Abstract:

A new means of transport for the German market is personal light electric vehicles (PLEVs). The most common form of PLEV at present is the e-scooter (e-kick-scooter). This new type of mobility, and its use, are part of the public discourse and discussed in the media. The mobility needs of society are constantly increasing, resulting in congested urban areas. New mobility concepts such as e-scooters can help to reduce traffic. In particular, commuting paths, which generally remain within a specific distance, are short and manageable via an intermodal travel chain. In combination with public transport, commuting paths could be beneficial. To evaluate the potential of e-scooters used with commuting paths, a literature research focusing on mobility behavior and characteristics was conducted. In addition, an end-user survey was used to identify the ecological and economical potential for typical work routes. The research results indicate that both the mobility preferences of the users, e.g., acceptance of intermodal travel, and the technical specification of e-scooters, e.g., speed and range, meet the needs of commuting. The assessment of typical work routes shows that the use of e-scooters for the first and last mile, in combination with public transport, is highly beneficial. Furthermore, e-scooters have the potential to provide individual advantages in the areas of travel time and costs. From an ecological perspective, depending on the substituted modes, CO2-equivalent emissions can be minimized for some users. Other soft factors, such as comfort, weather protection, luggage transportation, and personal preferences, should also be considered because they play an important role in the decision to use an e-scooter.