E-scooters – Not So Green After All?
Graphics: Margrét Aðalheiður Þorgeirsdóttir
In October 2019, Reykjavík’s public transportation system changed forever with the introduction of e-scooters. What began with Hopp, powered by the telecommunications company Nova, has evolved, with many more companies offering e-scooter rentals now in 2021.
Yellow Wind scooters, black and orange Zolo scooters, and the very prominent neon green OSS e-scooters and e-bikes - all of them have contributed to the goal of minimizing our carbon footprint and relieving traffic congestion. At least, that’s how e-scooters are marketed. But apart from their colour, are they actually as green as advertised, or is it all a big hoax?
Sharing is caring
First of all, e-scooters are extremely convenient. There’s no need to discuss that. They are cheaper, faster, and more accessible in comparison to other public transportation services like buses. Forgot to set an alarm clock, overslept, and need to get to class ASAP? No issue with an e-scooter! Simply hop on a nearby scooter and it will take you to your destination in a matter of minutes!
Sharing is obviously caring, so sharing a product such as an e-scooter or a car instead of everybody buying their own device means automatic savings on carbon emissions. That is clear. So if e-scooters are run on (at best, clean) electricity, how are they still producing carbon emissions?
Insidious hidden emissions
Well, there are hidden emissions associated with every product we use in our daily lives, emissions just from the product being produced. E-scooters are no exception. But if they run on eco-friendly electricity and have a long lifespan, the emissions prevented by using the device exceed the emissions associated with the production process, right?
Well, now we’ve arrived at the problem. As with most rented things, people don’t treat them as nicely as if it was their own stuff. Shared e-scooters therefore often don’t last as long as they need to in order to offset their “investment emissions.” Additionally, the harsh Icelandic weather conditions don’t make it any easier to preserve them. Research has shown that the average scooter lasts just three to ten months, approximately.
Most scooters are fueled by lithium-ion batteries, a lot of them containing nickel and cobalt. Cobalt has had its fair share of negative press in relation to e-cars and smartphones, because it is mostly mined in Congo under catastrophic conditions and often with the help of child labor. The mining of those materials leads to resource depletion, global warming, ecological toxicity, and most importantly, serious impacts on human health and human rights. So having to replace a scooter, or even just its battery, every ten months at best does not really resonate with the goal of being more environmentally friendly or with the City of Reykjavík’s goal of being carbon neutral by 2040.
All of that already sounds quite pessimistic, but chin up! When correctly recycled, a lot of these precious resources can be reused, which reduces the environmental impact. Looking into the crystal ball, the use of cobalt and nickel may very well be decreased in the future as technology advances. There is some light at the end of the tunnel!
Greenwashing is not always the solution
In the past, most e-scooters were driven into the cities and picked up again every morning and night to be charged. This led to further environmental impact from vehicle emissions. Luckily, this has changed with the introduction of swappable batteries. Most companies now simply swap out depleted batteries for new ones, each of which lasts up to 60-80 km between charges, and recharge batteries in their warehouses.
The company Hopp claims they try to operate longer-lasting e-scooters in order to minimize environmental impact. Others, like Wind Mobility, which offers chunky yellow e-scooters, declared in December 2020 that they had reached carbon neutrality by purchasing carbon credits and supporting carbon-reducing projects around the world. Buying carbon credits is better than doing nothing, but it still takes the responsibility away from the companies! Those companies then use their action as a marketing campaign, and all the while, the real problems are not being tackled. Greenwashing at its best!
Future of greener public transportation
So, are e-scooters really as green as we think they are? Clearly, no. But honestly, what is? If we want the most environmentally friendly option, we should all just continue to move through the world on our feet. E-scooter companies are already trying to increase the durability of their products, some even developing their own devices and batteries - not just for the sake of the environment, but also for their own bottom line. This is a start. As technology progresses, longer-lasting products that better mitigate environmental impacts will be achieved. When the electricity used to power e-scooters can be generated sustainably, such as by hydroelectric or geothermal methods, and they become a substitute for cars, it is safe to say they are a step toward a better future. A future of greener public transportation, and therefore a longer, healthier future on our planet, Mother Earth.