Why you shouldn't buy a second hand e-Scooter

E-scooters have been on the streets of Singapore for many years, you can see e-scooters almost everywhere you go. These e-scooters can be used for many different purposes; from commuting to work, to food delivering. Many people claim that e-scooters and other Personal Mobility Devices (PMDs) are the future of daily commuting, mainly because of their affordable prices, how efficient they are, and convenience for the rider.

But, there are still many out there who thinks purchasing a brand-new e-scooter or PMD is too much of an ask. So, instead, they look towards purchasing a second-hand PMD through platforms like Carousell and eBay. This blog is to explain to you readers why you should refrain from doing so as there are risks if you purchase a second-hand one.

Every operating PMD in Singapore must be UL2272 certified from July 2020 onwards. UL2272 is basically a safety-certification awarded to PMDs after going through the strictest and most complex set of safety tests. These tests are conducted to check if the battery and electrical components of the PMDs are up to standard. Using a non-UL2272 certified PMD in Singapore after July 2020 will be illegal and charges would be pressed against you if you are caught doing so. 

So, what does this have to do with purchasing a second-hand e-scooter?

If you buy a second-hand scooter, the previous owner may have done some external tweaks and modifications to the e-scooter. Some may prove to be illegal. For example, adding external batteries to extend the range of the e-scooter may firstly increase the speed limit of the e-scooter, violating the LTA-regulation whereby all PMDs must be capped at a maximum speed of 25km/h. Secondly, adding an external battery, a battery from non-authorised makers will make the e-scooter non-UL2272 certified and it will be unsafe for you to use it and store it at home.

Second-hand e-scooters may be extensively used that may result in some of the electrical or battery components being faulty. Sometimes, it is near impossible to detect any electrical or battery faults with the naked eye. So, there is a high chance that some owners of e-scooters who are selling their rides may claim that the condition is good, when there may be faults and wear in the internal components of the e-scooter.

As of the first half of 2019 there have been 54 fire incidents involving PMDs in Singapore. That’s more than double the PMD fire incidents that happened during the same period in 2018. The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) reported that almost all of the PMD fires were caused by the faulty component of the battery and electrics of non-UL2272 PMDs.

This brings us to the brand new Segway-Ninebot MAX and the Segway-Ninebot ES2. These two e-scooters are produced by the famous Segway-Ninebot and are available for purchase, brand new at our store at 259 Lavender Street or through our online website at www.OhMyBike.com. 

These two reliable e-scooters are both LTA-compliant and UL2272 certified. Meaning, they have gone through the toughest of safety tests, meeting all the LTA standards. You are able to use them in Singapore without worry, even after the July 2020 safety certification deadline.

The all-new Segway-Ninebot MAX is the ‘big brother’ of the ES2, capable of traveling 65km under a single charge. That is more than double the range the ES2 is capable of going (25km). It is the most powerful PMD Segway-Ninebot has produced and it is LTA-compliant and UL2272 certified, so the certification deadline won’t even bother you anyways.

But do note, that the Segway-Ninebot MAX sold at our store and in Singapore in general is different from the MAX sold overseas, like on the IndieGogo website. The MAXs that are sold overseas are capable of travelling up to 35km/h, which is beyond LTA’s regulations as you’re only allowed to have a PMD capped at a top speed of 25km/h. A fine and jail term may be brought against you if you are seen using a non-compliant PMD in Singapore.

In a nutshell, it is a very risky move for you to purchase a second-hand PMD, after the many fire incidents involving faulty and modified PMDs. We strongly encourage you to purchase a brand-new PMD, like the ones we mentioned earlier. It is much better to be safe than sorry.