If you thought that 60 mph (100 km/h) electric scooter was a good idea, you might want to think again. It’s getting easier than ever for police to catch illegally fast micromobility devices with simple roadside tests.

Police in Zurich, Switzerland, have unveiled a new weapon in their war against overpowered electric two-wheelers – and it fits in a briefcase.

The Zurich State Police recently posted a video online showing officers using a compact, suitcase-sized dynamometer to test the top speed of e-bikes and e-scooters right on the roadside.

The device, made by Swiss company Wenger, lets police quickly measure the peak speed of a vehicle without needing a full test track or lab. It’s like a small dyno that fits in your lap. It doesn’t appear to measure power output (though we’ve seen larger versions that can), but it serves as a quick loaded speed test in a pinch.

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In the video, officers roll a scooter onto the small platform, spin up the wheel, and the digital readout tells them exactly how fast the machine can go. This test showed an e-scooter capable of over 110 km/h (68 mph) – a jaw-dropping figure considering the legal limit for e-scooters in Switzerland is just 20 km/h (12 mph).

“Nowadays, e-scooters are a popular way to get around the city quickly and comfortably. However, the driver of this e-scooter exceeded the permissible maximum speed of 20 km/h by five times the permissible, endangering not only himself, but also others,” explained the police.

Overpowered e-bikes and scooters are becoming a growing issue around the world. Many riders modify their motors or install “speed unlockers” to bypass factory limits, turning them into lightweight electric motorcycles without the required registration, insurance, or safety gear. Zurich police say they’re increasingly finding illegal modifications, and tools like this portable dyno make enforcement easier than ever… if they can catch the riders.

Electrek’s Take

This little briefcase dynamometer is undeniably clever – and it’s cool to see such portable testing tech in action. But it also highlights how outdated many micromobility laws have become. If we applied the same logic to cars, my mom’s minivan could triple the local speed limit, and she’d be at risk of getting it confiscated each time she drove to the supermarket.

Instead of cracking down on potential speed, maybe regulators should focus on how these vehicles are actually used – not just what they’re capable of. Or if we accept that we should be limiting the maximum output speed of scooters that weigh as much as a toddler, perhaps that might also be a good idea for cars and trucks that weigh as much as a… truck?

DHL Express has more than 10,000 eSprinter vans in its global delivery fleet, but none of those have been deployed in North America – until now, that is! The company recently added 45 new Mercedes eSprinter panel vans, and they’ve got plans for plenty more!

While Mercedes offers its eSprinters with a promised 206 mile estimated range, DHL says it’s consistently seen them exceed 240 miles in stop-and-go delivery duty, making them the longest-range battery electric vehicles in DHL’s US fleet.

This extended capacity makes them ideally suited for urban logistics while expanding their potential use in longer delivery routes. The eSprinter vans also offer the same massive cargo capacity as their diesel-powered brothers, making them efficient last-mile delivery solutions that don’t compromise on payload or operational reliability.

And, of course, the eSprinter will do all of that without the noise, vibration, and harmful carbon emissions of diesel.

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“Electrifying our fleet is one of the most visible and impactful ways we are moving toward a more sustainable future,” explains Greg Hewitt, CEO of DHL Express, US. “The Mercedes-Benz eSprinter brings an extended range and proven cargo capabilities that allow us to serve our customers with zero emissions, while also advancing our global goal of more sustainable logistics. These vehicles not only strengthen our operations in major US cities but also set the stage for future electric fleet growth across the Americas.”

The 45 eSprinters will see deployment in Chicago, Indiana, and Pittsburg, and will act as a first step DHL’s global Sustainability Roadmap, which will see the company electrify 66% of its last-mile US delivery fleet (and some of its long-haul fleet operations) by 2030.

Electrek’s Take

In addition to these 45 vans, DHL is electrifying its European and Asian delivery fleets, ramping up its sustainable aviation fuel use, and even exploring electric semis, eVTOL and hybrid aircraft deliveries, and more.

In short, they’re doing the right thing – or seem to be, anyway. Whether or not that commitment to decarbonization will win them more American customers remains to be seen.

SOURCE | IMAGES: DHL, via PR Newswire.

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