Analysis

December 11, 2019

Electric scooters: not so “green” after all

Electric scooter operators all claim to be environmentally-friendly alternatives to the car — but how green are these businesses? We compare Europe's operators.


Amy Lewin

7 min read

The latest model of Voi's scooters © Vincent Fandos

Scooter startups like to bang on about how e-scooters are a wonderful alternative to cars in cities. They’re more fun, they’re healthier, they’re more “green”. 

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Average carbon emissions by transport mode. Chart from the Lufthansa Innovation Hub.
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Amy Lewin

Amy Lewin is Sifted’s editor and host of Startup Europe — The Sifted Podcast . Follow her on X, LinkedIn and Bluesky

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