The future of public transport lies in resilience | January 20, 2023
Plus, Bugatti’s new electric scooter, Chevy’s first ever electrified 2024 Corvette E-ray, DoorDash delivers Starbucks across the US, and Toyota’s $35 billion investment in EVs.
Issue [#171] - Every week, we deliver analysis and curation of emerging mobility news - post a job listing here!
Micromobility
People across Europe are inclined towards shared e-scooters and e-bikes mainly because of the high fuel costs and the energy crisis. As reported by Dott, a micromobility company, 69% of car riders are using their cars less than before / Intelligent Transport
Fire incidents related to lithium-ion batteries in e-scooters and e-bikes are surging in Australia, leading to the authorities searching for the best possible solutions to control the situation / ABC
Ideal for commuting, completing last-mile trips, and running last-minute errands, e-bikes are the next best thing in the world of urban mobility / Cleantechnica
The micromobility market is expected to grow in 2023, according to industry experts / Smart Cities Dive
Product Launches & Updates
Bugatti rolled out an updated version of its new electric scooter this year! With a color scheme based on the W16 Mistral roadster, it boasts a 10% larger size than the previous model, a 35-mile coverage in a single charge, 10-inch “self-repairing” tires, and a passcode protection system / TechCrunch
Chevy’s Corvette is celebrating its 70th anniversary with the 2024 Corvette E-Ray, its very first electrified version! With a hybrid gas-electric motor giving it a combined 655 hp, a battery pack of 1.9kWh, and Stealth Mode, it's ready to take on any competition on both road and track / The Verge
Ridehailing, Carsharing & Delivery
Uber, after Bolt, is also resuming its services in Tanzania after the said authority restored the 25% commission fee on December 30, 2022, with the decision hampering the expectations of their drivers for an increase in their earnings / TechCrunch
The “visual line of sight” rules of the Federal Aviation Administration are one of the reasons behind the unpopularity of drone delivery in the US, but with some recommended changes in the regulations from the committee this year, there is still hope to promote the drone operations / SmartCities Dive
Once drawn by bonuses and incentives from Uber and Lyft, the ride-hailing operators’ drivers are now frustrated and toiling to make ends meet, with inflation, high government fees, and Uber’s refusal to raise their pay being the primary reasons behind the matter / The New York Times
How can we build a strong public transport sector? According to Mohamed Mezghani, Secretary General of the International Association of Public Transport (UITP), resilience, constructive strategies, energy supply, and continuous political and financial support is what we need right now / Intelligent Transport
Hertz and Uber are expanding their zero-emission partnership to Europe as well! They announced that 25,000 electric vehicles, including ones from Tesla and Polestar, will be available for rent by Uber drivers in the European capital cities by 2025, bringing them one step closer to a zero-emission future / Electrek
Forget all the Corvettes you have seen before! Here comes Chevy’s 2024 Corvette E-Ray, which marks the entry of Corvette into the electric world with a gas-electric motor and is faster than any of its predecessors / TechCrunch
Unwanted sexual advances on transit are rampant, creating an unpleasant and potentially dangerous commuting experience / Transfer Magazine
Get ready to order your favorite Starbucks foods and drinks from anywhere in the US because DoorDash is expanding its Starbucks delivery services to all 50 US states! Starting in March, 95% of the main Starbucks menu will be available for delivery through the DoorDash app / The Verge
Investment & Deals
Belgium's OTIV raises a series A round of funding in an effort to pioneer the AI revolution in rail travel. The use of OTIV's automation on the networks of continental European railroads is being investigated / Tech.eu
The state of Maharashtra in India has formed a $2.5 billion agreement with Taiwan's Gogoro Inc (GGR.O) and a local provider of automotive equipment in order to develop battery-swapping and charging facilities for electric vehicles (EVs) there / Reuters
Yoda, an urban mobility service based in Brussels, has raised €450,000 in pre-seed funding. As part of the capital raising, the company will build the first series of Yodas for its first customers, as well as set up its first production unit / Tech.eu
Vialytics has just scored a major win! The AI-based road management startup recently secured an incredible $10 million in Series A funding from the esteemed venture capital firm Scania Growth Capital. This substantial investment will help Vialytics continue its international expansion and enhance their Road Management System with even more innovations / The SaaS News
Over the last ten years, NoSmoke has produced over 1,500 vehicles, with 180 models created in 2022 alone, for a €4 million profit / Tech.eu
Toyota is making a $35 billion investment in EVs. However, some believe it might already be too late. Some even claim it is against attempts to mitigate climate change / CNBC
Cities & Policy
The decision to outlaw free-floating electric scooters will be put to the people of Paris in a referendum, according to Anne Hidalgo, the mayor of Paris, who spoke to Le Parisien this past weekend / TechCrunch
During a confrontation downtown, Gersh Kuntzman confronts a potential perpetrator who has defaced license plates in order to avoid speeding cameras / The New Yorker
In an effort to decrease the barrier for locals who cannot afford the more expensive bikes, a new measure being introduced this month will establish 3,000 refunds for residents to purchase an electric bike / Dcist
In order to join other American cities who are aiming to make metro bus and rail systems free to use, Washington, D.C., is close to abolishing bus charges for city residents / CNBC
New Products, Features, and Data Points
With a 65% increase in electric vehicle sales in 2022, the number of EV charging stations also grew by 55% in 2021 and 5.1% in just the second quarter of 2022 in the US. Surprisingly, urban areas have fewer charging ports as compared to the rural areas / SmartCities Dive
Bosch’s new Anti-lock Braking System is what we need for all electric bicycles. The engineering and technology company introduced the ABS at CES 2023, aiming for a reduction in e-bike-related accidents by 30 percent / InsideEVs
In an unfortunate turn of events, GoMechanic, a Sequoia India-backed car servicing platform, released 70% of their employees. The decision was made due to the funding crisis faced by the company after investors noticed issues, including inflated revenue, in the financial reporting from the founders / TechCrunch
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