The Popularity of E-Scooters: A Passing Trend or Worth Investing In?

The popularity of electric scooters in Australia has only soared ever since they were first brought to the market in 2018. Initially introduced as cheap rentals for short commutes, their eco-friendliness and efficiency have converted many in their favor.

The e-scooter industry continued to prosper even during the COVID-19 pandemic. In fact, the individuality of e-scooters made them all the more efficient for uncertain times. E-scooters did so by freeing one from having to use public buses, trains, trams, or other means of public transport. In other words, it allowed for social distancing, significantly reducing the risk of one catching the virus. The compact size of an electric scooter and the ease of parking made them all the more appealing.

However, as much as there has been a rise in the popularity of electric scooters, there has also been an increase in the number of people against the current trend. Those against e-scooters blamed them for causing road accidents. When the Australian government banned e-scooters from roads, the pedestrians complained about the silent riders who were a little too fast for footpaths. However, the popularity of e-scooters still kept soaring. The following are some reasons why this could be so:

It Is Not Just Nostalgia

When electric scooters were first launched, many believed young consumers were the only target market as they didn’t require a driving license or much maintenance. However, electric scooters have become massively popular among the millennials too. Men and women in tailored suits with a cross-body bag on their sides can be seen riding electric scooters around Sydney and Brisbane.

With the millennial average age to be 33 years, their inclination towards owning e-scooters can be blamed on nostalgia. While not every millennial is ready to spend a thousand bucks to relive their childhood from the 90s, many find them to fit their lifestyle better than a car.

Let’s be honest, Millennials and Gen-Zers are less likely to live their lives as the Boomers. The ever-changing worldwide situations and the uncertainty of the future have already changed the young population’s priorities. They are a lot more environmentally conscious compared to the generations before them and tend to put more effort into living their lives with the values they uphold rather than planning to do the same in the future. They are inclined towards buying what they need in their present, be it a personal mobility device or a six-seater. Moreover, they lean towards enjoying their life, and that’s one reason electric scooters have found consumers among them.

E-scooters are not only fun and convenient. They add a lot of value to their users’ lives than providing them with a wave of mere nostalgia. If they were only good for remembering the warmth of 90s summer, we wouldn’t have been able to see them on the roads. Like fidget spinners, they would have been collecting dust in basements or garages or wherever it is that the young store things they don’t need.

Reasons You Should Get an E-Scooter

E-Scooter manufacturers might not have known the full spectrum of their customers in the beginning. Advertised towards mostly young people, they also fit the lifestyle of anyone looking for a convenient and compact life.

Electric scooters are especially great for those looking to adopt an eco-friendly lifestyle and reducing their carbon footprint. They do not emit any greenhouse gases and hence are great for the environment. They do not need fossil fuel to run on; and hence, do not contribute to air pollution. Since they run on electricity, e-scooters can also be charged with solar-power-generated electricity and operated with little to no impact on the environment. Besides air pollution, electric scooters do not contribute to noise pollution. Unlike other vehicles, they don’t produce any sound.  

E-scooters are also great for those living a solitary lifestyle or those who tend to travel within the city alone. Besides being a lot more energy efficient when compared to cars, they are great for day-to-day use for being easy to park and steering clear of traffic. In case of long-distance travel within the city, or traveling to places where they have to switch public transport stations, one can carry their e-scooter with them on the public transport and make their route easier. For shorter commutes, e-scooters save on time as one doesn’t need to wait for public transports.

The economic aspect of e-scooters cannot be ignored either. They cost a fraction of the price of a car and require no fuel to run on. They are also a lot easier to maintain as their parts cost much less compared to the parts of a car. The mechanics charge significantly less for repairing e-scooters too. Since the technology used to build e-scooters is rather simple, one can easily learn it and save more bucks in the long run.

Depending on their aspects, e-scooters in Australia are available in a range of prices at iscoot electric scooters for people with different budgets. For young adults and teens, electric scooters make for an excellent first ride as they don’t require a license yet provide them with a sense of independence that’s also easy on their pockets.

Above all, e-scooters are a great mode of transport, especially in times of pandemics. With new variants of Covid-19 appearing every few months, there’s no knowing when the world will go back to the old normal. In the new normal, it is best to avoid public spaces, especially closed public spaces such as means of public transport.

As for the complaints against e-scooters, they can be easily tackled by the collective effort of the e-scooter manufacturers, the government, and its present and future users. While most of the responsibility sets on the riders of e-scooters, the manufacturers and the government can also play their part by setting an appropriate speed limit on the electric scooters and imposing fines on irresponsible riders, respectively. These simple actions should not become a hindrance to the popularity of convenience and eco-friendliness that everyone and the environment deserve.

Featured Photo by Martin Katler on Unsplash