WHERE TO BUY E-SCOOTERS IN BIRMINGHAM
Written by Ed Wiles, Scootered Founder
Key Points
What is an e-scooter?
E-scooters, such as the new Xiaomi range, are personal transporters suitable for teenagers and adults. They came to prominence in North America and then Europe when scooter hire companies Bird and Lime put thousands of them on the streets of cities across those two continents. They remain controversial in the UK (as of July 2020) due to not being legal to ride on public roads (unless hired). However, as with the vast majority of police forces, West Midlands police have not recorded taking any action against e-scooter riders and Birmingham, alongside Coventry and Solihull, forms part of the West Midlands Future Mobility Zone, where new forms of transport, including e-scooters, are being tested. So it is safe to assume you can ride an electric scooter around Birmingham and its suburbs without problems and, as reported by the Birmingham Mail, e-scooters would slash journey times from commuters in the city.
Where to buy e-scooters in Birmingham?
At the time of writing, there are very few bricks and mortar stores selling e-scooters in Birmingham (or anywhere else in the West Midlands for that matter). Halfords in Shirley is the only store I could find. The other option for Birmingham residents looking to buy an electric scooter is to buy from an online retailer like Scootered (we are based in the southeast but my maternal family hails from Birmingham - and my parents were married in Kings Norton - so I feel part-Brummie). Of course, you may prefer to be able to physically see and touch your e-scooter before you buy it, and unfortunately Halfords rarely have models on display. Otherwise, you can visit London's Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park or try them in most European capitals. Bird is the company hiring them in London, using the Xiaomi M365, which cost £1 to unlock. However, both Bird and Lime have been updating their scooters with non-retail bespoke models.
Why Buy From Scootered?
Scootered was founded in 2019 with the aim of offering the best e-scooters at the best prices with a reassuring two-year, UK-based warranty. The southeast has been our biggest market but there is no reason why residents and commuters in Birmingham should not benefit from our discounted scooters too. Of course, if you are buying online you could argue that it does not matter where the company is based and this is essentially true: the most important things to bear in mind are where the stock is held (it is best if the stock is housed in the UK), the warranty offered with the e-scooter and that the company is UK registered (in case something goes wrong).
The Xiaomi 1S
Conclusion
Although more bricks and mortar stores selling electric scooters may pop up in Birmingham when the law changes, it is also worth noting that High Streets are transforming across the country, including in Birmingham and its suburbs, as consumers increasingly purchase goods online. The cost of renting a shop (plus the ridiculous business rates) means that bricks and mortar retailers are forced to sell at a higher price to cover their costs, which is why so many High Street retailers have struggled against e-tailers. This is why we believe you will struggle to find a better deal in Birmingham for well-regarded e-scooters, such as the Xiaomi 1S or Pro 2. Added to this, you have the peace of mind of dealing with a UK company offering full warranties.