Zedify's E-Cargo Bikes Turn Heads and Wheels | Oct 13th, 2023

Plus, explore the impact of the 'Week Without Driving' campaign and the EU Court's e-bike ruling.

Issue [#208] - Every week, we deliver analysis and curation of emerging mobility news - post a job listing here!

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Micromobility

Zedify's e-cargo bikes are transforming into mobile billboards, offering a unique marketing tool for clients across its 9 UK cities. The co-branded bikes not only deliver parcels but also enhance brand visibility and customer engagement. Clients like Dabba Drop are leveraging this strategy, encouraging customers to share images of the co-branded bikes on social media. This innovative approach to delivery and advertising underscores Zedify's commitment to sustainable transport and effective marketing | ZAGDaily

The 'Week Without Driving' campaign, supported by environmentalist Bill McKibben, challenges U.S. residents to go car-free for seven days, reflecting on the barriers and demanding systemic changes for better active and shared transportation. McKibben emphasizes that while transitioning to electric vehicles is a significant improvement, it's crucial to address the broader impacts of car dependency on our communities, climate, and interpersonal relationships | StreetsBlog USA

The EU Court has ruled that e-bikes are classified as bicycles, not motorbikes. This decision was made in a case involving a cyclist using an e-bike who was fatally hit by a motorist in Bruges, Belgium. The court concluded that e-bikes do not pose comparable bodily or material damage to third parties, such as motorcycles, cars, or trucks. This ruling is crucial as it determines the compensation entitlement under Belgian law for victims involved in such incidents | Road

Building a bike-friendly city involves the "Five E’s": Engineering, Equity, Education, Encouragement, and Evaluation. Infrastructure like well-connected bike lanes, bike-sharing programs for accessibility, education on safe biking, events to encourage biking, and planning for seamless bike networks are key. Cities like Minneapolis, Davis, and Provincetown have implemented these strategies, offering extensive bikeways, bike lanes, and bike racks. Active transportation plans are becoming more common, promoting human-powered mobility primarily through walking and biking | SmartCitiesDive

A growing number of Australian families are switching from cars to e-bikes, driven by high petrol prices and car maintenance costs. E-bike subscriptions and car share companies offer affordable alternatives. E-bikes are particularly popular in suburbs located 5 km to 15 km from CBDs, providing a sustainable and cost-effective solution for commuting | The Guardian

Escalating tensions mark the landscape as car users and cyclists lock horns. From British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to New York Council Member Bob Holden, politicians worldwide oppose measures promoting safer, sustainable roadways. Yet, despite the vitriolic backlash, those resisting change face an uphill battle in this ongoing culture war | StreetsBlog NYC

Product Launches & Updates

Volkswagen is set to launch an electric version of its iconic Transporter van, developed in collaboration with Ford. The electric Transporter, which will debut next year, will be built at Ford’s Otosan factory and will be available in various configurations, including a nine-seater shuttle, two-row bus, or cargo van. Leveraging Ford's EV components, the new Volkswagen electric Transporter is expected to offer a range comparable to Ford’s 236-mile range | Electrek

UK-based Helixx has unveiled a ‘Factory in a Box’ electric delivery vehicle, bridging the gap between quadricycles and microcars. The vehicle features a central driving position and a body system that ‘clicks and bonds’ together, reducing manufacturing costs. Limited production is set to begin in Q3 2024, with plans for customer-licensed factories in emerging markets | ZAGDaily

At the Japan Mobility Show, Nissan introduced the "Hyper Adventure," a new electric vehicle concept for the eco-conscious outdoor enthusiast. The futuristic SUV, resembling a low-poly spaceship, features all-wheel drive, ample interior space, and a large battery with "V2X" technology to power campsite equipment and recharge electric Jet Skis | The Verge

Kia has unveiled the EV5, its third purely electric vehicle, along with two new concepts, the EV3 and EV4, at its EV day event. The EV5 offers different specifications for each market, with a range of up to 447 miles. The EV3 and EV4 are still in the concept stage, with prices expected to range from $35,000 to $50,000 | Engadget

Ridehailing, Carsharing & Delivery

Uber offers a convenient package return service that comes with a fee. For a flat rate of $5 (or $3 for Uber One subscribers), an Uber courier will assist in returning your packages to designated locations such as post offices, UPS, or FedEx stores | The Verge

The collaboration between Waymo and Geely, aimed at developing robotaxis for the U.S. market, has made significant strides, with tangible progress becoming evident nearly two years after the initial deal was struck | TechCrunch

Uber Eats has introduced a feature enabling customers to order from multiple restaurants in one go, aimed at simplifying group orders. However, delivery fees will apply to each restaurant. The feature is available in the US, Canada, UK, and select regions in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa | The Verge

Cruise has launched paid robotaxi services in Houston, offering the public driverless rides. Initially operating from 9PM to 6AM in select neighborhoods, rides can be hailed via an app for a flat fare of $5. Despite securing permission for this expansion, Cruise faces criticism over the safety of autonomous vehicle technology | Engadget

