Pi-Pop E-Bike: Pioneering Sustainable Mobility with Supercapacitors | Sep 22nd, 2023

This week, French Polynesia is embracing microcars, Maserati is gearing up to launch its first EV, and Cruise and GM have developed a self-driving robotaxi for wheelchair users.

Issue [#205] - Every week, we deliver analysis and curation of emerging mobility news - post a job listing here!

Micromobility

The US transportation system centers around personal vehicle use, making it daunting for many Americans, especially those in leadership roles, to imagine a week without driving. In 2021, Disability Rights Washington introduced the Week Without Driving challenge, which spurred elected officials to champion transportation improvements and policy adjustments, facilitating mobility for non-drivers. Additionally, this initiative provided local leaders with valuable insights to tackle pedestrian safety concerns | Bloomberg

French Polynesia, renowned for its stunning scenery, is grappling with a climate crisis due to rising seas, highlighting the urgent need for carbon emissions reduction. To address this, French Polynesia is embracing microcars like Eli's ZERO electric microcar, integrated into the government's eco-friendly transportation fleet. An eco-efficient vehicle, the Eli ZERO is a two-seater and perfectly aligned with urban commuting needs | Electrek

During Climate Week, the MINI Countryman EV marked its U.S. debut. Embracing its roots as a fuel-efficient car during the 1950s UK fuel shortage, MINI entered the electric vehicle market while facing challenges like the lack of tax credits and tariffs for Chinese EVs and the American preference for larger vehicles. To overcome these hurdles, MINI intends to maintain UK manufacturing to avoid tariffs and potentially qualify for tax credits | FutureCar

Utilizing survey data from Lime, a leading micromobility company, researchers at Monash University delved into the distinctive ways in which individuals with low incomes utilize the company's vehicles in the United States, Australia, and New Zealand. The study reveals that shared micromobility is a popular mode of transportation for low-income people, similar to public transit. The researchers also suggest that cities should fully support and subsidize this mode as part of the larger network of buses and trains | StreetBlogsUSA

Several premium bicycle companies now offer budget-friendly electric bikes, driving down prices from well-known bike shop brands. This shift towards entry-level e-bikes is driven by the sheer volume of sales in the US, despite lower profit margins. These affordable e-bikes also serve as stepping stones for consumers to explore higher-end brands | Electrek

Product Launches & Updates

Meet Honda’s Motocompacto, an all-electric scooter inspired by Honda Motocompo, an adorable scooter of the ‘80s. It boasts an aluminum frame for a "lightweight" feel, but at 41 pounds, it aligns with typical e-bike weights. Its 12-mile range and 3.5-hour recharge time offer moderate convenience, complemented by an onboard charger for 110V outlets | Engadget

Traditional batteries use up precious natural resources through environmentally harmful mining, but French entrepreneur Adrien Lelièvre has an innovative, eco-friendly alternative. He designed and patented an e-bike called Pi-Pop that doesn’t use lithium batteries but supercapacitors. This e-bike stocks energy when the person pedals or brakes and uses it to assist more challenging actions like restarting or uphill riding, meaning you don’t have to wait to charge the e-bike. Additionally, supercapacitors last longer than a lithium battery | EuroNews

Maserati is gearing up to roll out its first EV, the GranTurismo Folgore, in the fourth quarter of 2023. It is partnering with Michigan's Future Energy to equip its dealerships with customized 60-180 kW Blink DC fast-chargers and energy management software for servicing and charging EVs. The EV boasts an acceleration power of 0-60 mph in 2.7 seconds, a 92.5 kWh T-shaped battery pack, and leverages 800-volt charging | Green Car Reports

Moots, renowned for its high-quality, handcrafted bicycles catering to dedicated cyclists, introduces its inaugural e-bike, the Moots Express. Seamlessly blending electric power into its trail performance, the e-bike successfully maintains a discreet appearance. Highlighting a 504Wh removable Shimano battery, it boasts a max range of up to 100 miles, an auto-shifting feature, and a frame designed specifically for adventure riding | Electrek

