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Ride On! by Micromobility Industries

Ride On! by Micromobility Industries

By James Gross, Oliver Bruce and Horace Dediu

Micromobility Industries first defined and now curates the future of urban transport that comes from new electric, small vehicles. The Micromobility Podcast was started by Oliver Bruce (Principal at Blackbird Ventures) and Horace Dediu both of whom periodically do new episodes.

Ride On! is a weekly show by James Gross (CEO, Micromobility Industries/Ride Review) along with other guests that will co-host like Oliver Bruce. The focus of the show is how understanding how small electric vehicles are changing the way we move. Most interviews are with pioneers and CEOs in the Micormobility Industry
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137: The interplay between technology, politics and the social contract with Laura Fox, GM of Citi Bike

Ride On! by Micromobility IndustriesMay 18, 2022

00:00
49:18
Micromobility in Europe

Micromobility in Europe

Leading up to Micromobility Europe, James Gross talks the state of micromobility in Europe with Prabin Joel Jones, Founder and CEO of Mayten along with Augustin Friedel, Senior Manager, MHP – A Porsche Company who is sharing his personal views on the podcast.

Topics Discussed:

Shared and Owned Micromobility

Prabin takes us through the Tier and Dott merger:

  • Tier/Dott deal 
  • Background of the deal
  • What the deal is
  • Challenges in merging
  • Where can they go from here
  • What does this mean for the industry?

Augustin predicts continued consolidation in the shared mobility space, with potential mergers or acquisitions among companies like Bold, Lime, and Voi. Prabin critiques Bolt's strategy and their future as the next Uber.

Augustin also spoke about the struggles of owned ebike companies and the shift towards software-defined vehicles (SDVs) and AVs to enhance customer experience and safety.

Software Defined Vehicles, AI and Regulation

Augustin elaborates on Europe's position on AVs, noting a lag compared to the US and China due to a lack of investment and no existing tech giants.

The potential for software-defined vehicles to improve user experience and safety, but recognizing Europe's fragmented approach to AVs and mobility tech.

How government and local authorities could play a more significant role in advancing AVs and shared mobility through funding and regulatory support.

Augustin speculates about Europe's potential to catch up in the AV space by pooling resources from major automotive players and focusing on local mobility solutions.

Safety is discussed as a primary concern for micromobility users, with different European cities showing varying degrees of progress in creating safe infrastructure for cyclists and scooter users.

Despite the challenges faced by shared mobility and AVs, there's optimism about the future, with emphasis on the need for innovation, better regulation, and strategic investments.

The discussion concludes with a call for continued exploration and improvement in the mobility space, acknowledging the long journey ahead but recognizing the opportunities for impactful change.

Trends to watch:

- Software-Defined Vehicles and Artificial Intelligence

- The Role of Government in mobility investments and Regulation

- Safety and Infrastructure


Mar 18, 202401:11:16
Horace Dediu: Is Apple Done With Mobility?

Horace Dediu: Is Apple Done With Mobility?

Apple is reportedly exiting the car industry, focusing instead on software and mobility services. The company's decision is driven by the challenges and complexities of the automotive industry, including high costs, long product cycles, and difficulty in making significant contributions. Apple's future in mobility may lie in micromobility and smart accessories for vehicles.

🚗 Apple's decision to exit the car industry is not surprising given the challenges and complexities associated with building and selling cars. The company's strengths lie in software and user experience, which may be better applied to mobility services and smart accessories for vehicles. 📱 The smartphone is already a powerful tool in the car, with features like Apple CarPlay allowing users to integrate their phone's apps and functions into the vehicle's infotainment system. Apple's focus on privacy and AI could enhance the smartphone's capabilities and create unique mobility experiences. 💡 Apple's decision to pivot away from the car industry and explore opportunities in micromobility aligns with the broader trend of urbanization and the growing demand for sustainable transportation options. By focusing on smaller, more agile vehicles, Apple can address the needs of urban dwellers and contribute to the future of mobility.

Mar 06, 202456:35
The State of the Micromobility Review Market

The State of the Micromobility Review Market

On this episode of Ride On! we are talking with Tyson Roehrkasse, the Chief Reviewer at our sister company, Ride Review. Tyson has been with us now for around 4 months and comes from a tremendous background in electric bike reviews, with the majority of his time spent working with Electric Bike Review, the OG of the ebike review space. 


Highlights: - 🚲 Reviews play a crucial role in the success of small electrical vehicles, with online reviews impacting pre-orders, investments, and revenue. - 🛵 The importance of local dealers and retailers in providing better customer experience and service for e-bike buyers. - 🌐 The rise of influencers in the scooter and one-wheel market, focusing on lifestyle and fun rather than technical attributes and formal reviews.

We also use this episode to make some announcements around Ride AI, a platform covering all the technology that moves us. We have started with a newsletter, you can subscribe at http://rideai.org and very soon we will be launching a Ride AI podcast with Ed Neidemeyer who has tirelessly covered the AV and vehicle tech landscape for over 15 years now. Finally, as part of the new launch, we will also be announcing our Ride AI Conference in Costa Mesa, CA the week of November 11th that will also coincide with Micromobility America. 

So big news there is 1) a new event Ride AI highlighting all the technology that moves us with our first ever event along with Micromobility America moving from the Bay Area to Southern California. 

Why Southern California? On top of the being the largest market in the United States for small electric vehicles we also think it represents the renaissance happening in the hard tech world both as it relates to AI and mobility. SoCal is home to incredible mobility history like Hughes AirForce Base, the first west coast refineries from Rockefeller and now home to SpaceX and many startups looking to change the way we move. 

We hope you buy tickets and join us at the event, go to Micromobility.io to learn more about it.

Feb 26, 202454:15
The History of the US Bike Business with Arnold Kamler, CEO of Kent International

The History of the US Bike Business with Arnold Kamler, CEO of Kent International

Arnold Kamler, CEO of Kent International, discusses the evolution of his family's three generations of the bicycle business from its inception in 1906 to the present day. The journey includes the transition from retail to wholesale, adapting to market trends like racing and mountain bikes, overcoming challenges during the financial crisis and COVID-19, manufacturing in the US, moving it to Europe, then to Chin and then back to the US all the while remaining resilient in a dynamic industry that has now gone electric.

Timeline:

  • 🚴 1906: Arnold's grandfather arrives in the U.S. and opens up his first bike shop in the Lower East Side.
  • 🛠️ Early 1920s: The family moves the business to New Jersey.
  • 📈 1947: Post-WWII, Arnold's father shifts the business from retail to wholesale.
  • 🌎 1950s-60s: The company adapts to changing markets, beginning to import bikes from Europe and then Asia.
  • 🏁 1970s: Kent International experiences a boom with the popularity of racing/road bikes, starting in California.
  • 🚵‍♂️ 1990s: The company adapts to the mountain bike craze and faces the challenges of globalization and competition from China.
  • 💸 2008: The financial crisis impacts the business, leading to strategic pricing and inventory adjustments.
  • 🌐 2010s: Kent International focuses on e-commerce and begins exploring the electric bike market.
  • 📉 2020-21: The COVID-19 pandemic causes a surge and then a sudden drop in demand, impacting inventory management.
  • 🌿 Present Day: Kent International remains a resilient player in the bicycle industry, adapting to current market trends and consumer needs.

Other Highlights:

  • 🌍 Global Expansion: Kent International's strategic shift to importing and later manufacturing in China.
  • 🚀 Growth: Significant growth in the 1970s, reaching new heights in the 2000s with major retail partnerships.
  • 🛠️ Manufacturing Innovations: Experimentation with different bike designs and materials, adapting to changing consumer preferences.
  • 🛍️ Retail Shifts: Adjusting strategies to cope with the rise of e-commerce and direct-to-consumer sales.
  • 🚲 Industry Trends: Continuous adaptation to industry trends like electric bikes and changing consumer habits.
Jan 03, 202401:32:43
Bird Goes Bankrupt. What Company Will Blink Next?

Bird Goes Bankrupt. What Company Will Blink Next?

In an emergency podcast episode of Ride On!, James Gross and guest Prabin Joel Jones discuss the Chapter 11 bankruptcy of Bird, one of the high flying shared micromobility companies over the last 5 years.. They delve into the financial challenges and strategic missteps of Bird and other companies in the shared micromobility space, considering the broader implications for the industry. They then turn their attention to how you could build a shared micromobility company today and the opportunities that are now present as capital and some of the existing industry heads for the exit. 


Dec 22, 202301:05:52
The Story of Upway and Their Plan to Help You Sell or Buy a Used Electric Bike

The Story of Upway and Their Plan to Help You Sell or Buy a Used Electric Bike

Oliver Bruce is back for this episode!

Upway is an innovative company in the e-bike marketplace, specializing in the refurbishment and resale of electric bikes. Founded in 2021 and headquartered in Paris, France, Upway has made significant strides in the e-bike industry. Toussaint Wattinne, the CEO and co-founder of Upway, along with co-founder Stéphane Ficaja, have backgrounds in leading roles at Uber Eats, bringing their expertise in tech-driven business models to the e-bike industry. The company is notable for refurbishing and certifying a vast array of electric bikes, offering customers a wide selection of over 400 brands. As of March 2023, Upway had refurbished and certified more than 20,000 electric bikes, showcasing its commitment to providing quality and sustainable transportation options. The company has successfully expanded its services beyond France, with availability in Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, and the United States. This expansion is a testament to the growing demand for sustainable and affordable mobility solutions. Upway's approach to e-bike sales centers around a seamless ordering and delivery process, ensuring that the bikes and their batteries are of high quality and safe for use. This business model has attracted notable investors like Sequoia Capital, Global Founders Capital, Exor Seeds, and Origins, contributing to Upway's impressive total funding of $60.6 million. Highlights 🚲 Upway, a company specializing in selling refurbished electric bikes, has successfully raised over $30 million in Series B funding. 🌍 Founded in 2021 and based in Paris, Upway has expanded to Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, and the United States. 🔄 They have refurbished over 20,000 electric bikes from more than 400 brands, offering up to 35% discount compared to new bikes. 🛠️ Upway's business model focuses on rebuilding trust in the used ebike market by refurbishing bikes to a high standard and offering a one-year warranty. 📈 Despite initial skepticism, the market demand for used ebikes has been strong, with Upway receiving high customer satisfaction ratings. 🤝 Upway collaborates with over 1500 retailers and ebike dealers, using trading software for customer trade-ins and managing returns for D2C manufacturers. 📊 The business mix varies by region, with a significant portion of sourcing in Europe coming from dealers, while in the US, direct consumer purchases and manufacturer returns play a larger role.

Dec 20, 202355:21
Melvin Lian of Voro Motors discusses moving to Los Angeles after Singapore shut down his business

Melvin Lian of Voro Motors discusses moving to Los Angeles after Singapore shut down his business

Melvin Lian is the Founder and CEO of @VoroMotors . He discusses his company's journey, from its beginnings in Singapore to its current base in Los Angeles. Melvin detailed the challenges he faced in Singapore, including strict regulations that culminated in an overnight ban on scooters. Melvin also talks about the company's innovations in seated scooters, its distribution of Kaboo and Dualtron scooters, as well as its own EMOVE line of vehicles. Highlights - 🛴 Melvin Lim, founder and CEO of Voro Motors, explained how the firm began in Singapore due to the city's need for convenient and portable e-scooters. - ⚖️ He explained the various laws in Singapore that gradually constrained scooter usage, leading to an unexpected overnight ban on scooters in 2019. - 🖊️ Following this, Melvin made the decision to move operations to Los Angeles where he believed the desire for e-scooter use was increasing. - 🚀 In L.A. they primarily sold their own models, the Emove Cruiser and the Emove Touring, however consumer demand led to them also distributing dula motor scooters by other brands like Kaboo and Dualtron. - 🌍 Despite the challenges from strict regulations and sudden changes in operating environments, Voro Motors has successfully adapted and grown, serving different customer bases with varied products.

