Climate performance of shared e scooters in Dubai: An attributional life cycle assessment and scenario-based implications

Shared electric scooters (e-scooters) are widely promoted as a low-carbon urban transport solution. However, their environmental impact depends on lifespan, operations, and modal shift. This study evaluates life cycle greenhouse gas emissions of shared e-scooters operating in Dubai, UAE. A cradle-to-grave life cycle assessment is conducted, considering manufacturing, transportation, use phase electricity, redistribution logistics, and end-of-life treatment through scenario analysis varying lifetime distance (500, 1500, and 5000 km), riding energy intensity (10, 15, and 20 Wh/km), redistribution rate (10% and 50%), and disposal pathways (landfill versus high-recovery recycling). Emissions are then combined with modal shift assumptions to estimate net impacts relative to replaced transport modes. Manufacturing dominates the carbon footprint, contributing 144 kg CO 2 e per-e-scooter. Lifetime distance is the key determinant of per-km emissions, ranging from 262–483 g CO 2 e/km at 500 km, decline at 1500 km, and dropping to 63 g CO 2 e/km at 5000 km, allowing meaningful reductions when replacing short car trips. Variation in riding electricity intensity changes emissions by 5–8 g CO 2 e/km, indicating a minor contribution. In contrast, intensive redistribution can increase emissions by 140–145 g CO 2 e/km, making it the dominant operational contributor. Scenario-based net impact analysis shows that shared e-scooters do not inherently reduce emissions. They increase transport emissions when service lifetimes are short and substitution is dominated by walking. Shared e-scooters are therefore conditionally low-carbon, and their climate benefits depend on extended service lifetimes, optimized fleet management, material recovery, and policies that ensure car trip replacement. Otherwise, they risk increasing overall transport-related emissions. • E-scooters are conditionally low carbon, not inherently. • E-scooters service life governs GHG performance. • Manufacturing drives cradle to gate emissions. • Redistribution logistics dominate use phase emissions. • Service life, rebalancing, and car replacement are keys to climate gains.