It has to look good on paper though. I don't know the cost of maintenance of these scooters, but the rides are terribly expensive in my area. I mean If I wanted to commute using these, I'd have to pay almost $10 one way (one more reason to prefer cycling!). This is probably a fraction of the cost of energy. On the other hand, I'd hate to be servicing these.
It's expensive in my area as well. The big problem is people dumb these things all over the place - on bicycle lanes etc. I guess these companies also have to spend quite a few dollars on PR and stuff to make people hate them less.
The service and fines that they get are a huge cost. And as you said, once pricing goes up people won't ride them as much. It becomes serious overhead.
From the company founders' perspective it was never meant to make money, merely generate "growth & engagement" and the prospect of a monopoly in order to solicit VC funding.
For this task it worked perfectly, at least at the beginning. Thankfully the "growth & engagement" cesspool is finally draining and this is the expected result.