Smart Growth: Sustainable Micromobility with Tech, Efficiency, and Compliance | June 28th, 2024
Uber trials $1,000 incentives to give up cars. GM names Marc Whitten CEO of troubled Cruise; Waymo expands SF service widely.
Issue [#245] - Every week, we deliver analysis and curation of emerging mobility news - post a job listing here!
Micromobility
City taxes on shared e-scooters and bikes average 70 cents per mile, much higher than on private vehicles and ride-hailing services. This misalignment with city policy goals discourages sustainable travel. High fees, meant to cover administrative costs, often undermine efforts to support micromobility and equitable transportation, despite cities’ intentions to promote alternative travel modes and ease congestion. | Smart Cities Dive
The Hyundai Inster is a compact, affordable EV with over 200 miles of range and a retro-styled interior. Despite its attractive $26,000 price and modern features, it won't be available in the US. Unlike other small EVs, the Inster will launch in Korea and select international markets, leaving the US in need of accessible electric vehicles as automakers struggle to provide affordable options | The Verge
Sustainable fleet growth in micromobility focuses on technology, resource efficiency, and compliance. Advancing fleet tech like AI for better maintenance, optimizing resources, and upgrading to greener options are key. Efficient battery use and protection enhance durability, while adapting to regulations ensures smooth operations. Sustainable growth balances innovation with economic viability, crucial for the industry’s future | ZAGDaily
Product Launches & Updates
The Velotric Summit 1 e-bike offers a budget-friendly option for trail riding. It features a 750W motor, 90Nm torque, and a 700Wh battery, providing a range of up to 70 miles. Priced at $1,999, it combines performance with affordability. Highlights include a torque sensor for smooth power delivery, a robust frame, and UL-compliant safety. Ideal for new riders, it balances cost and capability effectively | Electrek
BMW’s 2025 M5 debuts as a plug-in hybrid, combining a V8 engine and an electric motor. The new model, weighing 5,390 pounds, offers a 0–60 mph time of 3.4 seconds and a top speed of 190 mph with BMW’s M Driver’s Package. The M5 runs in hybrid mode by default, balancing gas and electric power. Its launch is set for late 2024, highlighting a significant shift toward electrification | The Verge
Cityshuttle's ePack, touted as the "world’s largest and safest last-mile delivery cargo bike," is set for production in late 2024. Measuring 5m by 90cm, it offers a 4m³ cargo volume and 350 kg payload, halving delivery times compared to vans. Key features include AI cameras, advanced safety alerts, and telematics. Its innovative design promises efficient, low-carbon deliveries, enhancing safety and operational transparency for riders | ZAGDaily
Segway's new B200 e-bike enhances riding safety, operational efficiency, and user experience for shared operators and food delivery. It features 26-inch tires for stability, a large battery with a 90 km range, and advanced Gen3Sg IoT technology for precise positioning and geofencing. The B200 also offers multiple riding modes and easy conversion for deliveries, making it adaptable and efficient for modern urban mobility needs | ZAGDaily
Ridehailing, Carsharing, & Delivery
Ridesharing in Latin America offers flexibility, but are the earnings what you expect? Jose Carlos Aguilar, Director of Operations at Mi Nave, a company specializing in rideshare vehicles, recently spoke with Harry on The Rideshare Guy Podcast. Aguilar shed light on driver earnings in the region, stating:
"The earnings are definitely close to reality based on our experience in the industry and renting vehicles to drivers. We've found that drivers in the top 3 Mexican cities earn about $7-8 USD per hour while working on ride hailing apps, and drivers in other cities are around $6-7 USD per hour.
Driver incentives can boost total earnings by $0.50/hr though. And I'd also add that the biggest differentiator on earnings after location/city, is experience with the app. There's about a 15% difference in earnings between a new driver and someone with 1 year of experience or more, which is massive."
