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Assessing Environmental Performance of Micromobility Using LCA and Self-Reported Modal Change: The Case of Shared E-Bikes, E-Scooters, and E-Mopeds in Barcelona

Author

Listed:
  • Pol Felipe-Falgas

    (Grup d’Estudis en Mobilitat, Transport i Territori (GEMOTT), Geography Department, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Barcelona, Spain)

  • Cristina Madrid-Lopez

    (Institute on Environmental Science and Technology (ICTA), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Barcelona, Spain)

  • Oriol Marquet

    (Grup d’Estudis en Mobilitat, Transport i Territori (GEMOTT), Geography Department, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Barcelona, Spain
    Institute on Environmental Science and Technology (ICTA), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Barcelona, Spain)

Abstract

Micromobility is often thought of as a sustainable solution to many urban mobility challenges. The literature to date, however, has struggled to find consensus on the sustainability of shared and electric scooters, e-bikes, and e-mopeds. This paper uses a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) approach to calculate the impacts of micromobility modes in three categories: Global Warming Potential (GWP), Particulate Matter Formation, and Ozone Formation. It does so by incorporating the self-reported modal change of each transportation mode: shared e-moped, shared e-bicycle, shared bicycle, and personal e-scooter. The results show that modal change brought by the introduction of shared e-mopeds and shared e-bicycles caused an increase in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, while shared bicycles and personal electric scooters decreased GHG emissions. All micromobility modes except personal e-scooters increased particulate matter emissions, but decreased those which were emitted within the city, while they all decreased NOx. The findings of this study suggest new micromobility services are not always the best environmental solution for urban mobility, unless the eco-design of vehicles is improved, and they are strategically used and deployed as part of a holistic vision for transport policy.

Suggested Citation

  • Pol Felipe-Falgas & Cristina Madrid-Lopez & Oriol Marquet, 2022. "Assessing Environmental Performance of Micromobility Using LCA and Self-Reported Modal Change: The Case of Shared E-Bikes, E-Scooters, and E-Mopeds in Barcelona," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-17, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:7:p:4139-:d:783802
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Anne de Bortoli, 2021. "Environmental performance of shared micromobility and personal alternatives using integrated modal LCA," Papers 2103.04464, arXiv.org.
    2. Marquet, Oriol & Miralles-Guasch, Carme, 2016. "City of Motorcycles. On how objective and subjective factors are behind the rise of two-wheeled mobility in Barcelona," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 52(C), pages 37-45.
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    7. Fanying Zheng & Fu Gu & Wujie Zhang & Jianfeng Guo, 2019. "Is Bicycle Sharing an Environmental Practice? Evidence from a Life Cycle Assessment Based on Behavioral Surveys," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-25, March.
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    9. Ricardo Javier Bonilla‐Alicea & Bryan C. Watson & Ziheng Shen & Laura Tamayo & Cassandra Telenko, 2020. "Life cycle assessment to quantify the impact of technology improvements in bike‐sharing systems," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 24(1), pages 138-148, February.
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    Cited by:

    1. Cubells, Jerònia & Miralles-Guasch, Carme & Marquet, Oriol, 2023. "E-scooter and bike-share route choice and detours: Modelling the influence of built environment and sociodemographic factors," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 111(C).
    2. Medina-Molina, Cayetano & Pérez-Macías, Noemí & Fernández-Fernádez, José Luis, 2023. "The use of micromobility in different contexts. An explanation through the multilevel perspective and QCA," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 188(C).
    3. Bach, Xavier & Marquet, Oriol & Miralles-Guasch, Carme, 2023. "Assessing social and spatial access equity in regulatory frameworks for moped-style scooter sharing services," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 132(C), pages 154-162.
    4. Paweł Ziemba & Izabela Gago, 2022. "Compromise Multi-Criteria Selection of E-Scooters for the Vehicle Sharing System in Poland," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-26, July.
    5. Cubells, Jerònia & Miralles-Guasch, Carme & Marquet, Oriol, 2023. "Gendered travel behaviour in micromobility? Travel speed and route choice through the lens of intersecting identities," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 106(C).

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