The Paris Bike Boom: The change was not a pie in the sky after all | May 12, 2023
The Paris Bike Boom: The change was not a pie in the sky after all | May 12, 2023
Plus, Ninebot and Engwe launched female-based micromobility EVs, Uber is offering flight booking in the UK, and Voltfang raised €5 million for its energy storage technology.
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Micromobility
The Paris Bike boom is real, transforming the entire city at once, and it's not just restricted to Paris. Cities like Lyon and Nantes are also undergoing similar changes where large-scale bike-friendly infrastructure is being installed. This initiative points to Paris's determination to build a car-free city for its people, and the Bay Area and most other places in the United States need to listen to what the city is saying / StreetBlogs SF
Europeans have expressed their desire for more micromobility parking spaces around the cities. Bolt, an e-bike rental and ridehailing company, designated the Institut français d'opinion publique (IFOP) to conduct a survey where 67% of Portuguese people, 44% of Norwegian people, and 42% of German people were in favor of switching car parking spaces with micromobility ones. This survey underlines the need to build more bike-friendly infrastructure to encourage people to adopt two-wheels rather than private cars to prevent congestion and reduce carbon emissions / Intelligent Transport
The electric bikes are likely to outsell traditional bikes in 2023, as represented by German Bicycle Industry Association and Verband des Deutschen Fahrradhandels in their graph projections. While there remains no doubt that people are captivated by e-bikes due to their sustainability, accessibility, and affordability, these electric two-wheelers still need to prove themselves as more than just a source of recreation by actually replacing cars and providing efficient urban mobility / Bloomberg
Product Launches & Updates
Segway-owned Ninebot and Engwe have joined the female micromobility market by rolling out their latest female-centered electric moped and e-bike. Ninebot Q80C, an electric moped, possesses a maximum range of 115 km in its lowest power mode, a seat cushion height of 715 mm, and a variety of connectivity options, while the Engwe L20 is an e-bike that boasts a Step-thru frame, comfy seats and a good deal of loading space at the front and rear to make it a perfect riding companion for women / Electrek
VanMoof has just released its latest VanMoof S4 and X4 e-bikes that offer innovative technology yet are simple and more accessible than ever! The Dutch e-bike manufacturer downscaled some of the features hence the price reduction, but with the two-speed automatic gear shifting, a Gen 4 Kick Lock, and the VanMoof's Turbo Boost button, the bikes still serve their purpose of being reliable and iconic at the same time / Electrek
Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently announced an update regarding the Full Self-Driving (FSD), the company's advanced driver assistance system (ADAS). In his tweet, he revealed that once FSD is fit for roads, a free month FSD trial for all cars in North America will be provided, and eventually, the access will be extended to the rest of the world. While Tesla prepares for large-scale testing, its FSD and Autopilot systems are still under federal inquiries and lawsuits due to various safety issues / TechCrunch
Ridehailing, Carsharing & Delivery
Uber now offers its users a chance to book domestic and international flights in the UK. Collaborating with travel booking agency Hopper, the ridehailing company will provide the service across the whole region and charge a small commission on each sale. According to Andrew Brem, the company's general manager for the UK, Uber aims to become a large-scale travel booking platform and claims that this is "the latest and most ambitious step" to reach that target / Engadget
Waymo has added another layer of safety to its existing suite of sensors it has used to alert its passengers before exiting the vehicle. The robotaxi developer has installed new alerts to notify passengers of a cyclist, a car, or another passerby approaching the exit door. The alerts include clear audio and visual cues for passengers as well as for passersby approaching the robotaxi like easy-to-interpret icons displayed on the Waymo One's rooftop lidar to keep both sides involved in preventing a collision / Electrek
Investment & Deals
On its automobile wager, UVeye is increasing its stake. The company, which has offices in Tel Aviv and Fresh Jersey and employs about 200 people, will utilize the fresh capital of $100M to launch the production of its inspection equipment in North America and to boost sales / TechCrunch
Voltfang raises €5 million to use its energy storage technology to revitalize EV batteries. A spin-off of RWTH Aachen, the Aachen-based climate tech startup is prepared to address the issue of battery recycling with its energy storage devices produced from old electric vehicle batteries / Tech.eu
Future models will feature automatic help and navigation features from Mobileye's (MBLY.O) so-called "SuperVision" technology platform, according to a statement made on Tuesday by Mobileye / Reuters
Autotalks has been acquired in a firm agreement by Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., a division of Qualcomm Incorporated (NASDAQ: QCOM). The deal is subject to the usual closing requirements / Qualcomm
Cities & Policy
In a letter certifying the environmental study conducted by the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the Federal Highway Administration also released a draught "Finding of No Significant Impact" that will now be available for 30 days of public comment / Politico
Thousands of EV chargers are installed along the streets of London. While the city plans to add 10,000 by the end of the decade, there are only 100 in New York City / Fast Company
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