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A study finds that journeys made by electric mobility only slightly replace those previously made by car.
It is not so much the machine itself that is the problem, but what it replaces when it is used.
Tages Anzeiger / Urs Jaudas
With the advent of self-service electric bicycles and electric scooters, there was hope that users would let go of the car and go electric. However, this is not what happened, according to a study carried out by the EPFZ and relayed by the “NZZ on Sunday“. The researchers found that trips made in particular with electric scooters are most often used to replace trips that their users would normally have made on foot, by bike or by public transport.
Private property
Thus, the impact resulting from the production, recharging and recycling of these machines is greater than what it saves in absolute CO₂ emissions. However, for the authors of the study, all is not absolutely black in the history. The provision of these means of locomotion can play the role of gateway to the private property of these electric scooters and bicycles. For the latter especially, the authors have noticed that, owned by individuals and not shared in self-service, they often become alternatives to car journeys.
In addition, the study indicates that the fact that these shared vehicles swarm in the city center is of little use for the climate, since this is precisely where the public transport offer is already the best. It would therefore be more relevant to develop these services in the outskirts.
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