Welcome to the Micromobility Newsletter, your weekly digest of important events and industry news in the world of personal transportation.
Before we start, have you scored your tickets to Micromobility America yet? The world’s premier trade show for small EVs is less than two months away. Come join us—and alongside the industry’s top manufacturers, retailers, influencers, operators, policymakers, investors, technologists, and journalists—in Southern California on Nov 14-15. We’re announcing amazing new speakers every day here.
What You Need to Know Today
First was Paris, then Melbourne, and now Madrid is the latest major city to ban shared e-scooters after operators failed to manage the parking and circulation of their fleets. Starting in October, Tier and Dott’s licenses will be terminated.
Trek has reached an agreement to sell its BCycle bike-sharing business to Bicycle Transit Systems, a company that manages bike-share programs in several major cities, such as Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and Las Vegas. Bicycle Transit Systems will take over BCycle's contracts, software, hardware, and product development, including 10 BCycle-owned bike share systems in U.S. cities like Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz, Madison, and Boulder; as well as sales and support for bikes, docking stations, and software in 15 other communities, including Indianapolis, Salt Lake City, Cincinnati, and Milwaukee.
Image Credit: BCycle
Webinar Alert
The micromobility sector is under constant pressure, with startups competing for market share and established players grappling with regulations, pricing, and legal challenges. Our next webinar and Q&A, “From Wheels to Deals: Scaling Success in Micromobility” will break down these complexities and provide practical strategies for navigating each stage of growth.
Join us on October 3rd - rsvp now.
Pony, the French shared e-bike and e-scooter operator, just raised $25.7 million in a second round of Series B funding. The infusion of capital will be used to expand to new markets, increase its fleet size, and bring 100% of its production within Europe.
Seaya Andromeda, a European growth capital fund with €300M focused on climate tech, has taken a majority stake in Zyclora/Bike Ocasión, the leading refurbished bicycle retailer in Spain, which has sold more than 15,000 bicycles and projected to generate over €13 million in revenue this year.
Riese & Müller recently presented e-cargo bikes that are customized for public safety workers and tradespeople. The Packster 70, for example, was modified for a local fire department to haul first aid equipment.
Image Credit: Riese & Müller
Shared micromobility operator Bolt released a study finding that 53% of its scooter customers are more likely to switch from cars to public transport because of the availability of shared micromobility.
Ola Electric enters rocky territory as its sales declined by 34% between July and August 2024, and customer complaints skyrocketed to 80,000 grievances a month.
In an effort to improve safety for delivery workers, Hilo unveiled the Hilo Box delivery box that uses real-time hazard detection to activate intelligent lighting displays, including turn signals and brake lights. The box can be mounted on e-mopeds, e-bikes, and electric motorcycles.
Image Credit: Hilo
Brooklyn will commence a three-year microhub pilot where larger delivery trucks will transfer goods to e-cargo bikes, hand trucks, and smaller electric vans for last-mile delivery. The pilot will begin with three locations and, if successful, may expand to 20 microhubs.
The Ontario government is considering auto-centric legislation that may sideline the construction of bike lanes in a short-sighted effort to reduce congestion for motorists.
Soteria Battery Innovation Group filed a patent for a simple yet effective protective shield around each individual cell that can prevent e-bike battery fires. The shielding, made with fibers used in firefighter uniforms, will add approximately three ounces to the total weight of a battery pack and cost less than $3 per e-bike battery pack.
Image Credit: Soteria Battery Innovation Group
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