🐻 California’s Ebike Rebate Takes Shape

Hi there - Before we start, a couple of important reminders about our big Micromobility Europe conference in Amsterdam, which is fast approaching on June 8-9:

• The floor plan for Micromobility Europe is 90% sold out. If you would like to reserve a booth to showcase your brand and products, now is the last chance.

• Tickets are ½ priced this week. Enjoy complete access to the test tracks, networking parties, matchmaking app, and over 100 panels, keynotes, product launches, and pitches. Grab passes now.

• We recently announced the first speakers, including some of the most influential leaders in our industry, and are adding more daily. Check out the program here.

Today’s newsletter is brought to you by… The European Startup Prize

The European Startup Prize for Mobility brings together all major EU institutions together with multi-national corporations who jointly rank and boost Europe’s most promising startups in clean mobility. Winners join the Prize’s acceleration program which consists of major visibility, investment opportunities, tailored business consultancy, and a 3-month acceleration program. Apply until June 20, 2023.

What You Need to Know Today

The California Air Resources Board has finalized the criteria to qualify for the state’s ebike rebate. Beginning in June, the $1,000 voucher program will be open to California residents making at or below 300% of the federal poverty level. An additional $750 will be available for cargo or adaptive bikes, and an extra $250 will be available to applicants who live in designated disadvantaged areas. 

And on the other side of the Pacific Ocean, residents of Queensland, Australia, can now claim a rebate of $400 AUS (roughly $267 USD) for electric bike purchases.

While European bike sales have been in a state of a gradual decline post-COVID, ebike sales continue to climb across nearly the entire continent.

America’s road fatality crisis appears to have plateaued for now. After two years of dramatic increases, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates the number of deaths caused by motor vehicle crashes decreased by 0.3% in 2022.

Traffic data in the Netherlands in 2022 shows the highest number of cyclist deaths in history at 291. Further, elderly cyclists appear to be at a higher risk of a fatal accident, with over half of the cases involving cyclists age 75 or older. 

German EV moped producer Kumpan was recently acquired by Indian e-mobility company Lohia after filing for bankruptcy.

Ride On! is back with a new interview and ebike giveaway, this week featuring Juiced Bike founder and CEO Tora Harris. Together we discuss UL certification, designing ebikes that don't look like regular bikes, China’s vast influence on micromobility, and more. Watch it below for your chance to win a free Juiced Ripcurrent S.

London-based bikeshare startup Human Forest recently secured $15M in funding, which it will use to expand its fleet size, grow advertising efforts, and develop its app.

And Ahooga, a Belgium-based ebike company, has raised $4.4M to scale up production for its newest bike. 

Lastly on the funding front, French mobility startup Pony just closed a $6.6M funding round and projects 2023 will be its first profitable year. Pony has managed to differentiate itself from the rest of the shared mobility market with a unique decentralized ownership structure of its bikes and scooters.

Employees in Belgium who commute to work via bike will now earn €0.27 for every kilometer ridden, per a new agreement between Belgian trade unions and the National Labour Council. Additionally, new laws will limit street parking in Antwerp, with the intention of limiting unnecessary traffic flows through the most dense areas of the city. 

Rad Power has also been affected by the economic downturn, now entering its fourth series of layoffs in the past year. (If these layoffs affected you, please check out our job board to find more career opportunities in new mobility.)

And last Thursday, Lyft announced that it would be laying off 1,072 of its corporate employees. The downsizing will affect roughly a quarter of the company’s workforce, although the extent to which it will impact the scooter-and-bike division is still unknown…

… this week we had Lyft’s micromobility chief, Caroline Sampanaro on The Micromobility Podcast to discuss the ride-hail giant’s unique approach to public-private partnerships and the opportunity for companies like Lyft to take micromobility seriously.

Honda’s Mobile Power Pack (MPP) swappable battery technology is making vehicle servicing a breeze. Check out this go-kart’s swappable system in action. 

Speaking of Honda, rumors are swirling that Japanese manufacturing conglomerate is working on a 500cc or 750cc equivalent electric motorbike.

New York Senators Schumer and Gillibrand vocalized support for federal lithium-ion battery safety regulations last week. 

Relatedly, New York City-based ebike startup Joco has struck a deal with GrubHub to provide delivery couriers with ebike rental credits. Amidst battery fire discussions in NYC, GrubHub’s VP of Government Relations notes the importance of the program in ensuring access to safe battery electric vehicles. 

Portland, Oregon, has won a $2M federal grant for zero-emission delivery zones.

The Massachusetts DOT has hired its first ever “chief safety officer” to help enact rules that protect vulnerable road users.

Despite the growing popularity of tiny “kei” cars in rural America, safety regulations and trade protections make these pint-sized vehicles difficult to import.

Browse the best jobs in micromobility—and post your own—on our Jobs to Be Done board.

Twitter | YouTube | LinkedIn | Instagram | Blog | Podcast