Trinity College Dublin's School of Engineering is excited to announce the publication of an innovative research paper in Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment. The paper, titled "E-bike to the future: Scalability, emission-saving, and eco-efficiency assessment of shared electric mobility hubs", presents a comprehensive framework for evaluating the effectiveness and potential of Dublin’s shared e-bike system. This research is Part of the eHUBS project funded by Interreg North-West Europe and the work was done in collaboration with the ESB.

Authored by Dr Keyvan Hosseini, Dr Tushar Pramod Choudhari, Dr Agnieszka Stefaniec, Professor Margaret O’Mahony, and Professor Brian Caulfield, this study provides critical insights into the future of sustainable urban mobility. The research utilises six months of real-world data to assess the eco-efficiency and scalability of 12 e-bike hubs (eHUBs) across Dublin, employing data envelopment analysis (DEA) and negative binomial regression.

Key Highlights of the Research:

  • Framework Development: The team developed a novel framework for appraising the performance of shared electric micro-mobility hubs in urban settings.
  • Data-Driven Analysis: Utilising extensive real-world data, the study evaluates the eco-efficiency of eHUBs in Dublin.
  • Scalability Insights: The research proposes an e-bike sharing scalability measure using returns-to-scale analysis, highlighting the potential for system expansion.
  • Eco-Efficiency Evaluation: The study assesses eco-efficiency based on trip and user characteristics and emission offsets, demonstrating the environmental benefits of shared e-bikes.

Dr. Keyvan Hosseini, who led the project, stated:

"Our findings reveal that shared electric micro-mobility systems like Dublin’s e-bike hubs offer a promising sustainable alternative to car-centric urban transport. The upward trajectory of eco-efficiency indicates substantial potential for system expansion and improved infrastructure."

 

Trinity College Dublin School of Engineering is grateful to have the support of ESB, Ireland's foremost energy company since its establishment in 1927. Geraldine Moloney, running ESB X_Site - Incubation and Commercialising new ventures, ESB Group, stated:

“ESB is firmly invested in the role innovation and innovative solutions can provide in delivering Net Zero.  This research conducted using the data generated from our investment in piloting shared e-Bikes in the suburbs of Dublin has provided great insight into the potential of shared eMobility solutions to deliver on the Climate Action Plans' aim to reduce our car dependent culture.  The results of the research clearly demonstrate how collaboration across the academic, startup, semi-state and commercial sectors can deliver a sustainable energy transition for all.”

 

Conclusions and Future Directions:

The paper concludes that integrating shared electric micro-mobility hubs in urban areas dominated by cars can significantly contribute to sustainable mobility. It highlights the necessity of policy reforms, combining discouraging measures against car usage with encouraging policies for accessible and safe cycling.

The study also opens avenues for future research to explore user resistance to adopting sustainable mobility practices and to estimate the economic impact of externalities mitigated by shared micro-mobility hubs.

Brian Caulfield, co-author and project lead, emphasised:

"This research is a crucial step towards understanding and enhancing the efficiency of urban transportation systems. The insights gained will aid policymakers and urban planners in making informed decisions to promote sustainable mobility."

Practical Applications:

  • Enhancing Urban Mobility: The framework can be applied to other metropolitan areas to improve shared micro-mobility systems, making urban transport more sustainable.
  • Policy Recommendations: The study offers actionable insights for policymakers to encourage the use of shared e-bikes and reduce car dependency.
  • Infrastructure Improvements: The research underscores the need for infrastructural enhancements to support the expansion of e-bike sharing systems.

The publication of this paper underscores Trinity College Dublin School of Engineering's commitment to pioneering research and innovation in sustainable solutions for urban transportation.

For more details on this rigorous research, the full paper can be accessed here.