Enhancing road safety of PLEVs by novel vehicle concepts: A comprehensive investigation on regulations, accident statistics, and perception of riders in Europe
The rise of Personal Light Electric Vehicles (PLEVs), including electric bicycles and electric kick scooters, represents a relevant trend in current urban mobility. PLEVs offer economic, social, and environmental advantages, making them increasingly attractive for short-distance travel. Despite thei...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2025-01-01
|
| Series: | Heliyon |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844024171605 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850074344995160064 |
|---|---|
| author | Michelangelo-Santo Gulino Susanna Papini Giovanni Zonfrillo Peter Miklis Thomas Unger Dario Vangi |
| author_facet | Michelangelo-Santo Gulino Susanna Papini Giovanni Zonfrillo Peter Miklis Thomas Unger Dario Vangi |
| author_sort | Michelangelo-Santo Gulino |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The rise of Personal Light Electric Vehicles (PLEVs), including electric bicycles and electric kick scooters, represents a relevant trend in current urban mobility. PLEVs offer economic, social, and environmental advantages, making them increasingly attractive for short-distance travel. Despite their benefits, concerns about the safety of PLEVs, particularly related to road accidents, have arisen due to their growing presence in urban areas.This paper examines various aspects of PLEV safety, focusing on equipment required by regulations, circulation aspects, and users' needs; based on such highlights, the objective is to derive a vehicle concept (in the form of a kick scooter) that integrates elements for PLEV safety maximization starting from the design phase. A review of PLEV-related regulation in European countries, and particularly for electric kick scooters, is initially provided to determine the mandatory equipment for their circulation in the widest possible number of countries. Analysis of accident data for PLEVs in the EU then reveals critical factors contributing to the occurrence of crashes, injuries, and casualties, as well as the type and severity of riders' injuries. Surveys on user perceptions shed light on safety concerns of daily riders, indicating the most relevant aspects to enhance from the user's perspective.Based on these findings, the study proposes a novel electric kick scooter concept integrating safety features derived from regulations, accident analysis, and user needs. Safety equipment aimed at increasing riding stability (high diameter wheel, pneumatic tyres) appears as the most promising solution for maximizing PLEV safety. Inclusion of turning light indicators can also increase riding stability, since the user can exhibit his/her intention of turning while maintaining the contact with the handlebar; as of today, this latter feature is mandatory only in Italy among all EU countries. The work additionally emphasizes the need for harmonized regulations, enhanced safety standards, specifically designed infrastructure, and user awareness campaigns to improve PLEV safety. This research is functional for the proposal of a sustainable and safe transportation solution that can increase the consensus towards PLEVs and the consequent spread of electric microvehicles. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d4e4491949e44209beed0ded789e5c57 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2405-8440 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Heliyon |
| spelling | doaj-art-d4e4491949e44209beed0ded789e5c572025-08-20T02:46:36ZengElsevierHeliyon2405-84402025-01-01111e4112910.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e41129Enhancing road safety of PLEVs by novel vehicle concepts: A comprehensive investigation on regulations, accident statistics, and perception of riders in EuropeMichelangelo-Santo Gulino0Susanna Papini1Giovanni Zonfrillo2Peter Miklis3Thomas Unger4Dario Vangi5Department of Industrial Engineering, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Via di Santa Marta, 3, 50139, Firenze, Italy; Corresponding author.Department of Industrial Engineering, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Via di Santa Marta, 3, 50139, Firenze, ItalyDepartment of Industrial Engineering, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Via di Santa Marta, 3, 50139, Firenze, ItalyVerkehrsunfallforschung an der TU Dresden Gmbh, Semperstraße 2a, 01069 Dresden, GermanyVerkehrsunfallforschung an der TU Dresden Gmbh, Semperstraße 2a, 01069 Dresden, GermanyDepartment of Industrial Engineering, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Via di Santa Marta, 3, 50139, Firenze, ItalyThe rise of Personal Light