Dec 14, 202336:19
Sharing the Road with Robots w/ Ed Niedermeyer and Waymo

Sharing the Road with Robots w/ Ed Niedermeyer and Waymo

With more Americans dying in car crashes than at any point since the 1970s, the data increasingly shows robotaxis make cities safe for micromobility. Edward Niedermeyer talks to @Waymo about how AVs can help eliminate the dangers of human driving, at Micromobility America 2024. Highlights 🚗 The panel discusses the progress and ongoing evolution of road sharing in San Francisco, noting the city's move towards being more cyclist-friendly. 👥 The guests all share their individual experiences as cyclists around San Francisco, highlighting the importance of infrastructure and social norms for cyclist safety. 🌆 Each panelist emphasizes the variability of driving conditions between different cities, such as the contrast between Phoenix's car-centric suburbs and San Francisco's diverse road users. 💻 Team members from Waymo explain their roles in automating driving tasks that we often do subconsciously, such as perceiving our surroundings and planning our route.- 🤖 Edward Niedermeyer notes that robots are not entitled to anything. Instead, autonomous vehicles must respect human needs and find their space in society. 🚙 The discussion addresses the shift from Waymo operating primarily in Phoenix to its activities in San Francisco, while noting their strong track record so far. 🚴‍♂️ The panelists stress the need for autonomous vehicles to have hyper-awareness of their surroundings, particularly in relation to vulnerable road users like cyclists and pedestrians.

Dec 06, 202337:37
FDNY, CPSC, USDOT: Electric Bike/Scooter Batteries, Fires, Deliveries and Safety: What Are the Real Issues?

FDNY, CPSC, USDOT: Electric Bike/Scooter Batteries, Fires, Deliveries and Safety: What Are the Real Issues?

At Micromobility America 2023, policymakers and fire-safety experts discuss why li-ion batteries in ebikes and scooters are suddenly catching on fire and how cities can minimize the risk - Panelists include Tristan Brown, Deputy Administrator of the Pipeline Hazardous Material Safety Administration (PHMSA), Jason Levine, the Executive Director of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), and Laura Kavanagh, the FDNY Fire Commissioner. - The discussion focuses on the challenges and safety concerns related to lithium-ion batteries in micromobility vehicles, particularly in densely populated areas like New York City. - Commissioner Kavanagh highlights the unique challenges faced by the FDNY in a delivery-intensive city like New York, including issues with battery charging and swapping - Deputy Administrator Brown emphasizes that the problem extends beyond micromobility and is related to the misuse of batteries in general. - The discussion also touches on the underground economy surrounding battery charging, DIY conversion kits and the need for safety regulations and certifications. - The panelists express the importance of public safety and innovation coexisting and working towards safe solutions.

Nov 21, 202346:21
Solé Bicycles from College Fixie in the Dorm Room to their New Electric Lineup

Solé Bicycles from College Fixie in the Dorm Room to their New Electric Lineup

Fresh off Micromobility America, James Gross talks with Jimmy Standley, the Co-Founder and CEO of Solé Bicycles. Solé Bicycles was founded in 2009, with the initial concept being a class project to create affordable bicycles, specifically aiming for a price tag of $200-$300. They subsequently won an Alibaba business plan competition, and used the $25,000 grant won to create their first product. They sold their products directly to customers, offering a high-quality product at a competitive price. They used the Shopify platform early on, and utilized digital marketing strategies on platforms such as Facebook and Instagram to grow their business. The brand focuses on being relevant culturally, collaborating with various DJs and other artists for special products and promotions. Highlights 🎓 The idea for Solé Bicycles began as a college business plan project to create affordable fixed-gear bikes. 💡 Winning a business plan competition sponsored by Alibaba, they received a $25,000 grant to start their business. 🌍 Initial struggles included direct dealings with manufacturers in China and rapidly scaling the business. 📈 The company's focus on vibrant, artistic designs helped them break into the market and attract customers. 🚲 Solé Bicycles diversified into direct-to-consumer sales, online marketing, and various collaborations. 💻 Early adoption of Shopify and leveraging social media platforms like Instagram played a key role in their growth. 🛠️ Future plans include expanding into electric bikes while maintaining their core in acoustic bikes.

Nov 17, 202337:29
⚡️Swifty Scooters: Micromobility America Startup Award Winners and their newest scooter, the G500

⚡️Swifty Scooters: Micromobility America Startup Award Winners and their newest scooter, the G500

Meet Jason and Camilla Iftakhar of Swifty Scooters. Swifty Scooters is an innovative micromobility company that specilizes in foldable and portable scooters for adults. James Gross talks with Jason and Camila about winning the Startup Awards at Micromobility America 2023 and their brand new electric Scooter, the G500. You can see their Startup Awards pitch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRKQrqI04mM Highlights of the Talk 🔋 Swifty Scooters are powered by a LFP (lithium ferrophosphate) battery that can cover a range of 25km and assure the rider that these batteries won't catch fire in or around their home or work. 🏙️ These scooters are ideal for adults commuting in urban areas. 🛴 Convenient features such as adjustable handlebars, low center of gravity and a kickstand enhance maneuverability and add ons for paneers and other storage capabilities. 💦 Mudguards are added to keep the ride clean. 🎒 Thanks to their foldable design, these scooters are portable and easy to store.

Nov 07, 202356:28
Lectric and Levi Conlow: The Largest Electric Bike Company in the USA

Lectric and Levi Conlow: The Largest Electric Bike Company in the USA

At Micromobility America, James Gross and Levi Conlow, CEO of Electric Bikes, discuss the company's rapid growth to become the #1 ebike seller in the US. He also shared insights into the ebike market, Lectric's DTC strategy, plans for new products, and the need for industry regulation while also being concern with some of the current legislation being pushed.


🚲 Lectric sells over 150,000 electric vehicles annually, that is more than any US vehicle company besides Tesla

📈 Despite industry downturn, Lectric still seeing double digit growth

⚙️ Focused on high quality, low cost bikes rather than maximizing margins

🛒 Committed to DTC as it provides valuable customer feedback

🆕 Excited about upcoming partnerships and new wider wheelbase models

🤝 Sees need for more industry regulation to protect consumers

🫂 With influence comes responsibility - brands can drive positive change

Nov 03, 202323:26
Meet Ryvid's CEO, Dong Tran and their new electric motorcycle being built out of their California HQ

Meet Ryvid's CEO, Dong Tran and their new electric motorcycle being built out of their California HQ

Ryvid's CEO, Dong Tran, discusses the advancements and goals of the company in building electric motorcycles at their California HQ. He emphasizes local manufacturing, funding from the state of California, and innovative design techniques that allow for easier production and assembly. Tran also highlights the importance of shifting public perception about two-wheel transportation and the potential benefits of electric bikes in urban commuting. Highlights 📍 Ryvid is currently based in California, having moved into a new R&D facility in Orange County. They've also secured bigger facilities for ramped-up production and retail in Hawaiian Gardens. 💰 Ryvid secured a $20 million grant from the state of California, emphasizing local manufacturing and job creation. 🛠 Dong shares a unique folding metal technique for constructing their motorcycles, which simplifies the assembly process and reduces labor requirements. 🌍 While many companies are looking to offshore manufacturing, Ryvid and similar companies are reshoring, emphasizing the importance of local production and job creation in the US. 🚲 The "Anthem" motorcycle's design aims to bridge the gap between traditional motorcycles and electric bikes. The goal is to simplify operation, eliminating barriers like manual shifting. 🏙 The ideal use case for the "Anthem" is urban commuting, even though it's built to keep up with highway traffic speeds when necessary. The focus is on affordable EV transportation for shorter, urban commutes. 🏍️ The company designed its product to handle speeds of 45-75 mph safely, ensuring consumer protection. 🚘 Motorcycles can be a solution to modern infrastructure challenges, especially in congested areas like Southern California. ⚡ The trend with electric vehicles is moving towards smaller, more efficient designs, with some motorcycles achieving an efficiency of about 60 watt per mile. 🏙️ The company's motorcycle is designed to fit both urban and higher-speed road environments. 🔧 The challenge with modified e-bikes is they aren't built to handle higher speeds, leading to breakdowns and safety concerns. 📜 Licensing requirements and insurance concerns are barriers to widespread adoption, but education on safe riding practices is vital. 🚗 The integration of autonomous vehicles, like Teslas, brings both promise and uncertainty for two-wheel riders on the road. 🏍️ Dong addresses the concern of electric vehicles not recognizing motorcycles and the associated risks. ✈️ There's a comparison of trusting technology in planes vs cars, with computers communicating being potentially safer. 🛣️ Dong stresses on the importance of product design for specific road types – urban vs. highway. ⚡ The potential for geofencing capabilities in electric motorcycles to adapt to specific lane speed limits is also talked about. 🎤 James and Dong preview their participation at Micromobility America, including demos and discussions.

Oct 26, 202336:21
VMAX: Bringing the Swiss Scooter to the United States and Launching at Micromobility America

VMAX: Bringing the Swiss Scooter to the United States and Launching at Micromobility America

Offer and Giveaway Enter for your chance to win a new VMAX VX2 at RideReview.com https://ridereview.com/giveaway/win-a-xmax-vx2-pro-electric-scooter-usd1-099-value Video Summary Dani Horwitz, CEO of VMAX, discusses the company's journey and mission to provide high-quality electric scooters with a focus on safety and reliability for the US market. Highlights 🛴 Vmax Mobility, a Swiss-based company, is expanding to the US with high-quality, reliable scooters. 🏞️ The scooters are designed for a wide range of users, offering reliability and performance for everyday use. 🏆 Vmax prioritizes safety with UL certification and built-in safety features going after some of the bigger barriers to scooter adoption. 🚴‍♂️ The company aims to appeal to those considering e-bikes, providing a smaller and more eco-friendly alternative. 📊 Negative news and safety concerns are barriers to scooter adoption, which Vmax aims to address with its quality and safety measures. 📈 Studies suggest that scooters may be safer than e-bikes, challenging common safety perceptions.

