Uber Introduces Game-Changing Shuttle Service: Beat Traffic and High Prices for Concerts, Games, and Airport Trips | May 17th, 2024

ChargePoint's high-power system for electric trucks aims to cut emissions. Biden's tariffs worry e-bike users. NYC's new cargo bikes tackle truck congestion, though safety concerns linger.

Issue [#239] - Every week, we deliver analysis and curation of emerging mobility news - post a job listing here!

Micromobility

AI is revolutionizing micromobility with Anadue's new virtual data analyst, Ana. Ana offers insights, analysis, and recommendations, helping businesses increase profitability. By utilizing generative AI, Ana enables companies to ask spontaneous questions and receive real-time answers, eliminating the need for expensive data teams. This innovation democratizes data access, enhancing decision-making and operational efficiency across the micromobility sector | ZAGDaily

A new book, *Bicycle City: Riding the Bike Boom to a Brighter Future* by Dan Piatkowski, advocates for car-lite cities instead of car-free ones. Drawing from his experience in Oslo, he suggests that cities can become more bike-friendly by reducing car dominance without eliminating cars entirely. This approach is more realistic for many American cities, offering a balanced way to improve transportation and community life | Planetizen

The Biden Administration's new 100% tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles raise concerns about their impact on e-bikes, which are mostly imported from China. While it's unclear if e-bikes are included in the tariffs, past trade wars have affected them. Until detailed lists are released by Customs and Border Protection, the impact on e-bike prices and availability remains uncertain | Electrek

New York City is introducing e-cargo bikes, like the cute and practical Cargi B, to reduce truck congestion and meet rising delivery demands. The new rules allow larger bikes and set speed limits to ensure safety. With congestion pricing starting soon, companies might switch to these bikes, cutting costs and pollution. Though some cyclists worry about safety, fewer trucks on the road should improve overall safety and efficiency | Vox 

Product Launches & Updates

ACTBEST Bike has launched three innovative e-bikes: the Pioneer, Ranger, and Triker. The Pioneer is the fastest moped-style bike, reaching 32MPH with an 80-mile range. The Ranger, designed for mountain biking, offers robust performance on all terrains. The Triker, an electric tricycle, is perfect for seniors with its easy step-over design and cargo capacity. All bikes come with significant discounts and free accessories during the Summer Ride Sale | Fox 40

ChargePoint has introduced the Megawatt Charging System for electric trucks, initially offering up to 1.2 MW of power, enough to power 1,000 homes. This system supports bidirectional charging and can eventually deliver up to 3 MW. It aims to enable electric trucks to match or exceed the range of combustion trucks, significantly reducing emissions in the trucking sector. The system is also designed for marine and aviation use | Electrek

NIO launched a new sub-brand, ONVO, aimed at family users with its first model, the ONVO L60 SUV-coupe, starting at $30,500. ONVO focuses on premium, family-oriented electric vehicles, leveraging NIO’s extensive R&D and technology capabilities. The L60 offers advanced safety, smart cabin features, and a 1,000 km range with an ultra-long range battery. Deliveries will begin in Q3 2024 | Electric Cars Report

The 2025 Kia Sorento Hybrid features updated styling and a refreshed interior at the same price as the 2024 model. The base EX model starts at $40,065, with all-wheel-drive EX and SX Prestige models priced at $41,865 and $48,265, respectively. New features include a curved panoramic display, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and adaptive cruise control. The powertrain remains the same, offering 227 horsepower and 34 mpg combined for all-wheel-drive | Green Car Reports

Ridehailing, Carsharing & Delivery

Federal safety regulators have ramped up investigations into autonomous and driver-assist vehicle operators, including Tesla, Ford, Waymo, Cruise, and Zoox. This shift marks a stricter oversight phase, with the NHTSA scrutinizing hundreds of crashes and requiring detailed crash reports. Publicly shared videos of erratic self-driving car behavior have also prompted further probes. This increased regulatory scrutiny aims to ensure safety claims are substantiated, highlighting potential future tensions in the industry | The Verge

Uber is launching a shuttle service in select U.S. cities this summer to ease traffic during events like concerts and sports games, and for airport trips. Partnering with local fleet providers, Uber will use vans and buses for this service. Concert shuttles start with a partnership with Live Nation in Pittsburgh, Charlotte, and Chicago. Airport shuttles will follow later. This aims to offer affordable, surge-free travel options | TechCrunch

