e-scooter
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Uber upgrades its Jump scooters and bikes
Uber has revealed its second-generation Jump electric scooters, which will feature bigger wheels and improved brakes. The rideshare giant showed off its new scooter at its third-annual Elevate conference, along with a new user swappable battery system for its electric bikes. The e-scooter features an entirely new braking system, switching out the old thumb brake for a hand brake that stops both wheels. Meanwhile, Uber's dockless e-bikes will feature new battery packs that can be swapped out by the user.
Bird's big European expansion brings scooters to 50 cities
There's a good chance you'll have the option of riding a Bird scooter the next time you embark on a European trip. Bird has announced a "ten-fold" expansion of its scooter sharing fleet in Europe and the Middle East, with 50 new cities getting service starting this spring. The company didn't name the new cities, but it already has a presence in 12 cities that include London, Paris, Madrid and Tel Aviv.
Bird's new program lets local operators run their own scooter network
Bird's e-scooters are on their way to Canada, Latin America and New Zealand under a program that allows local business owners to set up their own networks. The company is opening up Bird Platform, which it first announced in November. Operators of the local networks can obtain scooters at cost, allow customers to find the vehicles through the Bird app and take advantage of the company's technology to help manage their business. In exchange, Bird is taking a 20 percent cut of revenue from each ride.
Electric scooters were to blame for at least 1,500 US injuries last year
Ever wondered how many e-scooter riders have gotten injured after one zooms past you with no helmet on? A new Consumer Reports investigation might give you an idea: the publication has confirmed that at least 1,545 patients were treated for scooter-involved injuries across the US over the past year. They aren't just scrapes, either. They include multiple concussions, nasal fractures, various broken bones, blunt head trauma and even brain injuries.
Lime launches recall over broken e-scooters
Lime is grappling with another recall just a matter of weeks over its battery issue. The service is recalling electric scooters made by Okai following reports they were breaking under normal use. The withdrawal is immediate and covers scooters across cities worldwide. The company plans to replace the affected Okai scooters with newer models it said are "best in class for safety." There shouldn't be any serious service disruptions, Lime told the Washington Post.
Ford buys e-scooter sharing startup Spin
Turns out those rumours about Ford buying e-scooter startup Spin were true. The auto-maker has confirmed the purchase as it looks beyond car ownership to emerging modes of transport. Though it didn't disclose the financials behind the deal, sources previously told Axios that the agreement was around the $40 million mark.
Ford is reportedly buying e-scooter startup Spin
Ford might not sit idly by while other transportation companies expand beyond cars. Axios sources say the Blue Oval has agreed to buy e-scooter service Spin for roughly $40 million. It's not certain what Ford would do with the company or what would happen to its staff. We've asked Ford if it can comment on the report and will let you know if it has more to share.
Lime puts $3 million toward promoting e-scooter safety
E-scooter companies have faced plenty of criticism for allegedly doing too little to foster safety (not to mention basic respect for the law) among riders, and Lime appears to be tackling this issue head-on. It's launching a $3 million "Respect the Ride" campaign to both promote safety and educate customers. The initiative will venture beyond existing efforts, such as safer scooters and a safety ambassador program, to include "multi-channel" ads asking riders to wear helmets, park properly and honor local laws. There's a new Head of Trust and Safety to manage the company's strategy, and there will be a summit to discuss safety and policies with key partners and governments.
Judge rejects Lime request to block e-scooter rivals in San Francisco
Lime just lost a last-minute bid to delay the launch of San Francisco's electric scooter pilot program. A judge has denied the company's request for a temporary restraining order that would have blocked Skip and Scoot from launching their services in the city on October 15th. The company had wanted the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency to reevaluate its application for an e-scooter permit, and claimed it had "no choice" but to use the court to force the city's hand. Not surprisingly, both sides are clashing over the outcome.
Bird will deliver scooters to users who want them all day
Bird is making it even easier to use its e-scooters, offering delivery to users who want access to one all day long. With its new service Bird Delivery, a customer can request a scooter to be delivered to them at their home or their place of work. It'll be dropped off by 8AM and the they can then use it anytime throughout the day.
Uber launches its first electric scooter service in Santa Monica
Uber is ready to fulfill its promise of launching its own electric scooter service. As of October 3rd, commuters in Santa Monica can use the Uber app to reserve Jump scooters for quick jaunts across town. Like some of the competition, you unlock your two-wheeled transport by scanning a QR code on the handlebars. You can't just park them anywhere, though -- Uber is keenly aware of common scooter gripes and has designated parking zones. The prices are familiar at $1 to unlock and 15 cents per minute (they're free until October 7th).
Inboard's new e-scooter packs swappable batteries
Having raised $8 million and conquered Shark Tank, electric skateboard-maker Inboard Technology is now taking aim at Uber, Bird, and Lime with its first e-scooter, dubbed the "Glider". Touted as the "only scooter with a swappable battery," pre-orders for the $1,299 two-wheeler begin this fall ahead of its February 2019 release date. Aside from the general public, Inboard is hoping to sell fleets of Gliders to businesses, cities, and universities.
San Francisco aims to issue electric scooter permits next month
The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) said this week that it is aiming to issue electric scooter permits next month, and the staff who have been reviewing the 12 permit applications will make their recommendations in the coming weeks. The move to require permits came after Bird, Spin and LimeBike unveiled their e-scooter sharing programs earlier this year, resulting in hundreds of scooters peppering public areas and taking up sidewalk space. They quickly became a nuisance and in April, the city told the three companies that they had to remove their scooters from the streets. Permit applications opened up soon thereafter.
Riding the battery-powered Gogoro smart scooter
While Tesla is working on solving range anxiety with its Supercharger stations, electric motorcycles and scooters continue to be tethered to outlets for hours in order to get back on the road. Smart scooter company Gogoro is trying to solve that problem with a network of battery-housing GoStations. Riders just pull up, swap out two batteries and ride away. The whole process should take less than a minute. It's an intriguing idea that requires partnerships with local governments and companies. But none of that matters if the scooter isn't at least on par with what's already available on the market. So we flew to Taipei and put the Gogoro smart scooter to the test.
E-Scooters with swappable batteries will land in Taipei this summer
Scooters don't normally generate much buzz without some kind of gimmick -- unless they're, say, connected to a well-known company and feature a crazy business model. The all-electric Gogoro Smartscooter fits that description perfectly, as it was created by former HTC executives and relies on a network of swappable batteries. After debuting just a few months ago at CES, it will launch commercially this summer in greater Tapei following a pilot program. The centerpiece is the Gogoro Experience Center, a retail outlet that'll show off the Smartscooter EV's design and options. It'll also teach consumers about the GoStation, a removable battery vending machine that's part of the company's Gogoro Energy Network.
Suitcase with e-scooter can help you make it to your flight on time
If you saw our old backpack with an electronic scooter post and thought, "That would be so much better if it were a suitcase," then your prayers have been answered. What's pictured above is a legit suitcase-and-e-scooter-in-one that can run up to 12.4 mph for 6 miles on a single charge of its lithium-ion battery -- that should be enough to traverse huge airports with broken walkalators. It's the standard carry-on size, so you don't have to check it in if you don't want to, though it's a bit on the heavy side (17.4 pounds). This is a real product that you can buy right now, by the way, not a concept or a prototype somebody dreams of mass producing one day. The regular version will set you back $599, while the model fitted with solar panels costs $100 more. Now, if people are starting to look and judge you for riding a suitcase, you can choose to be boring and use the scooter's power to move your luggage while you walk.
