Recent studies confirm that E-scooters (Sharing) would also be polluting. And if Smart Mobility increases in Italian cities, it is good to understand the pros and cons of a trend that often does not rhyme with "sustainable responsibility."
The most popular and controversial alternative transport
Because of Covid19 and the resulting traffic restrictions in various Italian cities, more and more people can be seen riding their scooters as if they were from the future:
they are ideal for short journeys and can be parked anywhere;
they don't take up any of your time as they are lightweight;
they do not require compulsory insurance, nor a driving licence, licence plate or helmet;
they are almost fast and very popular, especially among young people, because they give that slightly cosmopolitan air, thanks also to E-scooter Sharing (rental) through applications;
being electric, the common thought is 'I choose sustainability' instead of petrol.
Then there are the mobility bonuses introduced by the Italian government, which have provided greater incentives for the purchase of so-called "electric scooters", as well as bicycles, becoming to all intents and purposes an alternative means of transport to cars and mopeds. But there are obviously some grey areas concerning the scooter in question, since according to recent studies it is not as eco-friendly as one might assume. On the contrary. Let's take a look at the negative aspects of the electric scooter, which claims to be 'Green' but may not be.
Is the hire scooter good for the environment?
'All the cool kids on scooters. But the real man drives a pallet truck.'
- Anonymous -
Whoever chooses the 'electric scooter' does so first and foremost with the 'Green' side in mind, in the direction of sustainability and respect for the environment, given the total lack of emissions. But recently, studies have revealed an opposite and disconcerting truth: that E-Scooters (including electric scooters) pollute at the same level as petrol-powered cars and motorbikes.
From a Study carried out in 2019 by the University of North Carolina, the data expressed tell a different version from the official one of "electric scooters" as friends of the environment. In fact, the results show that production and the materials used are responsible for most of the life cycle CO2 emissions of E-scooters, followed by collection and distribution, recharging and disposal of E-scooters, with a total of 320 g CO2/km in the best case scenario. So, already in 2019, there was talk of unsustainable mobility, especially in view of the short lifespan of E-scooters and the problems they present.
A further step was taken at the beginning of 2021, when the Acardis company, which works on sustainable urban development, analyzed the emissions that scooters actually emit in small daily trips and found that such a small vehicle can:
E-scooter sharing: it can emit an average of 105.5 grams of CO2 per km. When you consider that this is only 5 grams less than a car with three people on board, which emits an average of 111 grams (individually), these figures really make you think. In comparison with someone who chooses an electric car instead of a scooter, he or she can save 2.5 grams of CO2 (since he or she emits an average of 103.0 grams of CO2 per km).
In summary of the many figures seen above, we can summarize as follows:
E-scooter Sharing, have a short life cycle (about two/three years) and high costs that are higher than other means of transport, which in total have a negative impact on the environment, consisting of (materials used, distribution, recharging and disposal).
They are not eco-sustainable, if designed exclusively for short distances, (even though they were designed primarily for this reason!) because they consume more C02 emissions per km travelled, compared to cars with three people (one/two people on board up to a certain distance) and electric cars.
If the current world is not ready for E-scooters
'When the use of e-scooters replaces the average car journey, we almost universally achieve a net reduction in environmental impacts.'
- University of North Carolina -
In August 2020, the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (MDPI) published a detailed and up-to-date article on the issue of e-scooter sharing (electric vehicles for hire) in relation to health.
The study analyzed the driving behavior of around 1070 e-riders in the American city of Provo in the state of Utah (USA) in 2019, by means of an online questionnaire of 13 open-ended questions concerning the driving behavior (where, why, when and how) of men and women aged 18-24. In summary, the cross-sectional study on the use of e-scooters revealed some interesting peculiarities, such as:
the age group and gender: they are mainly Millennials and specifically male;
the main motivation: leisure, but also work and study;
the number of accidents and offences: these are often associated with "inattentive" behaviour on the part of the majority of respondents (e.g. stepping on the kerb, not using a helmet, listening with headphones, etc.). Inattention is the most worrying fact, because it has a negative effect on health; moreover, there are other studies that generally confirm the dangerousness of electric vehicles with "a higher incidence than motorbikes and motor vehicles", reported by accidents to the head, limbs and sometimes even fatal.
Physical inactivity: Although there is little research related to physical activity, "some health researchers have expressed concern that e-scooters may replace active forms of transport such as walking and cycling. Some scooter companies claim small benefits in low-intensity training, leg-strengthening and standing.
Air pollution and noise exposure: The MDPI study points out that as air pollution increases, electric-powered vehicles are an excellent alternative to lower air emissions. But environmental concerns about the short life cycle of e-scooters are also reconfirmed by this article, as with the University of North Carolina report, in which greenhouse gas emissions, particulate formation and the use of mineral and fossil resources, which are often overlooked, as well as recharging and disposal, are all factors in which the companies that produce them are trying to improve with new technologies.
Therefore, the main causes that necessarily affect health, in both negative and positive ways, are mainly due to the inconsiderate use of so-called E-scooters, but not only. Where there is adequate infrastructure (e.g. presence of cycle paths) or appropriate environmental conditions (presence of electric transport and disappearance of motor cars in cities), the problem should not exist.
