Cleveland: Where equity and walkability go hand in hand | February 10, 2023

Also, Rivian revealed plans on its first e-bike, Mercedes's first electric van is hitting the US, Canoo sold 50 million shares, and Porsche is rolling out its all-electric SUV K1.

Issue [#174] - Every week, we deliver analysis and curation of emerging mobility news - post a job listing here!

Micromobility

E-bike sales have been on the rise in the US since 2021, and Rivian is now trying its luck out in the micromobility sector too! The American EV manufacturer is developing an e-bike, revealed the company's CEO RJ Scaringe. The micromobility segment promises revenue, but will Rivian make it when other automakers are also struggling to find their ground in this sector? / The Verge

Micromobility vehicles are gaining ground over the years for their convenience, affordability, and sustainability, but for a possible solution to the climate change crisis, do we have enough policies and infrastructure to normalize their use and shift from four-wheels to two-wheels? / GreenBiz

John Polkinghorne rode his very first e-bike in 2017 and has fallen in love with it since then. For him, e-bikes are quick, convenient, and healthy and save him $15 a day. Now, he diligently rides his e-bike every day and is not getting on four wheels anytime soon! / Greater Auckland

For many people, riding bikes may only be for fun and getting enough exercise, but for some, like Sarahi Franco-Morales and her family, ‘It’s survival.’ She dreamed big and recently got admitted to the University of Pennsylvania on a scholarship, but she claims it couldn’t have been possible without her bike! / The Philadelphia Inquirer

Micromobility options like e-scooters are futuristic modes of transportation and prevail in society for offering sustainable urban mobility, but they are not making it any easier for collision investigators. With e-scooter manufacturers rolling out vehicles with innovative designs and performance and the non-availability of published data on these latest mobility options, collision investigators have their work cut out for them in the future / ZAGDaily

Cleveland, Ohio, is the most equitably walkable city in the country, as reported by Smart Growth America, where it came at the top of the “Social Equity Index” ranking. But to build more impartial walkable neighborhoods like Cleveland, cities need to revamp their policies, normalize car-free commuting and support economical housing options for underprivileged communities / StreetBlogs USA

This episode of the #CitiesFirst podcast by Scott Shepard is all about Ryan Russo, an urban innovator and principal at Together Projects, LLC., giving his viewpoint on the need for equitable transportation policies, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on urban mobility, the “Slow Street” initiative, and whether there will be any creative policies to promote sustainable mobility in the post-COVID city / Cities First Podcast

Product Launches & Updates

Ready to meet the revamped version of Giant’s e-bike, the Explorer E+? Well, here it is! With a new suspension fork offering 100 millimeters of suspension commuting and larger batteries (625-watt-hour or 800-watt-hour), this utility-focused versatile e-bike has never been better! / InsideEVs

The North American EV market will soon be receiving eSprinter, Mercedes’ first electric van to hit the U.S. Kicking off production at Mercedes’ Charleston, South Carolina plant later this year, the van boasts a 113kWh battery, a maximum range of 311 miles, an onboard charger of 9.3kW, and a rear-axle motor and is claimed to be “the most versatile Mercedes-Benz eVan ever.” / The Verge

Rolls-Royce is ready to reshape the world's paradigms of electric cars with its upcoming EV, Spectre! Being an ultra-luxury electric four-seater super coupé, Spectre will surely turn heads wherever it goes / Wired

Winnebago’s eRV2 is now on the roads for six months of field testing! With a range of 108 miles, a 48V / 15kWh house battery, and the latest version of Winnebago Connect offering real-time control of the EV, the North American manufacturer of motorhomes built this prototype for the sole purpose of refining the user experience / The Verge

Ridehailing, Carsharing & Delivery

Uber is rolling out its new affordable UberX Share service, where people can carpool if they are going the same way! With the service available in specified areas of Vancouver, Toronto, and Montreal, the riders will enjoy a 20% discount if they use it, making it a more sustainable option to choose / Daily Hive

Vay is well on track to conquer the European public roads with its teledriving technology! The Hamburg-based self-driving startup has successfully driven its first driverless car on a public road and received an exemption permit from the Germany Authority for Traffic and Mobility (BVM), making it their first step towards autonomous urban mobility, but certainly not the last! / Tech.eu

Yango, a ridehailing, delivery, and e-grocery application owned by Russian technology company Yandex, is under fire for practicing unfair competition and has been suspended by the Cameroonian government. However, it’s still unclear if the app has stopped its operations entirely in the country / Yahoo! Finance

Investment & Deals

Yamaha Motor has financed the Finnish boating subscription service Skipperi with €7 million to increase the number of competent skippers on the water / Tech.eu

Battery-swapping giant, Gogoro, has invested $25 million in Zypp Electric, an Indian firm that provides an EV-as-a-service platform for e-commerce businesses and gig workers. This cash commitment is part of a strategic partnership between Gogoro and the Indian market, signaling Gogoro's long-term commitment to the country. The funds will allow Zypp Electric to expand its fleet from 10,000 to 200,000 bikes by 2025 and reach 30 Indian cities / TechCrunch

A £200 million government investment has been launched by Active Travel England to upgrade the infrastructure for walking, bicycling, and wheeling / ZAGDaily

Canoo is selling 50 million shares at a significant discount to raise the necessary funds to maintain its operations. A warrant will accompany the shares, giving the unnamed investors the option to purchase up to 50 million more shares / TechCrunch

Cities & Policy

With the help of $24.8 million from the US Department of Transportation's Safe Streets and Roads for All program, federal funding to carry out that plan is now on the way / Bloomberg

The UK government has been urged to set a specific deadline for e-scooter regulation in order to "ensure the survival of the sector," according to the e-scooter and e-bike rental company Voi / FutureTransport-News

New benefits include free Bluebikes membership for Boston city employees as well as T pass coverage. Boston is covering a sizable portion of its workers' public transportation costs in an effort to encourage city workers to cycle and bus more / Boston Globe

There are many cities worldwide where traffic volumes today exceed those before Covid. Research conducted by INRIX Research shows that the US and Europe have the busiest cities in the world / Bloomberg

A study from the Keck School of Medicine at USC found that local air pollution levels and emergency room visits reduced as zero-emission vehicles became more common / Smart Cities Dive

Many California streets remain dangerous for cyclists despite the state allocating $13 million to an electric and cargo bike program for low-income residents / Planetizen

New Products, Features, and Data Points

With the inclusion of power-level data for chargers—as well as the knowledge to tap into it for specialized route planning and directions— Google claims to have significantly improved the utility of its Maps product for electric vehicle owners / Green Car Reports

The e-scooter rental company Tier Mobility will install an advanced parking system in London to ensure its machines are parked only in approved areas / Move Electric

With the Cayenne and Macan EVs already on the way, Porsche's K1, a sporty, all-electric SUV, is unlike anything we've seen before. Porsche's new flagship SUV will include seven seats and advanced off-road capability. This electric SUV is designed to raise Porsche's positioning and brand awareness in the luxury market / Electrek

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