Studies show that autonomous vehicles like Waymo's robotaxis and Cruise's robotaxis are significantly safer than human drivers, with fewer collisions and fewer faults in accidents. Despite public perception, these findings suggest a promising future for autonomous vehicles, potentially leading to legislative changes | The Last Driver License Holder

Investment & Deals

Stellantis and Samsung SDI are investing $3.2 billion in a second EV battery plant in Kokomo, Indiana, under the joint venture StarPlus Energy. The factory, set to start production in 2027, will have an annual capacity of 34 GWh. This investment is part of Stellantis' global strategy to expand its battery production capacity | TechCrunch

Amerit Fleet Solutions has partnered with ChargePoint to provide maintenance and repair services for ChargePoint's EV charging stations across the U.S. The agreement aims to ensure optimal performance of the stations and meet the needs of the growing EV market | Amerit

Jetson's $15M Seed round propels personal eVTOL aviation forward with the commercially available Jetson ONE, a lightweight eVTOL for short flights that requires no pilot's license | Tech.eu

Schaeffler proposes acquiring Vitesco, a powertrain manufacturer, for €3.64 billion. This announcement leads to a significant surge of 20.24% in Vitesco's share price, reflecting the market's positive response to the potential acquisition by Schaeffler | Tech.eu

Didi's autonomous vehicle division has secured $149 million in funding from GAC Capital and Guangzhou Development District Investment Group. The investment will accelerate the commercial use of autonomous driving technology, with a focus on research, development, and industry collaborations. This follows the commercial operation of Didi's autonomous vehicles in Guangzhou's Huadu District | TechCrunch

DriveCo, a prominent player in the automotive industry, has expanded its portfolio by acquiring DriveShare, a renowned online marketplace for classic cars. The deal, finalized on October 10, 2023, is expected to strengthen DriveCo's position in the market. However, the financial terms of the transaction remain undisclosed | Tech.eu

Cities & Policy

From 2024 onwards, individuals buying electric vehicles (EVs) will be entitled to an instant rebate of up to $7,500. Recent guidance from the Treasury Department outlines the process for car dealers to offer immediate rebates to EV buyers, eliminating the requirement to wait until tax filing to receive the financial benefit | The Verge

Elon Musk is facing a lawsuit for defying the SEC, as he chose not to appear for testimony despite being subpoenaed | The Verge

Governor Newsom has vetoed the Bicycle Safety Stop Bill (AB 122), which aimed to allow cyclists to treat stop signs as yields. The decision, despite the bill's broad support from the Assembly, Senate, and cycling community, has been met with disappointment by CalBike, citing successful similar laws in 10 other states | Calbike

Council Member Robert Holden's proposed e-bike licensing bill is criticized by Austin Celestin for missing the mark on pedestrian safety. Celestin argues that the bill could discourage e-bike use and overlooks the root issues of inadequate infrastructure and unsafe work standards. He believes the bill fails to address these fundamental problems | StreetsBlog NYC

Stockholm, Sweden's capital, will ban diesel and petrol vehicles in its city center from 2025, though hybrid vans, ambulances, and police cars are exempt. The ban aims to combat air pollution, which causes health issues among the city's residents. Electric vehicles will face no restrictions. This policy aligns Stockholm with other European cities implementing low-emission zones | Engadget

New Products, Features, and Data Points

Dott, a shared operator, has successfully refurbished 10,000 of its e-scooters, extending their anticipated lifespan to seven years, effectively doubling their previous expectancy | ZAGDaily

In a future development, Hyundai and Kia have announced that their upcoming electric vehicles (EVs) will feature Tesla's EV charging port | The Verge

Nio, a Chinese electric vehicle company, has reported a significant yearly increase in quarterly delivery numbers. This growth mirrors the broader trend in China, which saw an 87% surge in passenger electric vehicle sales in 2022. Electric vehicles now account for 25% of all cars sold in the country. Interestingly, the market share of battery EVs declined, while plug-in hybrid EVs increased their presence, reflecting evolving consumer preferences in the electric vehicle market | The New York Times

Driverless cars have been tested in San Francisco and Phoenix since 2017, with General Motors' Cruise operating 30 such vehicles in San Francisco. However, these tests have led to incidents causing city-wide inconvenience. As companies strive for safe autonomous driving, cities are evaluating whether the technology solves more problems than it creates | The New York Times

General Motors (GM) has launched "uServices," an API for software developers to create apps compatible with multiple vehicle lineups. Submitted to the Connected Vehicle Systems Alliance (COVESA), it aims to standardize software accessing vehicle systems. Alongside the open-source software protocol, uProtocol, GM is accelerating the development of Software Defined Vehicles (SDVs) | The Verge

Tesla has significantly reduced the prices of its popular Model 3 and Model Y vehicles, making them more affordable. The Model Y now starts at $48,490, and the Model 3 at $38,990. With potential tax credits, a new Model 3 could cost less than $30K, marking the cheapest new Tesla ever | Electrek

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