But the point of debate we're making, it might be another:
Is it perhaps plausible to think that the world as it is now is not ready for the presence of e-scooters (sharing)?
The ingenious idea of being able to use this essential, comfortable and (apparently) eco-sustainable means of transport would certainly work better if it were provided with better urban, legislative and civil conditions, so that the means used could guarantee the best performance ever.
In practice, the vision of a zero-impact world cannot be realized unless all the founding elements of this ambitious project fit together. But there is fortunately some good news about two cases that are already solid realities, such as the ReGen Villages and especially the Amsterdam 'Smart City' model.
2 Sustainable and feasible Models
Imagine that we are in a city where emissions are almost zero and we can walk around our parks and enjoy the places we love, choosing the eco-friendly means of transport of our choice, without worrying about the environment or our health.
A dream, you might say. No, quite the contrary. A possible reality and already partly visible in Amsterdam, the city that has chosen the environment as its new lifestyle. In practice, for several years now there has been a trend towards improving the city, starting with the emblematic bicycles (considered the world's bicycle capital) and then moving on to new projects aimed at Smart Mobility, such as Amsterdam Car-lite, which encourages people to leave their cars at home as much as possible, favouring the use of alternative means of transport, always in smart mode (e.g. rental via App).
The implementation of this "ambitious agenda", which intends to accompany Amsterdam towards a completed Green transition, where the predominant mobility will be "shared" mobility with lighter and cleaner public transport and zero-emission vehicles, finds its basis in the more general concept of "Smart City", in which the following areas of development are located:
Circular city: or rather a circular economy that implements new strategies to reuse and recycle materials, to reduce pollution and waste;
Energy: in providing a solar panel to every citizen in the future;
Mobility: since 2008, car sharing has increased by 376%, but this is not enough for a forward-looking city;
Citizens and Living: while population density is growing in Amsterdam, initiatives for citizens and tourists are growing in parallel;
Digital City: the city is hyper-connected, so much so that in 2016 Amsterdam ranked second in the European Digital City Index.
Smart City Academy: supported by the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences which shares its information of Smart City projects to all those interested, you can also participate with your knowledge in the "Academy" section.
Of course, this all points to the responsibility of citizens and the Dutch government to work well together to achieve the bold ultimate goal of a 'Real Smart City', set within the next 25 years.
'A regenerative, self-sufficient and resilient community'.
'...next to the houses of small greenhouses, gardens and orchards, as well as communal greenhouses with controlled environments and larger farms: there will then be a surplus of food, and residents will be able to trust it because they will know where it comes from'.
- James Ehrlich -
Another model of "eco-sustainable vision" is ReGen Villages, with its first "Eco-village of the future" in Sweden. The idea, born in Silicon Valley by James Ehrlich, (who specifies that he is not an architect, but an entrepreneur), and his startup are waiting for funding to be able to proceed with the realization of "ReGen Villages" around the world, which combined with technology, offer a self-sufficient system capable of providing a secure supply of resources to the entire community.
For the planning of such eco-conscious villages and their subsequent construction, the Village OS software was devised, and as reported in Domusweb in-depth report, James Ehrlich says: "exploiting artificial intelligence and machine learning for the efficient use of resources". The software is described as "a simulator that takes into account a complexity of factors including local regulations, lot-specific environmental characteristics and costs, anticipating and guiding design and construction".
#3 reasons to buy/rent e-scooters responsibly
If the Covid19 has changed the daily life of people all over the world, it is clear that redesigning the future, taking into account the new variables in progress, (Pandemic and Climate above all) becomes the priority in the life of individuals today. Therefore, rethinking one's lifestyle, trying to respect the environment with an attitude of care for small and simple daily actions, (e.g. growing rosemary or sage on one's balcony) should be the first step towards the so-called Green Transition.
The same applies to the choice of an electric scooter, (the subject of this in-depth study) which, in addition to its main characteristic of carrying people, should be chosen above all by those who use it responsibly:
They use it following the rules of the Highway Code, since they travel together with cars, motorbikes, bicycles and pedestrians. Then, even if it is not yet compulsory, it would be common sense to at least wear a helmet and protective clothing, out of respect for everyone, and not leave your vehicle in use abandoned or parked anywhere.
Consider whether or not it is really the best way to travel. If so, you can opt for a bicycle, public transport or even walking if the distances are rather short. Being responsible for the environment also means knowing your city and its limitations regarding the infrastructure created for E-scooters (Sharing), evaluating whether the choice (for the reasons mentioned above) will have a negative or positive impact on the environment.
Evaluating whether the purchase (or rental subscription) is really a good deal, given that the average life cycle is very short (about 2 years).
As we have seen, investing in the purchase of an electric scooter is not a choice to be taken lightly, because it must take into account many variables that will inevitably affect the environment and our "new" habits in relation to Smart Mobility.
Therefore, before a proper Green transition, if we so wish, we first need a Green Mind, which is possibly responsible, resilient and with a shared community vision.