01  What type of vehicle is the etolino electroscooter?
The etolino electroscooter with seat, with a top speed of 20k/h, is legally equivalent to mopeds or small powered two-wheelers. An operating permit, alternatively an EU license, is necessary to run such a vehicle. The etolino is one of a few vehicles in Germany that has a European road approval, and once insured it can be used on the road.

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02  What type of vehicle is the speedX electroscooter?
The speedX electroscooter without seat cannot be admitted for road use, and is only to be used on private property.  In some countries there are certain provisions for using vehicles that can be also be propelled manually (for instance using the feet to push forward), but this is usually at the discretion of the relevant law enforcement agent.  Such rules, if they do exist, are not a basis for avoiding prosecution.  This considered, the speedX is best used on private and commercial property such as production facilities, camp sites, marinas and similar locations.

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03  Do I have to register my electroscooter?
In order to use the scooter on the road, you must take out third-party insurance.  As already noted, road use is only possible for the etolino.  When purchasing the etolino, you will receive the necessary documentation, which you should take to your motor insurance company.  For about 60 € per year you will promptly receive the necessary license plate.   All you have to do is attach this to your scooter, and you’re ready to go!

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04  How much does the electroscooter cost to run?
Electroscooters are not liable for road tax!  The minimal running costs are the insurance plate and regular battery charges.  Your insurance premiums will be in the 50-60€ p.a. range, depending on duration of insurance and registration. The insurance period runs from the beginning of March until the end or February. Premiums are on a pro rata basis – if you register your vehicle in Juli, you only pay 2/3 of the full premium for the rest of that year.  In addition, you should calculate ca. 50c per 100km for electricity.  With many power companies you may even pay less.

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05  Does my electroscooter have to pass a road test?
No!  We have already taken care of that for you.  The scooter also does not have to be subjected to a renewed test in the future.

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06  Where can I ride electroscooters?
You can use the etolino electroscooter on all public roads.  In addition, you may use any bicycle lanes that permit mopeds up to 25km/h.  Sidewalks and pedestrian zones are normally only open to electroscooters that do not exceed a high speed of 6km/h.  This normally applies only to electric wheelchairs.

The speedX electroscooter without saddle can only be used on private property, including production facilities, exhibition halls, campsites, marinas and similar areas.  Please make sure to ask for permission from the owner before use.  Use on public roads is not permitted.  In public pedestrian zones, prosecution is at the discretion of the law enforcement agent, but there is no legal basis for using the speedX in such areas.  This means you can be charged for operating a motorized vehicle without insurance – and the fines for such an offense can be very high!

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07  Do I need a driver’s license for electroscooters?
If you were born before 1.4.1965 you don’t need a driver’s licence.  Younger riders need at least a moped licence, which means a minimum age of 15 to ride the etolino.  If you have an automobile or motorcycle drivers licence, you can of course ride the etolino without any additional driving test.

As the speedX electroscooter is only admissible on private property, you don’t need a drivers licence.  However, we recommend that the rider be at least12 years old, and should wear protective clothing.

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08  How fast are the electroscooters?
Depending on power output, battery output and tax laws, electroscooters can vary in their top speeds.  The etolino electroscooter from cleantransport.com is limited to 20km/h top speed for the German market.  Up to this top speed the rider does not need to wear a helmet.  The speedX electroscooter has a top speed of ca. 18 km/h.  Please note that with both scooters top speed may vary according to total weight, baggage, road conditions and tyre pressure.

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09  Do I have to wear a helmet?
No.  In general, wearing a helmet is recommended for your safety.  However, contrary to the rules for motorcycles wearing a helmet is not mandatory up to a top speed of 20km/h.  Therefore, you can use a bicycle helmet or not use one at all.

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10  Will the electroscooter get me up an incline?
Normal inclines on the road are not more than 5%.  A mountain road has an incline of 6-8% and even in high-rise parking lots the ramps rarely exceed 10%.  The etolino electorscooter can navigate a 12% incline from a standing start.  Even the speedX scooter will manage a 9% incline with a rider weight of 85kg. So, no need to worry about the next bridge or hill!

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11  How far will I get on a fully charged battery?
The etolino electroscooter has a strong 400 W motor, powered by three 12V/12Ah batteries.  The Bleifliesbatterien, specially developed for electronically powered vehicles, use energy particularly efficiently. Dependent on rider weight, baggage, road conditions and tyre pressure you can attain a range of 22-32 km on a fully charged battery.

The 280 W motor of the speedX electroscooter is powered by two 12V/12Ah batteries.  Dependent on rider weight, baggage, road conditions and tyre pressure the speedX will take you 15-18 km on a fully charged battery.

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12  How can I increase the range of my electroscooter?
You know from experience that one crate of bottled water is easier to carry than two.  In the same way, the electronic motor uses more energy, the more weight it has to propel forward.  In order to make this as efficient as possible, you should always make sure that the tyres have the correct pressure.  The higher the pressure, the less rolling resistance the tyres create on the road surface.  Therefore, the motor uses less energy on a flat, smooth surface than on a rough one, for instance a gravel path.  As with automobiles, the driving style is also important.  Standing starts up a hill, harsh acceleration and quick alternation between accelerator and brakes all reduce the range noticeably.

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13 How long does it take for the battery to fully charge?
The charger delivers enough energy in one hour for 5-7km.  Therefore, the etolino is fully charged within 4-5 hours.  The speedX is fully charged in 3-4 hours. We recommend you charge the batteries overnight, to ensure that they are completely full and ready for use.  Please don’t forget to turn off the scooter while charging, and do not leave the charger attached if the scooter is out of use for a longer period of time.

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14  How much electricity does charging the battery use?
Using an average priced power company, one kilometer should costyou roughly 0.5 cents. This corresponds to a consumption of 50 cents per 100km.  In a best case scenario, you may make do with 10 cents per 100km!

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15  How can I increase the longevity of my battery?
The general rule is:  look after your batteries!  Sealed lead acid battery aren’t susceptible to ‘memory effects’, but at the same time they should not be completely discharged.  Therefore, you should aim to recharge the batteries after every trip. If you plan to store the batteries over a longer period of time, be sure to connect the batteries to the charger over night at least once every 3-4 months.

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16  How many times can I recharge my battery?
If cared for correctly, you can recharge the batteries about 250 times.  This corresponds to a life cycle of about two years.  You can find spare batteries in our online shop under ‘spare parts’.

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