A Ridehail Giant Is Launching Scooters in the U.S.

Plus, Amazon brings micromobility hubs to Northern Ireland.

May 14, 2024

Welcome to the Micromobility Newsletter, your weekly digest of important events and industry news in the world of personal transportation.

The big day is right around the corner. Join us at Micromobility Europe—the world epicenter of small EVs—in less than 30 days (June 5-6) in Amsterdam to connect with globally industry’s leading brands and experts, including…

  • Lucas Di Grassi, Champion, Formula E

  • Dr. Maria Tsavachidis, CEO, EIT Urban Mobility

  • Henri Moissinac, CEO, Tier-Dott

  • Micah Toll, Reporter, Electrek

  • Krysia Solheim, Global Account Manager, Zoomo

  • Tony Ho, VP of Global Business Development, Segway-Ninebot

  • Tanguy Goretti, Co-founder & CTO, Cowboy

  • Rohit Auluck, Industry Manager (Mobility & Transportation), Autodesk

  • Yen Hsu, VP of Sales, Navee Tech

  • Fabio Marzola, OEM Sales Manager, Yamaha Motor

  • Sieghart Michielsen, Director of International, NIU

  • Darius Scurtu, Expert, McKinsey & Company

  • Christina Moe Gjerde, VP of Northern Europe, Voi

  • Luis Costa, Sustainability Leader, Decathlon

  • Sam Ebert, Product Manager, Cannondale

  • Celeste Tchetgen Vogel, CEO, eWAKA

  • Markus Papke, Chief Innovation Officer, Riese & Müller

  • Horace Dediu, Co-founder, Micromobility Industries

  • … and many more.

PS We’re also looking for a handful of volunteers to assist with making sure the event runs smoothly exchange for a free ticket. Want to go behind the scenes with us? Get in touch.

What You Need to Know Today

Job listings reveal that Bolt, Uber’s main competitor in EMEA, is planning to launch shared scooter rentals in the U.S. The Estonia-based TNC is hiring e-scooter managers in LA, Austin, Seattle, and other cities.

A new study reveals that e-bike and e-scooter owners may need more education about charging safety. More than half of respondents didn’t know their device is powered by a lithium-ion battery.

If you live in New York City, these tiny electric trucks may be coming to a bike lane near you as part of the city’s plan to use pedal power to deliver online orders to your doorstep.

Image Credit: NYCDOT

Amazon will set up an e-cargo bike micromobility hub in Belfast, Northern Ireland. This marks the latest of 40 EU and UK cities in which the e-com giant plans to set up last-mile logistics centers.

Related: Europe is revising its safety and manufacturing standards for commercial cargo e-bikes in response to growing use.

Norwegian startup Infinite Mobility is shipping pre-production test units of its solar-powered e-cargo bikes to selected dealers. Infinite Mobility claims that the e-bike can fully recharge with 8 hours of sun exposure and an hour of charge can power the cargo e-bike for up to 8 km.

Image Credit: Infinite Mobility

Indianapolis becomes the first city in the U.S. to make bikeshare (including e-bikes) free for all residents.

Researchers in China have developed a water-based battery, which is claimed to be much safer and energy-efficient than potentially flammable lithium batteries.

Israel-based Carteav is launching autonomous low-speed electric vehicles at a private community in Florida, the company’s first deployment in the U.S.

Image Credit: Carteav

PURE EV, an India-based company that manufactures electric mopeds, is opening an British R&D facility with Pragmatic Design Solutions, which is expected to create 500 jobs in the Coventry area.

Cargo e-bike sharing is coming to the Boston area. The CargoB service offers front-loader Urban Arrow e-cargo bikes, and riders can use the CargoB app to find available bikes.

New York City plans to install 500 bike parking hubs by 2029. RFPs are open now.

Image Credit: Oonee

Micromobility rider injuries in Europe have declined for the third year in a row, according to new data.

Bloom wants micromobility manufacturing to flourish in the US. This new enterprise based in Detroit wants to provide core services, including contract manufacturing, assembly, shipping, logistics, and service, to help eliminate production hurdles for micromobility startups.

Mapping and location platform Magic Lane lands $3.2 million in investment to build its location intelligence software in micromobility and expand commercial operations.