In the Hamburg subway, you are no longer allowed to take e-scooters (meaning “scooters” with an electric drive and not electric scooters). This was announced by Hamburger Hochbahn, the operator of the Hanseatic city’s subway.
The ban on taking e-scooters with you will apply from August 24, 2023. This was preceded by an expert opinion and international incidents with burning e-scooter batteries in local public transport. The burning batteries caused a lot of smoke. In order to evaluate these incidents abroad, Hochbahn had commissioned the STUVA (Study Society for Tunnels and Traffic Systems) to carry out a report to determine the risk emanating from burning batteries in the Hamburg subway.
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Hochbahn sums up the result of the report as follows:
Under the specific conditions of the Hamburg subway system with its many tunnel sections, relatively narrow subway vehicles and the delimited wagons (DT4), the risk of passengers suffering health damage from possible smoke development is too high. Until there are clear safety standards, taking e-scooters with you is therefore prohibited. Passengers will be informed about this new regulation by means of pictograms at the bus stop entrances, among other things.
Hamburger Hochbahn AG
In Barcelona and London, among other places, e-scooters had ignited themselves. This resulted in an enormous amount of smoke, and harmful substances were released during the fires. Both Barcelona and London have therefore now banned the carriage of e-scooters: In London, e-scooters are not only banned on the subway, but also on all buses, trains and trams.
Pedelecs and e-wheelchairs, on the other hand, have the appropriate safety standards and are therefore not affected by the ban. Also not affected are the ride-on electric vehicles (electric scooters), which are often used by people with restricted mobility. The e-scooter ban for the Hamburg subway can be lifted as soon as a corresponding DIN standard exists. However, it is not known when this regulation will come into force.
Transporting electric cars on ships also appears to be proving to be a safety issue.
Some time ago, the news circulated that some car park operators were banning parking for e-cars. However, these are justified exceptions: No underground parking ban for electric and hybrid cars in most cities.
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