Lectric Unveils ONE - A Premium E-bike on a Budget

Plus, India’s EV revolution picks up pace, Surf acquires Superpedestrian, and more.

March 12, 2024

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

Presale Ends Today… 

Don’t forget! Micromobility America is coming to the LA area on Nov 14-15, and until tonight, you can snag Super Early Bird tickets for just $95 during our special presale. 

Join our revamped conference in a brand new locale for two days of unforgettable vehicle launches, test rides, networking experiences, business insights and more.

What You Need to Know Today

The ONE is Lectric's newest electric bike, packed with premium technology from names like Pinion and Gates, with a shockingly low price tag of just $1,999 USD. It's purpose-built for commuting, loaded with accessories and easily capable of Class 3 speeds thanks to its small weight and beefy 750 watt motor. Check out our hands-on review below.

After outlawing non-UL certified batteries, the New York State assembly has passed a bill that would ban the sale of used ebike batteries. Under the new legislation, anyone looking to sell an old ebike would be required to replace the battery before doing so—even if the unit in question is UL-certified. It’s unclear how this proposal would impact the burgeoning market for pre-owned micromobility devices, a popular option for budget-conscious shoppers.

India’s two-wheeled transition to EVs continues unabated. Of the 20 two-wheeler models launched or scheduled for launch this year, only 5 are petrol models. The remaining 15—or 75%—are electric. For perspective, last year there were 15.9M two-wheelers sold in India. 

Can this be real? French company Cixi is using a chainless ebike setup on a vehicle that it claims can do a jaw-dropping 75mph (120km/h). 

Norwegian micromobility operator Surf Beyond has acquired Superpedestrian for around $5M. The deal, which includes Superpedestrian’s European hardware and software, will allow 100 employees to keep their jobs. 

Is scootering less safe than biking? Contrary to popular belief, a new Rutgers study finds that e-scooter users do not suffer more severe injuries compared to cyclists and e-bike users.

New statistics from McKinsey reveals that in Germany passenger car miles are reducing year over year with micromobility miles growing significantly.

This Week’s Webinar 

That reminds us: We’re hosting a special webinar later this week, in which our own Horace Dediu will talk to experts from McKinsey about the fast-growing market for ebikes globally (including exclusive sales data) and the impact on cities. 

Join us live on Thursday (March 14) at 11AM ET / 4PM CET.

Dubai is banning e-scooters on public transit, citing concerns about battery fires.

While giant SUVs and trucks continue to dominate the American EV market. China is quietly having a love affair with tiny electric cars. A new study of minicar owners finds these buyers are cost-conscious, prioritize ease of driving, and worry less about charging. It also shows they are also less concerned about the “status” their vehicle imparts. 

When Paris banned shared e-scooters last year, the city inadvertently set off a minor gold rush for businesses that offer privately owned e-scooters and rental bikes. 

London has quadrupled the size of its bike lane network since 2016. Meanwhile voters in Los Angeles approved a ballot measure that calls on the city to build 238 miles of new protected bike lanes and hundreds more unprotected lanes. 

Bike lanes don’t just keep riders safe, they also help the local economy. A literature review of 32 studies confirms that making streets safer for micromobility is good for businesses. 

Here’s a genuinely startling fact about road safety: “Since their invention, cars and automobility have killed 60-80 million people and injured at least 2 billion. Currently 1 in 34 deaths are caused by automobility.