Micro-mobility is on the rise: Whether electric scooters, e-scooters or small e-cars for the city, the market is on the move and users are recognizing the advantages of the new modes of transport. Rental and sharing models make micro-mobility easy to use in many large cities. Usually an app and a credit card are all it takes to be there. As the “Spiritus Rector” of micro-mobility and long-standing manufacturer of scooters and kickboards with and without electric drive, we welcome the hype, but at the same time warn of excesses and dangers: The mass market is both a blessing and a curse.
As the initiator of micro-mobility, we have been convinced for over 5 years that a scooter is the ideal means of transport for cities.
says Vicente Garcia Lübke, founder and CEO of Trotti GmbH. We developed and produced kickboards and scooters back in 2014. Since then we have been working consistently on the topic of micro-mobility. Light, foldable, safe and sustainable - these are the criteria that Trotti applies to scooters. "These principles also apply to our e-scooters," emphasizes Garcia Lübke. We are currently developing a lightweight, foldable e-scooter that is specially designed for the last mile.
Five years after the scooter hype, there is now a trend from the USA: electric rental scooters from Bird, Circ, Lime, Scoobox, Tier or Voi are coming to Europe. Vehicles have been allowed in Switzerland since June 17, 2019.
We observe this development with one laughing and one crying eye.
summarizes Garcia Lübke. Laughing, because after 5 years the advantages of a scooter or kickboard for urban mobility are finally being recognized. Many city dwellers can now test the unique driving experience before deciding on their own e-scooter. Weeping because this business model is not sustainable, as the rental e-scooters are scrapped after a short time. Studies from the USA report that the rental scooters only last 78 days. “There can be no talk of sustainable mobility here. In addition, the many electric scooters lying around are not exactly a nice sight, ”says Garcia Lübke.
The security aspect
Another aspect is safety: The condition of rental kickboards cannot be checked by an expert before every trip. It is also problematic that completely inexperienced users use the e-scooters right away in the highly frequented city centers. According to the US health authorities, the risk of accidents is particularly high for people who are still inexperienced in using e-scooters (see. Austin Public Health). A third of the accident victims had ridden an electric scooter for the first time, while another third stated that they had previously completed between one and nine trips.
“The numbers are not surprising. It's the same as with all new means of transport, be it a bicycle, inline skate or an e-scooter: the technique needs to be practiced, ”emphasizes Garcia Lübke. Nobody should go straight into city traffic without practice. This is best done with your own e-scooter. In front of the front door or in a quiet residential area, extensively test how the scooter behaves, how to give a sign to turn with one hand on the handlebars, how to brake or how the scooter reacts to curbs. This gives the necessary safety for city traffic.
Our strategy: the personal e-scooter
Trotti Mobility Systems consistently focuses on sustainability and security. “Our strategy is the personal electric scooter. Because of its low weight and easy foldability, the scooter can be taken into the home or office without any problems, ”emphasizes Trotti CEO Vicente Garcia Lübke. That's exactly the advantage compared to a bicycle. In addition, the e-scooter can be taken with almost all public transport offers. This makes the e-scooter the ideal addition to public transport. Overall, the behavior of road users has changed: People use more and in particular different means of transport on their trips. Experts agree that an e-scooter makes sense if it is used to replace a car or motorcycle or to make it easier to switch to public transport.
We welcome the sharing option for e-scooters, but we are convinced that this cannot be the right and sustainable solution for the already overcrowded inner cities in the long term. If everyone has their own e-scooter, they also take responsibility for its condition and handling.
summarizes Garcia Lübke. We are worried that negative headlines will damage the image of this ingenious, simple and agile means of transport. "The business model without fixed and supervised stations can seriously damage the success of the e-scooter," says Garcia Lübke.