Source: ATOM Mobility

Shared mobility systems that support an increasingly simple and convenient user experience can be more complex and costly than riders might realise. Beyond the initial outlay on fleets and permits, the expenses of day-to-day operation can mount up, affecting profitability prospects.

The latest European Shared Mobility Index, published by Fluctuo, indicates that over 700 million trips were taken in Europe in 2025, demonstrating the integral role shared mobility now plays in daily life. For operators in the sector, there is a consistent pattern of underestimation of the running costs beyond the launch stage – fleet downtime, balancing and maintenance all have an impact, as do customer service support and the management of compliance.

Vehicle downtime

Each shared e-scooter or bike is only capable of generating revenue when it’s available to potential riders. As an example, a scooter might expect to see two trips per day at €3 per ride, producing approximately €2,200 annually in revenue. Should a recurring maintenance problem keep that scooter out of action for two weeks a quarter, the operator could lose over €250 in revenue on that unit alone. At fleet level, this scenario is amplified significantly.

Not only is the cost of maintenance to be factored in; insurance, depreciation, financing, storage and general operational overheads still apply even when the scooter is unavailable for hire.

Fleet balancing

The nature of shared mobility use sees vehicles beginning to cluster in some city areas and becoming sparse in others, necessitating a proactive fleet redistribution system. It’s a challenge which requires investment in terms of people, vehicles, planning, and technology – large operators will maintain dedicated teams to manage this aspect.

The balancing and redistribution of shared mobility has been a topic of many academic studies, acknowledging this area as one of the biggest operational challenges, which directly affects both utilisation and customer satisfaction.

Charging operations

Fleets of e-bikes, e-scooters and mopeds require a robust charging infrastructure. If complete vehicles or batteries need to be collected for charging, there is an underlying requirement for labour, logistics, warehouse space and charging infrastructure, with the cost of electricity adding to the expense.

An efficient charging process is essential as fleets grow, as poor battery management increases downtime (with its own associated costs as described earlier). Dedicated teams and infrastructure are needed to ensure efficient coordination.

Timely maintenance

Minor vehicle issues, such as a loose component or battery that performs below normal levels, may not immediately mean the vehicle needs to be removed from service, but left unresolved could lead to larger, more costly repairs. Consequently, successful operators take a more proactive approach to maintenance, making it an ongoing operational process that’s supported by diagnostic tools, automation, and task management systems that all help identify problems before users are aware of them.

Customer support

The customer support element of shared mobility – response to queries about payment issues, failed unlocking attempts, trip disputes and more – should be factored into a shared mobility project at the launch planning stage. A fleet which generates 100,000 monthly trips is likely to receive hundreds, or perhaps thousands, of support requests during that period. A poor support experience can negatively impact on customer retention and lead to poor reviews.

Regulation and policy

In contrast to the early days of shared mobility projects, cities now expect high standards in areas such as parking compliance, safety measures and accessibility, supported by operational transparency and detailed reporting.

This necessitates investment in:

• reporting systems
• compliance processes
• city partnerships
• parking management
• real-time operational monitoring

These aspects represent an increasingly necessary aspect of running a shared mobility operation, as cities become ever-more selective about permit allocation and the establishment of long-term partnerships.