Oct 23, 202325:35
Land Energy is Helping Define What You Want From an Electric Two Wheel Vehicle

Land Energy is Helping Define What You Want From an Electric Two Wheel Vehicle

Offer and Giveaway Micromobility America is right around the corner. You can get your tickets to the show here and be one of the first to ride the Land Disctrict! https://micromobility.io/events/micromobility-america Enter for your chance to win a new Lectric Lite at RideReview.com https://ridereview.com/giveaway/win-a-lectric-lite-with-commuter-bundle Summary James Gross and Scott Colosimo, the founder and CEO of Land Energy, covers the company's origin, evolution, and its focus on electric motorcycles. With his background in Cleveland and previous experience in manufacturing motorcycles, Colosimo is now planning to bring manufacturing back to Cleveland, focusing on electric bikes, which they initially started producing under Cleveland CycleWorks brand. The decision to shift to electric motorcycles came naturally, aligning with the market's readiness and the company's desire to move away from China due to IP theft and growing tensions between the two countries. Currently, Land Energy is looking at the usability of motorcycles and focusing on innovation and improvement in manufacturing and product design. The ultimate question comes down to what Scott and his team are building, with 4 modes the current vehicle can be everything from an ebike to a moped to a performance motorcycle. This creates challenges and questions around regulation, technology and what is the safest for the driver. Emoji Summary 🏍 Scott started Cleveland CycleWorks to make affordable, customizable motorcycles in 2009 🇨🇳 He initially manufactured in China due to availability of eager young partners and 24/7 work ethic during manufacturing boom 🦠 COVID caused supply chain issues, so he pivoted to electric vehicles made in the US under Land Energy ⚡ Land Energy makes the District, an electric vehicle platform with software-defined ride modes from bicycle to motorcycle 🤖 The flexible platform introduces new riders safely and rethinks mobility between categories defined by outdated laws 🚦 Cities and laws aren't keeping pace with new electric mobility, creating confusion Scott aims to be part of the regulatory solution 💰 After bootstrapping, Land raised a $7M Series A to scale manufacturing of their connected battery platform 🛵 Scott wants to bend the metal to balance innovation and safety for new electric mobility platforms

Oct 17, 202347:28
Exclusive: Launch of the P1 from Infinite Machine

Exclusive: Launch of the P1 from Infinite Machine

Offer and Giveaway Micromobility America is right around the corner. You can get your tickets to the show here and be one of the first to ride the P1! https://micromobility.io/events/micromobility-america Enter for your chance to win a new Lectric Lite at RideReview.com https://ridereview.com/giveaway/win-a-lectric-lite-with-commuter-bundle Summary Today we have the exclusive launch of the P1 from Joseph and Eddie Cohen. The P1 is a new electric moped designed by start-up Infinite Machine to be fast, fun, and practical for urban transportation. It has a powerful motor, removable batteries, and tech features like wireless CarPlay. With its striking sculptural design, the P1 aims to make electric vehicles inspiring. Preorders are now open, with priority delivery for the first 100 units. The founders see it as part of their mission to reimagine vehicles and reduce car dependence in cities. Emoji Bullets 🙂 Launch of the P1 electric moped from Infinite Machine 🛵 Brothers Joseph and Eddie Cohen started Infinite Machine to create the perfect electric city vehicle 📱 P1 has a fast 6KW motor, removable batteries, carplay, and a modular design 🚘 Inspired by automotive brands to create a beautiful, sculptural vehicle 💨 Accelerates quickly with a turbo boost button - designed to make you smile 🔋 Removable batteries allow charging without needing garage 🎧 Built-in speakers and navigation audio for safety 💵 $10,000 MSRP - preorders open today 🏍 First 100 units get priority delivery for $5,000 deposit 👪 Owners become part of an exclusive club with perks and membership 🚲 Different from e-bikes: faster, street legal, and can be left locked outside 🔋 UL certification on batteries for safety 🛣 Able to keep up with cars on roads up to 55mph 🎨 Distinctive anodized metal finish in silver or black 🌎 Plans to expand with more vehicles and global showrooms 🚘 Mission is to rethink vehicles and reduce cars for better cities

Oct 14, 202335:12
The Future of Delivery is with Robots

The Future of Delivery is with Robots

Offers and Giveaways

Micromobility America is right around the corner. You can get your tickets to the show here: https://micromobility.io/events/micromobility-america Enter for your chance to win a new Lectric Lite at RideReview.com https://ridereview.com/giveaway/win-a-lectric-lite-with-commuter-bundle Summary James Gross talked with Ain McKendrick the Founder and CEO of Faction about how the future of delivery is evolving with Faction, offering new opportunities and advancements in the industry. Faction provides driverless delivery vehicles for last mile logistics by combining autonomous technology with remote human assistance. In the conversation, Ain discusses Faction's focus on short 3-5 mile repetitive delivery routes for commercial users like bakeries and retailers. He explains how Faction works with light electric vehicle OEMs to incorporate their driverless tech on the production line. McKendrick notes they have operated legally in states with supportive regulations like Nevada, Arizona, Texas. Faction recently raised an extension funding round from TDK Ventures to help scale their delivery fleets in 2024, with plans to partner with national retailers and food brands. Faction won Micromobility America's Riders Choice Award in 2023 for autonomy and robotics. Highlights 🚚 Faction provides driverless delivery vehicles combining autonomy and remote human assistance 📦 Focus on short 3-5 mile repetitive last mile logistics routes for commercial users 🤝 Works with light electric vehicle OEMs to incorporate driverless tech 🚦 Has operated legally in states with supportive regulations 💰 Raised extension round from TDK Ventures to scale fleets in 2024 🤝 Looking to partner with national retailers and food brands 🏆 Won Micromobility America's Riders Choice Award in 2023

Oct 12, 202341:07
Climate Week has no micro, Bike Buses instead of Car Lines and Will We Start to See Front Loading Cargo Electric Bikes in the USA?

Climate Week has no micro, Bike Buses instead of Car Lines and Will We Start to See Front Loading Cargo Electric Bikes in the USA?

Win a Tenways CGO 600 Pro ($1,900 value)! Called "The Lightweight Champion" of electric bikes, the Tenways CGO600 Pro doesn't disappoint. https://ridereview.com/giveaway/tenways-ggo-600-pro-usd1-900-value

Chapters: 00:00- 9:55 Announcements and Giveaways 9:56 - 19:17Travel Patterns Are Changing19:18 - 21:52 Electric Share is the only Share 21:53 - 24:51The Dreaded Car Pickup Line 24:52 - 32:00 Vehicle Launches 32:00 - 47:34 Meet Sartee Bikes CEO

Notes - 🎙️ Hosts: James Gross and Julia Thayne discuss their experiences at the recent Climate Week in New York, shedding light on the intersection of climate change, technology, finance, and micromobility. - 🌱 NYC Climate Week Insights: Despite missing key policymakers, the event was characterized by enthusiasm and a high level of participation. Julia highlighted a notable shift in focus towards tech and finance as vital components in climate transition, emphasizing their increasing role and presence in discussions and initiatives. - 🚲 Micromobility Underrepresentation: Julia noted a lack of representation and underestimation of micromobility solutions in climate discussions, suggesting a need for better quantification and communication of the impact of micromobility on climate change. - 📈 Shift in Travel Patterns: Studies from The Brookings Institute and Bloomberg showed a shift in Americans' travel patterns, with a significant increase in bike trips and a growing interest in electric bikes, underscoring the necessity for cities to adapt transportation options to people's evolving needs. - 🚴 Bike Buses for Schools: Highlighting the current inefficient and wasteful car-centric school commute patterns, James discusses the emergence of "bike buses" as a potential solution to mitigate congestion and promote sustainability. Additional Information - E-Bike Popularity in Bike Shares: The rising preference for electric bikes in bike share programs in various cities was discussed, with speculation on how this preference could influence the cost and operational strategies of these programs. Launch Highlights 🛵 Honda's Moto Compacto: Honda has revived its iconic 80s Moto Comao as an all-electric vehicle. This vehicle is designed for easy storage and is targeted at urban environments. Test rides are being held until November, reflecting some concerns from Honda about the vehicle's reception. 🚲 Mini’s Angel Mobility E-Bike: Mini has released a sleek e-bike limited to 1959 units, marking the year Mini was founded. It reflects Mini’s entry into the micromobility space and seems to be a test to gauge market interest. 🚨 Product Recall: TreK Alant+ 7 faces a recall due to a serious brake issue. This recall highlights some challenges traditional bike makers face in the e-bike market. Bo's Scooter Headed for Production: Bo has announced the production and delivery timeline for its highly anticipated scooters. The first units are expected early next year, with deliveries commencing in early 2024. 🌟 Celebrity Influence: Ryan Reynolds' endorsement of the Arc electric motorcycle has boosted interest in electric bikes. Interview with Sartee Electric Bikes Founder and CEO, Jared Sartee 🚴 Sartee Bikes' Front-loading Cargo Bikes: Jared Sartee discussed the advantages of front-loading cargo bikes and their potential to replace car trips.The focus is on modularity, repairability, and providing a fun ride. Manufacturing is done in Canada, aligning with the company’s principles of customer connection and adaptability. 🤔 Consumer Perceptions: The episode delves into the consumer perceptions surrounding front-loading and back-loading cargo bikes. It emphasizes the need for more hands-on experiences for consumers to understand the benefits and feel comfortable with new formats of micro-mobility vehicles.

Oct 01, 202347:34
Laura Kavanagh, Commissioner of the NYC Fire Department on how they are fighting battery fires

Laura Kavanagh, Commissioner of the NYC Fire Department on how they are fighting battery fires

Laura Kavanagh was appointed Fire Commissioner by Mayor Eric Adams in October 2022. As Fire Commissioner, Kavanagh oversees the day-to-day operations of the largest fire department in the country, with more than 17,000 employees and a $2 billion budget. We're excited to have Laura Kavanagh on the show today to talk specifically about battery fires, where according to the FDNY, batteries have led to 180 fires (now 187) and tragically 14 people have died so far this year in NYC. Summary
Commissioner Laura Kavanagh of the NYC Fire Department discusses her rise through the ranks and her leadership in handling various emergencies. The focus of the conversation centers on the rising incidence of battery fires in the city, attributed to small electric vehicles like e-bikes, used predominantly by delivery workers. There is concern about the modifications and underground markets around these devices, emphasizing the need for regulation, inspection, and collaboration with other departments and agencies to address the immediate and future challenges presented by these battery fires.
Highlights

  •  Laura Kavanagh, the 34th commissioner of the NYC Fire Department, has held various roles and oversaw the department’s response to several emergencies, including the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic and the Ebola outbreak in 2015.
  •  The FDNY reports a substantial rise in battery fires, recording 220 in 2022, up from 30 in 2019, and has noted the prevalence of these fires in small electric vehicles like e-bikes, scooters, and mopeds.
  •  Much attention is given to delivery workers as they are heavily reliant on these devices, which are often modified or altered to enhance performance or extend battery life, contributing to the risks and frequency of fires.
  •  Numerous issues arise from modifications, DIY conversion kits, and unregulated devices entering the market, creating unsafe conditions and usage that go beyond the original intended design of these electric vehicles.
  •  The challenge of inspecting and regulating these devices is intensified by the prevalence of underground markets and the inability to inspect private apartments where unsafe charging and alterations often occur.
  •  The FDNY is collaborating with the Department of Homeland Security and other agencies to examine and address the public safety impacts, with considerations on future innovations, recycling, and regulations on electrification.
  •  While government agencies are receptive and showing progress, Kavanagh emphasizes the urgency in expediting regulations and legislative actions to address the growing and immediate risks associated with battery fires in small electric vehicles.
Sep 22, 202335:51
News: Bloomberg shows how micro is the mobility solution for climate and more | Interview: Oonee CEO Shabazz Stuart

News: Bloomberg shows how micro is the mobility solution for climate and more | Interview: Oonee CEO Shabazz Stuart

Win a Tenways CGO 600 Pro ($1,900 value)! Called "The Lightweight Champion" of electric bikes, the Tenways CGO600 Pro doesn't disappoint. Head on over to ridereview.com for your chance to win. https://ridereview.com/giveaway/win-a... We’re incredibly excited to introduce the first round of speakers joining us at Micromobility America in the SF Bay Area this October! Manufacturers, operators, brands, policymakers, investors, media—and this is just the start. https://micromobility.io/events/micro... Chapters: 00:00 - 3:10 Announcements and giveaways 3:11 - 7:47 Bloomberg says micro is making all the difference with climate 7:48 - 14:29 Utah Clean Air Partnership successful ebike voucher program and the failure of others 14:30 - 16:02 LATimes stands up for electric bikes 16:03 - 20:57 Encinitas update on state of emergency around Electric Bikes 20:58 Shabazz Stuart, Founder and CEO of Oonee According to Bloomberg NEF, there are nearly 300M electric two- and three-wheelers on the road worldwide, and collectively, they displace about 4x as much oil demand as the entire global fleet of electric cars. The EV revolution has arrived… on two/three wheels. Electric bike vouchers are increasing in popularity across the U.S. In Utah, the Utah Clean Air Partnership is working with Magnum Bikes to provide eligible residents with vouchers of up $1,200. The voucher program offers up to $800 off Magnum e-bikes and $1,200 for the cargo e-bike models. For income-qualified applicants, the voucher amount goes up to $1,000 and $1,400 for cargo e-bikes. While the New York Times continues to bash ebikes as a menace to public safety at every turn, the LA Times is more discerning about the real problems affecting our urban road networks: “The focus on young ebike riders’ safety can obscure the bigger crisis: People driving cars and trucks are killing more people on our roads.” How do scooter and bike sharers gain permission to operate in a given locale? Many municipalities base their decision, in part, on lucrative revenue sharing requirements, a practice that some experts say is creating a “negative cycle” for both operators and cities. → need standardized agreements We have Shabazz Stuart, Founder and CEO of Oonee Oonee builds, finances, and operates automated bike parking infrastructure that humanizes public spaces. It is driven on changing the mobility game in cities by building a network of smart, modular, pods that provide secure parking for bikes and scooters on the interior while providing public space amenities on the exterior.

