Field Safety Performance of Micro-mobility Devices
2022-01-1031
03/29/2022
- Event
- Content
- Micro-mobility devices, such as E-scooters and E-bikes, have become a prominent mode of transportation in urban environments. Even in a single location, a variety of suppliers, each with a different design, may be available for use. When new, the safety performance of the devices should be consistent for a given make, however, over time, braking performance may diminish. Acceleration characteristics may vary between suppliers, and could diminish over the life of the device, or possibly be dependent on the current state of charge of the device. Since the rider does not own or maintain the device, they would have limited understanding of the performance of a particular device in emergency conditions. A sample of publicly available E-scooters and E-bikes were tested to determine whether differences in acceleration and hard braking capabilities may be expected. The condition of the device tires and controls, and the battery state of charge, were inspected and documented. The findings are discussed in the context of risk exposure to the end user and to inform those responsible for maintenance of the devices.
- Citation
- Larson, R., and Kuzel, M., "Field Safety Performance of Micro-mobility Devices," SAE Technical Paper 2022-01-1031, 2022, .