Paris’s ban on self-service app-based electric scooters went into effect on September 1, and the companies that operated the rentals are now dealing with some 15,000 out-of-service scooters.
The solution for the major operators, Dott, Lime, and Tier, are now focused on recycling and reducing carbon emissions. The scooters are dismantled, ensuring all components are appropriately sorted for recycling, repair, or reuse, depending on their condition. After this process, the vehicles are restored and repainted. They are then resold, or used in cities where they are still legal.
Dott, one of the major operators, has plants for this process in Lyon and Warsaw. Over 10,000 scooters were processed that way in 2022, with 90% of the non-reusable parts recycled. Other companies, including Lime, have focused on reclaiming batteries.
