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Engadget
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Engadget
The UK needs to deal with its e-scooter problem
E-scooters could be a vital tool to eliminate unnecessary car journeys, cutting emissions and journey times. Unfortunately, the UK is the last major European nation to not allow them to be ridden on most public roads. They've proliferated illegally anyway, and are now an issue the country can no longer afford to drag its heels on. The benefits of e-scooters are obvious: They're cheap to buy and maintain, cost very little to run and have a small physical and environmental footprint. In 2022, the Fraunhofer Institute found that e-scooters contributed to a drop in carbon emissions in several cities that embraced raw materials that go into making one EV could be used for more than one hundred e-scooters . Collective Mobility UK (CoMoUK), the body representing the shared transport industry, found that 21 percent of all shared e-scooter trips in the UK were made in place of using a car . Richard Dilks, CEO of CoMoUK said that e-scooters 'plumb directly into so many policy goals that [the] government has,' most notably its need to reach net zero emissions by 2050: CoMoUK's research indicates more than half of all car trips could be replaced by e-bikes or scooters, eliminating one megaton of CO2 emissions per year. Unfortunately, the UK does not have a vehicle class addressing personal transportation outside the realm of bikes, motorcycles and cars. E-scooters, Segways, 'hoverboards,' gas-powered kick scooters, u-wheels (like the OneWheel) and electric unicycles are all in this gray zone. In the UK, they're given the umbrella term of ' Powered Transporters ,' but have no strict legal definition. Consequently, they're legally defined as motor vehicles , but because they lack most of the key features of a motor vehicle — which includes both a lack of safety equipment like seatbelts and airbags as well as the owner paying road tax, having insurance and being licensed to drive one — it's illegal to use them on public roads and sidewalks . The absurdity of the situation is made worse given that e-bikes have fairly minimal regulations on speed and motor output power — and have consequently become ubiquitous. Despite this classification issue, it's legal to buy e-scooters at a number of major retailers. All a seller has to do is provide 'accurate information about the legal restrictions on their use' — that they're only allowed to be used on private land — and they're in the clear. Take this retail listing for the Pure Air 5 , which even advises users it's good for 'quick trips,' 'comfortable rides' and 'daily use.' It's only at the very bottom of the page, hidden below the cart pop-up, that the disclaimer saying they cannot be used on public highways, is displayed. As you can imagine, technically illegal use of e-scooters on roadways is rampant. There is no accurate data on precisely how rampant, but the UK government believes more than one million privately-owned e-scooters are used on public roads. These e-scooters, not part of a sharing scheme and therefore illegal, are nevertheless used with impunity. The London Assembly believed that, in 2021, there were more than 150,000 privately-owned e-scooters in London alone . Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Police, the force covering greater London, seized only 1,067 e-scooters between 2021 and mid-2024 . It's an all too common sight to see people riding these scooters despite the risks, which are severe. It varies between police forces, but riders caught face losing their e-scooter, a fine of up to £300 (around $400) and having at least six penalty points put on their driving licence. Easy availability and limited enforcement mean the rules on e-scooter use isn't clear in the public's mind. Last year, the UK government published data showing almost half the people polled incorrectly believed private e-scooter use on public highways was legal. Finnbarr Webster via Getty Images In 2020, as part of its strategy to broaden public transit options during the COVID lockdowns, the UK authorized a series of short-term e-scooter trials. As well as offering people low-carbon ways of traveling that didn't involve sharing other people's air, the trials would inform how the government regulated e-scooters . These trials were run by sharing companies in 30 areas, which were subject to speed limits, age restrictions and were only allowed to be ridden on roads or cycle paths, rather than walkways. Many companies insisted only riders with driving licenses were allowed to participate. Two years later, the country stated its intention to classify and regulate powered transporters at the start of that legislative period. But the collapse of the then Prime Minister Boris Johnson's cabinet meant it