Sep 18, 202337:51
NYC enforces traffic cameras but falls down on their eBike replacement project | New vehicle launches | Interview with Patrick Wirth at Baloise Group

NYC enforces traffic cameras but falls down on their eBike replacement project | New vehicle launches | Interview with Patrick Wirth at Baloise Group

We’re incredibly excited to introduce the first round of speakers joining us at Micromobility America in the SF Bay Area this October! Manufacturers, operators, brands, policymakers, investors, media—and this is just the start. https://micromobility.io/events/micromobility-america We are giving away some GOFLUO gear. Leave a comment here and head on over to ridereview.com for your chance to win. https://ridereview.com/giveaway/win-a-gofluo-bodyflower-and-bag Chapters: 00:00 - 5:20 Announcements and giveaways 5:21 - 8:59 NYC enforces traffic cameras 9:00 - 14:18 NYC Equitable Commute Project off to slow start 14:19 - 17:18 Lavoie buys Vanmoof 17:19 - 19:52 Kenya shipping electric motorcycles at scale 19:53 - 31:58 Vehicle Launches! 31:59 Interview with Patrick Wirth at Baloise Group NYC has speed cameras cranking Here’s a novel idea for reducing car deaths: enforce traffic laws. One year after introducing its new 24/7 automatic traffic ticketing system, New York City speed violations have reportedly dropped by 30%. Small mode shift leads to big gains A good argument for why motorists should want to see more ebikes on the road: “Studies have shown that a mere 10% shift from car drivers to bike riders has resulted in a 40% reduction in traffic congestion. Even if you never touch an ebike, you would benefit from supporting their increased use.” Lavoie buys Vanmoof Cult ebike brand VanMoof has been bought out of bankruptcy by Lavoie, a company that makes high-end scooters based on McLaren Applied’s Formula 1 technology. VanMoof’s bankruptcy earlier this summer had left its more than 190,000 riders in limbo. NYC Equitable Commute Project can't get off the ground New York City’s ebike trade-in program—designed to help delivery workers swap low-quality, fire-prone bikes for safer, industry-certified models—is off to a rocky start. Since July, only three bikes have been traded in. Experts say the city’s 60,000+ delivery workers aren’t participating due to language barriers, cost of the trade-ins, and a slow and somewhat difficult approval process. Kenya is making the US programs look silly. Kenya has revealed the details of its ambitious new plan to encourage electric motorbikes adoption through a manufacturing partnership with the African startup Spiro. “[President] Ruto said Kenya currently had 1,000 of the new bikes, with another 10,000 on their way, and that Spiro had established a plant with the capacity to assemble 1,000 of the vehicles daily.” Vehicle Launches The new V13 Challenger from Chinese manufacturer InMotion is a thrilling new electric unicycle that reaches a staggering top speed of 87 mph (140 kph), powered by a 4,500W motor with a maximum torque of 300 Nm. Speaking of Specialized, the company just launched the new Globe Haul LT electric cargo bike, a heavy duty hauler equipped with a throttle and a top speed of 28 mph (45 kph). The $3,500 bike has a carrying capacity of 176 lbs (80kg), a 700W hub motor equipped with a torque sensor, and a UL-listed 772 Wh batter with a range of up to 90 miles (96 km). Cannondale’s Cargowagen and Wonderwagen Neo are two newest additions on the electric cargo bike scene. The Cargowagen is a longtail that can haul up to 80kg, while the Wonderwagen has a giant front bay that can carry 100 kg, plus another 27kg on the rear rack. Both models are powered by capable Bosch motors, giving them a top speed of 28 mph (45 kph). Interview with Patrick Wirth Today we have Patrick Wirth on the show. Patrick is the VP of Mobility at Baloise Group. Baloise, is a European insurance company headquartered in Basel, Switzerland. Founded in 1863, the company offers a range of insurance and pension solutions, as well as investment products. VC. It is very cool to see an insurance company get into VC and take a different approach to not only investing but also the ongoing relationship these companies might have with an insurance company.

Sep 12, 202301:01:51
Julie Vets of GOFLUO, no more ugly yellow vests!

Julie Vets of GOFLUO, no more ugly yellow vests!

We are doing a GOFLUO giveaway, leave a comment here and enter to win at Ride Review: https://ridereview.com/giveaway/win-a-gofluo-bodyflower-and-bag Meet Julie Vets, Founder and CEO of GOLUO, https://gofluo.com/, and learn how she is inventing the category of high visibility gear for everyone that is moving. You can also see Julie present at Micromobility Europe 2023: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7br1CqOz3EU&t=43s

Sep 06, 202332:21
Wombi Brings Subscription Cargo Ebikes to the USA

Wombi Brings Subscription Cargo Ebikes to the USA

James Gross interviews entrepreneur Dan Carr about the U.S. launch of Wombi, an all-inclusive electric cargo bike subscription, in Culver City and West LA: https://wombi.us/ Wombi aims to encourage people in Los Angeles to drive less, be more active, and enjoy their city. They offer electric cargo bikes as an alternative to cars, addressing issues like traffic, social isolation, and fluctuating gas prices. Wombi started in Australia as Lug+Carrie and has a history of helping people find car alternatives. Customers can pick a Wombi bike that suits their lifestyle, customize it with accessories, and enjoy free delivery. The subscription includes full bike maintenance, insurance, and the flexibility to adapt to changing needs, such as adding child seats or pet carriers. There are two ebikes to choose from, the Tern Quick Haul and Tern GSD, with over 20 accessories. Chapters: 00:00 - 03:50 Why subscription + cargo ebikes is a game-changer 03:50 - 07:12 Backstory of the brand in Australia (Lug+Carrie) 07:12 - 13:45 Wombi's launch in SoCal 13:45 - 18:12 Lowering the barrier to entry with subscription 18:12 - 20:55 Why Wombi uses ebikes from Tern 20:55 - 23:03 Improvements in theft prevention 23:03 - 30:46 Incentives for families, schools, cities 30:46 - 35:09 Future growth plans

Aug 30, 202335:08
Onewheel Interview with Founder and CEO Kyle Doerksen, Vehicle Launches and more!

Onewheel Interview with Founder and CEO Kyle Doerksen, Vehicle Launches and more!

Win a lectric XP 3.0, comment here and enter the contest here: https://ridereview.com/giveaway/lectric-xp-3-0-giveaway-

We announced the Ride Expo in the San Francisco Bay Area on October 20th! Register now for a $10 ticket. https://lu.ma/yvv4158o


Wondering where you can and can’t drive your new low-speed electric vehicle? GEM’s new app shows every road in the U.S. with posted speed limits of 35 mph (56 km/h) or lower. Here is our interview with their CEO. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FtqX6s1CyXg

NABSA just released its fourth annual Shared Micromobility State of the Industry Report for North America, which finds that ridership in North America has returned to pre-pandemic levels with 157 million trips taken in 2022. 401 cities = all-time high.

James' interview with Ed Niedermeyer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HTfjKCoijw

Vehicle Launches

Bengaluru-based Ola Electric is coming out with four new electric motorbikes, with sales and deliveries starting in a year. Among the latest additions is the S1-X, which the company claims will be one of the most affordable mopeds in India at $1,085.

… on the other end of Ola’s new product spectrum is the outlandishly edgy Diamondhead. While little is currently known about the futuristic supersport’s performance, based on the teaser video, internet sleuths have deduced the bike is a center-hub steered machine.

Trek just announced the Ponto Go, its first moped-style electric utility bike, through its Electra brand. The Ponto Go is outfitted with a long rear rack, an extended bench seat with foot pegs for a second rider, pedal forward geometry, and high rise handlebars. The tandem vehicle can reach a top speed of 26 mph (42 kph) with pedal assist and has a max range of 60 miles (96 km).

Indian manufacturer Mahindra’s new electric rickshaw, the e-Alfa Super, is a modern utility vehicle with 59 miles (95 km) of range on a single charge. (But if you do run out of juice, the vehicle comes with access to 10,000 charging stations across India). Mahindra claims the new three-wheeler is “best-in-class” for its safety and comfort features.

Electric trikes truly come in all shapes in sizes. Take, for example, the new Vook, which looks likes a cross of a gokart and beach cruiser with its low center of gravity and swept-back handelbars. The tiny vehicle, which just launched on Indiegogo, promises a remarkable top speed of 40 mph (64 kph).

We have Kyle Doerksen on Ride On! Founder and CEO of Onewheel https://onewheel.com/


Aug 21, 202343:53
Why urbanists are wrong about AVs w/ Tesla critic Ed Niedermeyer

Why urbanists are wrong about AVs w/ Tesla critic Ed Niedermeyer

Jame Gross interviews Edward Niedermeyer, the author of Ludicrous: The Unvarnished Story of Tesla Motors. Nathan Robinson has suggested that there is "probably no greater expert on the career of Elon Musk and the development of Tesla [than Niedermeyer]." His insights regarding Tesla Autopilot in particular have been cited repeatedly. Chapters: 00:00 - 03:54 CPUC ruling on paid operations on L4 AVs in San Francisco 03:55 - 07:29 Will L4 AVs lead to much less traffic violence? 07:30 - 09:09 Teslas are not L4 AVs 09:10 - 21:03 Are urbanists are wrong about L4 AVs? 21:04 - 27:56 The L4 AV tech is very real and should push automakers to do more 27:57 - 35:50 Demos of different vision technology, regulation and safety marketing 35:51 - 38:10 AV technology is how we get out of car monopoly hell In August 2023, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) approved permits for Cruise and Waymo to charge fares for passenger service in San Francisco. The CPUC agreement for AVs to operate in San Francisco includes a number of safety and operational requirements that the companies must meet. These requirements include: The AVs must be equipped with a variety of sensors and cameras to detect and avoid obstacles. The AVs must be able to operate in a variety of weather conditions. The AVs must have a safety driver on board who can take control of the vehicle if necessary. The AVs must be operated in a safe and responsible manner. The approval of the CPUC agreement is a major milestone for the development and deployment of AVs in San Francisco. It is the first time that AVs have been allowed to operate without a safety driver on board in a major U.S. city. The agreement is expected to help to accelerate the development and commercialization of AVs, and it could lead to the widespread deployment of AVs in San Francisco and other cities in the future.

Aug 17, 202338:09
Ride On! #25: Meet the CEO of Waev: Keith Simon, win a Lectric Bike and more!

Ride On! #25: Meet the CEO of Waev: Keith Simon, win a Lectric Bike and more!

