Electric scooters, shared bicycles and other micromobility vehicles have already become an integral part of urban transport systems. However, as their popularity grows, safety and comfort challenges are also becoming increasingly apparent. VILNIUS TECH Faculty of Transport Engineering graduate Dominykas Eicinas in his master’s thesis explored how the safety of micromobility vehicles could be improved by integrating a suspension system into the wheels. The thesis was submitted to the student thesis competition organised by the Ministry of Transport and Communications of the Republic of Lithuania.
The idea for the research wasn’t born in a laboratory or lecture hall, but rather during the experience of daily travelling on the streets of Vilnius. When frequently using electric scooters and shared bicycles, D. Eicinas noticed that even minor road irregularities could have a significant impact on riding comfort and safety.
Dominykas Eičinas
„After using these vehicles, I quickly realised that they were not safe enough. When riding an electric scooter, I did not feel safe because even the slightest road irregularity was transmitted through the handlebar directly to my hands. This gave me the idea of adapting a suspension system for micromobility vehicles,“ says the VILNIUS TECH graduate.
According to him, as the number of micromobility users is rapidly increasing, so is the risk of accidents. Therefore, one of the key challenges is developing safer vehicles.
In his master’s thesis, D. Eicinas sought to determine whether suspension elements could improve the performance characteristics of micromobility vehicles. During the research, he developed a model of a wheel-integrated suspension system that would allow the suspension to be installed without changing the existing frame structure of the vehicle.
One of the main advantages of this solution is the possibility of adapting it to many electric scooters and bicycles already in use. „The main objective of the research is to determine whether suspension elements are beneficial for micromobility vehicles and to develop a model of a wheel-integrated suspension system,“ says the author.
The research employed advanced modelling tools – „SolidWorks“, „MATLAB“ and „Ansys“. These tools were used to develop and optimise the suspension structure as well as conduct additional analyses. According to D. Eicinas, mathematical modelling makes it possible to quickly evaluate various engineering solutions before manufacturing prototypes or conducting tests under real-world conditions.
The research results showed that the suspension system can significantly improve ride quality. It was found that vertical acceleration decreased more than threefold, while the vehicle’s tyres maintained contact with the road surface throughout the entire movement. In contrast, the model without a suspension system became completely detached from the road surface twice during the simulation.
„The research results revealed that micromobility vehicles equipped with a suspension system become more comfortable and safer,“ says D. Eicinas.
The research results were also supported by a patented shock absorber developed together with his thesis supervisor, Associate Professor Dr Mykola Karpenko, and used in the model. It operates at different speeds depending on the direction of the load, allowing vibrations and impacts to be dampened more effectively. Such a solution could further improve riding comfort and increase vehicle safety, particularly when travelling over uneven road surfaces.
Nevertheless, in D. Eicinas’ view, improving vehicles alone is not enough. Urban infrastructure also plays an equally important role.
„To reduce the number of injuries, we need to improve not only vehicles but also infrastructure. We need to consider solutions that would reduce the risk of accidents,“ he says.
According to the VILNIUS TECH graduate, future micromobility vehicles will incorporate an increasing number of safety-enhancing solutions – from automatic speed-limiting systems to advanced suspension systems. Nevertheless, even the most advanced technologies will not be able to completely replace safe infrastructure. Therefore, safer mobility in cities will depend not only on engineering innovations but also on how well cities are adapted to their users.
This article was published in the autumn 2026 issue of “Sapere Aude”