Cruise, owned by GM, settled with a pedestrian dragged by its robo-taxi for over $8M. After the Oct. 2 incident in San Francisco, regulators ordered Cruise to halt its taxi service. The pedestrian's current condition is undisclosed. Cruise resumed testing in Arizona with human drivers onboard. Following the accident, GM cut Cruise's budget by $1B and replaced most of its management. Cruise recorded $9.2B in pre-tax losses since GM acquired it in 2016 | Fortune

NHTSA probes Amazon's Zoox after motorcyclist crashes. Two incidents involve sudden braking, prompting safety scrutiny. Autonomous Toyota SUVs involved. Zoox's unique vehicles, without pedals or wheels, also under investigation for prior safety claims | The Verge

Cruise resumes autonomous driving after a pedestrian-dragging incident in San Francisco last year. Now testing in Phoenix with safety drivers, the company aims to rebuild trust and expand gradually. Facing regulatory scrutiny and internal challenges, Cruise continues to compete in the autonomous vehicle sector, with GM still committed despite significant financial losses and leadership changes | The Verge

Investment & Deals

Honda is revving up its electric vehicle (EV) game, doubling its investment to $65 billion through 2030. The automaker plans to launch seven new EV models, establish a comprehensive supply chain, and aims for a 5% return on sales by 2030. Honda’s CEO, Toshihiro Mibe, reaffirms the company’s belief in the future of EVs | Electrek

Orange Charger, a startup led by Tesla alumnus Johnson, has raised $6.5 million to tackle EV charging in multifamily housing. The company sells smart 240-volt outlets to landlords, offering a cost-effective solution to the EV charging problem. The outlets can be activated via an app, providing about 150 miles of range overnight | TechCrunch

Kyle Vogt, Cruise LLC’s ex-CEO, has launched The Bot Company, raising $150 million. The startup, shrouded in mystery, aims to develop service or household robots. The team includes former Tesla and Cruise tech leads. Vogt’s departure from Cruise followed a series of autonomous vehicle incidents | The Robot Report.

Uber Eats is acquiring Foodpanda’s Taiwan unit for $950 million, marking a strategic expansion in Asia. The deal, set to close in 2025, will transition Foodpanda’s operations to Uber Eats, strengthening Uber’s presence in the competitive Taiwanese market | TechCrunch

Mapping startup Magic Lane has secured a multi-million dollar investment from No Such Ventures. The funds will bolster expansion, enhance urban safety and efficiency, and deepen partnerships. The company’s unique, lightweight technology supports offline navigation and doesn’t track user location data | Techzine

Amsterdam’s Magic Lane has secured €3 million from No Such Ventures for its mapping platform. The investment will enhance micromobility safety and accessibility, and expand operations. The lightweight software is suitable for e-bikes, scooters, and large vehicle fleets, competing with Google, TomTom, and Mapbox | ZAGDaily

Geely’s Zeekr raised $441 million in a U.S. IPO, marking a major Chinese listing since 2021. The funds will boost operations and connected mobility development. Despite no U.S. vehicle launches announced, Zeekr plans U.S. presence via a Waymo partnership. However, regulatory challenges loom in the U.S. and Europe | TechCrunch

Li Industries has raised $36M in Series B funding to scale its lithium-ion battery recycling technologies. The funds will construct a 10,000 ton recycling facility using Li Industries’ proprietary Direct E2E™ technology. The investment marks a significant step towards a sustainable supply chain for lithium-ion battery manufacturing | Li Industries

Cities & Policy

Tesla Inc. faces a class-action lawsuit over alleged false claims of full self-driving capabilities in its cars. The suit, filed by a 2017 Tesla buyer, accuses the company of overstating the self-driving technology. Amid federal probes into Autopilot safety, the case allows some negligence and fraud claims to proceed | Bloomberg

The US misses out on cheap Chinese EVs, popular in Europe and China, exacerbating apprehensions despite their CO2 reduction potential | Vox

Leeds’ £7.8m INFUZE study aims to design community-led, low-carbon mobility alternatives to car ownership. The five-year project, involving 400 households, will trial models like subsidized car clubs, aiming to benefit community and climate | ZAGDaily

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