Exploring Emerging Battery-Electric Micromobility Vehicles: A Perspective from Helsinki

This study delves into the emergence of battery-electric micro-vehicles within the urban context, with a particular focus on atypical vehicles such as fat-tire e-scooters and e-unicycles. Addressing a conspicuous gap in the existing literature, this empirical investigation, located in Helsinki, Finland, involves an in-depth analysis of 64 hours of video recordings from four strategically chosen sites. The findings reveal a tangible presence of emerging e-micromobility vehicles (EMV) at the street level, contrasting it to the prevailing emphasis on more conventional options such as e-bikes and e-scooters. In addition to assessing the scale of EMV diffusion in comparison to their mainstream counterparts, the study examines the diverse types and proportions of these unconventional devices. Furthermore, it offers insights into the profiles and riding practices of the observed riders. Despite lagging in societal diffusion when compared to e-scooters, EMVs have already achieved noteworthy popularity in Helsinki. The identified riders exhibit notable skill and experience, with discernible differences in profiles based on whether they are engaged in delivery services. The study’s preliminary conclusion suggests that the use of EMV is spearheaded by a cohort of riders demonstrating both playful and utilitarian motivations. However, acknowledging the exploratory nature of this study and its limited sample size, further research is warranted to comprehensively ascertain the further diffusion and integration of EMV
into the urban transportation system.