Banning Cars: Paris is fulfilling the dream of Urbanites | April 07, 2023

Also, Super73 launched the Adventure series of e-bikes, Stilride’s rolled out its first steel electric motorcycle Stilride 1, and FUELL unveiled the world’s longest range e-bikes.

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Micromobility

Paris streets and sidewalks have seen their fair share of shared electric scooters for years, but now the city is ready to say goodbye to them. Steered by Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, a referendum to ban shared e-scooters was held on April 1, 2023. Although the turnout was as low as 8%, 89% of voters decided to ban shared e-scooters from the city / Electrek

A new survey by Zwings, a UK-based micromobility operator, revealed that riding an e-scooter positively impacts the rider’s physical or mental health. A total of 699 riders responded to the survey, with 54% reporting a positive influence on their well-being due to e-scooters. Moreover, 96% of respondents wanted e-scooters to be a permanent part of their town’s transport system / ZAGDaily

Transport for London (TfL) has launched a new action plan to make London healthier and more sustainable for Londoners. The new scheme launched on March 31, 2023, involves the promotion of e-cargo bikes for last-mile deliveries and servicing trips as a more sustainable mobility option. This move is expected to replace 4% of van kilometers by 2030, with Central London witnessing the highest improvement of 17% by 2030 / Intelligent Transport

Paris, the car-centric capital of France, is reshaping in front of our eyes. The city’s newly built bike infrastructure has made it possible to go nearly anywhere without having to share crowded streets with automobiles. But the daily debate over bicycles and cars will likely continue as not everyone is happy with this development and the city’s decision to ban cars entirely / Slate

Product Launches & Updates

Super73 is back with Adventure series of e-bikes! The series represents more robust and rugged models of its existing Super73 Z, S, and R e-bikes with added features. The California-based e-bike manufacturer also introduced the Super73 K1D, an electric balance bike that boasts regenerative braking, a swappable 92.8Wh lithium iron phosphate battery, and three different speed modes for kids / The Verge

FUELL’s two new e-bikes, the Flluid-2 and Flluid-3, will truly replace cars for many urban commuters! Manufactured by well-known motorcycle designer Erik Buell’s e-bike company, these two-wheelers offer impressive ranges of 362 km and 177 km, respectively, on a single charge, with other notable features like automatic shifting with a 450% gear range, a Gates Carbon Drive belt-drive setup, front suspension, and more / Electrek

The Niu Technologies’ latest e-scooter, KQi3 Max, sure packs some striking features befitting for urban mobility, but it might not be an ideal choice for many urbanites. Its 46.5 pounds of heavy weight and lack of sturdiness on the road dampens its 450 watts of power and impressive 20 mph speed. It still has a long way to go to fulfill that city-on-your-doorstep promise / TechCrunch

Stilride’s first steel electric motorcycle Stilride 1, is here to redefine e-mobility! The Swedish e-mobility startup manufactured the e-motorbike based on a new technique called ‘industrial origami’ steel folding, which builds more sustainable products. Jam-packed with key design features, this e-motorcycle will certainly captivate both motorbike enthusiasts and sustainability supporters / ZAGDaily

ENVO Stax is said to be ‘designed for millennials and zoomers,’ but is the price also millennial or Gen Z-friendly? Here’s Electrek’s take on Canadian e-bicycle manufacturer ENVO’s new e-bike, which is claimed to be premium yet affordable and provides riders with a natural riding experience similar to that of a traditional bicycle / Electrek

Ridehailing, Carsharing & Delivery

A surge in fires caused by lithium-ion batteries recently led the New York City Council to pass a bill banning batteries that do not meet safety standards. This might be an appropriate approach to address the issue, but the delivery workers are unhappy. They say that the batteries that meet the safety standards are too costly, with one battery costing up to $700, and the government's inadequate financial support is making it hard to earn a living / Gothamist

Waze is here to give you a customized and exciting driving experience with Customize Your Drive and Zodiac! Customize Your Drive lets the drivers select a theme in the app according to their mood, which they can alter easily at any time. The Google subsidiary has also included a Zodiac theme in the customization section, where the navigation and readings are perfectly customized to your zodiac sign and bring a plethora of fun while driving! / Waze Blog

