UK to Invest 'Unprecedented Levels of Funding' in Active Travel

Plus, Gogoro teams up with Rapido for Indian expansion.

August 27, 2024

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

ICYMI: Micromobility America—North America’s largest trade show focusing on the future of transportation by small electric vehicles—is coming to Southern California this November 14-15 for two jam-packed days of networking, programming, VIP parties, Shark Tank-style pitch contests, and of course, test rides.

If you’re a professional who works in this industry, you can’t afford to miss it. The whole thing is tailor made for you to power up your network and drive your business forward.

Right now, until the end of summer, you can score tickets for just $175/each during our Summer Sale. Act fast and lock in this low price now.

PS Are you a brick-and-mortar micromobility dealer? If so, you may be eligible to attend the show for free. This is a great opportunity for shop owners to connect in-person with founders, CEOs, and designers at the best brands in micromobility. Head here to see if you qualify.

What You Need to Know Today

The UK government announced that it will spend “unprecedented levels of funding” on active travel, including cycling, walking, and micromobility, to combat climate change and reduce pressure on the healthcare system, although the exact size of the investment is yet unknown.

Ola Electric, India’s leader in two-wheeled EVs, is reportedly developing portable container warehouses, which would act as dark stores to facilitate quick-commerce deliveries.

British last-mile logistics company Delivery Mates completed 1.2 million deliveries using cargo e-bikes in the first six months of 2024, marking a 15% YoY increase. Interestingly Delivery Mates actually shipped more packages while reducing the number of miles its fleet traveled by 45% by building out more local microhubs.

Image Credit: Delivery Mates

Gogoro is pausing its battery-swapping expansion plans into India, citing a lack of support from the government. Instead, the battery-swapping company plans to pursue a partnership with Indian bike-taxi startup Rapido to pilot its new electric two-wheelers.

Denver’s famed e-bike rebate is back. The Colorado capital is releasing another round of vouchers today, allowing residents who are looking for a car alternative to claim up to $1,400 off the purchase of a new electric bike. This is Denver’s fourth and penultimate round of rebates this year.

The new Intelectra quadricycle from German startup Dynamic Drives Giessen promises a 1000 lb (454 kg) load capacity for hauling commercial cargo. It also boasts an innovative pedal-by-wire drive system that eliminates the need for traditional gears, chains, and derailleurs, thus reducing maintenance needs and costs.

Image Credit: Dynamic Drives Giessen

Panama City Beach, FL is feeling the pressure of a growing number of golf carts, e-bikes, and e-scooters traveling on the streets. To accommodate the increasing variety of vehicles, the city is considering developing distinct micromobility and minimobility lanes. Under the new proposal, the city would create four-foot lanes for bikes and six-foot lanes for golf carts, with a one-foot buffer in between.

New Zealand’s Bike Matrix, a software startup helps retailers and customers find compatible e-bike components, has raised $1.21M.

The Dutch city of Zandvoort will again go all in on bicycles as the main form of transportation for the 2024 F1 Dutch Grand Prix. The Dutch GP wants to build on its success in 2023, when 45,000 spectators rode bicycles to the F1 event each day, resulting in 98% of spectators arriving via a sustainable mode of transport.

Image Credit: Dutch Grand Prix

Nearly a quarter of British residents are reluctant to buy an e-bike after reading about battery fires in the news, spurring Bosch to launch the ‘E-bike Positive Campaign’ in an effort to educate consumers about battery safety and combat misinformation.

Over in the US, New York City is experiencing an alarming number of battery fires igniting in garbage trucks, with 23 fires already in 2024.

Singapore-based startup Beam Mobility got caught providing false data. By creating ‘phantom’ e-scooters, the company sought to understate the number of e-scooters it had deployed in order to evade registration fees from cities.

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