Electric scooters (or e-scooters) have been lauded for being an eco-friendly way to get around the city. Many cities now offer e-scooters for rent as short-term rentals. However, are these eco-friendly? North Carolina State University researchers looked at all aspects of the environment that shared e-scooters have on their users. The journal Environmental Research Letters published their findings in the paper “Are E Scooters Polluters?” “The Environmental Impacts on Shared Dockless Electric Scooters” Jeremiah Johnson (corresponding author and associate professor at NC State of civil, building, and environmental engineering) said that “e-scooter businesses claim they have little to no carbon footprint. This is quite bold. We sought to examine the overall environmental impact of shared electric scooters – as well as how it compares with other options for local transport. The study examined emissions related to the production of materials and parts of scooters. Manufacturing process. Transporting the scooter to the city where it will be used Collecting and charging the scooters, then distributing them. Researchers also conducted a survey to find out what mode of transportation e-scooters would use if not equipped with an electric scooter. Nearly half of (49%) riders stated they would bike or walk, just over one third (34%) suggested they would use a car and 11% indicated they would take a bus. Only 7% claimed they wouldn’t make the trip. The study looked at the life cycles of electric scooters, bicycles, busses, and buses to determine how they compare to other transportation methods. The team focused on four effects: acidification, global warming and eutrophication. Johnson explained the findings of his team. Johnson stated that although a lot of their results were complex, he found a few clear points. Even if you’re riding an electric bicycle, biking is nearly always better for the environment than sharing an e-scooter. Only those who ride bike-share programs that pay to use are exempt. These companies often use trucks and cars to distribute bicycles within their area. This can make it less eco-friendly than an escooter. However, using an electric scooter to travel on routes with high ridership can be more eco-friendly than taking the bus. Johnson stated that Johnson found the impact of the electric used for charging the scooters is very small, at 5%. The environmental impact of each scooter is influenced by two factors: how often the scooters are driven to be collected and then redistributed, and their lifespan. The environmental impact of every scooter would be lower if it was not used to transport other vehicles. Johnson stated that the real impacts are in two areas. Johnson said, “Using other vehicles to pick up and distribute the scooters and the emissions associated with producing the components and materials for each scooter.” Johnson said that while there are many factors to take into consideration, e-scooters can be more environmentally friendly than other modes of transportation. “And there are some things that local governments and companies can do to further reduce their impact.” Journal Citation: “E-scooters are polluting the environment? Shared dockless electric scooters and their environmental impact. Jeremiah X Johnson, Brenna Copeland, Joseph Hollingsworth Published August 2 2019 Environmental Research Letters Volume Number 8.
