Germany's E‑scooter and E‑bike market expands with new city regulations

Electric micro‑mobility devices are gaining traction in Germany. A recent comparison highlights that e‑scooters excel on short trips, are compact, cheaper (often a few hundred euros) and easy to store, but they offer limited range, lower comfort and reduced stability in adverse weather. E‑bikes provide greater comfort, longer battery range and cargo capacity, though they cost several thousand euros. German users must display a liability‑insurance plate on e‑scooters, renewed each March, and riders aged 14 or older may operate them without a helmet, though a zero‑BAC limit applies to those under 21.

In the city of Ulm, the sharing operator Dott now offers both e‑scooters and e‑bikes after absorbing competitor Tier. Vehicles can be hired via the Dott app for €0.20 per minute, with no activation fee. The service covers Ulm, Neu‑Ulm and surrounding districts, and users can park anywhere that does not obstruct traffic, while designated zones are marked in the app. The same traffic rules as bicycles apply, including adherence to bike‑lane signals and age‑related alcohol limits.