Thinking of ridesharing in Latin America? Listen to Aguilar's full interview on The Rideshare Guy Podcast for a deeper dive into the market, including the growing popularity of DiDi, a dominant app in the region | The Rideshare Guy Podcast
InDrive and Didi drivers in Latin America see earnings ranging from $5 to $12 USD per hour, according to a Bloomberg report highlighted by The Paddock. Location, cost of living, and experience all play a role in determining income. Colombian drivers reportedly earn the most ($8-9 USD), while other countries fall between $5-10 USD per hour. The flexibility of rideshare work comes with downsides, including long hours and managing vehicle expenses | Bloomberg
Rideshare prices have surged in 2024, according to the Obi Global Rideshare Report. New York City saw a 32.5% rise in Uber prices and 9% in Lyft. While drivers earn more per ride, their share of the fare has decreased. Consumer frustration with high costs remains a key barrier, with 48% citing price as a major concern. Interest in green rides is low in the U.S., despite higher adoption in Europe | MSN
Uber launched a "One Less Car" trial offering $1,000 to 175 participants in the US and Canada to give up their cars for five weeks. Participants will receive cash and credits for Uber rides, bike-share, and public transit. The aim is to reduce personal car ownership costs and traffic congestion while promoting alternative transportation modes. Uber's experiment follows a successful trial in Australia, highlighting the shift towards car-light lifestyles and exploring sustainable urban mobility solutions | The Verge
Uber and Lyft are locking out New York City drivers during low-demand times, blaming a local pay rule. This rule, aimed at paying drivers for idle time between fares, has reduced earnings significantly. Drivers, upset by unpredictable income drops, may strike. Both companies are lobbying against the regulation, arguing it unfairly impacts them. The dispute highlights ongoing tensions between ride-hailing firms and city regulations over driver pay and operational rules | Engadget
Rimac, renowned for electric supercars, is launching its first robotaxi service in Zagreb by 2026. Named Verne after Jules Verne, this venture marks a shift from hypercars to autonomous vehicles. Backed by years of autonomous tech development and substantial EU funding, Verne will feature a sleek, two-door design, fully electric and autonomous with advanced Mobileye technology. This move underscores Rimac's evolution into urban mobility, promising a transformative impact on city transportation | The Verge
General Motors names Marc Whitten, an experienced video game executive, as CEO of Cruise, its robotaxi company facing problems. This decision comes after a serious accident in San Francisco, which caused Cruise to stop its services. Whitten's goal is to make safety improvements and regain trust while facing close inspection from regulators. Meanwhile, Waymo, a rival company, expands its services in San Francisco smoothly, showing different outcomes in the self-driving car industry's development | The Guardian
Waymo opens its San Francisco robotaxi service to all, eliminating its waitlist. Customers can now easily hail self-driving rides across the city, similar to its strategy in Phoenix. This move follows recent software recalls due to incidents, yet Waymo continues to expand, recently gaining approval for commercial operations in Los Angeles and other regions. With a fleet of over 700 vehicles, Waymo reports high usage, particularly for medical appointments and transit connections, highlighting growing acceptance of autonomous technology | TechCrunch
Uber Freight and Aurora forge a "long-term" deal for driverless trucks on routes between Dallas and Houston. Aurora, led by former Google, Uber, and Tesla executives, plans to deploy 20 autonomous trucks this year. Uber Freight will integrate Aurora’s technology, offering carriers early access to driverless solutions through the Premier Autonomy program. This partnership marks a significant step in autonomous freight transportation, amidst ongoing financial challenges for Aurora | The Verge
Investment & Deals
Swiss company Libattion has secured €14 million in funding for its stationary energy storage solutions. These innovative “e-Racks” utilize upcycled electric vehicle batteries, providing sustainable and cost-effective technology. Libattion aims to revolutionize energy storage, contributing to a more efficient and eco-friendly future. A&G Energy Transition Tech Fund led the funding round, recognizing the company’s potential impact on waste reduction and stationary energy storage | Tech.eu