Electric Vehicles (PLEVs), including electric bicycles and electric kick scooters, represents a relevant trend in current urban mobility. PLEVs offer economic, social, and environmental advantages, making them increasingly attractive for short-distance travel. Despite their benefits, concerns about the safety of PLEVs, particularly related to road accidents, have arisen due to their growing presence in urban areas.This paper examines various aspects of PLEV safety, focusing on equipment required by regulations, circulation aspects, and users' needs; based on such highlights, the objective is to derive a vehicle concept (in the form of a kick scooter) that integrates elements for PLEV safety maximization starting from the design phase. A review of PLEV-related regulation in European countries, and particularly for electric kick scooters, is initially provided to determine the mandatory equipment for their circulation in the widest possible number of countries. Analysis of accident data for PLEVs in the EU then reveals critical factors contributing to the occurrence of crashes, injuries, and casualties, as well as the type and severity of riders' injuries. Surveys on user perceptions shed light on safety concerns of daily riders, indicating the most relevant aspects to enhance from the user's perspective.Based on these findings, the study proposes a novel electric kick scooter concept integrating safety features derived from regulations, accident analysis, and user needs. Safety equipment aimed at increasing riding stability (high diameter wheel, pneumatic tyres) appears as the most promising solution for maximizing PLEV safety. Inclusion of turning light indicators can also increase riding stability, since the user can exhibit his/her intention of turning while maintaining the contact with the handlebar; as of today, this latter feature is mandatory only in Italy among all EU countries. The work additionally emphasizes the need for harmonized regulations, enhanced safety standards, specifically designed infrastructure, and user awareness campaigns to improve PLEV safety. This research is functional for the proposal of a sustainable and safe transportation solution that can increase the consensus towards PLEVs and the consequent spread of electric microvehicles.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844024171605 |
| spellingShingle | Michelangelo-Santo Gulino Susanna Papini Giovanni Zonfrillo Peter Miklis Thomas Unger Dario Vangi Enhancing road safety of PLEVs by novel vehicle concepts: A comprehensive investigation on regulations, accident statistics, and perception of riders in Europe Heliyon |
| title | Enhancing road safety of PLEVs by novel vehicle concepts: A comprehensive investigation on regulations, accident statistics, and perception of riders in Europe |
| title_full | Enhancing road safety of PLEVs by novel vehicle concepts: A comprehensive investigation on regulations, accident statistics, and perception of riders in Europe |
| title_fullStr | Enhancing road safety of PLEVs by novel vehicle concepts: A comprehensive investigation on regulations, accident statistics, and perception of riders in Europe |
| title_full_unstemmed | Enhancing road safety of PLEVs by novel vehicle concepts: A comprehensive investigation on regulations, accident statistics, and perception of riders in Europe |
| title_short | Enhancing road safety of PLEVs by novel vehicle concepts: A comprehensive investigation on regulations, accident statistics, and perception of riders in Europe |
| title_sort | enhancing road safety of plevs by novel vehicle concepts a comprehensive investigation on regulations accident statistics and perception of riders in europe |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844024171605 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT michelangelosantogulino enhancingroadsafetyofplevsbynovelvehicleconceptsacomprehensiveinvestigationonregulationsaccidentstatisticsandperceptionofridersineurope AT susannapapini enhancingroadsafetyofplevsbynovelvehicleconceptsacomprehensiveinvestigationonregulationsaccidentstatisticsandperceptionofridersineurope AT giovannizonfrillo enhancingroadsafetyofplevsbynovelvehicleconceptsacomprehensiveinvestigationonregulationsaccidentstatisticsandperceptionofridersineurope AT petermiklis enhancingroadsafetyofplevsbynovelvehicleconceptsacomprehensiveinvestigationonregulationsaccidentstatisticsandperceptionofridersineurope AT thomasunger enhancingroadsafetyofplevsbynovelvehicleconceptsacomprehensiveinvestigationonregulationsaccidentstatisticsandperceptionofridersineurope AT dariovangi enhancingroadsafetyofplevsbynovelvehicleconceptsacomprehensiveinvestigationonregulationsaccidentstatisticsandperceptionofridersineurope |