The last mile on the campsite, glamping or in the holiday apartment: tent or caravan parked, but how do you get to the bakery now? We show e-folding bikes, e-scooters and LTE routers, with which you can travel comfortably on vacation.
Let’s go camping! During the corona pandemic and the resulting restrictions on long-haul flights, Germans rediscovered their love of camping. At least if you can believe the car registrations, because the new registrations of campers and caravans rose in 2020 to a high for years. So if you’re going on a camping trip in your second year, you’re probably longing for a little more comfort. Especially on the big campsites, the distances are often further than you think. And if you have to get the rolls in the morning, you’ll think twice about parking in the nice, quiet spot on the corner of the campsite or maybe somewhere more central.
But you can also have both. Because both e-scooters (list of the best) and electric folding bikes (list of the best) have fallen significantly in price in recent years. Not only can you jet off to the bakery in a relaxed manner in the morning, the more modern e-folding bikes in particular are also ideal for trips to the surrounding area. The photos you take there can then be easily shared with others via your own LTE router in the camper.
As part of our Camping theme world , we took a closer look at how you can travel comfortably when the camper is parked and the awning is set up. In this article we show e-scooters, e-folding bikes and LTE routers. On the other hand, if you are looking for more general camping accessories, such as portable grills, solar showers or navigation systems, we recommend the article Camping Gadgets: Useful accessories for tents and caravans .
E-Scooter: You have to pay attention to this when buying
There is now a wide range of e-scooters, most of which are approved for German roads. As our list of the best e-scooters shows, not only expensive devices are included. From 500 euros there is the Xiaomi Mi Scooter Pro 2 (test report) , which comes with a powerful motor.
E-scooters have a few advantages. Most devices can be folded up so small that they only take up minimal space in the trunk or caravan. But you can travel quickly with them, as long as the ground is suitable. The road should be tarred, paved or at least trodden. Most scooters with their comparatively small tires don’t like loose chippings or gravel. If you buy an e-scooter that is street legal in Germany, you can use it in most countries (and especially on private property such as camping sites) without any problems. Germany is one of the strictest when it comes to maximum speed, lighting or braking functions.
The best e-scooters in pictures
On the other hand, if you are looking for more power, you should take a look at the Egret Ten V4 (test report) . Thanks to the 500-watt motor, it accelerates quickly, and the pneumatic tires ensure a very pleasant driving experience. Thanks to its ingenious folding system, the scooter can be stowed away compactly. However, it costs almost 1000 euros more than the Scooter Pro 2. One tip from us for camping trips would be the Elmoto Kick (test report) . The scooter is in the upper middle class in terms of driving experience and range, but it has an ingenious idea: it uses Einhell batteries. In other words, with a set of batteries you can not only power the scooter on the go, but also cordless screwdrivers or other Einhell cordless tools if necessary.
We regularly test e-scooters, all tests appear in the e-scooter theme world . In addition to the constantly updated top 10 list of the best , we maintain the list of the best scooters with the longest battery life .
E-Scooter: These rules apply in Europe
Unlike bicycles without a motor, different rules apply to e-scooters in other EU countries. Depending on the country, it may be that a different speed limit is allowed, that you need a helmet or insurance cover, at least when driving on public roads. The rules can be much looser on campsites, so you should inquire in advance. We have compiled the rules for classic camping locations. They are as of summer 2022, but can change at any time. A first good point of contact is the community page of the e-vehicle manufacturer Niu . In addition to the countries themselves, many localities have additional rules, so you should find out more about them in advance.
In Europe, it looks like e-scooters are becoming more and more equal to wheels. Many countries are introducing compulsory helmets and only allow riding on bike lanes or roads; in many cases, sidewalks are taboo. For this, the scooter should have a working light and proper brakes, usually you have to put on a reflective vest at night. In case of doubt, only one person is allowed per scooter.
Croatia
Croatia already introduced new rules for e-scooters in July 2021. Due to their design, the scooters may not drive faster than 25 km/h and are considered to be similar to bicycles in road traffic. This means that they are primarily on cycle paths. If there are no such paths, the scooters should drive on sidewalks at walking speed. If visibility is poor, you must wear a reflective vest, and drivers under 16 must wear a helmet. More info .
France
France has switched from its relaxed attitude to strict rules – and those who don’t stick to them pay heavily. First of all, the maximum speed is regulated at 25 km/h (1500 euros penalty for violation), you also have to be at least twelve years old and wear a helmet when driving. You are only allowed to be on bike paths or the street, driving on the sidewalk costs as well as “overtaking” pedestrians.
There are additional rules in cities, such as the maximum speed.
Austria
If you want to be legally on the road with an e-scooter in Austria, you can drive a maximum of 25 km/h and are structurally equivalent to a bike – in other words, you have to ride on the bike path. Walking speed is the maximum allowed on sidewalks and paths. In addition, you can only drive alone, phoning is forbidden and you should have less than 0.8 per thousand alcohol in the blood. Overall, the rules in Austria are similar to those in Germany and are well explained here .
Greece
In March 2021, new rules for e-scooters were introduced in Greece, they are roughly analogous to Italy or Austria. The scooters are equivalent to bicycles. Drivers must wear a helmet and, at night, a high-visibility vest. The maximum speed is 25 km/h, on sidewalks you can travel at a maximum of 6 km/h. There is currently no age limit.