Battery materials company Sila has secured $375 million in its Series G round, led by existing investors Sutter Hill Ventures and T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. The funding will complete Sila’s Moses Lake plant by Q1, 2025, enabling delivery of its Titan Silicon anode material to auto customers by Q4, 2025. Sila’s technology replaces graphite with high silicon anodes, improving energy density by 20-25% compared to graphite cells. Future releases aim for up to 40% improvement and recharge times under 10 minutes. Sila’s focus on quality and manufacturing positions it as a market leader in the transition to fully electric vehicles | BusinessWire
Ironspring Ventures, a sector-focused early-stage firm, has raised $100 million for its second fund. With a focus on manufacturing, construction, transportation, and energy, Ironspring aims to address gaps in venture capital for these capital-intensive sectors. The firm’s expertise and LP base of industry operators position it uniquely. Despite increased competition, Ironspring remains committed to supporting startups and driving innovation in critical industries | TechCrunch
Fetcherr, a startup specializing in dynamic pricing for airlines, has raised $90 million in a venture round. The company employs AI to forecast demand for specific airline routes and dynamically optimize pricing. Despite consumer reservations, 258 carriers now use some form of dynamic pricing. Fetcherr’s models, based on public and private data, are stored on a private cloud for each customer. The Series B funding will support the development of an AI-powered “offer engine” and expansion into other markets beyond airlines. The company prioritizes lean operations and cash positivity | TechCrunch
Be.EV, a fast-growing UK EV charging network, secured £55 million to expand its network to over 1,000 rapid chargers by year-end. The focus is on areas beyond London, aiming to improve EV charging accessibility nationwide. This expansion, powered by renewable energy, is seen as a significant step towards a greener UK transportation system | Tech.eu
VW invested $5 billion in Rivian for access to its EV platform and software. The partnership will develop new electric vehicles for both companies, launching in the late 2020s. This move aims to strengthen VW's EV development, while Rivian hopes the funds will accelerate its affordable R2 EV and profitability | The Verge
Wisk Aero, a Boeing subsidiary developing self-flying electric taxis, acquired Verocel to ensure its autonomous aircraft software meets safety standards. Verocel's expertise is vital for certification, mirroring similar moves by competitors in the race to launch autonomous eVTOLs | TechCrunch
Swiss pharma transport startup SkyCell secured $116 million to fuel global expansion. Their temperature-controlled containers and software ensure safe medicine transport while reducing CO2 emissions. This investment targets growth in the US and Asia as demand for secure and sustainable pharmaceutical shipping rises | TechCrunch
Aether Fuels, a startup creating clean fuels from waste carbon, raised $30.4 million. This funding targets sustainable aviation and maritime fuels, capturing waste CO2 for cleaner energy. The company's process is under wraps, but appears to involve natural gas. This investment fuels the growing demand for eco-friendly alternatives in the transportation industry | TechCrunch
Cities & Policy
Carmakers are lobbying against a mandatory AEB rule in the US, arguing current tech can't meet safety standards without causing more accidents and raising costs. Safety advocates disagree, stressing AEB's potential to prevent crashes. This disagreement highlights a key challenge in implementing advanced driver-assistance systems | The Verge
NYC's congestion pricing plan for Manhattan is delayed due to missing approvals. This postpones $16.5 billion in MTA projects and threatens 87,500 MTA vendor jobs, according to a Reinvent Albany analysis. The delay hits subway expansion, new electric buses, and other crucial infrastructure upgrades | Smart Cities Dive
A record number of US cities (183) are becoming bike-friendly, according to PeopleForBikes' rankings. Cities scoring above 50 are seen as reaching a tipping point where better infrastructure inspires more cyclists, who advocate for further improvements. Minneapolis, along with smaller cities like Davis and Cambridge, are leading the charge. The report also emphasizes the struggles car-centric cities face in overcoming a lack of safe biking options | StreetsBlog USA
Hawaiian youth settled a climate lawsuit, securing a pledge for zero transportation emissions by 2045. The teens sued for their right to a clean environment, prompting the state to invest in EV charging, clean transportation networks, and emission reduction plans. This is the first US climate settlement where young people partnered with the government to tackle the crisis | The Verge
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