Happy Feet

I don't think that's the problem at all.

The overall idea of using alternative sources for transportation is sound but in this case it would appear the companies are ignoring reality and pinning ongoing success on fuzzy strategies.

You can't ignore the fact that left unattended, people will vandalize scooters.
You can't pin recovery and recharging hopes on teenagers using third party power supplies.
You can't lay out more to run an idea than it generates in income.

Widespread dockless scooters may seem cool but it sounds like society and the infrastructure isn't ready for them. Perhaps smaller, targeted locales with docks so the user needs to be accountable for return (or get billed on the CC) and where they can be recharged using the parent companies power would be a more sustainable and responsible business model. It would also reduce recovery fees (as the scooters are docked).