Italy
If you want to ride an e-scooter in Italy, you have to be at least 14 and wear a helmet up to your 18th birthday. The scooters are allowed to drive at a maximum of 25 km/h, but only on cycle paths or other paths that are permitted for bicycles. If you are on the sidewalk, you can drive at a maximum of 6 km/h. In the dark, you must wear a reflective vest, and the scooter must have front and rear lights.
Sweden
The e-scooters must not be faster than 20 km/h, anyone under the age of 15 must wear a helmet.
Denmark
Denmark is a bit stricter than Germany, e-scooters are not allowed to drive faster than 20 km/h on Danish cycle paths. The minimum age is 15 and the scooters must have front and rear lights.
Netherlands
One of the few EU countries where e-scooters are not allowed .
Spain
New rules for e-scooters have been in force in Spain since February 2022. According to this, you can drive at a maximum of 25 km/h, but you have to be at least 16 years old. You have to wear a helmet and ride on bike paths or the street – the sidewalk is taboo. Headphones are forbidden, as is alcohol. A blood alcohol content of 0.0 is permitted on the scooter. In addition, insurance is mandatory in some cities, these cost about 30 euros per year. More information
Belgium
In Belgium the maximum speed is 25 km/h. Drivers must be at least 18 and stay off sidewalks.
Take an e-scooter or e-bike with you on the plane? No chance
In most cases, e-scooters, mopeds or bikes cannot be taken on the plane. The reason for this are the lithium-ion batteries, which pose a certain risk of fire. Similar to power banks (guides) or mobile phones, these batteries may only be taken into the passenger compartment as long as they do not exceed a certain capacity. The idea is that in the event of an emergency, you can probably extinguish it in the passenger area, but in the cargo hold it is almost impossible in flight. We are currently not aware of any airline that allows e-bikes or e-scooters to be taken on board.
One option may be to remove the battery, register it at home and buy a new battery when you get to your holiday destination (which will then probably have to stay there). This is not only expensive, it is also unlikely that you can get the respective model there.
E-folding bikes: a lot of power in a small format
If the scooter has too little power or the roads at the campsite are worse, then we recommend using a folding bike. These have been popular with travelers for decades simply because you can fold them to a fraction of their size and store them conveniently. The technology has also developed here and there is now a huge selection of folding bikes that support the driver with a motor.
Fiido M1 Pro
However, you often have to choose between legal and expensive models (e.g. the Bompton Electric M6L (test report) for over 3000 euros) or you choose Chinese bikes. They are cheap, but they are usually not street legal. Reason is things like a throttle. If you are on a large campsite with a forest, you should not click away. Because the foldable e-fatbikes, such as the Fiido M1 Pro (test report) drive well, even off the road. More legal models are slowly coming onto the market, such as the Blaupunkt Fiene 500 (test report).
E-bike transport: trailer hitch, tailgate or car roof?
Why not just take the normal e-bike with you? If there is still space, no problem. However, it should be noted that e-bikes are significantly heavier than their non-electrified counterparts. Accordingly, when buying a bike carrier, you have to pay attention to the maximum load. It is also important where to attach the carrier. With two wheels on the roof, the driving behavior changes, the vehicle is significantly higher and more susceptible to cross winds. Carriers on the tailgate need space, they are usually suitable for station wagons or minibuses. They restrict the view to the rear somewhat. If the trailer hitch is available and still free, there are special carriers for this. They offer a significantly higher payload than a roof rack, for example, but are more expensive.
In the article Transporting E-Bikes Safely by Car: Bike Racks for the Roof and Trailer Hitch, we take a detailed look at the various options, explain the advantages and disadvantages, and provide tips for traveling abroad. Because in Italy, Spain or Portugal you may need a warning sign.
LTE routers and tariffs
If you don’t just want to relax, but maybe also use the caravan as a home office, you will sooner or later stumble across the topic of mobile internet. Yes, many campsites offer WiFi, but it is questionable whether this extends to the camper and whether the throughput is high enough. The remedy is a separate LTE router with a reasonable tariff.
A router offers a number of advantages over tethering a smartphone. It runs on its own power supply or large battery, so you don’t drain your cell phone’s battery. Even more important, however, is that the routers usually have better or more antennas. In a comparison between the Netgear Nighthawk M2 (test report) and two smartphones, the LTE router achieved a significantly higher throughput in the same position. Many of the devices have a socket to which an external antenna can be connected. You can put it on the roof of the camper, for example, to get even better reception.
When it comes to tariffs, on the other hand, it’s more of a misery. In Germany you can only get an unlimited LTE tariff with a router in the O2 network. If 15 GB per month is enough, then you can also get a tariff in the Telekom network, which then costs from 20 euros. We show even more offers in the article LTE router: The best tariffs for mobile surfing.
Conclusion
Anyone who knows the huge campsites in Tuscany or Croatia will want a set of wheels by the second trip there at the latest. E-bikes or e-scooters are ideal for anyone who doesn’t have a touring bike with them. The folding variants also fit in the car if you don’t tow your own caravan, but rent a high-end caravan for “glamping”. Because even if they have whirlpools with them, for example, you still have to get your own rolls in the morning.
On the other hand, if you take a bike with you anyway, you can still set up the caravan more comfortably. Collapsible grills, solar showers or navigation systems help. More on this in the article Camping Gadgets: Useful accessories for tents and caravans .
