Demand for electric scooters, 'micromobility' growing despite criticisms in Germany

Electric scooter schemes are seen as a scourge in many cities, with Paris even banning them, but in Germany demand for vehicles is growing, according to Plattform Shared Mobility, an association that represents the interests of the micromobility sector.  In 2022, the association reported around 75.1 million e-scooter trips among its members. That figure rose to 80 million journeys in 2023, despite Tier, a major German e-scooter provider, leaving Platform Shared Mobility, reported dpa. While more journeys with the vehicles are on the rise, micromobility companies have struggled to be profitable and remain dependent on capital markets and public subsidies. Fleet numbers have also remained largely static with the industry seeing a consolidation trend. Still, companies are investing in better services and more modern vehicles, said the association.  

Municipalities and cities remain skeptical of micromobility, which refers to the use of light, micro vehicles particularly in urban areas, partly because of the way e-scooters are regularly carelessly discarded and how users often speed along sidewalks. Alexander Jung, a spokesperson at Plattform Shared Mobility, said those problems could be tackled with better infrastructure like more bike lanes and parking spaces. Doubt has also been cast on their environmental benefits, although Jung says scooters are an important feeder for public transport. A 2022 report found that shared e-mobility options, such as e-scooters and e-bikes, can help reduce overall transport emissions in cities. Another 2022 report from the German Institute of Urban Affairs found e-scooters neither generated nor reduced emissions, reported dpa.