Brazil's embrace of electric motorcycles, championing eco-friendly transportation solutions
Santander, a leading financial institution, has announced the launch of an electric scooter sharing project in São Paulo, Brazil. The aim is to expand the availability of the eco-friendly vehicles to meet the mobility needs of more people, while contributing to a more sustainable future.
The project, sponsored by Santander, is a means of transport that can be used by the general public, both Santander customers and non-customers. The initiative is part of Santander's commitment to sustainability and responsible banking, aligning with the company's focus on projects that aim to improve life in large urban areas.
Carolina Learth, the head of the Sustainability area at Santander Brazil, explained that the electric-scooter project is a significant step towards reducing carbon emissions and improving air quality in the city. The initial geographical availability of the electric scooters is limited to a region between certain districts in São Paulo.
To use the electric scooters, a credit card payment is required to unlock the vehicle and its accompanying helmet. Users must be of legal age and have a category A driving license. Wearing a helmet is mandatory when using the electric scooters, and the service includes accident insurance and real-time vehicle tracking technology.
The project aims to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 20 tonnes per year. In addition to improving mobility, the project also aims to reduce noise pollution as electric vehicles are quieter than conventional vehicles.
The environmental impact of the project is expected to be positive, as electric scooters provide a low-emission alternative to gasoline-powered vehicles, particularly for short urban trips. This can lead to reductions in carbon emissions and improvement in air quality as scooters replace car or motorcycle trips.
However, it's important to note that the actual environmental benefit depends on factors such as the electricity source used for charging, the lifecycle emissions of scooter manufacturing and disposal, and the number of trips shifted from cars to scooters.
The electric scooters can be requested from 06.00 to 23.00 using the Riba Motos app. As of now, there are 50 electric scooters available for use in the city. Santander's electric-scooter project is one of the initiatives promoted by the company to support sustainable transport, diversity, inclusion, and corporate events.
In conclusion, Santander's electric-scooter sponsorship in São Paulo is a promising initiative that could contribute to a more sustainable and eco-friendly city. While the exact impact on carbon emissions and air quality is yet to be quantified, the potential benefits are significant, especially by encouraging people to choose electric scooters over cars or motorcycles for short-distance travel.
The electric-scooter project, sponsored by Santander, is part of the company's focus on environmental-science and sustainable-living, as it aims to reduce carbon emissions and improve air quality in urban areas. By providing an alternative to gasoline-powered vehicles, particularly for short trips, the project can lead to reductions in carbon emissions and improvements in air quality. This initiative aligns with Santander's commitment to sustainability and responsible banking. The project is open to both Santander customers and non-customers, and users must adhere to certain rules such as wearing a helmet, using a credit card for payment, and having a valid driver's license. The project also includes accident insurance and real-time vehicle tracking technology. Moreover, the project extends beyond transportation, as it is one of the initiatives promoted by Santander to support diversity, inclusion, and corporate events in the lifestyle and home-and-garden sectors. Electric-vehicles like electric-scooters can contribute to a more sustainable future, and Santander's electric-scooter project in São Paulo could be a significant step towards achieving that future.
