We hear about e-scooters in both positive and negative ways, however for many people their experience is very much the former. Here are some of the big advantages of investing in one of these electric marvels.
1. Efficiencies
A car is one of the most inefficient modes of transport today. According to a study conducted by the US Department of Energy, the average car on American roads weighs just about 4100 pounds, with the average American weighing around 175 pounds. The car is thus more than 23 times heavier than the driver, meaning most of its energy is used to move the car itself. On the other hand, an E-scooter weighs around 28 pounds and runs on an even more efficient electric motor. That said, much of the E-scooter’s energy is used to move your body weight, with very little needed to drive the scooter itself.
In another comparison, a gasoline-powered car needs at least one kilowatt-hour of energy to go for a mile. The Tesla Model 3 (most efficient car) uses the same energy to go 4 miles. An electric scooter can, however, travel more than 80 miles on the same 1-kilowatt hour. The average person also burns nine times this energy to cover the same distance, making buying an E-scooter a clear winner.
2. Fuel Costs
Although electric vehicles and renewable energy had a slow start (compared to fossil fuel applications), tables have since turned, thanks to technological advancements. Running an e-scooter is thus much cheaper than other affordable means of transport, including taxis, public transport, and personal cars. Only 1% of the cost of fueling a gas-powered vehicle is needed to recharge an E-scooter. You will thus be saving lots of money (more than 70% in savings) with the e-scooter as your primary means of transport,
3. Production Costs
The cost of one Tesla Model 3 is enough to buy more than 100 electric scooters. Granted, the Tesla will drive through some conditions the scooter might struggle in (long-distance, snow, rain, mud, etc.). However, the average American drives just about 10 miles to work or to school, making the car realistic in the most extreme of conditions alone. Considering you will be driving alone most of the time, then the e-scooter is the best option to take. The E-scooter is designed to help handle micro mobility with ease, reducing congestion and pollution in cities. The cost of producing one E-scooter is much lower, hence good for the economy and environment too.
4. Weight
As mentioned before, the average American car weighs just about 4100 pounds. The production process of the same releases more than 7 tons of carbon dioxide emissions. A short-range electric vehicle has a higher carbon dioxide emission rate of about 8 tons (compared to gas-powered vehicles), though it has a lower carbon footprint on the road. The long-term benefits are thus favorable on the EV than the gas-powered vehicle.
An e-scooter weighs just around 28 pounds, with less energy required to manufacture the unit. Although some research may be needed for this, it is safe to say electric scooters require less than 1% of the energy needed to produce a fully functional gas-powered vehicle.