Electric Scooters Look Increasingly Capable of Lowering Road Emissions

tech.hindustantimes.com:

Electric vehicles are growing their share of the passenger vehicle market and are needed to bring the transport sector’s emissions under control. However, switching drivetrains alone is not the most efficient way to reach net zero. An important component of achieving climate goals will be moderating passenger car usage and incentivizing other forms of transport such as micromobility.

I recently attended Micromobility Europe, a conference dedicated to electric scooters, e-bikes and all manner of other small vehicles. One thing that makes this event so fun is the opportunity to ride, drive or pilot the latest hardware.

While shared micromobility companies like Bird, Lime, Tier and Voi often feature in news headlines, many up-and-coming companies are now designing devices for personal ownership. This introduces the challenge of matching form factor and scooter capabilities to personal characteristics and lifestyle, similar to how a pickup is desirable for some people while others would prefer a compact car that’s easier to maneuver and park.

There’s no single best scooter on the market, but great electric scooters perform well in at least one of the key categories I’m dubbing the four S’s.

Sustainability

Early adopters of micromobility are often environmentally conscious. While the emissions from scooter usage are miniscule compared to many other forms of transport, critics have accused scooters of being disposable hardware that end up on the scrap heap as soon as there’s a minor defect. Estonian e-scooter manufacturer Aike is looking to challenge that perception with its range of devices that are designed to be durable and repairable. The scooters have a 10-year warranty and a five-year warranty on the battery. Some 42% of the