was put on hold. Then the UK went through three Prime Ministers in the following three years, and micromobility has not been a priority for any of them so far. In fact, the only thing the government has done is repeatedly extend the deadline for the trial operations — most recently to May 2026. And that's where we're at. Late last year, transport secretary Louise Haigh said that the government "will look to legislate" at some point in the future. The earliest that could happen is at the next legislative session, which would not begin until the fall of 2025. Naturally, the passing of such a law would not be a swift process, and would likely be held up as e-scooters are their own front in the culture war. The UK's Royal Society for the Protection of Accidents (RoSPA) believes, not unsurprisingly, that the legal regime should impose strong safety standards and vehicle checks. It also advocates a system to train riders, which has to be completed before they are permitted to operate an e-scooter. Additionally, given its concern for other users, it wants to see safe and accessible parking implemented in order to prevent the issue of e-scooters dumped in the street . I myself would go further, insisting upon mandatory helmet use, a licensing system and the requirement for insurance. I'd like e-scooters to be able to share segregated routes alongside bicycles rather than forcing riders to vie with traffic. It would also be beneficial if drivers were potentially at risk of additional penalties to encourage them to further respect e-scooters. It would also, perhaps, be worth unifying the legal regime for powered transports and e-bikes since they are all similarly capable of traveling at injurious speed. The one thing I wouldn't advocate is a cap on maximum power output given the risk it may hamper e-scooter development. After all, the UK has plenty of steep hills that e-bikes, capped at 250W maximum output, simply will not climb even at full power. This is why a cap on overall speed, rather than power — for every device in this category — since it'll enable manufacturers to at least make sure their vehicles can manage elevation changes. This is a minor issue, but one that's likely to get lost in the clamoring when uninformed voices get to shout louder than the rest. The UK government doesn't know how many privately-owned e-scooters are on its roads, but it is starting to collect data about its effects. The Department for Transport published statistics through to the end of 2023, but admitted the numbers aren't entirely accurate. Still, the trends are obvious: Accident tallies spike each summer, mostly taking place between 4 and 6pm – during the evening rush hour. And young people are being injured in far greater numbers — males between the ages of 10 and 29 make up the majority of those affected. Earlier this year, BBC News reported two children, aged 16 and 9, died as a result of their e-scooter being struck by a car. In short: the lack of regulation hasn't just stunted an environmentally preferable alternative to cars, it seems to also be putting young riders at risk. If you buy something through a link in this article, we may earn commission.
The Sun
04-07-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Germany proposes new law to boost geothermal energy expansion
BERLIN: Germany's economy ministry presented a draft law on Friday that would accelerate the expansion of geothermal energy projects, as Berlin aims to phase out the use of fossil fuels in heating systems by 2045. Germany possesses some of Europe's largest geothermal reserves, which could cover more than a quarter of its annual heating demand, a study by Fraunhofer Institute showed in 2023. But development has long been stalled by local resistance and regulatory red tape. The new bill offers simplified approval procedures for geothermal facilities, heat pumps, heat storage, and heating pipelines. It would legally designate these projects as being of 'overriding public interest', similar to the status given to wind and solar energy, and push for accelerated permitting through changes in mining, water, and environmental laws. It would also give government mining authorities fixed deadlines for project approval procedures and ease restrictions on geothermal exploration. Under the bill, mining authorities would be able to waive a requirement for an operational plan for larger heat generation projects under certain conditions and would be required to respond within set deadlines when notified of planned drilling activities. It also gives them the power to require geothermal companies to provide financial security against potential mining damages related to their projects. The renewed interest in geothermal energy in Germany follows an energy price spike resulting from Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine that prompted major municipal utilities — as well as German and international fossil fuel firms — to explore new investment opportunities in the sector. Germany's ambitions to cut greenhouse emissions in the building sector, where heating is the main emissions contributor, has also boosted interest in geothermal energy. The new bill, which the economy ministry hopes will enter into force at the start of next year, must now be approved by Germany's cabinet as well as the lower and upper houses of parliament. - Reuters
