Zinc sells out its Formula E model scooter, renews calls for legalisation

British e-scooter brand Zinc has announced that its Formula E model e-scooter has sold out online, with the company renewing its call for the legalisation of private e-scooters. 

Launched in mid-December, the Zinc Formula E GZ1 e-scooter is a collaboration model with the Formula E motor racing series, and features a 13-mile range battery and offers a top-speed of 15.5mph.

The Formula E scooter has now sold out online, but is still available from high street retailer Argos in the UK. 

Chirag Shah, chief operating officer at Zinc Sports says: “The Formula E GZ1 Series Electric Scooter has proven a phenomenal hit. We knew the collaboration would be a massive success, but we’ve been overwhelmed by the demand. It’s great to see the public’s appetite for e-scooters that can be used recreationally and on private land, but it would be great to see the laws in the UK catch up with the rest of the world so that users can exercise the same rights and freedoms that other road users enjoy in more European countries. We think if e-scooters were regulated and licensed this could increase the safety factor of e-scooters with education and simple accessories like helmets, lights and reflective strips.” 

It is currently illegal to ride privately-owned e-scooters on public roads in the UK, but the Government has previously announced plans for a new low-emission, low-speed vehicle category, which would pave the way for legalisation.

It is not currently clear when this legislation would be ratified, although previous reports have suggested summer 2023. 

E-scooters are only legal on the roads in the UK as part of Government-backed rental trials, taking place across the country. 

The first trials were introduced in 2020, with the Government now extending the schemes until 2024.

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While many authorities have opted to extend the e-scooter trials in their areas, including London, some areas opted to ban e-scooters over safety concerns, including Kent.