E-scooter capable of 119kph seized on Kilkenny road by gardaí

An e-scooter that could reach a speed of 119kph, when tested, has been seized by Kilkenny gardaí and “donated to science.”

The driver of the e-scooter has appeared in the local district court charged with driving without insurance, as the legal top speed for an e-scooter is 20kph and over that it is classed as a mechanically propelled vehicle and must be insured in the same way as a car.

Vadims Dulenkovs, 28 Seville Lawns, Kilkenny, pleaded guilty to the charge of driving without insurance.

Garda Andy Neill gave evidence that on October 20, 2025, at 7.37am, he stopped Mr Dulenkovs who was riding an e-scooter at Granges Road.The e-scooter was “going at a very reasonable turn of speed,” the garda said.

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Garda Neill made a legal demand for Mr Dulenkov’s insurance and was told he did not have insurance for the machine.
The garda said it transpired the e-scooter was a ‘home engineering’ project and constructed by Mr Dulenkovs.
It was seized and impounded.

When tested, Garda Neill said, the e-scooter hit a top speed of 119kph on the speedometer, but, the garda said, because of aerodynamics it was unlikely it could have reached that speed on the road.

Garda Neill said the machine has now been “donated to science” by Mr Dulenkovs and has since been used in garda safety workshops.

Mr Dulenkovs was very cooperative, Garda Neill said.

Solicitor Alexander Rafter said Mr Dulenkovs had never been in trouble before. He is interested in building things and never went that speed on the e-scooter.

Judge Geraldine Carthy convicted Mr Dulenkovs of driving without insurance and imposed a fine of €300.