Assessing the Economic Feasibility and Sustainability of Solar-Powered Charging Stations for Electric Scooter Rental Services

Urbanization and increasing environmental challenges have increased the need for innovative solutions to adapt urban mobility to new and ever-changing needs while promoting sustainability. This thesis explores the integration of solar-powered charging stations into electric scooter rental networks as a dual strategy for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving the economic feasibility of micro-mobility services. Through a simulation-based approach using AnyLogic, this study evaluates various configurations of charging infrastructure, user incentive strategies, and optimization techniques to identify the most effective solutions. The analysis encompasses five experimental scenarios: baseline comparisons, optimal placement strategies using metaheuristics, scaling infrastructure to population density, determining the ideal number of charging docks, and evaluating the impact of user discounts. Results demonstrate that strategic placement of solar-powered charging stations can significantly enhance system efficiency, reducing conventional energy consumption by up to 90% and increasing renewable energy usage to 356 KWh on average. Furthermore, offering discounts of 40% to customers returning scooters to solar-powered charging stations emerged as a viable strategy to encourage user adoption without compromising profitability, especially when paired with the sale of excess solar energy back to the grid. This research contributes to academic literature by bridging gaps between simulation-based evaluation methodologies and renewable energy-powered micro-mobility solutions, revealing insights into user behavior and sustainable infrastructure development. Practically, it provides a roadmap for e-scooter operators to implement cost-effective and environmentally friendly systems. However, limitations such as computational constraints and a limited scope highlight areas for future research. This work puts into evidence the transformative potential of integrating renewable energy into urban mobility.