Alef Aeronautics’ Model A: The World’s First Flying Electric Car | July 28th, 2023
Plus, UK's e-bikes are improving accessibility for Londoners. Also, Chevrolet is seemingly on a roll with its EV lineup and customers are lining up to buy the world's first flying electric car.
Issue [#197] - Every week, we deliver analysis and curation of emerging mobility news - post a job listing here!
Micromobility
Steer, a leading global transport consultancy, has conducted a comprehensive analysis of Lime's service in London and confirmed that the shared operator's e-bikes have significantly improved accessibility for Londoners. The review revealed that half of the e-bikes in London are situated in areas with higher levels of deprivation, which means that Lime's vehicles are not only accessible to people in affluent areas but to a broader range of people as well. This highlights Lime's commitment to improving access to transport services for all / ZAGDaily
Due to safety concerns, NYC is seeking to halt the entry of electric bikes at its border. Cheaper e-bikes, which often compromise safety, can have poorly constructed battery packs that are prone to catching fire. This has resulted in 13 fatalities in NYC this year. Despite the popularity of e-bike food delivery in NYC, delivery riders frequently opt for the least expensive e-bikes, which can present safety risks. To address this issue, NYC has banned the sale of e-bikes that do not meet UL certification standards and is implementing a plan to establish safe e-bike charging stations / Electrek
Product Launches & Updates
Chevrolet is on a roll with its EV lineup! Not only has it already planned to launch three EVs this year, but it has also announced plans to develop another one. This new EV will be based on the next-generation Chevrolet Bolt and will feature the automaker's impressive Ultium battery and drive technology. It will be affordable and will boast an impressive range and cutting-edge technology at the same time. However, there may be some delays in production due to the reportedly slow manufacturing of Ultium batteries / The Verge
Customers are already lining up to buy the world's first flying electric car in the US! Alef Aeronautics has recently accomplished a major milestone by receiving pre-orders for the sale of modern aircraft through a car dealership. This achievement comes after the company was granted legal approval for its flying electric car, "Model A." Model A was first unveiled on October 19, 2022, with production scheduled to begin at the end of 2025 / Electrek
If you're on the hunt for a commuter scooter, the Apollo Phantom V3 could be a great option to consider. It does have a bit of heft, weighing in at 77 pounds, but it offers impressive range when riding at 20 mph. You can easily connect it to Apollo's companion app on either iOS or Android, and the built-in turn signals are a nice touch. Plus, the quadruple-spring suspension makes for a smoother ride. Of course, there is always room for improvement, but overall this scooter seems like a solid choice / WIRED
The Iris e-Trike takes the concept of enclosed e-bikes to another level, offering a safe and protected riding experience while enjoying long trails. Created by Grant Sinclair, the Iris can reach a maximum speed of 30 mph and charge in just 60 minutes. Its chromoly steel chassis body and Plexiglass-hinged canopy provide a feeling of being in a secure bubble, making it a futuristic evolution of the Sinclair C5, one of the world's first mass-produced EVs / ZAGDaily
Ridehailing, Carsharing & Delivery
Waymo, Alphabet's autonomous vehicle company, is shifting its focus from self-driving trucks to ride-hailing. The company will redirect most of its resources to ride-hailing due to the commercial opportunity it sees in that area. As a result, Waymo will push back the timeline on its trucking efforts / TechCrunch
Getir, a food delivery company based in Turkey, has revealed its plans to exit Portugal, Spain, and Italy. The company aims to concentrate its financial resources on markets with stronger opportunities for sustainable growth and operational profitability. Getir will maintain its presence in the UK, US, Germany, Netherlands, and Turkey, which account for 96% of its revenue. Additionally, Getir is in the process of securing a new round of funding / Tech.eu
A potential Teamsters strike disrupting UPS deliveries relied on by retailers, including Amazon, has been avoided. A new five-year contract between the two parties will be voted on by 340,000 unionized workers / Teamster
Safe Street Rebel is protesting against autonomous vehicles in San Francisco by placing traffic cones on their hoods. They aim to raise awareness of potential dangers before a vote allowing Cruise and Waymo to charge for rides / The Last Driver License Holder
Investment & Deals
Mayor Eric Adams unveiled a $40 million pedestrian-friendly facelift for downtown Brooklyn, including additional public areas and improved roadway safety / Gothamist
Lyft is exploring options for its bikes and scooters unit, including a sale or a strategic partnership. The company has received strong inbound interest for the business, which operates in 15 countries and served 3.6 million riders last year with around 68,000 bikes and scooters. Lyft's new CEO, David Risher, has been cutting costs after the company's strategy of lower fares to gain market share from Uber raised concerns about its profit margins / Reuters
Carvolution, a car subscription service based in Switzerland, has received €25 million in working capital from Zuger Kantonalbank. The company plans to use the funds to expand its vehicle fleet. Carvolution provides an alternative to traditional car ownership or leasing, allowing customers to choose a car online and pay a fixed monthly fee that covers all expenses except fuel / Tech.eu
Volkswagen is taking a 5% stake in Chinese EV maker XPeng, investing $700 million. The companies will collaborate to develop two new electric vehicles for the Chinese market, under the Volkswagen brand, with an expected launch in 2026. Volkswagen is also partnering with SAIC Motor to develop premium EV models. Volkswagen's market share in China has declined as consumers increasingly opt for electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids. The investment acknowledges Volkswagen's need for Chinese expertise to keep pace with local competitors / Washington Street Journal
EV.energy, a UK-based startup, is developing a platform to manage the charging of electric vehicles and prevent strain on the grid. The company recently secured $33 million in Series B funding, led by National Grid Partners, including Aviva Ventures, WEX Venture Capital, InMotion Ventures, Energy Impact Partners, Future Energy Ventures, and ArcTern Ventures. EV.energy works with utilities to provide incentives for drivers to charge during off-peak hours or forego charging during periods of high grid demand / TechCrunch
Cities & Policy
More than 50 companies have urged the UK Prime Minister to promptly establish a date for e-scooter legislation / ZAGDaily
The EU Council has agreed on amendments to make it considerably easier for EV owners to travel across Europe while also helping to cut dangerous greenhouse gas emissions / The Verge
California lawmakers have proposed Assembly Bill 530, which would require an online written test and state-issued identification for electric bike riders who do not have a driver's license / Electrek
New Products, Features, and Data Points
DoorDash has recently implemented a new feature that allows its delivery workers to sync their Dasher app with Apple CarPlay. This means that workers who have cars equipped with Apple's infotainment system can now use CarPlay to navigate and accept deliveries, sparing their phone batteries from the harsh environment of their car's dashboard. According to Austin Haugen, Dasher VP of logistics, this feature has been highly requested by the Dasher community / The Verge
Four major companies, Amazon, Meta, Microsoft, and TomTom, have come together to release an open map dataset for app developers. This dataset is intended to provide free geographical data and challenge the dominance of Google and Apple Maps. The Overture Maps Foundation, founded by these four companies, aims to develop accurate and complete open map data that is available for anyone to use at no cost / Mashable
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