Texas Senator Tries to Kill E-Bike Battery Bill Over... Gas Stoves?

Plus, Ather Energy will be India’s next big moped IPO.

September 10, 2024

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

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What You Need to Know Today

Texas senator Ted Cruz is obstructing a bipartisan bill to make e-bike batteries safer in the US, arguing that the proposed legislation would give the CPSC the power to regulate not just lithium-ion batteries, but also gas-powered stoves.

Indian e-moped maker Ather Energy will seek to raise $530M through an upcoming IPO. The announcement comes weeks after market leader Ola Electric’s $734M market debut. Ather currently commands 19% of India’s electric two-wheeler market, putting it in a three-way tie for second place with legacy players TVS Motors and Bajaj Auto.

Another week, another spate of new e-bike incentives. The state of Connecticut and the city of Boulder, CO have both launched e-bike rebate vouchers that prioritize income-qualified residents.

E Daddy, an EV two-wheeler manufacturer based in Dubai, has secured $15M in new funding. The startup plans to use the new investment to expand manufacturing and distribution in the Middle East and Africa.

Image Credit: E Daddy

Lyft is cutting 1% of employees from its shared micromobility division as part of a broader restructuring effort that will see the ride-hail company prioritize docked bikes/scooters over free-floating systems.

But if you prefer dockless, never fear. Lyft is partnering with Bird and Spin to offer scooter rentals on the Lyft app in over 25 U.S. cities.

UK-based Skarper has landed nearly $6M in new funding, led by Adjuvo. The latest round brings the total funding for Skarper’s single-click e-bike conversion kit to more than $16.8M.

Belgian speed pedelec builder Specter has raised €2M in investment to continue its growth in Europe and explore possible expansion opportunities in the US. Additionally, Specter will soon launch its new 1S e-bike—a Class 3 pedelec that features an adjusted geometry with upright positioning better suited for smaller riders.

Image Credit: Specter

Fat-tire e-bikes, especially those modified for speed, are causing safety concerns in the Netherlands, prompting manufacturers and lawmakers to support a minimum age requirement for riders.

SaaS platform Wunder Mobility just acquired GoUrban to boost its micromobility- and car-sharing platform, which now has over 50M annual rides in 200 cities.

Whizz, an e-bike subscription service for food delivery workers, is expanding to Philidelphia, marking its first expansion outside of New York City.

Brussels-based e-bike builder Cowboy has closed a strategic funding round of $5.5M, including $1.1M in debt facilities.

Image Credit: Cowboy

Multiple studies show that the Idaho Stop law promotes more cautious and predictable cyclist behavior through intersections and, more importantly, reduces accidents with autos.

Tryke has launched Malaysia’s first shared e-motorbike service. The startup is well versed in micromobility as it started with shared e-scooters in 2019 and added e-bikes in 2020.

Is Honda unprepared for a rapid EV transition? Despite dominating the two-wheeler industry with 35% market share, compared to Yamaha and others, the Japanese manufacturer has been slow to develop electric technology.

When automakers boast that their supersized SUVs and pickups make roads safer, you should ask, safer for who? “The Economist has found that, for every life the heaviest 1% of SUVs or trucks saves in America, more than a dozen lives are lost in smaller vehicles.”

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