Shared-mobility is the future of urban transportation | June 29th, 2023

Also, Aston Martin and Lucid announced their collaboration, New York City announced US $25 million for electric bike charging stations, and Chevrolet introduced its Silverado EV 4WT work truck.

Issue [#193] - Every week, we deliver analysis and curation of emerging mobility news every week - post a job listing here!

Micromobility

The amount of space required by cars, SUVs, and pickup trucks is far greater than what is needed to make short trips to the market, pick up our children from school, or get ourselves to work. When used for daily mobility and running simple errands around town, these large vehicles consume more space on the road and in cities, compromising the safety of pedestrians and cyclists. Hence, their size should not be a standard for using the term 'micromobility' for smaller, safer, and more sustainable modes of transportation out there / StreetBlogsUSA

According to the McKinsey Mobility Consumer Pulse Survey, where mobility users across the globe share their insights and preferences about future mobility, many respondents plan to get rid of their cars in the future and adopt shared micromobility options. A significant percentage of consumers are willing to integrate shared autonomous shuttles and microcars into their mobility routines in the future, with them expecting an improved infrastructure and public transport system. Moreover, the research highlighted the significance of integrated user experiences, safe and accessible infrastructure, and continued electrification in driving consumers' preference for shared micromobility options. / McKinsey & Co.

Italy may take action against the usage of electric scooters, which are either lauded as the future of urban transportation or are seen as a danger on city streets that terrorize people and leave pavements filthy throughout Rome, Milan, and other major cities / Bloomberg

In this thought-provoking episode of the City's First podcast, host Scott Shepard sits down with Roger Spitz, a visionary leader in the field of strategic foresight and sustainable futures. As president of Techistential and chair of the Disruptive Futures Institute, Spitz is on the cutting edge of helping organizations navigate the complexities of our rapidly changing world. With a focus on climate and urban cities, Spitz offers fascinating insights into the role of AI innovations in shaping the future of the climate tech sector. Don't miss this engaging conversation with one of the foremost thought leaders in the field / The #CitiesFirst Podcast

For the most recent generation, Aventon made certain improvements to their well-liked Sinch folding electric bike but omitted a few desirable features. Easy to mount and admirable on and off the road, the Aventon Sinch.2 boasts a torque sensor and effective turn signals, with its rack and fenders included in the standard package without extra pricing. These are some noteworthy achievements, but there are also some places where it might have done better, like hydraulic brakes, upgrading the battery capacity, etc / Electrek

Product Launches & Updates

Chevrolet held the media first-drive event for the Silverado EV 4WT work truck on June 26, but it also had an unfortunate update for its customers. The American GM Motors' subsidiary stated that it has no plans to offer an entry-level $40,000 Chevrolet Silverado EV, most likely due to inflation. While this is a disappointing outcome for Silverado EV fans, Chevrolet still promised to roll out Silverado EV options with various levels of content with a starting price tag of $50,000 later / InsideEVs

Aston Martin, the iconic luxury British sports car manufacturer, and Lucid Motors, the American car manufacturer behind the Air sedan, announced their partnership on Monday, June 26. An opportunity for Lucid to expand its revenue sources, the agreement entails Aston Martin giving phased cash payments and a 3.7% stake in exchange for technical support from Lucid / TechCrunch

The 2024 Chevrolet Silverado EV Work Truck may be expensive for many people, with a starting price tag of $77,950, yet it offers much more functioning. It boasts 450 miles of range on a charge and can tow 10,000 pounds. With a truck bed of 5 feet, 11 inches, the front offering a lockable, watertight compartment, and the rear seat folding up to expand the interior storage space, it also offers ample storage space. Having a simple and functional gray interior, Silverado EV Work Truck is perfect for those who don't need spectacular features to get the job done! / TechCrunch

Ridehailing, Carsharing & Delivery

According to researchers at the University of Michigan and Carnegie Mellon University, there won't be much of a benefit to society overall, even if Uber and Lyft, the top two ride-hailing businesses in the US, have promised to have an all-electric fleet countrywide by 2030. After the simulation, they discovered that while lifetime greenhouse gas emissions will reduce by as much as 45%, other challenges like emissions shifting to power plants, an increase in health risks by 6% to 11% per trip, a 2% to 3% per trip increase in noise pollution, collision risks, traffic congestion, etc., will likely minimize the advantages as a whole / MLive

In order to finance the purchase of 1,700 buses, more than half of which will be zero-emission versions, the US Department of Transportation and the Federal Transit Administration will send out $1.7 billion to 46 states and territories, from President Joe Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. While it only amounts to a small portion of the 60,000 buses presently in service in the US, authorities are welcoming the move as an approach to transforming the country's transit fleet to combat climate change / The Verge

Investment & Deals

Lucid will provide electric motors and batteries for Aston Martin's electric vehicles as part of a $450 million deal / The Verge

New York City and state officials announced federal financing of US $25 million for electric bike charging stations. The charging stations are a component of a strategy to reduce the city's escalating number of lithium-ion battery fires / Electrek

Yadea wants to invest $1 billion in a new factory in the Philippines. Markets in the area and those close by will be served by the projected battery production cluster / Ride Apart

Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, and Mike Bloomberg, the special envoy for climate change, unveiled a new $30 million clean air program / ZAGDaily

Vay, a Berlin-based teledriving specialist, is expanding its operations to the US and has chosen Las Vegas for its new headquarters. The company plans to test its innovative teledriving service in Sin City by remotely delivering and retrieving rental electric vehicles (EVs) for customers. Vay's unique approach to driverless vehicles involves an operator remotely driving the EV from a central hub. As autonomous driving technology advances and becomes more widely accepted, Vay hopes to incorporate more autonomous features into its service / Electrek

As it gains traction in American cities, the AI-based traffic control platform NoTraffic has secured $50 million in Series B funding / TechCrunch

Lordstown Motors files for bankruptcy and sues former partner Foxconn for breach of contract and fraud after struggling to secure enough funding to produce its electric pickup truck / Reuters

Cities & Policy

New York City may soon implement a weight-based fee for SUVs and trucks to reduce emissions and promote sustainable transportation options. Heavier vehicles would pay more, while lighter cars would pay less / Curbed

As e-bike usage grows in Colorado, safety advocates urge officials to prioritize improvements to bike infrastructure for safer riding. However, some projects face opposition from residents concerned about traffic and parking / NPR for Northern Colorado

For transit projects in 46 states and territories, the Federal Transit Administration approved roughly $1.7 billion in funding under the Buses and Bus Facilities and Low- and No-Emission Vehicle programs / Smart Cities Dive

Vay, a teledriving startup, has become the first company to operate a vehicle without a human occupant on a European public road, paving the way for its remote-controlled mobility service / Bloomberg

To protect vulnerable road users (VRUs), Transport for London (TfL) has stated that starting in October 2024, heavy goods trucks (HGVs) above 12 metric tonnes operating in the city must undergo new, more rigorous tests / Traffic Technology Today

Jobs Board

Here's a selection of job openings from our partners. Want to see your listing here? Click here for pricing/details.

Director of Partnerships & Development at Open Mobility Foundation – Remote, US

SMART Collaborative Program Manager (Contract) at Open Mobility Foundation – Remote, US

Tech Development Specialist (Contract) at Open Mobility Foundation – Remote, US

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