Concerns over hacking e-scooters to remove speed limits are "a bit alarmist," an expert has warned.

Under new regulations brought in last May, teens under 16 were banned from using the devices.

The use of e-scooters on footpaths was also banned and a maximum 20km/h speed limit was set.

On Lunchtime Live today, Colin Baker from Back From the Future Tech Support said many devices are now low-powered to comply with restrictions.

“When you look at e-scooters that are typically sold in high street stores, properly built equipment that has gone through the correct channels, they’re quite low on power,” he said.

“Typically, they’re approved for use for plugging into our [electricity] supplies and they’re quite low power.”

Hack

He said some people are managing to get around speed limits built into some e-scooters, but that it doesn’t make a significant difference to speed.

“There are alternative firmware’s and little apps that you can download to hack them,” said Mr Baker.

“What that does is it removes the technical restriction that restricts it to either 20km/h or 25km/h in some cases.

“But the reality is they're 400-watt single motors, and for a typical 80kg person, even if you remove the restriction, it’s not going to get a whole lot faster.”

A child on an e-scooter. Image: Prostock-studio / Alamy Stock Photo

Mr Baker, who owns 12 e-scooters, said he’s even tried lifting the restrictions himself.

“You might take off a little faster, you might go downhill a little bit faster, but it’s no different on a bicycle when you go downhill or the wind is behind you,” he said.

“You’re talking about a 10-15% difference in terms of the overall speed.

“I think the worries are probably a little bit alarmist.”

Accidents

Dundalk Cllr Conor Keelan said he takes issue with the potential for accidents with e-scooters.

“E-scooters have led to road accidents occurring in my own town of Dundalk,” he said.

“There was at least one fatality in the course of last year, which led to the Garda Division changing.

“As I understand it, they increased divisional resources into their road traffic unit as a result.”

Three e-scooter fatalities have been reported on roads in 2024 so far.

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Main image: A person rides an e-scooter in Dublin city, 20/08/2020. Image: Sam Boal/Rollingnews.ie