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Does your workplace allow you to bring in and charge your e-scooter?

1 points by eSkootr 4y ago

eSkootr 4y ago
Hello! Allow me to introduce myself– I am the Founder of Garage. I started this company to help people get the most value out of their current e-scooter and to protect them when buying their next e-scooter. I’ve always been the one who brought in an e-scooter to the office, then store and charge it at my desk because there is no parking place outside and there have been incidents of theft. Now (although I have not been going into the office much) the facilities team have told me I am not allowed to charge it at my desk or bring it into the office due to safety concerns. They say it’s because it could go on fire, related to the lithium ion battery. A bit weird considering our office has always been very casual and pre-covid was quite happy with the casual software engineers look, and scooting to/from work fit that vibe. This is likely an insurance requirement for the owner of the property. Insurance companies are all about minimizing their risk, so if they perceive the e-scooter as a fire hazard (real or not) then it’s super easy for them to require the owner/tenant to ban e-scooters or pay a higher premium. Probably overreacting but it was one of the things that made going into the office less sucky, avoiding traffic, scooting-in in no time, saving the environment and being able to store and charge her up at my desk so that I never have battery level anxiety. This is our ultimate challenge. Ok if it’s a fire risk, how do we create a neutral insurance friendly solution that can determine whether or not an e-scooter is being stored and charged in the office and then make an informed decision like we do with other electricals in the office. We want to create an inspection process that is risk efficient and effective using a digitized inspection tool or by getting a technician to conduct a digitized inspection on the e-scooter for any signs of wear or damage to the battery and charger. We also want to put all this information in the hands of property owners/tenants and insurance providers to gauge the risk level. We hope perhaps a safety checked e-scooter could be allowed in the office. We are asking for your help on this journey. If we are missing something, if we have too much of something, we want to know. We want to create a place where people can get answers to their e-scooter questions, where you can receive help on storing and charging in the office, and we want you to tell the world about a eco saving e-scooter that meant so much to you. This is not just a place for e-scooter people, it’s a place for memories that involve a e-scooter. Please excuse any grammatical errors, sent from my mobile device
simonblack 4y ago
Why should they let you charge your e-scooter at work? Why should that be an expense to the company? Next thing you know, all those guys who come to work in internal combustion engine cars will want their fuel tanks refilled at company expense while they sit at their desks. And don't say "It's not the same thing." It is.
- eSkootr 4y ago
  I am getting to work on time with an eco saving device and they are mad? honestly the facilities team has every right to restrict me from charging my e-scooter and it's them covering themselves in case of any potential liability. My thing is property owners/tenants and insurance providers should be providing a reasonable way of accommodating e-scooters and I think it would be seen more widely. I know not everywhere could afford it but I definitely would pay a few quid from my own pocket for a permit/inspection if the output results in me storing and charging in the office. Please excuse any grammatical errors, sent from my mobile device
barnabee 4y ago
Yes

1 points by eSkootr 4y ago

Hello! Allow me to introduce myself– I am the Founder of Garage. I started this company to help people get the most value out of their current e-scooter and to protect them when buying their next e-scooter. I’ve always been the one who brought in an e-scooter to the office, then store and charge it at my desk because there is no parking place outside and there have been incidents of theft. Now (although I have not been going into the office much) the facilities team have told me I am not allowed to charge it at my desk or bring it into the office due to safety concerns. They say it’s because it could go on fire, related to the lithium ion battery. A bit weird considering our office has always been very casual and pre-covid was quite happy with the casual software engineers look, and scooting to/from work fit that vibe. This is likely an insurance requirement for the owner of the property. Insurance companies are all about minimizing their risk, so if they perceive the e-scooter as a fire hazard (real or not) then it’s super easy for them to require the owner/tenant to ban e-scooters or pay a higher premium. Probably overreacting but it was one of the things that made going into the office less sucky, avoiding traffic, scooting-in in no time, saving the environment and being able to store and charge her up at my desk so that I never have battery level anxiety. This is our ultimate challenge. Ok if it’s a fire risk, how do we create a neutral insurance friendly solution that can determine whether or not an e-scooter is being stored and charged in the office and then make an informed decision like we do with other electricals in the office. We want to create an inspection process that is risk efficient and effective using a digitized inspection tool or by getting a technician to conduct a digitized inspection on the e-scooter for any signs of wear or damage to the battery and charger. We also want to put all this information in the hands of property owners/tenants and insurance providers to gauge the risk level. We hope perhaps a safety checked e-scooter could be allowed in the office. We are asking for your help on this journey. If we are missing something, if we have too much of something, we want to know. We want to create a place where people can get answers to their e-scooter questions, where you can receive help on storing and charging in the office, and we want you to tell the world about a eco saving e-scooter that meant so much to you. This is not just a place for e-scooter people, it’s a place for memories that involve a e-scooter. Please excuse any grammatical errors, sent from my mobile device

simonblack 4y ago

Why should they let you charge your e-scooter at work? Why should that be an expense to the company? Next thing you know, all those guys who come to work in internal combustion engine cars will want their fuel tanks refilled at company expense while they sit at their desks. And don't say "It's not the same thing." It is.

eSkootr 4y ago
I am getting to work on time with an eco saving device and they are mad? honestly the facilities team has every right to restrict me from charging my e-scooter and it's them covering themselves in case of any potential liability. My thing is property owners/tenants and insurance providers should be providing a reasonable way of accommodating e-scooters and I think it would be seen more widely. I know not everywhere could afford it but I definitely would pay a few quid from my own pocket for a permit/inspection if the output results in me storing and charging in the office. Please excuse any grammatical errors, sent from my mobile device

barnabee 4y ago

Yes