Can you get your existing e-scooter UL2272 certified?

On 5 August 2019, the Singapore LTA announced that the deadline for PMD users to switch from their non-UL2272 PMDs to a UL2272-certified one has been brought forward to 1 July 2020. The initial deadline of 31 December 2020 was moved forward by six months. This rattled the e-scooter community in Singapore. Many riders were (and still are) worried, and with good reason. Their non-UL2272 scooters will be scrapped in less than 11 months.

The bulk of these riders have been looking into ways to adhere to the new laws. Some have traded in their non-UL2272 scooters for those that are certified and LTA approved. Some have gone even further, giving up their non-UL2272 scooters in exchange for the safest option out there, a good ol’ bicycle! 

But there are some who just can’t come to terms with the facts. They just do not want to part with their e-scooters!

‘There must be some way to get those certifications for my e-scooter right?’ 

‘No need to throw away a perfectly good ride. Just need to slap on that sticker and keep riding. Do some mods can already!’

‘Wah so troublesome. Ah sure can just go and buy the sticker from that bike shop then stick on. Need change my scooter a bit only’

These are some of the questions that have come about from this group immediately after the deadline change was announced. These questions have snowballed and have caused a new topic to emerge amongst e-scooter riders in Singapore. 

Can you modify your existing non-UL2272 e-scooter so that you can get it UL2272 certified?

E-scooter riders from all walks of life have been asking about this. Is it possible to take an existing scooter, that is working totally fine and adhere to LTA’s safety guidelines, and modify it so that it can also get a UL2272 certification? 

The short and simple answer is NO.  

No, you can’t. The UL2272 certification is not just based around LTA’s guidelines for the width, speed, weight and modifications of an e-scooter. It’s not something that the e-scooter companies in Singapore or even LTA conduct or control. The UL2272 is a U.S. certification awarded to electrical mobility devices. The e-scooters must meet the standards of a comprehensive system of safety tests to get this certification. The testing parameters include both electrical and mechanical components as well as environmental aspects to assess electrical safety. 

A few examples of these tests include a temperature test, which determines if a device’s battery cells and critical components are able to withstand specific operating current, voltage and temperature limits during the charging process. Another test, which is conducted under the mechanical tests portion of the testing phase, is the vibration test that evaluates the device’s ability to withstand vibration that may occur during its anticipated use.

These tests are also conducted by batch. What this means is that every new batch of e-scooters, even those of an existing model, will have to go through these testing standards to make sure that they are still up to UL2272 standards. These e-scooters may look the same as the older non-UL2272 certified model on the outside, but the internal workings of the newer batches have been changed completely to make them safer for riders and thus they are given a UL2272 certification. 

There may be a few out there who have told you that it’s not necessary to get a UL2272 e-scooter for that reason. 

‘Since yours is the same model as that certified one all you need to do is buy the logo and paste it on your e-scooter and you’re all set to go! Doesn’t matter that yours is from an older batch, just buy the sticker can already!’

If you are thinking of doing so, I urge you not to. The authorities have their ways of making sure that an e-scooter is genuinely UL2272 certified. Every UL2272 certified e-scooter will have a test certification mark, from the testing lab where they have been tested, affixed onto the bottom of the foot-deck. Officers will be able to check and make sure these marks are genuine so as to determine if a e-scooter is UL2272 certified. The punishment is harsh for riding a e-scooter which does not meet the standards of the UL2272 test.So as we’ve stated above, there is no way for you to get your non-UL2272 scooter certified to the UL2272 standard. This may irk a lot of riders, but for your own safety and the safety of those around you, it is best that you get rid of your old e-scooter and just get one that is UL2272 certified. 

If you are in the market for a new UL2272 certified e-scooter, e-scooter enthusiasts highly recommend the new Segway-Ninebot MAX!

The Segway-Ninebot MAX e-scooter is certified to the UL2272 safety standard by the TUV Rheinland testing facility. You can check that the Segway-Ninebot MAX e-scooter that you purchased in Singapore is UL2272 certified by looking for the following TUV Rheinland logo on the label under your MAX’s foot deck:Check out the Segway-Ninebot MAX at our stores now and test ride it for free to see if it’s the scooter for you! Segway-Ninebot e-scooters and PMDs like the MAX also come with a 12 month limited warranty when you purchase from Mighty Velo. Mighty Velo is a Segway-Ninebot authorized service centre and all our technicians are trained at the Segway-Ninebot factory by their engineers, so you can rest assured that your scooter is in very safe and steady hands!

What’s more, Mighty Velo is the ONLY retailer that offers the option to customise your Segway-Ninebot MAX with 20 exciting colour and pattern choices!