E-BIKE ·
ELECTRIC BIKE ·
Electric Chopper ·
Electric Harley ·
Electric Motorcycle ·
ELECTRIC SCOOTER ·
FUEL SAVINGS ·
SCOOTER ·
Street-legal ·
Benefits of Electric Mobility
VISIT INTHEZONE ELECTRIC SCOOTER MOTORCYCLES
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WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF ELECTRIC SCOOTERS/MOTORCYCLES/BIKES?
E-bikes have been around for some time. Most are "pedal-assisted," meaning the electric motor kicks in when the rider pedals. They're a good option for longer trips (5-15km), covering hilly terrain, or riding in warm weather.
They can also carry loads on attached baskets or pannier bags. Some cargo e-bikes can be used for shopping runs or even for operating small mobile businesses.
More recently, e-scooters have grown in popularity. They're usually ridden standing (although seats can be added as accessories).
E-scooters are easier to park and take up less space. They can also replace those short car trips that are too far to walk. As of recently, passengers have been allowed to take e-scooters and bikes on South East Queensland trains, allowing for first- and last-mile connections.
If you're unsure whether either vehicle is right for you, most major cities offer to-hire schemes (such as Beam, Lime or Neuron) that let you try before you buy.
2. HOW MUCH FUEL AND MONEY CAN I SAVE?
The cost of buying a micro-mobility vehicle will vary greatly depending on the vehicle type, battery and add-ons (such as a rack, lights or remote tracking).
We recently surveyed privately owned e-scooter users in Europe and found that most popular models are priced between €500 and. €1,500. Higher-end models can cost more than €2,000 (which is still much less than a car, especially an electric car).
E-bikes are slightly pricier, with most models costing between €1,000 and €3,000 and only a few options under €800.
The operating costs for micro-mobility vehicles are primarily for electricity and maintenance. The good news is these costs are also low, as the vehicles are much lighter than cars and use efficient electric motors. It's estimated that with a one-kilowatt hour of energy, an e-scooter can travel 100 times the distance a petrol car can and 17 times the distance of an electric car.
In Europe, the average passenger vehicle travels 11,100km annually and requires 1,232 fuel. Current prices equate to more than €2,700 spent on fuel, let alone other costs such as lease or loan payments, insurance, registration and repairs.
3. IS IT SAFE?
Safety is a crucial concern for all road users. As micro-mobility remains a novelty, the safety record for these vehicles is just being established. That said, a 2020 International Transport Forum report suggests the risk of e-scooters is comparable to cycling.
The available figures for shared e-scooter risk range between 78 and 100 fatalities per billion trips, whereas cycling risk across cities ranges between 21 and 257 deaths per billion trips. In comparison, motorcycles or mopeds have a risk range between 132 and 1,164 fatalities per billion trips.
While there's little data on e-scooter safety, cycling statistics suggest a "safety in numbers" effect. This means there are fewer fatalities in countries where cycling is more common.
Current e-bike standards are more mature compared to e-scooters. E-scooters on the private market are not as well regulated and may exceed local speed or power restrictions (usually 25km/h).
Pedestrian and disability interest groups have expressed concerns dockless shared e-devices can create trip hazards or block footpaths. Such situations are valid, and addressing them will require careful management by scheme operators and local authorities.