Win a lectric XP 3.0, enter the contest here: https://ridereview.com/giveaway/lectric-xp-3-0-giveaway- We announced the Ride Expo in the San Francisco Bay Area on October 20th! Register now for a $10 ticket. https://lu.ma/yvv4158o Chapters: 00:00 Intro 03:40 More consolidation coming to the world of shared micromobility? 08:46 Trek or Giant to buy Vanmoof? 11:23 How journalists are covering traffic violence against ebike riders 17:15 Mayor of Boston offering free bike lessons for kids 18:30 Vehicle Launches 21:42 Meet Keith Simon from Waev and new GEM line! Show notes: Is more consolidation coming to the world of shared micromobility? Rumor has it that two of Europe’s largest electric scooter and bike operators, Tier and Voi, are exploring the possibility of a merger. https://www.handelsblatt.com/unternehmen/handel-konsumgueter/tier-und-voi-e-scooter-marktfuehrer-spricht-mit-wettbewerber-ueber-fusion/29285566.html Relatedly, industry analyst Augustin Friedel offers a strong testimony that the shared market is still growing rapidly. (NYC, Paris) https://www.linkedin.com/posts/friedel_sharedmobility-micromobility-bikes-activity-7093903247832145920-n67y?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop As part of her effort to make Boston one of the top U.S. cities for raising children, Mayor Michelle Wu is providing free bike lessons for children between the ages of four and thirteen, calling cycling as a “crucial life skill.” 300 students, 15 schools. How much does this cost? https://wbznewsradio.iheart.com/content/2023-07-19-boston-mayor-wu-announces-free-citywide-bike-riding-lessons-for-kids Interesting eBike deals - VanMoof is accepting suitors (Trek, Giant, KKR). James and Micah discuss NYT victim blaming: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5ItDY0rIb4 Vehicle Launches Kawasaki appears to have begun production on its first two electric motorcycles, the Ninja e-1 and the Z e-1. Last year, the company announced the vehicles’ development, and while it appears that some of the specs for the production bikes will be slightly different than anticipated, Kawasaki is still set to become the first large motorcycle manufacturer in Japan to go electric. https://electrek.co/2023/08/02/kawasaki-says-its-first-electric-motorcycles-are-ready/ Crowdfunding for the new WAU CYBER “Unleash the Beast” 5000W ebike is still live on Indiegogo for one more day. This self-proclaimed “Sur-Ron Killer” has an ultra sleek body and tops out at 55 mph - currently, 23 of the early bird models remain to be claimed. https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/wau-cyber-unleash-the-beast-5000w-powerhouse-ebike#/updates/all Aventon is launching the Soltera.2, a new, Class 2 ebike with 46 miles (74km) of range, a removable throttle, and pedal assist, to name a few of its features. Building upon the lightweight aluminum frame of the original Soltera, the new model aims to bring the latest technology at an affordable price. https://www.aventon.com/products/soltera-2-ebike?variant=42472444920003 Lámpago’s new electric trike design is certain to turn heads on your morning commute. The Turkish three-wheeler has two seats, a 25-45 mile (40-72km) range, and a top speed of 28mph (45kph). Did we mention that, because it lacks a roof, it is technically classified as a moped and requires a helmet to drive? https://lampago.co/en We have Keith Simon from Waev on Ride On!

Aug 12, 202338:38
Pod with Micah Toll: The New York Times attacks ebike riders and misses the story

Pod with Micah Toll: The New York Times attacks ebike riders and misses the story

James Gross and Micah Toll discuss Micah's latest article on Electrek:

The 'New York Times' attacks e-bikes while ignoring the real danger all around us 

The New York Times published a pair of articles this weekend highlighting the rising number of deaths of cyclists riding electric bikes. However, in one of the most impressive feats of victim-blaming I’ve seen from the publication in some time, the NYT lays the onus on e-bikes instead of on the things killing their law abiding riders: cars.

By all accounts, the e-bike rider was correctly and legally using the roadway in the only way he could. In fact, according to eye-witnesses of the car crash that killed the e-bike rider, he “did everything right,” including signaling his turn. 

The article goes on to detail how just three days later another teenage e-bike rider was pulled out from under a BMW – thankfully still alive – and taken to the same emergency room where the previous boy had been pronounced dead. Apparent praise is lauded on Encinitas for soon afterward declaring “a state of emergency for e-bikes,” which is a bit like saying we could just solve the school shootings crisis if kids would stop walking into all of those damn bullets.


Two other points that the NYT didn't do research on: 


El Camino is the most dangerous road in Encinitas.

We also had a pedestrian fatality this year of a young man at another area of high crash count in Encinitas.


The Encinitas City Council in 2020 voted out speed cameras on El Camino Real, which is one of the biggest deterrents to speeding and distracted driving. It also set a terrible precedent that we don't believe in enforcing traffic laws and using technology to help create a consistent standard that we won't tolerate dangerous and illegal driving in our city.  https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/communities/north-county/encinitas/story/2020-05-10/encinitas-pulls-the-plug-on-red-light-camera-program 


This quote should have led the NYT piece with some more research: “Nothing has changed, and hundreds of people are still getting these ridiculous fines,” Mosca said, referring to the $490 court-set cost of a ticket.


Credit to Mayor Kranz and Councilmember Hinze for both voting against taking out the speeding/RL cameras. 


Finally, a 56 year old woman was killed and a 32 old man is in critical condition from car violence while on bikes this week in San Diego. One was hit by a Chevy Silverago and the other a F-150. Can you guess which two cars are responsible for killing the most Americans every year? Imagine if we looked to regulate safety for those vehicles? I know that is not going to happen anytime soon, in the meantime we can make our streets safer through slower speeds, traffic enforcement and safety education for riders (and drivers) and not through victim blaming. https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/e-biker-dies-after-collision-with-pickup-in-gaslamp-quarter-san-diego-police/3272854/ 


Micah on Electrek: https://electrek.co/author/micahltoll/

Micah's ebike school channel: https://www.youtube.com/@EbikeSchool


Aug 10, 202320:32
Ride On! #24: Linus' new electric bikes | California wants an ebike license for kids | Lyft bails

Ride On! #24: Linus' new electric bikes | California wants an ebike license for kids | Lyft bails

We announced the Ride Expo in the San Francisco Bay Area on October 20th! Register now for a $5 ticket. https://lu.ma/yvv4158o Ride On! is now in Audio! Subscribe to Ride On!: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ride-on-by-micromobility-industries/id1434457337 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1G2fPNzUw5mo5asaCoH7O0 Chapters: 00:00 Intro 02:13 California announces new ebike license bill 10:08 Is Lyft quitting bike share? 18:58 Bolt still growing 22:54 Craig Mod essay on riding an ebike 25:33 Vehicle Launches 31:38 Meet Adam McDermott, CEO of Linus Bikes and their new electric bike line! Show Notes: eBike Bill Some state lawmakers in California want to require unlicensed ebike users to get a special “ebike license” (online test + written test) and undergo a training program (with DMV and State Highway Patrol). The bill is targeted at teenagers who do not have a regular driver’s license. It would also ban children under the age of 12 from riding ebikes. Assembly Member Tasha Boerner explained that the creation of a driver’s license for previously unlicensed e-bike riders is a matter of safety (represents Encinitas) Lyft Gives Up Lyft (“a taxi company” - what a dig!) is looking to quit bike- and scooter-sharing and seeking buyers. Despite being the largest bike-share operator in North America, Lyft’s CEO recently said the company isn’t doing a good enough job directing bikeshare riders to taxi trips.(Who writes shit in blog posts anymore?) “If what is in that WSJ story is true,” said David Zipper, a Visiting Fellow at Harvard Kennedy School who studies urban mobility, “it suggests there may be a conflict of interest that is irreconcilable between bikeshare and ridehail.” Bolt still growing Estonian TNC Bolt is beefing up its scooter fleet, increasing its spending on new vehicles by 10x between 2020 and 2022. 200k vehicles in 200 cities. Avg. life of vehicle is 1 year(!). Spent 28% of revenues on maintenance of rental vehicles. Made most of its money in Europe (1B), but interestingly, Africa was its second largest market (226.5M). Spent 5% of revenues on payment processing (WTH?!) Electric Bike, Stupid Love of My Life, Great essay by Craig Mod https://craigmod.com/essays/electric_bikes/ French startup La Rochelle just released a new catamaran called the IZIBoat, which is designed to collapse down and be towed by an ebike. Meet the Hupi: a Finnish-designed, solar powered camper that’s towable by an electric bike. Not only can this camper power itself, the solar cells can also be used to recharge an ebike. The Barbie film made its blockbuster debut this past weekend, and it included a surprise cameo from Super73. Speaking of moto-inspired ebikes, QuietKat just revealed their new Lynx ebike, which includes two speed settings and a powerful 1000 watt rear hub motor. The Iris etrike is a three-wheeled enclosed EV designed by a legacy inventor and tested by astronauts. Check out inventor Grant Sinclair’s interview explaining this vehicle’s vetted design process, before its upcoming release. UBCO just launched their first rental hub in Portland, Oregon, which allows riders to try out vehicles through various rental plans. My Boo just released their new My Akorta electric mountain bike, which includes front suspension, a high-performing Shimano EP8 motor, and a frame made entirely of bamboo.

Meet Linus Bikes Co-Founder Adam McDermott founded Linus Bike. The company is based in Venice, California. Check out their 2 new electric bike modes at: https://www.linusbike.com/

Jul 30, 202349:35
Small vehicles for the military? Paris fat shames cars | Meet the McLaren of Scooters

Small vehicles for the military? Paris fat shames cars | Meet the McLaren of Scooters

We are giving away a Vela 2, comment on this video, subscribe and enter your email here: https://ridereview.com/giveaway/vela-2-giveway We announced the Ride Expo in the San Francisco Bay Area on October 20th! Register now for a $5 ticket. https://lu.ma/yvv4158o Ride On! is now in Audio! Subscribe to Ride On!: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ride-on-by-micromobility-industries/id1434457337 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1G2fPNzUw5mo5asaCoH7O0 Chapters: 00:00 Intro 01:17 Vela 2 giveaway, Ride On! on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, Ride Expo date announced 05:45 Vanmoof Updates 10:40 City of London, bikes are bigger than cars 12:24 Prince William is scooting 14:55 Law says auto-besity is out of control 17:13 Small vehicles for the military? 24:00 Vehicle Launches (Tesla, Velotric and more) 29:13 Meet Eliott Wertheimer, CEO and Founder of LAVOIE, part of McLaren Applied Biking is taking over in London New data from the City of London reveals an important mobility milestone for the U.K. capital - bicycles now represent a larger portion of city traffic than cars. Prince William has bought an electric scooter to travel around the Windsor estate Paris City Hall signed a new measure that will charge larger/heavier vehicles a higher fee for city parking. The law is aimed at discouraging so-called “auto-besity” and incentivizing the use of smaller vehicles. Officials say the number of SUVs in the city has increased by 60% over the last four years and they now make up 15% of the 1.15m private vehicles parked in Paris every evening. British soldiers may adopt electric bikes fitted with rocket launchers Military contracts will be a big win for micromobility companies, wen? Vehicle Launches Tesla’s interest in ebikes is all speculative for now, but their Cyber Truck-inspired kids’ four wheeler is very real and arguably much cooler. The tiny quad is now going on sale in China after selling out in the U.S. French tech company Cixi recently showed off their new chainless drive system through a collaboration with LOOK bikes. Cixi says the drive system can propel a vehicle up to 74.5 mph, so it’s no surprise that Cixi plans to use the system for higher-speed vehicles such as motorcycles too. Borealis also just released their first electric mountain bike, the Keystone, which comes with a full suspension frame as well as 5” fat tires that are capable of handling just about any bump is divot with ease. Velotric has revealed their Go 1 compact utility bike (pictured), as well as the Packer 1, a longtail cargo bike. Both bikes tout a max payload of 440 lbs. The main differences between the two are power and frame size, with the Packer offering more torque while also being slightly larger. Skateboard company Traqpod just released their first electric model, which is designed to offer the a similar carving experience to a snowboard, minus the snow of course. Meet LAVOIE We have Eliott Wertheimer, CEO and Founder of LAVOIE, part of McLaren Applied

Jul 24, 202351:56
Why did Vanmoof go under? SF city officials caught lying about traffic collision data, Vela 2 Giveaway and Eli Electric Interview with CEO Marcus Li

Why did Vanmoof go under? SF city officials caught lying about traffic collision data, Vela 2 Giveaway and Eli Electric Interview with CEO Marcus Li

We are giving away a Vela 2. To enter to win, subscribe to our channel, comment below, and submit your email here: https://ridereview.com/giveaway/vela-2-giveway

Vanmoof goes Poof.

