Barcelona's Guàrdia Urbana is set to acquire two dynamometers to control electric scooters that exceed the legal speed limit, allowing officers to fine those modified to travel faster than permitted. This move, according to documentation accessed by Betevé, is part of a pilot programme.
Under Barcelona's traffic ordinance, electric scooters must not exceed 25 km/h. However, many users on the city's streets are often seen travelling well above this speed. The Guàrdia Urbana plans to conduct a pilot test to assess how useful and viable these new devices are.
The dynamometers work by using rollers that measure a vehicle's speed when in contact with its wheels. Each device includes an electronic box with a screen that displays the measured speed during the test. The city council expects to spend approximately €17,600 on the equipment. The contract also covers training for Guàrdia Urbana personnel by the supplier company.
Tackling Modified Scooters
This initiative comes as Barcelona recorded 549 accidents involving personal mobility vehicles in 2025. Controlling the speed of electric scooters is one of several measures planned to reduce the number of incidents involving these vehicles. The Guàrdia Urbana already issues fines for other infractions, having imposed over 10,000 penalties since 1 February 2025 for riders not wearing helmets, as required by the traffic ordinance.
Barcelona is not the first city in the metropolitan area to use such technology. Nearby municipalities like L'Hospitalet de Llobregat and Cornellà de Llobregat already use dynamometers to measure electric scooter speeds. In these areas, if local police find a vehicle exceeding the 25 km/h limit, they can immobilise it and fine the user up to €500.
Looking ahead, the success of Barcelona's pilot programme will determine the broader implementation of dynamometers across the city. This effort represents a significant step in regulating electric scooter use and enhancing safety for all road users in Catalonia's capital.