Zawya
04-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Germany proposes law to speed up geothermal and clean heat expansion
Germany's economy ministry presented a draft law on Friday that would accelerate the expansion of geothermal energy projects, as Berlin aims to phase out the use of fossil fuels in heating systems by 2045. Germany possesses some of Europe's largest geothermal reserves, which could cover more than a quarter of its annual heating demand, a study by Fraunhofer Institute showed in 2023. But development has long been stalled by local resistance and regulatory red tape. The new bill offers simplified approval procedures for geothermal facilities, heat pumps, heat storage, and heating pipelines. It would legally designate these projects as being of "overriding public interest", similar to the status given to wind and solar energy, and push for accelerated permitting through changes in mining, water, and environmental laws. It would also give government mining authorities fixed deadlines for project approval procedures and ease restrictions on geothermal exploration. Under the bill, mining authorities would be able to waive a requirement for an operational plan for larger heat generation projects under certain conditions and would be required to respond within set deadlines when notified of planned drilling activities. It also gives them the power to require geothermal companies to provide financial security against potential mining damages related to their projects. The renewed interest in geothermal energy in Germany follows an energy price spike resulting from Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine that prompted major municipal utilities — as well as German and international fossil fuel firms — to explore new investment opportunities in the sector. Germany's ambitions to cut greenhouse emissions in the building sector, where heating is the main emissions contributor, has also boosted interest in geothermal energy. The new bill, which the economy ministry hopes will enter into force at the start of next year, must now be approved by Germany's cabinet as well as the lower and upper houses of parliament.
Reuters
04-07-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Germany proposes law to speed up geothermal and clean heat expansion
BERLIN, July 4 (Reuters) - Germany's economy ministry presented a draft law on Friday that would accelerate the expansion of geothermal energy projects, as Berlin aims to phase out the use of fossil fuels in heating systems by 2045. Germany possesses some of Europe's largest geothermal reserves, which could cover more than a quarter of its annual heating demand, a study by Fraunhofer Institute showed in 2023. But development has long been stalled by local resistance and regulatory red tape. The new bill offers simplified approval procedures for geothermal facilities, heat pumps, heat storage, and heating pipelines. It would legally designate these projects as being of "overriding public interest", similar to the status given to wind and solar energy, and push for accelerated permitting through changes in mining, water, and environmental laws. It would also give government mining authorities fixed deadlines for project approval procedures and ease restrictions on geothermal exploration. Under the bill, mining authorities would be able to waive a requirement for an operational plan for larger heat generation projects under certain conditions and would be required to respond within set deadlines when notified of planned drilling activities. It also gives them the power to require geothermal companies to provide financial security against potential mining damages related to their projects. The renewed interest in geothermal energy in Germany follows an energy price spike resulting from Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine that prompted major municipal utilities — as well as German and international fossil fuel firms — to explore new investment opportunities in the sector. Germany's ambitions to cut greenhouse emissions in the building sector, where heating is the main emissions contributor, has also boosted interest in geothermal energy. The new bill, which the economy ministry hopes will enter into force at the start of next year, must now be approved by Germany's cabinet as well as the lower and upper houses of parliament.
