"Electric scooters may emit more greenhouse gas emissions than competing modes of transportation, resulting in a larger environmental impact than advertised, according to a new study.

The study from North Carolina State University published in Environmental Research Letters on Friday is the first to examine the carbon dioxide emissions contributed by the scooters throughout their life cycle — from the point of manufacture until they're discarded. The researchers also considered other air emissions, such as sulfur dioxide.

The study was spawned by a shared e-scooter program that began on campus last year, said Jeremiah Johnson, the North Carolina State assistant professor of environmental engineering who led the study.

'We noticed early on that the scooter companies were making claims about the environmental performance, using terms like 'carbon-free,' and saying these were Earth-friendly rides,' he said."

David Iaconangelo reports for EnergyWire August 5, 2019. [2]