Life Cycle Assessment on the Mobility Service E-Scooter Sharing

Abstract

E-scooters are controversially discussed as a new mobility alternative for cities. The rapid growth of the shared use e-scooter market has raised questions about environmental sustainability and public benefits in many cities worldwide. The high dynamics of the market and insufficient public data available about the concrete business processes of shared e- scooters are making clear statements about the ecological effects difficult. The paper aims to conduct a life cycle assessment using Berlin as an example for shared e- scooters. Based on different operating scenarios, the ecological potentials of e-scooters should be assessed in a more differentiated way. The results show how product lifetimes, swappable batteries, alternative collection logistics and charging concepts influence the greenhouse balance compared to alternative means of transport.