Rise in Private Electric Scooters in Germany

The number of privately owned electric scooters on the roads in Germany is on the rise, according to insurance providers. As of 2023, there are approximately 780,000 insured electric scooters, marking an increase of over 200,000 units or 37 percent compared to the previous year.

Additionally, the fleet of rental scooters has grown by nine percent, reaching a total of 210,000 units. In summary, there are nearly 990,000 electric scooters registered for insurance in Germany this year.

Electric scooters have quickly become a common sight in urban areas, offering an alternative for short journeys that were traditionally made by cars, bicycles, mopeds, or on foot. Anja Käfer-Rohrbach, the deputy CEO of the German Insurance Association (GDV), highlighted this trend while discussing the advantages and disadvantages of electric scooters at the Traffic Court Day in Goslar.

However, the increasing number of electric scooters has also led to a rise in accidents. According to the Federal Statistical Office, the number of reported accidents involving electric scooters with injuries rose from 8,443 in 2022 to 9,439 in 2023. Despite this increase, electric scooter incidents still represent a relatively small fraction of total road traffic accidents, with the proportion of scooters involved in accidents decreasing overall.

Many of the accidents tend to involve rental scooters, which are predominantly used by younger and less experienced riders. In 2023, rental scooters accounted for 21 percent of all electric scooters but were responsible for 39 percent of all insured liability claims related to scooter accidents.

Insurance providers recorded almost 5,000 claims related to electric scooters in 2023, resulting in total payouts of approximately 25.5 million euros. In light of these figures, the GDV is advocating for improved bike lanes that can accommodate electric scooters to enhance safety for all road users.