Each rental e-scooter is worth around £11,500 a year to local economies, according to research from micromobility firm Neuron Mobility.
The Singapore-based firm operates three UK government-approved e-scooter rental trial schemes, in Newcastle, Slough and Sunderland. It has surveyed users in all three cities for a new ‘prosperity report’ titled Shared Rides, Shared Wealth. And while you'd expect a report commissioned by an e-scooter firm to highlight the machines positively, there is some interesting data in there.
The latest e-mobility news in your inbox: get our FREE newsletter
Neuron claims that e-scooter riders cumulatively spend £14.9 million a year in local businesses across the three regions, with Newcastle alone accounting for £8.9 million. According to the data, 70 per cent of Neuron e-scooter trips result in a direct purchase from a local business, with an average spend of £17.30.
Q&A: Neuron's UK boss on e-scooters, safety and helmet selfies
More than a third of riders (37 per cent) said they made purchases at shops, with 35 per cent stopping at a restaurant cafe and 18 per cent an entertainment venue, which include local events and the gym.
Notably, the survey shows 10 per cent of those trips wouldn’t have happened if e-scooters weren’t available, while 41 per cent of trips replaced a car journey. Neuron says that means saving around 165 tonnes of CO2 that would have been generated by cars on those trips.
Are e-scooters legal in the UK? Move Electric's definitive guide
The report also looked at how people used rental e-scooters. Neuron says that 62 per cent of all trips were for leisure and recreations, while 38 per cent were for ‘purposeful’ trips such as commuting to work or school, 29 per cent for errands such as shopping, while 19 per cent of people used them to get to appointments.
Cormac Quinn, Neuron’s UK chief, said: “Our vision has always been to partner with cities to help them build a more prosperous and sustainable future. We’re heartened that our new report clearly demonstrates we’re on the right track.”
The report also goes into further detail about how and where people use e-scooters in cities. In Newcastle, 38 per cent of all trips started within a core section of the central shopping area, with the average trip taking nine minutes and covering a mile. Seventy per cent of trips either started or finished at one of the city’s main public transport stations, with 20 per cent of journeys combined with public transport.
READ MORE
Subscribe to the Move Electric newsletter
e-CARS
Video: Can the National Grid cope with a surge in electric vehicles?
e-BIKES
What to look for when buying an e-bike: Move Electric's top tipsx
The rise of Volt Bikes: 'when we launched, people thought we were mad'
e-MOTORBIKES
Maeving RM1 electric motorbike review
Q&A: Zapp founder on why electric mopeds are the future
Government plans 2035 ban on new non-zero emission motorbike sales
e-SCOOTERS
Tier to upgrade e-scooter fleet with a smart 'Parrot'
Q&A: Neuron Mobility's UK boss on e-scooters, safety and helmet selfies
e-WORLD
Polestar to supply battery tech to electric boat firm Candela
Engineering giant ABB working on electric Dover-Calais ferry