Techno-Economical and Ecological Potential of Electric Scooters: A Life Cycle Analysis

Authors

  • Markus Kazmaier Faculty of Technology, Reutlingen University
  • Tessa T. Taefi Faculty of Technology, Reutlingen University
  • Tim Hettesheimer Fraunhofer ISI

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18757/ejtir.2020.20.4.4912

Abstract

In Germany, mobility is currently in a state of flux. Since June 2019, electric kick scooters
(e-scooters) have been permitted on the roads, and this market is booming. This study employs a user survey to generate new data, supplemented by expert interviews to determine whether such e-scooters are a climate-friendly means of transport. The environmental impacts are quantified using a life cycle assessment. This results in a very accurate picture of e-scooters in Germany. The global warming potential of an e-scooter calculated in this study is 165 g CO2-eq./km, mostly due to material and production (that together account for 73% of the impact). By switching to e-scooters where the battery is swapped, the global warming potential can be reduced by 12%. The lowest value of 46 g CO2-eq./km is reached if all possibilities are exploited and the life span of e-scooters is increased to 15 months. Comparing these emissions with those of the replaced modal split, e-scooters are at best 8% above the modal split value of 39 g CO2-eq./km.

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Author Biographies

Tessa T. Taefi, Faculty of Technology, Reutlingen University

Professor at Reutlingen University

Tim Hettesheimer, Fraunhofer ISI

Wissenschaftlicher Mitarbeiter am Fraunhofer ISI

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Published

2020-11-10

How to Cite

Kazmaier, M., Taefi, T. T., & Hettesheimer, T. (2020). Techno-Economical and Ecological Potential of Electric Scooters: A Life Cycle Analysis. European Journal of Transport and Infrastructure Research, 20(4), 233–251. https://doi.org/10.18757/ejtir.2020.20.4.4912

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Articles