Examining the adoption of electromobility concepts across social contexts for energy transition

Abstract

The impact of mobility decisions not only shapes urban traffic patterns and planning, but also its associated effects, such as greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Although e-bike sharing is not a new concept, it has shown significant strides in technological progress in recent years due to the ongoing process of digitalization, specifically towards decarbonization effects. Past studies have shown that e-bike sharing shows a potential as a fast, mobile, and environmentally friendly alternative to cars and public transport. Although e-bikes represent a viable alternative to traditional means of transportation, there is a lack of quantification in understanding the impact and acceptance of e-bikes towards social contexts as well as its adoption as a type of sharing concept. In this paper, we employ the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) model as an analytical framework to discern the use and acceptance of e-bike sharing as an emerging technological concept across different cities and social contexts. Our findings reveal that the e-bike sharing system's utilization is skewed towards a small percentage of "frequent users", and overall usage is biased towards younger, more-educated, and higher-income populations who live in bike-friendly areas. Our work contributes to the feasibility of embedding the e-bike sharing concept in the scope of the energy transition.