Hindustan Times
01-06-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Transforming India's innovation ecosystem
Classical growth models treated technology as an exogenous factor that drives development. However, modern growth theory suggests technology is an endogenous factor, a product of investments in education, innovation, and ideas. This has important implications for India's growth story. However, we have not yet fully leveraged our innovation potential. India's research and development (R&D) expenditure, as a percentage of gross domestic product (GDP), remains around 0.7% — in comparison, it is 5.2% for South Korea, 2.6% for China, and 3.6% for the US. To bridge this gap, the ₹1 lakh crore R&D fund announced in July 2024 and the fund of funds for deep tech announced in February 2025 must be operationalised at the earliest. While we are granting more patents than ever — over 100,000 granted in 2023-24 — most of them remain uncommercialised. A study by the Fraunhofer Institute reveals that, over the last decade, payments for intellectual property rights (IPR) have increased from $4.8 billion to $14 billion. The number of IPR receipts have doubled from 0.7 to 1.5 billion. Thus, there is a wide gap between payments and receipts. At the same time, global dynamics are shifting. Advanced economies are cutting funding for research departments and universities. In the US, tensions are escalating between Harvard University and the Trump administration. Norms on student visas are also becoming stricter in developed countries. This is an opportune time for India to make a strategic leap forward in building our innovation ecosystem. We need attract and retain talent, and we need the infrastructure. Existing schemes, such as the Visiting Advanced Joint Research Faculty (VAJRA) and the Global Initiative for Academic Networks (GIAN), are extremely limited in scope. We need to think big and bring the best Indian minds back to India. A dedicated national programme with two tracks can help do this. Under Track 1, we should aim to invite 500 top academics from the world's top 100 universities. These researchers should be required to spend six months of the year in India for the next five years. A startup grant of $1 million can be provided to set up research labs or projects. The goal should be to build local capacity. Track 2 can focus on offering sabbaticals to faculty from the world's top 200 universities. These sabbaticals can be supported by grants of $100,000, with annual top-ups. These researchers should be required to engage and mentor students, ensuring knowledge transfer and ecosystem development. We also need to build the requisite infrastructure for an innovation ecosystem. We need world-class innovation infrastructure, not just for design, but also for prototyping and testing — crucial for product development. Common prototyping labs and design studios in our academic institutes are one avenue. Advanced testing facilities and labs across sectors should be established, in and around clusters, in partnership with educational institutes. Our experience with digital public infrastructure (DPI) and open-access data provides a solid foundation. Take, for instance, the compute clusters being provided under the IndiaAI Mission. Similar models can be explored in deep tech areas. If we are to become a product nation, then the gap between academic and industrial research needs to be bridged. There are several successful models worldwide. The Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG) is a pioneering example. Based at the University of Warwick, it brings together researchers and industry, innovating across sectors such as auto, healthcare, and batteries, among others. Not just industrial research, but the centre offers academic degrees at all levels, degree internships, and hosts a skills-centre. This can serve as a potential model for India to emulate in leading institutes or Institutes of Eminence (IoE). Each year, hundreds of thousands of our students go abroad to study in countries such as the US, the UK, Australia, and Canada. Increasingly, we are seeing countries tighten norms on student visas. Immigration routes are also becoming stricter post-education. While we spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on education, an alternative could be to invite these global universities to set up campuses in India. Monash University in Australia and the University of Nottingham in the UK, for instance, have set up campuses in Malaysia. New York University (NYU) set up campuses in Abu Dhabi and Shanghai. These universities collaborated with the government, industry, and existing academic institutes to establish and scale up operations. This would allow India to retain talent first, but also attract students from the Global South. Apart from playing an enabling role, governments worldwide have also given a boost to the innovation ecosystem by becoming key buyers of technology. The US' Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is a pertinent example. DARPA catalysed breakthroughs like the internet and GPS, for instance. The Union government can play a similar role, catalysing innovations into real-world solutions, especially in the socio-economic sphere. Our socio-economic challenges require innovative solutions with a public purpose. India can take the lead in the technologies that will define the future — AI, quantum computing, green hydrogen, and semiconductors — through this approach. Grand challenges can play a catalytic role in this aspect. With outcome-based tenders and phased grants with buy-back commitments, the government can send strong market signals and reduce technology adoption risk. To emerge as a true innovation leader, India must act with urgency and ambition. The building blocks are clear — world-class talent, robust infrastructure, strong industry-academia linkages, and catalytic public procurement. These steps will help India transition from being a consumer of global technologies to a developer of frontier solutions. Transforming India's innovation ecosystem needs both direction from government policy and participation of private enterprise. This is not a time for incrementalism. We need to act boldly, and private enterprise must be at the heart of this transformation. Amitabh Kant is India's G20 Sherpa, and former CEO of NITI Aayog. The views expressed are personal Get 360° coverage—from daily headlines to 100 year archives.