Cult ebike brand VanMoof has paused sales and some of its top execs are departing or taking lower roles. The company has yet to release an official statement on the abrupt changes, but sources say that they are trying to secure a bridge round to keep the business afloat.

After several bouts of layoffs and lawsuits, US-based D2C ebike seller Rad Power has announced that it will be pulling out of the European market by 2024, opting to focus its efforts entirely on North America.

Lectric might have overcome market share in the US…but RadPower does better with accessories and customer repair centers.

A comeback in Shared?

“We are aiming for sales of $100 million this year.” How Swing's franchise model allowed it to become one of the few profitable shared micromobility companies in the world, with over 100,000 vehicles in South Korea.

By contrast, CEO Wayne Ting says Lime’s pathway to profitability involved investing in more durable, modular scooters as well as better technology for operational crews. Won tenders 90% of the time.

Amsterdam’s city leaders say they want to see more shared cargo bikes, mopeds, and cars on the street in an effort to reduce car usage.

The Truth and Lies About Driverless Cars in SF Garry Tan exposes some wild accusations against the city of San Francisco MTA that appear to be true!

Launches

Last month on Ride On! We talked to Chris Rey of Apollo Scooters about the fast and powerful Apollo Pro. The innovative new two-wheeler has since launched on Indiegogo, and is receiving rave reviews- check out some here

Parkour! BMW just released their new CE 02 electric two-wheeler, which they say is neither an emotorbike or emoped - it's an “eParkourer.” Despite the confusing semantics, its performance capabilities are clear: the CE 02 tops out at respectable 59 mph and claims 55 miles of range. ​

The Brits at The Little Car Company typically deal in downsizing famous cars into small electric vehicles (see Bughatti Baby II). Now they’ve done something of the opposite, taking inspiration from the 1980s Tamiya Wild One RC car and turning the toy into a full-sized 37 horsepower electric dune buggy.

The new Ago T ebike is now available from Tenways, which features a comfortable step-through frame as well as an Enviolo Stepless Shifting Hub, a cool feature which allows riders to shift gears while at a stand still.

Eli Electric

We have Marcus Li, CEO and Founder of Eli Electric Vehilces with us

Jul 20, 202358:48
192: Electrifying the workplace with Roman Meliska

192: Electrifying the workplace with Roman Meliska

This week we release another session from the recent Micromobility Europe conference - this one on Electrifying the Workplace - e-bikes as an employee benefit, hosted by none other than podcast superfan and overall mensch Roman Meliska.

Roman was joined on stage by folks from the Walmart, the European Cycling Federation, Safran and Zenride to talk about how e-bike as an employee benefit works in different markets, what models exist to incentivise them, the players in the market, and the impact on employees and on the wider company. It’s a great session.


Of course, if you like this material, you’ll love Micromobility America, which is coming up on October 19-20th in Richmond in the Bay Area. We’re expecting hundreds of the top thinkers and builders in the space. Please come and join us, and check it out!


Catch us on Twitter ⁠⁠@MicromobilityCo⁠⁠. ⁠⁠Horace⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠Oliver⁠⁠ are also active on their personal accounts and would love to hear from you.

Our ⁠https://micromobility.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠ is completely free, and you can subscribe to have it in your inbox every Tuesday and Thursday morning.


We’re also on ⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠ and⁠ ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠.

Jul 20, 202340:23
191: Ebike Revolution with Cannondale, Cowboy, Vanmoof, Ampler and Lekker

191: Ebike Revolution with Cannondale, Cowboy, Vanmoof, Ampler and Lekker

This is this week we are releasing another session from the recent Micromobility Europe which we had in June.


This one is the ebike revolution which was hosted by Micah Toll from Electrek who is in our minds one of the best micromobility journalists out there.


Please go and check his stuff out if you haven’t already. He was joined on stage by former guests of the podcast Taco Carlier from Vanmoof and Tanguy Goretti from Cowboy, as well as folks from ebike brands Lekker, Cannondale and Ampler which have coverage across Australia, Europe and the US.


They talk a lot about the global market and what hasn’t hasn’t worked, especially in the owned bike space. We thought it was a really good discussion and we're stoked to be able to share it.


If you like the session you also really like our Micromobility America, which is coming up on the 19th/20th in Richmond in the Bay Area. Come and join the top thinkers and builders in the micromobility space in North America and further afield.


And with that, here’s Micah and the team!

Catch us on Twitter ⁠⁠@MicromobilityCo⁠⁠. ⁠⁠Horace⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠Oliver⁠⁠ are also active on their personal accounts and would love to hear from you.

Our ⁠https://micromobility.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠ is completely free, and you can subscribe to have it in your inbox every Tuesday and Thursday morning.

We’re also on ⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠ and⁠ ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠.

Jul 13, 202333:09
190: The exploding world of micromobility-first freight with Finmile CEO Rich Pleeth

190: The exploding world of micromobility-first freight with Finmile CEO Rich Pleeth

This week Oliver managed to catch up with Rich Pleeth while he was passing through London.


Rich is the founder of Finmile, a micromobility first freight company in London using four wheeler cargo e-bikes to deliver for companies such as HelloFresh and some very large global companies that unfortunately we can’t name but who Oliver was very impressed with.


They are expanding very quickly and have a relevant and replicable model for a lot of cities around the world. We encourage you to particularly listen to the section where we talked about what the model offers in terms of labour and increasing the throughput of deliveries relative to existing encumbrance.


It feels to us, very disruptive to the existing freight delivery incumbents. So! Enjoy!


Catch us on Twitter ⁠⁠@MicromobilityCo⁠⁠. ⁠⁠Horace⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠Oliver⁠⁠ are also active on their personal accounts and would love to hear from you.

Our ⁠https://micromobility.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠ is completely free, and you can subscribe to have it in your inbox every Tuesday and Thursday morning.

We’re also on ⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠ and⁠ ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠.

Jul 06, 202348:04
189: Global shared Scooter Operator CEO panel from Micromobility Europe

189: Global shared Scooter Operator CEO panel from Micromobility Europe

This week we release another episode from the recent Micromobility Europe event.


This one is the shared scooter CEO’s talking about the state of their business which was a very popular session on the Friday.


Ben Hubbard From Zag Daily had the leaders from some of the top operators from all over the globe on the stage – we had Henri Moissinac, Dott in Europe, Tomás Martin from Tembici in Latin America, San Kim from Swing in South Korea and Jaideep Dhanoa from Fenix in the Middle East.


So! Quite a global coverage, and lots of really interesting parallels between all operators.


We hope you enjoy this episode!


Catch us on Twitter ⁠⁠@MicromobilityCo⁠⁠. ⁠⁠Horace⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠Oliver⁠⁠ are also active on their personal accounts and would love to hear from you.

Our ⁠https://micromobility.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠ is completely free, and you can subscribe to have it in your inbox every Tuesday and Thursday morning.

We’re also on ⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠ and⁠ ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠.

Jun 29, 202328:34
188: Founder Roundtable: The Rise of Subscription from Micromobility Europe 2023

188: Founder Roundtable: The Rise of Subscription from Micromobility Europe 2023

This week we are releasing a session from our recent Micromobility Europe show held in Amsterdam on June 8/9th.


This one is the rise of the subscription panel that was hosted by Jon Woodruff from Twotone with some of the titans of the e-bike sharing world including Eric Quidwenus-Wahlforce, founder of Dance, Karianne Solfjed Eid, from Whee! and Richard Burger from Swapfiets (all of whom we've had on the podcasts) being joined by Teet Praks from Comodule.


This was an excellent session covering the dynamics of this part of the industry, what's working and what's not and where these folks think that the industry is going.


And with that, here's the panel!



Catch us on Twitter ⁠⁠@MicromobilityCo⁠⁠. ⁠⁠Horace⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠Oliver⁠⁠ are also active on their personal accounts and would love to hear from you.

Our ⁠https://micromobility.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠ is completely free, and you can subscribe to have it in your inbox every Tuesday and Thursday morning.

We’re also on ⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠ and⁠ ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠.

Jun 22, 202327:20
187: Spatial computing and what it means for micromobility with Horace Dediu

187: Spatial computing and what it means for micromobility with Horace Dediu

This week we have been in Amsterdam at our Micromobility Europe conference and Oliver had the chance to sit down with Horace who had just flown in from seeing the Apple vision pro at the WWDC unveil.


We have talked on the show for years about how augmented reality would benefit micromobility, and so we wanted to take this opportunity to unpack a little bit more about what he saw, the idea of special computing, and how it could impact how we think about Mobility.


We had an amazing show – our biggest yet, with more than 60 startups pitching in our award series and the most incredible bike rave at the end through the streets of Amsterdam with DJ Dom Whiting.


We’ll be sharing more content over the coming weeks but in the meantime, thank you to all who attended and hope that you had a blast.


We certainly did.


Specifically they dig into:

- Horace’s experience of the Vision Pro and why Apple has chosen to make a ‘spatial computer’

- The implications for the general mobility market, and especially the difference between visions of the future based on autonomous or micromobility

- Horace’s predictions for spatial computing


And with that, here’s Horace.


Catch us on Twitter ⁠⁠@MicromobilityCo⁠⁠. ⁠⁠Horace⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠Oliver⁠⁠ are also active on their personal accounts and would love to hear from you.

Our ⁠https://micromobility.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠ is completely free, and you can subscribe to have it in your inbox every Tuesday and Thursday morning.

We’re also on ⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠ and⁠ ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠.




Jun 16, 202301:00:47
186: The story of premium two wheeler Cake Motorbikes with founder Stefan Ytterborn

186: The story of premium two wheeler Cake Motorbikes with founder Stefan Ytterborn

This week Oliver interviewed Stefan Ytterborn, founder and CEO of Cake Motorcycles from Sweden. They’ve emerged as one of the worlds leading motorbike manufacturers, solidly occupying the premium end of the market with very Scandinavian designed versions of electric motorbikes, and a strong focus on both commuters as well as backcountry use cases.

Oliver had a chance to ride some of these bikes around Santa Monica when he was doing the tour of Southern California and was really impressed with the pickup and handling of these bikes, especially for someone like him who’s new-ish to motorbikes.

In this episode, we dig into the history and how they decided to get into this, as well as design, funding, and their recent deals with producers in both Asia and Mexico. We found this a super interesting episode and hope that you do too.


Specifically they discuss:

  • How Cake was founded
  • How they have chosen to focus on design. 
  • How Stefan Stefan has thought about manufacturing and fundraising to over the years. 
  • The recent announcements from Mexico and China of the large volumes of bikes that have been contracted.


And with that, here’s Stefan!

We're in Amsterdam right now with the whole team for ⁠Micromobility Europe⁠, hosting the Startup Awards. We have over 60 companies presenting and vying for the top spot. So many amazing vehicles and people around. We're looking forward to sharing more of what we find in time. Also, Oliver is going to be at Eurobike in Frankfurt from the 21-24th of June so please ping him a message on Twitter if you’re going to be there too and want to meet up.

Catch us on Twitter ⁠⁠@MicromobilityCo⁠⁠. ⁠⁠Horace⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠Oliver⁠⁠ are also active on their personal accounts and would love to hear from you.

Our ⁠https://micromobility.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠ is completely free, and you can subscribe to have it in your inbox every Tuesday and Thursday morning.

We’re also on ⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠ and⁠ ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠.

