This is a first in France and even in Europe, according to Dott. The Franco-Dutch operator of self-service electric scooters has just set up a workshop for reconditioning its machines to double their lifespan in Lyon. Why the capital of Gaul? “It is here that we have the strongest use of electric scooters, with nearly 280,000 trips made per month”, underlines Manon Pagniez, general manager France.
“The goal of this initiative is to reduce our carbon emissions by 50%,” she says, listing production and transportation as “the biggest sources of emissions.” Indeed, the devices are still made in China. But as part of the new contract with the city of Lyon, the operator has “undertaken not to place any new orders” and to “keep the current fleet” of 2,000 scooters.
Redo the scooter with old
In this ecological logic, Dott had opened in 2019 and its first contract with the city of Lyon, a repair room. Every day, between 30 and 100 scooters are brought back to the workshop because of minor or major damage. “Since this year, we have divided the operational center in two to take care of very damaged machines, indicates Tristan Feuillet, warehouse supervisor. The goal is to completely redo the damaged scooter with the old one so that it starts off like new. And this, without having left the region! »
In general, these machines, in circulation for three years, arrive having traveled 5,000 to 6,000 km, or “five to six times France”. The promise of the workshop is to allow them to redo this distance and go up to seven years of service life in total. And after ? “The company does not even have this existence yet, so we will see at that time”, answers the communication of the company.
News for recycled scooters
In the meantime, the eighteen mechanics, 10% of whom come from employment reintegration centres, are busy sprucing up the scooters. “The first step is complete dismantling, continues Tristan Feuillet. Then, each part is checked, be it the rims, the wheels or the screws to be then reused”. As far as possible. Because certain accessories, such as the brakes, are “systematically changed” for new ones. “Question of user security”, insists Tristan Feuillet. Moreover, throughout the reconditioning process, many checks are carried out.
All that remains is a coat of paint to put on before assembling each piece. And voila. Recycled scooters even benefit from some new features with the addition of a phone holder on the handlebars and a registration number visible on the back. “She’s even better than before,” says the supervisor, looking at the scooters at the end of the line.