The OUI reimagines urban mobility in a car-free world as a distinctive electric Mini Mobility concept. Weighing only 500kg and capped at 45km/h (28mph, L6 category), it pioneers a four-seat configuration, accommodating entire families while offering cargo storage—an innovation in its class | ZAGDaily 

Ridehailing, Carsharing & Delivery

Cruise and GM have developed a self-driving robotaxi that can accommodate wheelchair users. The Cruise WAV, which will start testing in October, has features such as lowering to the curb, an automatic ramp, and two securement options. The vehicle is a result of a collaboration with BraunAbility and Q’Straint | TechCrunch

The SEC fined Lyft $10 million for not disclosing a board director’s involvement in a pre-IPO sale of private shares. The director helped sell $424 million worth of shares and got paid by the investment adviser for structuring and negotiating the deal. Lyft knew and approved the deal but did not reveal it | TechCrunch

Jordan McGillis, a Paulson Policy Analyst at the Manhattan Institute, believes cities need safer streets and better mobility options, and robotaxis may be the answer the cities seek. He argues that rather than opposing autonomous vehicles, governments should work towards establishing strategies that enable AVs to improve safety and mobility for urban environments | Bloomberg

The results of an MIT report in 2010s revealed that ride-hailing will reduce the New York City taxi fleets by 40%, which led to a collaboration with Uber to analyze Uber Pool (now UberX Share). While the results were right, the service was so cheap that it increased the overall city travel, and the trips generated 69% more CO2. As robotaxis will soon spread worldwide, we may repeat the same mistake on a bigger scale, blinded by the promise of autonomy and profit | San Francisco Chronicle

Mevo 2.0, a public bikeshare system powered by Urban Sharing, a global micromobility software platform, has started in Poland. It serves two cities: Gdańsk, Gdynia, and the town of Sopot. The service area is over 650 square miles, which is more than double the size of Singapore. Kristian Brink, CEO of Urban Sharing, claims that Mevo 2.0 is a turning point for micromobility in Europe | ZAGDaily

Investment & Deals

NIO, a promising Chinese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer, witnesses a decline in stock prices following the announcement of a proposed issuance of $1 billion in convertible senior notes | Electrek

Bird acquires Spin from Tier for $19 million, including $10 million in cash | TechCrunch

Malta invests €20 million in electrifying public transportation with new electric buses and charging depot, reducing emissions and enhancing energy efficiency | Intelligent Transport

Joby Aviation has announced Dayton, Ohio as the selected site for its first large-scale electric aircraft factory. With an investment of up to $500 million, the company aims to begin offering air taxi rides as early as 2025 | TechCrunch

Revel secures €115M in funding to expedite its electric car subscription service, positioning itself for market leadership. With the infusion of fresh capital and a credit line, Revel offers a flexible alternative to traditional electric car ownership | Tech.eu

The infrastructure law passed by the Biden administration prioritizes funding for new EV chargers. However, it also allocates $100 million to address the replacement of malfunctioning chargers | Green Car Reports

Delivery Hero has officially confirmed that it is engaged in discussions concerning the partial sale of its Asian business | Reuters

Cities & Policy

The U.S. Department of Justice is conducting a criminal investigation into Tesla, focusing on potential personal benefits provided to CEO Elon Musk and the use of company funds for the construction of a proposed glass house since 2017 | TechCrunch

Mayor Eric Adams and NYCDOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez have revealed an ambitious proposal to revamp New York City's kerb space, with the goal of fostering a cleaner, greener, and healthier urban environment | Intelligent Transport

Throwing a wrench into the industry's multibillion-dollar plan to catch up to Tesla, workers at Ford, GM, and Stellantis factories walked off the job | The Verge

With no resolution in sight, the United Auto Workers' strike against General Motors, Ford, and Stellantis continues into its fourth day. This labor disruption coincides with the aggressive actions taken by all three automakers to retool their existing factories for the purpose of manufacturing electric vehicles | TechCrunch

Drawing insights from smart and zero-emission loading zone pilots, learnings on curb-management innovations emerge | Smart Cities Dive

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