California’s latest trend in transportation has introduced e-scooters and e-bikes to thousands of Los Angeles natives. The popularity of this seemingly eco-friendly concept is based on the idea that riding an e-scooter will reduce the amount of CO2 emissions. Companies such as Bird and Lime have made statements suggesting that customers, “cruise past traffic and cut back on CO2 emissions–one ride at a time” and “reduce dependence on personal automobiles for short-distance transportation and leave future generations with a cleaner, healthier planet.”       

However, just because these e-bikes and e-scooters are battery powered does not mean they are entirely eco-friendly when you consider other factors. For example, what about the long-term effect these transportation machines have on the actual environment? Factors relating to how they’re manufactured and how long they last may also affect the environment.   

North Carolina State University New Study

North Carolina State University has documented the long-term effects of e-scooters in what they call a “life-cycle assessment”. The study follows the journey of an e-bike sand scooter, from the moment of creation to its shipping, charging, collecting, and eventual disposal. Their findings challenge Lime’s claim to be completely “carbon-free”.   

Unfortunately, the study reveals that these dockless scooters produce more greenhouse-gas emissions per passenger mile than standard diesel buses and electric mopeds. Electric scooters produce around 200 grams of carbon dioxide per mile, which is about half the amount of emissions made by a standard automobile.   

The study demonstrated that approximately two-thirds of the time, e-scooter riders create more greenhouse-gas emissions than alternative methods of transportation. 

While the electricity used to charge these vehicles only adds a small amount to the product’s overall emissions, the construction of these devices causes the bulk of the emissions. The study, however, factored in how long these scooters last in relation to how they were made, and the general average is about two years. The study also considered the environmental impact of extracting, producing, and delivering the raw materials necessary for their production. These raw materials include:

• Aluminum frames 
• Steel parts 
• Lithium-ion batteries 
• Electric motors

The analysis also considered the unfortunate and wasteful culture of e-scooters. E-scooters are prone to getting damaged by users, set on fire, tossed from buildings, used for tricks and thrown into lakes. In fact, Oakland, California clean-up crews uncovered 60 e-scooters thrown into Lake Merritt in just a single month.  

The Findings

Ultimately, the study suggests that companies must find a way to increase the lifespan of their electric vehicles. If the company can reduce the amount of scooters that are damaged and need replacement, then there may be a reduction in the actual amount of emissions. As of now, there is still much work to be done.  

m to reduce that number through programs such as Vision Zero. Our law firm has over 60 years of experience protecting personal injury victims and has won over $1 billion in compensation for our clients. Our personal firm is committed to helping all victims of hit-and-run cases and we can help you with your medical bills.   

West Coast Trial Lawyers Can Help

If you have sustained injuries in the city of Los Angeles or surrounding areas such as a result of an accident, a personal injury attorney at our firm can help you recover financial compensation for the losses you have suffered, including medical bills, property damage, lost wages, loss of consortium, emotional distress and pain and suffering. We have offices in Glendale, Bakersfield, Irvine, Beverly Hills, Long Beach, Riverside, Pasadena, San Bernardino, Woodland Hills, and Solana Beach. Our offices specialize in:

• Car Accidents 
• Bus Accidents 
• Uber and Lyft Accidents 
• Spinal Cord Injuries 
• Dog Bites  
• Wrongful Death 
• Premises Liability  
• Truck Accidents 
• Motorcycle Accidents  

 

Call West Coast Trial Lawyers today at (213) 927-3700 or email [email protected] to schedule a free consultation with our experienced, caring, and compassionate legal team.