Greentech: IMI, the recyclable electric scooter of the Atlantic France startup Célérifère

While recent studies often criticise the ecological impact of electric scooters, the French startup Célérifère offers a sustainable option with its mainly locally made e-scooter that can be dismantled and fixed.

The Atlantic France company Célérifère has conceived and designed an electric scooter, named IMI, that relies on local industries. Mostly made with materials produced in the region, the electric scooter provides sustainable micromobility technology solutions for employees of local companies and authorities. 

A sustainable electric scooter made in the Atlantic France region

Made in Vendée, the IMI electric scooter is named after a Japanese word that means “common sense”. For its founder Karim Tarzaim, reinventing the electric scooter was needed. He wanted it to be more resistant but also made with local materials from local industries. 

Supported by his boss Charles Barreau, president of the environmental organisation Ruptur Vendée, he chooses to only collaborate with local companies: a shaper of wooden surfboards and skateboards from Sable d’Olonne, Bourrasseau sheet metal factory located in Epesses that makes aluminium sheets from recycled materials and PIH saddlery for the handle bars made of leather scraps. Finally, the IMI scooter is assembled by the Pantomeca company in Niort. 

The battery is the unique component made in China, but it can be taken apart from the scooter and recharged easily. And only 15% of the battery cannot be recycled, the company affirms. 

Orders from two town councils

The IMI electric scooter costs €1,500 excl. tax. This is a bit more expensive than most of the Chinese and American scooters, but IMI is “functional, high-performance, light, relying on the local distribution network and promoting ecological values.” 

In Atlantic France, Vertou and La Roche-sur-Yon’s town councils have already ordered some IMI electric scooters for their partners and employees. Since the Vendean company has started to commercialise its product on the market, 20 electric scooters have been sold.