- The Micromobility + Ride Review Newsletter
- Posts
- ☔️ It's Raining eBike Subsidies
☔️ It's Raining eBike Subsidies
New incentives, rebates, and vouchers from United States, Canada, and beyond.
48 Hours to Go…
ICYMI Micromobility Europe—the world epicenter of small EVs—is coming to Amsterdam in just 48 hours. If you haven’t registered yet, time’s running out! Be sure to grab a ticket while there’s still a few left…
On tap, we have 200+ brilliant speakers, 50+ launches, our largest-ever Startup Awards, test rides by dozens of leading brands, networking opps with decision-makers, an assortment of amazing vehicle giveaways, an absolutely unmissable Rave Ride through the streets of Amsterdam, and more (view the full program in all its glory here). Come to connect and ride.
What You Need to Know Today
Canada-based Apollo Scooters just revealed their Explore 2024 V1 Prototype scooter - the first iteration of their updated best-seller which is now available for preorder. In this video breakdown, Apollo offers a live look into the ongoing design process of the new Explore, and they also ask for your feedback on the upcoming model.
Despite being recognized as a generally bike-friendly city, recent changes in transportation policy in Berlin have worked backwards towards a more car-friendly direction. Car ownership in the German capital has dropped by 20% in the past two decades, yet a majority of citizens still support the maintenance and expansion of car infrastructure. Although the conflicting trends can be explained by a handful of factors, it is certain that the history of car manufacturing in Germany plays an important role in maintaining a car-friendly Berlin.
New rules in the French city of Lyon will charge lower parking rates for electric vehicles—as well as combustion engine vehicles weighing less than 1000 kg—compared to heavy ICE vehicles.
In Montreal, car drivers can receive a $170 fine for blocking a bike lane - a violation that can now be reported via a 24/7 hotline.
Kenya-based mobility startup ROAM recently introduced their first solar panel-powered charging and maintenance hubs in Nairobi. The hubs aim to improve the convenience of ROAM-brand electric motorcycles, assisting in the sustainable transition of East Africa’s “boda-boda” motorcycle taxi industry.
Oregon Rep. Earl Blumenauer has established himself as the biggest bike nerd in Congress, and one of Capitol Hill’s most outspoken proponents for pro-cycling policy. In an interview with Slate, he discusses the growing interest in cycling within Congress and the biggest hurdles for passing the EBIKE Act.
Similar to other European countries, 2022 sales statistics from Switzerland show e-bikes contributing to a growing portion of the total bicycle market. This past year, nearly half (45%) of all bicycle sales were electric, but interestingly enough, e-cargo bikes saw a 5% decline after tripling in number the previous year.
Shared operator TIER recently introduced a new IoT module that can reportedly detect pavement and tandem riding without the use of cameras. Rather, the AI-powered system, named “Parrot,” uses a collection of data from on-board sensors to identify so-called “anti-social” riding behaviors.
Just a few days remain to enter for our Lectric XP 3.0 and NIU KQi3 Pro giveaways. To enter, enter your email at the links provided before June 9th. Best of luck!
Minnesota is joining a growing list of states to offer an e-bike incentive program, now offering up to $1500 off the cost of an e-bike to income-qualified residents. According to the EPA, the program could eliminate 826 metric tons of carbon dioxide everyday, if 8% of local commuters switched to e-bikes.
Massachusetts could soon become another state to offer an e-bike incentive, with an active proposal for a $750-per-person rebate under consideration.
British Columbia is also promoting e-bike purchases, with more than $6 million in rebates heading out to an estimated 9,000 citizens. Rebates are available for income-qualified citizens for up to $1,400, and the waiting list for the program is currently 8,000 people deep after a flood of over 12,000 applications within the first day of the offer.
And that’s not all - the Portland Clean Energy Fund released the full draft of its Climate Investment Plan, which aims to subsidize 6,000 e-bikes (that’s $20 million in funding) over the next five years. The proposed program will cover e-cargo bikes in addition to regular e-bikes, and it will also contribute an additional $600,000 to train and develop a local workforce of e-bike mechanics.
The latest episode of Ride On! includes both a scooter AND ebike giveaway, coverage of several new vehicle launches, an interview with Magnum Bikes CEO Yoni Kayman.
A new study on parking cash-out programs points to a promising method for promoting clean transit through positive incentives. The Federal Highway Administration found that programs that pay commuters to seek transportation alternatives can reduce vehicle trips by up to 30%, and programs that offer flexibility in the mode of alternative transportation are generally more impactful.
The UK’s Trade Remedies Authority is set to conduct a re-evaluation of the government’s “anti-dumping” policies as it pertains to Chinese imported e-bikes. The UK government had previously imposed a tariff on e-bikes imported from China in order to protect local industry, but the regulations are now being reconsidered due to expected increases in e-bike demand.
Meanwhile, roughly 13,000 e-bikes and e-scooters have been seized by British authorities at the Port of Felixstowe over the past two years. This statistic represents just a portion of the total number of vehicles that have been blocked from entry into the UK due to a lack of proper safety documentation.
Segway recently introduced their Lite L60E: an ultra-efficient e-scooter designed for shared mobility operators. The Lite L60E, which will be on display this week at Micromobility Europe, was built in response to operators' demands for longevity in their vehicles. It features a 40 mile range for reduced battery swaps, a rigid, vibration-tested frame, and a dual-housing battery platform for impact protection.
A new modular ebike motor from Pendix promises to be more efficient to repair than currently available systems in Europe.
Software startup eBike Labs is suing Cowboy for allegedly stealing patented tech that powered the Cowboy V’s AdaptivePower system. “This is a messy story about a business relationship that fell apart between a small startup that doesn’t have deep pockets and a popular consumer brand that wants to protect its reputation.”
Belgium-based same-day delivery startup Shippr has opened up shop in London, and plans to expand further into the UK. Shippr operates within the B2B space, connecting businesses to independent delivery operators to provide a wide range of formats such as refrigerated trucks, cargo bikes, etc.
Last but not least, check out the latest episode of The Micromobility Podcast: Oliver sits down with Tempo founder Michael Keating to discuss the benefits of subscription micro over a shared model, and how Tempo brings a unique twist to the subscription space.
If you or anyone you know is looking for their next career opportunity, you can browse the best jobs in micromobility—and post your own—on our Jobs to Be Done board.