Lyft riders can now ask for an electric or hybrid vehicle for their next ride with Lyft Green! Initially only offered to business travelers, the service was launched in 2019 in Seattle at first, but it was canceled due to its low demand at that time. Now, as people are more familiar with EVs, the re-launch will bring in satisfactory results and serve towards the company's goal to become all-electric by 2030, the company claims / TechCrunch

A court in the Netherlands ruled against Uber and Ola Cabs in a series of rulings on driver data protection claims. The decision favored the gig workers, who appealed against the above ridehailing companies over their automatic firing of drivers without prior notice due to "suspected fraud" and denying access to personal data upon multiple requests. The court requested explanations and rejected any arguments from Uber and Ola Cabs / Staffing Industries

Investment & Deals

BrightDrop, a General Motors-owned electric van firm, will supply 4,000 delivery vehicles to Ryder's rental fleet through 2025 / The Verge

The funds will be used to expand the team and develop their platform to provide real-time pricing and revenue optimization solutions to airlines using AI-native high-frequency pricing and air commerce technology / AccessWire

Magenta Mobility, an Indian electric vehicle (EV) fleet operator, has raised $22 million in funding from BP, Morgan Stanley India Infrastructure, and other investors. The company plans to use the funds to expand its EV fleet, build charging infrastructure, and further develop its technology platform. Magenta Mobility currently operates a fleet of electric cars and plans to add electric two-wheelers and three-wheelers to its fleet / The Economics Times

Kia is accelerating its transition to electric vehicles, with plans to sell 1.6 million EVs globally by 2030, which is 40% of its total sales volume. The automaker will introduce seven new dedicated EV models by 2027, built on a new electric platform called E-GMP. Kia will also improve charging infrastructure and offer remote vehicle diagnostics, over-the-air updates, and battery leasing options to enhance the ownership experience for EV customers / Global Media Center

Shuttlers, a Nigerian ride-sharing startup, has raised $4 million in equity funding to accelerate shared mobility in Nigeria. The company plans to use the funds to improve its technology and expand its services to other Nigerian cities. With Nigeria's unreliable and unsafe public transportation, Shuttlers aims to provide commuters with a safer and more reliable transportation option. This funding marks an exciting step towards the company's commitment to providing high-quality and accessible transportation for all Nigerians / Shutters

Cities & Policy

Denver officials have issued vouchers to cover the expenses of more than 5,060 e-bikes, and the latest batch will be available on Tuesday / DenverPost

Amsterdam is making a renewed effort to keep cars out. As part of its efforts to keep automobiles out of the core city, the Dutch capital has suggested new limits on through traffic / Bloomberg

As bicyclists lobby Congress to make roads safer and e-bikes more affordable, Mitt Romney calls new bike lanes "the height of stupidity." Democrats want to increase money for road safety and provide tax breaks for e-bike purchases / BusinessInsider

The Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Act, a newly introduced bill in the US Congress, seeks to reduce the number of cycling and pedestrian deaths by improving infrastructure and safety measures. With provisions for funding, a national safety priority area, and performance measures, it aims to make roads safer for everyone / SmartCities Dive

New Products, Features, and Data Points

Get ready for a change in GM's electric vehicles - the automaker plans to limit access to Apple CarPlay and Android Auto due to security and privacy concerns. While this move might be a break from the norm for automakers who partner with third-party tech companies, it could potentially open up opportunities for app developers and create a more diverse ecosystem of in-car services / The Verge

Tesla has just released a new, heavy-duty home charger for its electric vehicles called the "Tesla Power Plug." With a rugged, industrial design, the charger promises to be a big, tough addition to your home charging setup. The accessory is compatible with all Tesla models and boasts a charging speed of up to 80 amps / TechCrunch

According to a new study by Cox Automotive, automotive brands that fail to keep up with the demand for electric vehicles (EVs) risk losing market share to their competitors who do. As most EV owners plan to stick with electric vehicles for their next purchase, it highlights a growing trend toward EVs. With automakers ramping up their EV production, brands that don't offer compelling EV options will struggle to retain customers / Green Car Report

Jobs Board

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Android developer at Transit - Montreal, Canada

Partner success at Transit - Montreal, Canada (open to remote candidates)

General Manager at Transit - France

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