and charging infrastructure, damage reporting and repair, feedback for vehicle development, employee training, occupational safety, fire protection, etc.

8. Recycling: Life cycle, recycling of materials, reuse of parts, etc.

The DEKRA Micro-Mobility Standard was unveiled at the sixth Safer City Streets Network Meeting of the International Transport Forum and POLIS in Lisbon in October. POLIS is a network of European cities and regions.

“The response from the city representatives to our approach was very positive,” said Dr. Kerim Galal. “The interest confirms the importance of this issue and shows that DEKRA is the right partner for safe micro-mobility.”

Initial tests in accordance with the new DEKRA Micro Mobility Standard are scheduled for the beginning of 2020.