Jun 08, 202337:42
185: Subscription-as-a-Service - unpacking a new micromobility business model with Micro OG and Tempo founder Michael Keating

185: Subscription-as-a-Service - unpacking a new micromobility business model with Micro OG and Tempo founder Michael Keating

This week we release a discussion with Michael Keating that was recorded when Oliver was passing through San Francisco on the launch day of his new company Tempo.


For those who are in the know, Michael Keating is an OG of the Micromobility space, having founded Scoot back in 2012, which was one of the first moped sharing companies before selling it to Bird.

Tempo is Michael's latest venture and one we're very excited about, having followed the journey along for a while. We are honoured that he would share this with us on a busy launch day, as they were fielding calls from lots of other journalists, and we really enjoyed this conversation about not only the history of shared Micromobility, but also the current state of things and his efforts to accelerate getting Micromobility into the hands of millions.


Specifically the discuss:

- Who is Tempo, what do they do?

- Why subscription and not sharing?

- What makes Tempo different from other subscription micro businesses?


We hope you enjoyed as much as we did, and if you are listening to this and would like to come and join us, get your tickets for Micromobility Europe – June 8th and 9th in Amsterdam. Horace will be there along with Oliver and the whole rest of the team and over 1000 thinkers and builders in the space of Micromobility. It will be an absolute blast.


And with that here is Michael.


Catch us on Twitter ⁠⁠@MicromobilityCo⁠⁠. ⁠⁠Horace⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠Oliver⁠⁠ are also active on their personal accounts and would love to hear from you.

Our https://micromobility.substack.com/⁠⁠ is completely free, and you can subscribe to have it in your inbox every Tuesday and Thursday morning.

We’re also on ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠.

Jun 01, 202353:40
184: The story of Onyx Motorbikes with founder Tim Seward and CEO James Khatiblou

184: The story of Onyx Motorbikes with founder Tim Seward and CEO James Khatiblou

We're really excited to share this episode with the team from Onyx Motorbikes who are based in Los Angeles. Oliver visited Onyx in Southern California in January as part of the So Cal Micromobility Tour. They are the winners of this years Rider's Choice Awards for Best Moped. It was great to hear about the story of how they got started and have manage to ship more than 5000 bikes – We have a deep respect for anybody who just manages to ship and get vehicles out. The build a real cult following and I am excited to see where they get to with the new bike range, which they discuss in this episode.


Specifically they discuss:

- Tims's background as a designer and his work at Bird

- The initial design of the Onyx and their first fundraiser

- Transitioning from a project to a company and James joining

- Their expanding product line and what they are excited about

 If you enjoy this conversation, you will also enjoy Micromobility both in Europe and America. We have Europe coming up on June 8 and 9th, and then we have America happening in the Bay Area on the 18th and 19th of October. We will of course be at both. Looking forward to hopefully having some more of you there along with more than 1000 people at both events talking about the latest in Micromobility and lightweight electric vehicles. And with that, here is Tim and James!


Catch us on Twitter ⁠⁠@MicromobilityCo⁠⁠. ⁠⁠Horace⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠Oliver⁠⁠ are also active on their personal accounts and would love to hear from you.

Our https://micromobility.substack.com/⁠⁠ is completely free, and you can subscribe to have it in your inbox every Tuesday and Thursday morning.

We’re also on ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠.


May 25, 202353:49
183: Cool Californian Cruisers: the story of Electra Bikes with CEO Kevin Cox

183: Cool Californian Cruisers: the story of Electra Bikes with CEO Kevin Cox

This week we release an episode from the SoCal tour that we did back in January, this time it is with Kevin Cox, the CEO of Electra Bikes, which was originally founded by Benno Banzinger who we have also had on the show earlier. Electra is the fifth largest event company in the US and have a real focus on making distinctive cruiser-style bikes, and have made the pivot from being a traditional bike maker to a bike maker with the support of Trek who own them. We really enjoyed this episode ,just as a guide to how traditional bike businesses are adapting to Micromobility.


We hope that you enjoy it too! In the meantime, if you enjoy this conversation, you will also enjoy Micromobility both Europe and America. We have Europe coming up on June 8 and 9th, and then we have America happening in the Bay Area on the 18th and 19th of October. We will of course be at both. Looking forward to hopefully having some more of you there along with more than 1000 people at both events talking about the latest in Micromobility and lightweight electric vehicles. And with that, here is Kevin!


Specifically, they discuss

- The background of Electra Bikes including its strong connection to the beach culture in Southern California

- The history of how they came to be acquired by a PE firm and then by Trek

- Their emergence as a large ebike manufacturer

- How Trek operates with them and how traditional bike companies are adapting to micromobility

- Their retail and distribution choices.


Catch us on Twitter ⁠⁠@MicromobilityCo⁠⁠. ⁠⁠Horace⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠Oliver⁠⁠ are also active on their personal accounts and would love to hear from you.

Our https://micromobility.substack.com/⁠⁠ is completely free, and you can subscribe to have it in your inbox every Tuesday and Thursday morning.

We’re also on ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠.

May 18, 202331:54
182: A microcar (some of the time!) - the story of City Transformer with founder Udi Meridor

182: A microcar (some of the time!) - the story of City Transformer with founder Udi Meridor

This week Oliver interviews Udi Meridor from City Transformer. You may have come across City Transformer as it was on the recent Top Gear episode of microcars in Paris. Obviously, we’ve done two microcar episodes week on week so this is an area that we're definitely thinking about, as are McKenzie who I had on the week prior talking about mini mobility. It feels like such a burgeoning area and we have been really excited to explore this topic.


If you enjoy this conversation, you will definitely enjoy Micromobility Europe – We would really encourage you to see if you can join us – on June 8 and 9th in Amsterdam! This will be a collection of over 1000 top thinkers and builders in the space building everything from e-bikes and scooters all the way through the vehicles just like the one we are discussing today. We are really excited with the companies that are going to be coming and cannot wait to get there. Get your tickets at micromobility.io


Specifically they tackle:

  • The background of City Transformer - where did the project start?
  • Why adaptive width vehicles are unique and special
  • What classification of EU - L7E
  • What the traction has been like to date and where you’re selling them into
  • What the manufacturing challenges have been


    Catch us on Twitter ⁠⁠@MicromobilityCo⁠⁠. ⁠⁠Horace⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠Oliver⁠⁠ are also active on their personal accounts and would love to hear from you.

May 11, 202354:43
181: Building iconic micro-cars with Microlino founder, Oliver Ouboter

181: Building iconic micro-cars with Microlino founder, Oliver Ouboter

This week Oliver interviews Oliver Ouboter, one of the founders of MicroLino, who are producing one of the most beautiful cars that we have seen in the neighbourhood electric vehicle space – the thing is an electric version of the iconic BMW Ysetta from the mid 1950s.


We really loved this interview for a few reasons - firstly, because the operators – Oliver and his father Whim were the OGs of the Micromobility space – setting up a company literally called Micromobility back in the early 2000s and producing the first kick scooters and then subsequently some of the first electric kick scooter’s. Secondly, anybody who is producing small electric vehicles at any sort of scale deserves to be congratulated – it has been quite the journey for them, especially as they have done it entirely self-funded of the back of their original acoustic and electric scooter business. We have really enjoyed getting to know Oliver and are looking forward to hopefully having him at Micromobility Europe in June.


Speaking of which if you are interested in the latest in lightweight electric vehicles, including neighborhood electric vehicles like this and everything in between you will absolutely love Micromobility Europe. It is the show we are most excited about in terms of what we’ve done in our history of producing shows at Micromobility industries and we are sure you would have an absolute blast coming and hanging out with our team and more than 1000 others as we talk about the future of what these vehicles might enable for our cities. I will be running a start-up stage with more than 60 companies expected to patch – it is going to be pandemonium– and I can’t wait. Get your tickets at Micromobility.IO.


And with that, here is Oliver!


Catch us on Twitter ⁠⁠@MicromobilityCo⁠⁠. ⁠⁠Horace⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠Oliver⁠⁠ are also active on their personal accounts and would love to hear from you.


Our https://micromobility.substack.com/⁠⁠ is completely free, and you can subscribe to have it in your inbox every Tuesday and Thursday morning.


We’re also on ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠.

May 04, 202354:13
180: Exploring public-private Shared Micromobility with Caroline Sampanaro, head of micromobility and transit policy at Lyft

180: Exploring public-private Shared Micromobility with Caroline Sampanaro, head of micromobility and transit policy at Lyft

This week Oliver interviews Caroline Sampanaro, Head of Micromobility and Transit Policy at Lyft, about her role and opportunities for micromobility to participate in conversations about better transport systems and cities. They also talk a lot about the shared business model, and why PPP feels like the most logical endpoint for a lot of the shared use cases for micromobility. We have continually been struck by the great team that Lyft has built - check out our earlier conversations with Laura Fox, GM of Citibike in NY for reference - and we really enjoyed this conversation with Caroline. Also referenced is episode 170 with Julia Thayne DeMourdant and Gabe Klein, which you can listen to here.


Unfortunately, we lost the end of the audio for this the first time around and had to go back and rerecord the end. Our awesome editor Lynda has managed to get this sounding good, but just a heads up about it towards the end.


In this episode they discuss:


- Caroline’s background as an activist and how it led her to shared micromobility policy

- The story of Lyft’s micromobility business - how it came about and why they’ve chosen the strategy they have with PPP docked bikeshare vs freefloating.

- Getting micromobility away from identity politics

- What has electric vs. acoustic offered to the advocacy conversation?

- What is the role of companies like Lyft in micromobility advocacy vs. (for example) vehicle producers etc.

- How do we get a broad coalition of advocates that can tackle the status quo?



If you want to see the latest vehicles and be in the most cutting-edge conversations about micromobility, you should check out Micromobility Europe, our premier event happening in Amsterdam on the 8/9th of June. We’re expecting over 1000 of the top thinkers and doers in the micro space to be there and I am pumped with the amazing vehicles that are coming down the pipe that will be there. We’re expecting over 60 companies to be pitching in our Startup Awards too. It’s going to be epic. If you’re interested in joining, get your tickets at micromobility.io.


Catch us on Twitter ⁠⁠@MicromobilityCo⁠⁠. ⁠⁠Horace⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠Oliver⁠⁠ are also active on their personal accounts and would love to hear from you.


Our https://micromobility.substack.com/⁠⁠ is completely free, and you can subscribe to have it in your inbox every Tuesday and Thursday morning.


We’re also on ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠.

Apr 27, 202349:10
179: Exploring the Future of Micromobility with Kersten Heineke, of the McKinsey Center for Future Mobility

179: Exploring the Future of Micromobility with Kersten Heineke, of the McKinsey Center for Future Mobility

This week Oliver interviews Kersten Heineke, a partner at McKinsey, and lead of the McKinsey Centre For Future Mobility, based in Germany. We discuss the role and scope of the Center for Future Mobility, the rising interest in micro vehicles, and the potential impact of mini-mobility on the transportation landscape.


Kersten provides an extensive overview of his research, including the emergence of direct-to-consumer electric vehicles brands like Lectric and Ride1Up, and the innovative hardware-as-a-service models offered by companies such as Lug and Carrie/Whee! They also delve into the promising growth of the German bike leasing market, the unique benefits of tax exemptions for employer-provided bikes, and the leading players in this space.


We hope that you enjoy our conversation about the rapidly evolving world of micromobility and its potential to reshape the future of transportation.


Specifically they tackle:


- The challenges faced by mini mobility startups

- The lack of investment in personally owned scooters

- The potential explosion of micro-freight

- The factors influencing the funding disconnect between EVTOL, Autonomy, EVs and micro-mobility

- Why no micro mobility-specific funds have emerged

- How content creators can assist McKinseys clients



In the meantime, if you haven’t already please consider getting some tickets for Micromobility Europe - ⁠https://micromobility.io/events/micromobility-europe⁠, join us on June 8th and 9th in Amsterdam. Horace, Oliver, and the whole crew will be there – this year. We have opened up the start-up awards to a whole heap of companies and already have at least 55 presenting including some of the most exciting vehicles we have seen in the space to date. Be sure to check it out at micromobility.io. And with that, here’s Maciek and Chris.


