The market for electric scooters - France

An electric scooter is a type of personal transport vehicle that uses a battery to power an electric motor. Unlike gas-powered scooters, electric scooters produce no exhaust fumes and are therefore considered a cleaner, quieter alternative to traditional scooters. They are often used in cities because of their low noise and environmental footprint. Electric scooters are divided into 2 categories according to their power: an electric scooter with a top speed of 45km/h and a power rating of less than 4kW is equivalent to a 50cc petrol scooter. An electric scooter with a top speed of over 45km/h and a power rating of over 4kw is assimilated to the category above, equivalent to 125cc. The first electric scooters appeared on the market in 2008 , and the electric scooter market has seen significant growth in recent years, particularly in Europe, where the number of electric scooter registrations has risen by 12.5% between 2020 and 2021. This growth is linked to the desire of many people to switch to more sustainable, less polluting electric means of transport. Despite a drop in sales in 2023 due to high inflation and falling purchasing power, the French market for electric scooters has been growing strongly for several years. However, it still lags behind the petrol scooter market (17,391 electric scooters sold in 2023 versus 57,000 petrol scooters). The most popular electric scooter brands in France include Super Soco, Silence and Niu, but there is strong competition in this market and new players are appearing regularly. The electric scooter market is expected to grow significantly over the coming years, both in France and worldwide. This growth is due to several factors, such as the expansion ofcar-sharing and government efforts to promote the adoption of electric vehicles.