Environmental performance of shared micromobility and personal alternatives using integrated modal LCA

TL;DR

This study compares the environmental impacts of shared micromobility and private transport options in Paris using an integrated life cycle assessment, highlighting manufacturing impacts and the importance of multicriteria analysis for sustainable policy-making.

Contribution

It provides the first integrated modal LCA comparing shared micromobility and private alternatives with field data, emphasizing the need for multicriteria assessment in environmental evaluations.

Findings

Electric micromobility impacts are driven by manufacturing.

Ownership does not directly influence environmental performance.

Carbon footprint alone is insufficient for environmental decision-making.

Abstract

The environmental performance of shared micromobility services compared to private alternatives has never been assessed using an integrated modal Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) relying on field data. Such an LCA is conducted on three shared micromobility services in Paris - bikes, second-generation e-scooters, and e-mopeds - and their private alternatives. Global warming potential, primary energy consumption, and the three endpoint damages are calculated. Sensitivity analyses on vehicle lifespan, shipping, servicing distance, and electricity mix are conducted. Electric micromobility ranks between active modes and personal ICE modes. Its impacts are globally driven by vehicle manufacturing. Ownership does not affect directly the environmental performance: the vehicle lifetime mileage does. Assessing the sole carbon footprint leads to biased environmental decision-making, as it is not correlated to the three damages: multicriteria LCA is mandatory to preserve the planet. Finally, a major change of paradigm is needed to eco-design modern transportation policies.