Sensory and emotional dimensions of domesticating new technology: an experiment with new e-bike users in Norway

Abstract

Cities face major challenges when it comes to sustainability and mobility. Transport’s contribution to climate change is well-established, and people need to move in the most sustainable way to reach the 2030 emissions targets set by the Paris Agreement. One possible pathway towards more sustainable mobility practices is electromobility. The electrification of micro-mobility is happening rapidly, and one of the most popular is the e-bike. For years, electric bikes were relegated to niche status, but they are now experiencing explosive growth in sales in many countries. In this article, we draw on an experiment with new users of e-bikes to study the integration of e-bikes into existing mobility practices and to explore their sustainability potential. Through the lens of domestication theory, we zoom in on the relations that formed between users, technology, and environments in the course of the experiment. Our analysis highlights how emotional and sensory experiences play crucial roles in the adaption of new mobility technologies. Based on our findings, we argue that to reach the sustainability potential of e-bikes, a set of support mechanisms must be developed according to a holistic and relational understanding of mobility that also takes emotions and sensory experiences into consideration.