đź›  D2C Disrupts Bike Shops

Plus, the math behind escooter ownership, e-cargo bikes are the new minivans in NYC, and bike part delays stretch 2 years.

April 19, 2022

Hallo, Europe đź‘‹

Hard to believe Micromobility Europe is just 6 weeks away!

On tap, we’re bringing together top public and private leaders in Amsterdam on June 1-2 for two exciting days of talks and meetings about how micromobility can improve health, save the environment, and solve the urban mobility dilemma.

You can check out the first announced speakers here, including founders from Tier, VanMoof, Dance, and other upstart micromobility players.

Lastly, in case you missed it, right now tickets are on sale for ½ off for a short time, so if you do plan on coming, definitely take advantage while you can.

What You Need to Know This Week

  • In Europe, ebikes are projected to outsell cars—not just EVs but all cars—by the middle of this decade.

  • Electric cargo bikes have become a popular way for parents to ferry their children to school and play dates in New York City. And it’s not just families who got into cycling during the pandemic. Ridership for NYC’s bikeshare service, Citi Bike, was up 32% in 2021 compared to 2019.

  • At what point does it make more financial sense to own an escooter rather than rent one? Oversharing, a must-read newsletter about the proverbial sharing economy which just returned from hiatus, does the math: “For a frequent user, buying the Segway Ninebot F30 scooter would become cheaper than renting in Portland (at those 2019-2020 prices) after 116 of those average journeys, or about two to four months of routine use.”

  • US pedestrian fatalities increased in all but 11 states during the first six months of 2021 compared with the same period in 2020.

  • Even scarier, road rage shootings have exploded in the United States. More than 500 people were injured or killed in reported road rage shootings last year, up from fewer than 300 in 2019.

  • Because some consumers might not be willing to drop ~$3,000 on an ebike without taking it for a spin first, D2C ebike seller Cowboy is launching on-demand test rides in ten US cities. Rad Power is also doubling down on brick-and-mortar stores, laying off 100 employees from its mobile services business.

  • Still, cycling retail expert Ed Benjamin says the D2C trend is undeniable in the US market: “D2C brands like Rad Power or Aventon are dominating at the $1500 price point. $2500 seems to be the starting price at bike shops… The fact that bike shops still exist is a testimony to their resilience, but they’re being rapidly overtaken by D2C brands.”

  • Japanese shared micromobility company Luup has raised $10M in debt and asset financing to double its ebike and escooter fleet. Micromobility usage is on the rise in Japan, and according to a recent report, the market is projected to reach $11.6B in 2030, up from $39.4M in 2020.

Luup

  • How blue became the favorite color of micromobility brands.

  • With the latest round of lockdowns in China, Giant says the lead time for certain bike parts has stretched to two years.

  • UBCO, a maker of utility two-wheelers based in New Zealand, is working on a cobalt-free Li-ion battery to reduce its dependence on rare-earth minerals.

  • Last year 45% of bikes sold in Austria were electric, generating 73% of the cycling industry’s entire revenue.

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  • Vroom vroom. Segway Ninebot has a new speaker accessory attachment for its electric scooters that makes V8 engine noises.

  • Injuries are more common riding escooters than riding a motorcycle or a bike, driving a car, or walking, according to a UCLA study, but those injuries are less severe than those caused by motorcycle or car crashes.

  • Bosch eBike Systems is updating its smart system with new navigation tools and an anti-theft feature that allows smartphones to act as a digital keys.

  • UPS has ordered ten more sheltered e-cargo bikes from Onomotion to use for deliveries in Cologne and Hamburg.

UPS orders e-cargo bikes from Onomotion

  • Big electric trucks and SUVs are the new gas guzzlers: “The 4.5-ton Hummer EV is worse for the climate than smaller, more efficient cars that burn gas.”

  • Taiwanese e-moped maker Gogoro says it has all the chips it needs for now, but could face a squeeze by year-end as it pushes big plans to grow in China, India, and Southeast Asia.

  • The Indian government is investigating Ola Electric related to EV moped fires.

  • Luna, an Irish startup developing computer vision for scooters and ebikes, will receive funding through a new EU-backed initiative.

  • Following its acquisition of Swiss ebike company Ego Movement last year, India’s TVS Motor has acquired a majority stake in British ebike brand EBCO.

  • Berlin claims that a proposed high-speed cycling route through the city center will allows bicycles to reach their destination as quickly as cars.

  • Denver established a rebate for ebike purchases that will go into effect this Friday: “A $400 instant rebate will be available for an e-bike, and income-qualified residents might be eligible for a $1,200 rebate. E-cargo bike buyers will receive a $500 rebate.”

Jobs to Be Done

Welcome to our jobs board, where every week we post open positions in hopes of connecting our talented readers with professional opportunities in the burgeoning world of new mobility. Find out who’s hiring below and sign up for the newsletter to view fresh listings every week.

Hit reply if you have a job that you’re interested in listing.

Dance (Berlin):

Streetlight Data: Associate Product Manager, Active Transportation & Transit Modes (remote)

Zoomo: