Are Electric Scooters environmentally friendly?
Opting for an electric scooter trip instead of a car may seem like a more environmentally friendly choice at first glance, reducing direct emissions during use. However, a comprehensive study of the life cycle of scooters reveals that their environmental footprint is not as "green" as previously thought.
Researchers at North Carolina State University concluded that although electric scooters may be more environmentally friendly compared to most cars, they lose out to other modes of transportation, such as bicycles or public transportation. The study considered all emissions and materials used during the production of the scooters, including lithium batteries and aluminum parts, transportation from the manufacturing site (generally in China), as well as maintenance and updating of the electric scooters.
Jeremiah Johnson, one of the study's authors, points out that if we just consider the period in which we are actually using the scooter, when there are no direct emissions, it is easy to think that they are environmentally friendly. However, it highlights the importance of taking a step back and examining all the hidden steps in the process.
The main factor contributing to the significant environmental footprint of scooters occurs during the component production phase, especially the aluminum required, and in the carbon emissions generated by scooter collection vehicles on the roads at night.
The average greenhouse gas emissions per mile traveled on a scooter is around 200 grams of CO2, while the same metric for a car, considering the vehicle's entire life cycle, is 400 grams.
Scooter manufacturers are looking for solutions to these problems, such as improving vehicle autonomy and implementing new features to avoid nighttime pickups. However, there are still no concrete developments in this last aspect.
SOURCE: https://visao.pt/exameinformatica/noticias-ei/mercados/2019-08-05-trotinetes-eletricas-nao-sao-tao-amigas-do-ambiente-quanto-pode-pensar/