In Russia, a GOST for electric scooter numbers has been approved.

      In the country, preparations have begun for a large-scale systematization of the accounting of electric scooters and other means of individual mobility. Rosstandart has approved amendments to GOST 50577, introducing a new type of registration plates — type 4B, specifically designed for SIM. The corresponding document was published in the departmental database, reports the newspaper "Kommersant."

      According to the standard, the new number will consist of a metal plate measuring 137 by 137 mm with a two-line composition: three letters on top, and two digits and a region code at the bottom. Unlike car plates, the presence of the tricolor on the plate for scooters is not mandatory. Authorities assume that such numbers will be placed both at the front and the back of the device so that they can be captured by surveillance cameras.

      Although the technical base is already ready, the registration procedure is still under development. According to the publication, the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Internal Affairs plan to create a unified electronic register that all SIM owners will have to go through. The new rules apply to both users of kick-sharing (about 500,000 devices across the country) and owners of private scooters, which number around 1.2 million.

      In the capital's transport department, the initiative was supported, noting that Moscow has already tested a similar format of plates on courier bicycles and rental scooters, and the recognition system with cameras has proven effective. However, market participants point to difficulties that may arise during mass implementation.

      The main problem, according to representatives of the Association of Micromobility Operators, lies in the limited capacity of the new numbers. The design of the plate assumes the use of only two-digit region codes (for example, 77, 97, 99 for Moscow). As a result, only about 519,000 devices will be able to register legally in the capital. This number may not be sufficient, considering not only the existing fleet of kick-sharing but also the growing number of electric bicycles used by courier services.

      Additionally, operators suggest revising the requirements for the material used. The current version of GOST prescribes the use of metal plates. However, in the operating conditions of rental transport, metal quickly deforms, creating sharp edges, which can be hazardous for pedestrians and users. As an alternative, the possibility of using self-adhesive synthetic bases is being considered.

      Until the official registration system is launched and technical discrepancies are resolved, market participants will need to address the transition to a unified standard, replacing "old" format numbers with those approved in the new GOST.