SINGAPORE — Some businesses have expressed concern over the authorities’ plan to register electric scooters, noting how an earlier move to register e-bicycles led to a drop in demand.

E-scooter users wondered if the requirement unfairly penalised responsible riders.

Senior Minister of State for Transport Lam Pin Min announced the new regulations in Parliament at his ministry’s Committee of Supply debate on Wednesday (March 7).

Owners of e-scooters will have to register from the second half of this year, and paste identification stickers prominently on the devices.

They must ensure the e-scooters meet existing regulations under the Active Mobility Act: A maximum speed of 25km/h on cycling and shared paths in park connectors, a maximum unladen weight not exceeding 20 kg, and a width of no more than 70cm.

General manager for e-scooter distributor Falcon PEV Victor Lee said e-bike sales fell by more than 60 per cent after tighter regulations were announced last year, and wondered if e-scooter sales would see a similar drop.

Food delivery company Deliveroo Singapore said it would work the regulations into its safety protocols and help e-scooter deliverymen to navigate the registration process. Riders of personal mobility devices make up about 5 per cent of its crew of 4,000.

After the rule to register e-bikes was announced, many individuals “flocked over” to e-scooters, noted Mr Dennis Koh, the chairman of Big Wheels Scooters Singapore, an online community of e-scooter enthusiasts with more than 24,000 members.

He felt the limits on size and weight of e-scooters could be raised. Most e-scooters sold now are heavier than 20kg because of advanced features such as shock absorbers, he said.

“If (the authorities) do not adapt the laws, then a large majority of the community would be found with non-compliant e-scooters,” said Mr Koh.

E-scooter rider Fairuz Osman, 24, felt irresponsible users were a small minority and hoped registration would not be a hassle.

Registration of an e-bike costs S$50, and Dr Lam said the authorities will be working to make sure the process for e-scooters is simple and affordable.

National University of Singapore transport researcher Lee Der-Horng told TODAY that the mandatory registration of e-scooters was an “intuitive move”, given their popularity.

But “enforcement must also catch up with legislation”, he said.