Welcome to ‘Fuel for Thought’, where I’ll dive deep into the forces shaping our world through the lens of energy. From the politics of carbon credits to the role of resources in global conflicts, the future of sustainable aviation, and the shifting tides of commodity markets, this column unpacks the trends, challenges, and innovations defining our planet's energy landscape.
Charge Up or Let Down? Electric Bike Rentals Under the Microscope: Unpacking the Environmental Drawbacks of Electric Bikes and Scooters
With a promise of sustainable transportation, electric bike (e-bike) and scooter rental services have surged in popularity worldwide, from the streets of San Francisco to central London. The numbers alone are impressive: Lime, a leading provider, operates in over 230 cities, and Britons alone have taken 12 million trips on rented e-bikes, cycling enough miles to travel to the moon and back 40 times. When replacing car trips, an individual e-bike can cut down CO₂ emissions by approximately 225 kilograms per year (comparable emissions to a 2.5-hour flight).
While these services offer a sustainable alternative to car travel, the benefits may not be as good as they say on the tin (or should we say lithium?). The most pressing concerns are the environmental and safety issues associated with the use of lithium-ion batteries, which power the majority of e-bikes and scooters. These batteries, though efficient, have serious impacts on ecosystems and resource use. Combined with the clutter they create on city sidewalks; many are questioning whether these services are as green as they claim. This article explores the benefits, drawbacks, and future possibilities for e-bike and scooter rentals, unpacking whether they are truly the green solution they claim to be.
Lithium-ion batteries
1. Resource Extraction and Environmental Degradation
Lithium-ion batteries rely on materials such as lithium, cobalt, and nickel, which are extracted through mining processes that leave a notable footprint. Lithium extraction, primarily concentrated in South America’s “Lithium Triangle” (Argentina, Bolivia, and Chile), is water-intensive, requiring approximately 500,000 gallons of water to extract just one ton of lithium. This extraction process can drastically deplete local water supplies, affecting agricultural areas and natural habitats. The rapidly growing demand for these metals has spurred debate about whether the “green” benefits of electric mobility fully offset the environmental costs of resource extraction.
2. Manufacturing and wastage
The production of lithium-ion batteries is energy-intensive when scaled to supply fleets of thousands of e-bikes and scooters, the cumulative emissions become considerable. For perspective, one study from the International Council on Clean Transportation estimated that for e-bikes, 30-40% of lifetime emissions come from the production phase alone. The short lifespan of rental e-bikes and scooters (often only a few months to a year due to wear and tear or vandalism) means that their batteries are replaced frequently, compounding the environmental impact. After their short lifespan the disposal of lithium-ion batteries is an environmental challenge, as improper disposal can lead to soil and water contamination. Recycling lithium-ion batteries is complex and not yet a viable option, in fact at present, it is often cheaper for manufacturers to mine new materials than to recycle used batteries, which discourages the development of robust recycling programs.
3. On the move
The most obvious fact is that “batteries do not make electricity” , they store electricity produced elsewhere, primarily by coal, natural gas-powered plants, or diesel-fueled generators. So, to say an Electric Vehicle (“EV”) is a zero-emission vehicle is just not true. For example, if 38% of the electricity generated in the U.S. is from natural gas and 22% is from coal, it follows that 60% of the EVs on the road are powered by fossil fuels.
Fixing the problems: Alternative energy sources for rental electric bikes and scooter
Sodium-ion batteries are quickly becoming a viable alternative to lithium batteries. Sodium is far more abundant than lithium, with widespread availability in seawater and salt deposits, which makes extraction less environmentally harmful and cheaper. A recent study found that sodium-ion batteries could potentially achieve 85-90% of the energy density of lithium-ion batteries. Although they don’t match lithium-ion batteries in energy density, their cost benefits make them suitable for short-range, light-duty applications like e-bikes and scooters. Research by Faradion, a sodium battery technology company, suggests that sodium-ion batteries could be up to 30% cheaper to produce than lithium-ion alternatives due to the abundance of sodium and reduced need for rare or expensive materials like cobalt. Additionally, sodium batteries degrade more slowly, potentially extending the lifespan of the battery and thus the vehicle itself. If energy performance and density of sodium batteries can improve, they may soon become a competitive, environmentally friendly option for urban e-bikes and scooters.
The end of the road ?
E-bike and scooter rentals promise reduced emissions and flexible urban transport, but their environmental impact, especially from lithium-ion batteries, raises concerns. Emerging technologies like sodium-ion batteries offer hope, but significant advancements are needed to make these services truly sustainable. With longer lifespans, responsible parking, and greener energy, they could align better with sustainability goals. Until then, the question remains: are they a clean alternative, or just a new set of environmental challenges?