Mr. Brit Moller:

I thank the Senator for the question. The approach taken so far by allowing the Department to revise the standards when it comes to vehicle weight or power output is the right way to go. As I mentioned in my opening remarks, following international precedent is important so that there are not new standards being pulled out of a hat. Specifically, when it comes to power output, 500 W as a maximum continuous rate of power is the standard. Companies can always do their part to regulate the actual maximum speed of the vehicle. Even if the power output is 500 W, the maximum speed can be 12 km/h or 15 km/h, as deemed appropriate by a local authority. When it comes to vehicle weight, we recommend, also in line with international precedent, around 50 kg. That allows a wide variety of vehicle and for more safety technologies to be put on the vehicle. Lastly, one other vehicle specification point worth considering is the number of wheels on e-scooters. This is form-factor is evolving quickly. Some e-scooters now have three wheels which can make them more appealing to people like my mother who might not want to get on a two-wheel e-scooter because she would feel the balance is not great. Allowing for multiple, maybe three-wheel vehicles also might broaden the field to the public.