“I’ll Take the E-Scooter Instead of My Car”—The Potential of E-Scooters as a Substitute for Car Trips in Germany

Laura Gebhardt, Christian Wolf and Robert Seiffert
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Laura Gebhardt: German Aerospace Center (DLR), Institute of Transport Research, 12489 Berlin, Germany
Christian Wolf: German Aerospace Center (DLR), Institute of Transport Research, 12489 Berlin, Germany
Robert Seiffert: German Aerospace Center (DLR), Institute of Transport Research, 12489 Berlin, Germany

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 13, 1-19

Abstract: Considering the controversial discussion about the sustainability and usefulness of e-scooters, in this study, we analyzed the substitution potential of e-scooters, especially with regard to car trips. Based on data from the national mobility survey in Germany (Mobility in Germany, MiD 2017), we identified trips that could be covered purely by an e-scooter. Thereby, trip length, trip purposes, weather conditions, and other influencing factors were taken into account. Our analysis showed that, in Germany, 10–15% of the motorized individual transport (MIT) trips could be made by e-scooter. Accompanied by a literature analysis, we then critically reflected on the overall potential of e-scooters and formulated recommendations for urban and transport planning.

Keywords: micro-mobility; urban mobility; e-scooter; scooter sharing; car substitution; potential analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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