Welcome to the Micromobility Newsletter, your weekly digest of important events and industry news in the world of personal transportation.
What You Need to Know Today
According to a new McKinsey report, the global micromobility market is expected to be worth about $360 billion by 2030, up from $175 billion in 2022—mainly driven by e-bike sales. Europe is forecasted to claim the largest portion of this growth, with an expected value of $145 billion by the end of the decade, an increase of nearly 3x.
That’s a good cue to remind everyone that our annual Micromobility Europe conference is coming to Amsterdam on June 5-6 for two stacked days of fruitful networking, amazing technology demos, and practical business insights (including a presentation of more exclusive research from McKinsey). And best of all, tickets are on sale with a 75% discount until this Friday (April 5th) for €250/each.
Yamaha has opened a new e-bike drive factory in France in order to supply European e-bike manufacturers more quickly.
Ola is emerging as an early leader in the intense competition to electrify India’s massive two-wheeler fleet. Last month 1 in 3 electric mopeds sold in India were produced by the soon-to-IPO company.
Starting this week, any resident of Colorado can simply walk into a bike shop and get a $450 discount on an e-bike, without the need to apply for a voucher in advance, adhere to income restrictions, or wait to redeem a tax credit. Best of all, there is no limit on the number of people who can participate. It is the first program of its kind in the United States.
Plagued by frequent electrical blackouts, small businesses in Vietnam are turning to electric-moped batteries to keep the lights on.
Texas (and other states) is refusing to register tiny kei trucks from Japan—now owners are fighting back.
Segway is trying to cut carbon emissions by incorporating recycled materials into e-scooters.
Amazon is tapping into the power of e-bikes to offer same-day deliveries for pharmaceuticals in NYC and elsewhere.
Relatedly: The NYC DOT has authorized the use of cargo e-bikes, which can be up to 48 inches wide and have up to four wheels, for larger deliveries.
Even more related: A new Columbia University study finds that double-parked delivery trucks cost NYC $243 million every year in lost productivity and pollution—a cost that could be offset by switching to microhubs and e-bikes.
In England, the county of South Yorkshire is trialling a free e-bike loan program for residents.
And the big-box store Halfords is urging the British government to legalize the use of electric scooters “as soon as possible.” Right now retailers like Halfords are allowed to sell electric scooters to people, but the two-wheeled vehicles are not permitted to be used on public roads unless they are part of a rental scheme, like the kind operated by Voi and Dott.
The Microlino, a tiny Swiss electric car, is being used in a shared fleet for the first time, in Madrid.
