As of January 22, all personal mobility vehicles (VMP), including electric scooters, that go on sale in Spain must have the corresponding certification for their use. Since last Sunday, all units sold must prove that they comply with the technical specifications detailed in the Official State Gazette of January 21, 2022.
These specifications focus on the minimum quality and durability standards that these vehicles must meet, establishing a regulatory framework to guarantee the reliability and safety of the VMPs available on the Spanish market. Manufacturers have had a period of two years to adjust their production processes to the new technical guidelines established by the General Directorate of Traffic (DGT).
Consequently, all electric scooters currently available for purchase, both in physical stores and on online platforms, must have the corresponding certification. This requirement seeks to ensure not only uniformity in the quality of VMPs, but also to reinforce the security and trust of users, marking a significant milestone in the regulation and control of these devices in the Spanish market.
The characteristics that electric scooters, as well as the rest of the VMP, must meet to be certified for use are outlined below.
People who travel in VMP marketed until January 21, 2024 will be able to circulate until February 22, 2027 even if they do not have a certificate. From that date, only VMPs that have certification will be able to do so.
The General Directorate of Traffic reminds that some vehicles are marketed under the name of VMP without being one. To avoid confusion, Traffic refers users to the definition that the General Vehicle Regulations make of these vehicles.
According to the regulations, a personal mobility vehicle is called a vehicle with one or more wheels equipped with a single seat and powered exclusively by electric motors (batteries up to 100 VDC and with an integrated charger of up to 240 VAC input) that can provide the Vehicles with a maximum design speed of between 6 and 25 km/h and which can only be equipped with a seat or saddle are equipped with self-balancing systems.