Catch us on Twitter ⁠⁠@MicromobilityCo⁠⁠. ⁠⁠Horace⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠Oliver⁠⁠ are also active on their personal accounts and would love to hear from you.


Our ⁠https://micromobility.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠ is completely free, and you can subscribe to have it in your inbox every Tuesday and Thursday morning.


We’re also on ⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠ and⁠ ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠.

Apr 20, 202352:27
178: Creating Premium Owned Scooters - the story of Apollo with founders Maciek Piskorz and Chris Heathcote-Rey

178: Creating Premium Owned Scooters - the story of Apollo with founders Maciek Piskorz and Chris Heathcote-Rey

We're really excited to bring this episode to you. Apollo Scooters are one of those companies that quietly works away in the background and ships without being loud and overly public about it – We have been following them since they first unveiled the Apollo Pro at Micromobility Europe last year.


Last year, they shipped 30,000 scooters – which is a pretty decent amount for a company that has never raised outside capital at all. In this conversation we run through the founding of the company, the opportunities that exist in the space, their journey with being direct to consumer, and focusing on being an e-commerce brand, who they admire in the space and what they think is interesting.


We really appreciated both Mac’s and Chris’s humility and how they are running their company and their perspective on the space. Thanks to them for joining.

Specifically they tackle :

  • The background to Apollo and how they got started
  • What models they have now - they unpack the Pro
  • How they’ve funded the company to date - how and where micromobility can source capital
  • Marketing scooters - what works and doesn’t?


In the meantime, if you haven’t already please consider getting some tickets for Micromobility Europe - https://micromobility.io/events/micromobility-europe, join us on June 8th and 9th in Amsterdam. Horace, Oliver, and the whole crew will be there – this year. We have opened up the start-up awards to a whole heap of companies and already have at least 55 presenting including some of the most exciting vehicles we have seen in the space to date. Be sure to check it out at micromobility.io. And with that, here’s Maciek and Chris.


Catch us on Twitter ⁠⁠@MicromobilityCo⁠⁠. ⁠⁠Horace⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠Oliver⁠⁠ are also active on their personal accounts and would love to hear from you.

Our https://micromobility.substack.com/⁠⁠ is completely free, and you can subscribe to have it in your inbox every Tuesday and Thursday morning.

We’re also on ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠.

Apr 13, 202356:00
177: Horace Dediu on the Next Billion Cars Podcast

177: Horace Dediu on the Next Billion Cars Podcast

This week we chose to resyndicate a recent episode of a podcast called The Next Billion Seconds, for their series called The Next Billion Cars, where they look at the future of the transportation industry and how tech will help enable the next billion vehicles to get around.


In this episode, Drew Smith interviews Horace, exploring the origins and future of micromobility. Per their description, “Horace offers a blistering critique of the failure of the automotive sector to embody the new design possibilities offered by micromobility: transportation choice in our urban centres, and a powerful framework to rethink our transportation networks and cities.”


This was a great episode and many thanks to the Next Billion Seconds team for letting us resyndicate it here.


From The Next Billion Seconds:


What is ‘micromobility’? It’s a philosophy that emphasises choice and urban-centered design in our transportation networks and transport options. Drew Smith speaks with Horace Dediu, the ‘father’ of micromobility, about its origins, his critique of the new generation of EV companies, and the way things must change in order to provide a transport future that we can all enjoy.

Mark looks at the ‘wheel’ of transportation that takes developing nations from bicycles to scooters to cars – and back to bikes again? Sally Dominguez makes a heartfelt and well-observed plea for micromobility solutions that don’t favour able-bodied young men by design. In the round-table, Mark, Sal and Drew analyse everything they’ve learned in this series: Are we any closer to autonomous vehicles? Pervasive electric vehicles? Commercial hydrogen vehicles? Micromobility solutions that work for everyone? A huge final for this series of THE NEXT BILLION CARS

You can listen to The Next Billion Seconds and learn more right here.


Catch us on Twitter ⁠@MicromobilityCo⁠⁠Horace⁠ and ⁠Oliver⁠ are also active on their personal accounts and would love to hear from you.

Our ⁠Micromobility Newsletter⁠ is completely free, and you can subscribe to have it in your inbox every Tuesday and Thursday morning.

We’re also on ⁠LinkedIn⁠ and ⁠Instagram⁠.

Apr 06, 202301:02:18
176: The power and potential of E-bike subsidies with Grace Rink - Chief Climate Officer of Denver City

176: The power and potential of E-bike subsidies with Grace Rink - Chief Climate Officer of Denver City

This week Oliver interviews Grace Rink, Chief Climate Officer for the City and County of Denver. Grace leads the Office of Climate Action, Sustainability, and Resiliency. She’s more well known in micromobility as the head of the Denver e-bike subsidy programme, which has captured the imagination of regulators all over the world with the latest program iterations selling out in mere minutes. Today we talk about how she ended up in Denver, why the programme was formed and it’s objectives and the implications of what they’re finding.


This felt like an important interview. We think that subsidies and government support are something that micromobility has traditionally eschewed in favour of just doing it, but there are more and more cities, states, and countries around the world realising that the bang for the buck on these vehicles are substantially higher than they’d be for the other transport climate policies. They talk through the newly launched subsidy tracker that Micromobility Industries has just launched which tracks all subsidies for E-bikes, scooters and more globally. We’re very excited about it - and think that it’ll be an important tool going forward.


Oliver and Grace also run through other schemes of government support for end consumers looking to use micromobility and how to make micromobility support non-partisan.


If you’re a policymaker who is looking into this, welcome - We hope that you enjoy this, and that this conversation inspires you to push for a similar policy in your jurisdiction. If you have the desire to develop better materials for you on how to best do this and that we can host, please reach out to our team - we’d love to hear from you.


Specifically they tackle:


- How is the subsidy funded?

- Why pick this? What are the motivation/outcome objectives?

- “The city reported that the e-bikes purchased as part of the program were ridden 26 miles (42 km) per week on average, and replaced 3.4 car trips each week.”

Does the city calculate trips?

- How do you balance action and resiliency?

- Which companies benefit the most from this?


Connect with Grace on LinkedIn

Catch us on ⁠Twitter⁠⁠Horace⁠ and ⁠Oliver ⁠are also active on their personal accounts and would love to hear from you.

Catch us on Twitter ⁠@MicromobilityCo⁠⁠Horace⁠ and ⁠Oliver⁠ are also active on their personal accounts and would love to hear from you.

Our ⁠Micromobility Newsletter⁠ is completely free, and you can subscribe to have it in your inbox every Tuesday and Thursday morning. And for those who want more, we offer ⁠Micromobility Pro membership⁠ that includes exclusive content and conference discounts, as well as live calls with Horace and team.

We’re also on ⁠LinkedIn⁠ and ⁠Instagram⁠.

Mar 30, 202352:17
175: Micromobility fires, standards and transport equity with Melinda Hanson

175: Micromobility fires, standards and transport equity with Melinda Hanson

This week Oliver interviews Melinda Hansen, founder of consulting firm Brightside and formerly the head of sustainability at Bird. They talk about the recent spate of Micromobility/ebike battery fires in New York and the response there as well as the wider conversation about equitable transport options, from her work with the equitable commute project.


Like we’ve discussed many times on the show, we think that there is a real opportunity for Micromobility to contribute to the conversation. We really love Melinda‘s take on the whole space – she has a wealth of industry knowledge and is in New York with the legislators having the grunty conversations that will help lead the industry forward. Really hope that you enjoy this episode as we did.


Specifically they tackle:


- The E-bike fires for the Micromobility Podcast and know that you've been doing some advocacy in this space.

- The work on transport equity she has been doing

- How she is working to better aggregate and lobby for ebike subsidies at MMI.

- How micromobility companies can play a more active role in getting streets ready for smaller vehicles.


Connect with Melinda on LinkedIn and Twitter



Catch us on ⁠Twitter⁠⁠Horace⁠ and ⁠Oliver ⁠are also active on their personal accounts and would love to hear from you.

Catch us on Twitter ⁠@MicromobilityCo⁠⁠Horace⁠ and ⁠Oliver⁠ are also active on their personal accounts and would love to hear from you.

Our ⁠Micromobility Newsletter⁠ is completely free, and you can subscribe to have it in your inbox every Tuesday and Thursday morning. And for those who want more, we offer ⁠Micromobility Pro membership⁠ that includes exclusive content and conference discounts, as well as live calls with Horace and team.

We’re also on ⁠LinkedIn⁠ and ⁠Instagram⁠.


Mar 23, 202348:05
174: Building award-winning e-moped and e-bike subscriptions in Sweden: Rickard Bröms of Vässla

174: Building award-winning e-moped and e-bike subscriptions in Sweden: Rickard Bröms of Vässla

This week Oliver interviews Rickard Bröms from Sweden, who is the founder of Vässla, who won the Rider Choice Award at the recent 2023 Micromobility Riders Awards for best subscription company. 

We’ve been following along with what they’ve been doing for a while and really love the new pedal Ebike that they are bringing out, along with the standard throttle bike and moped that they've been offering. They have really nailed the subscription services for micromobility, lowering the barriers to entry. 

We really loved the conversation with Rickard - he’s very mission-driven. We're really looking forward to watching them in the future


Specifically they talk about: 

- The early origins of Vässla with e-moped and throttle bikes, and now their pedal e-bikes. 

- How they’ve sold around 5000 mopeds - beating the global market leader NIU - in Sweden and sell them in Berlin too. 

- How they’ve thought about Vässla Club, their subscription business - what was the insight, and what did it require from them to pivot into this

- How they do their manufacturing

- Their funding journey for early moped and into developing an ebike and subscription


Catch us on TwitterHorace and Oliver are also active on their personal accounts and would love to hear from you.

Catch us on Twitter @MicromobilityCoHorace and Oliver are also active on their personal accounts and would love to hear from you.

Our Micromobility Newsletter is completely free, and you can subscribe to have it in your inbox every Tuesday and Thursday morning. And for those who want more, we offer Micromobility Pro membership that includes exclusive content and conference discounts, as well as live calls with Horace and team.

We’re also on LinkedIn and Instagram.


Mar 17, 202354:05
173: The U.S politics of micromobility with Matt Yglesias and Julia Thayne DeMordaunt

173: The U.S politics of micromobility with Matt Yglesias and Julia Thayne DeMordaunt

This week we are releasing another talk from our recent Micromobility World  - this one with Matthew Yglesias, pioneering political blogger and self-described "ebike dad," on why electric bikes and other small vehicles offer a compelling alternative to the solve the urban mobility dilemma. 

Matt has a wealth of knowledge about the interplay of politics, Transport and land use and Julia is an excellent host to ask him about it. This was a really compelling and interesting 50 minutes. We hope you enjoy it! 


They dig into:

- His journey to be an ‘e-bike dad’ - and a big proponent of electric bikes 

- The intersection between transport and built urban form - and the overhang of cars. 

- How people are now getting used to taking the vehicles that are appropriate to the trips 

- The divide between privately owned and shared systems, and how land use rules interplay with those decisions. 

- The regulatory drivers helping and hindering EVs and micromobility 

- The subsidy question - needed or not? 

- Why he thinks SoCal should be ground zero for a micromobility first city

- The importance of making micromobility a positive, accessible brand rather than making it snobby or a ‘poverty option’

- The importance of allowing the built environment to innovate to new mobility options. 

- What should micromobility advocates do to help drive change. 

- Americans are typically pro-growth, opportunity and innovation. How can those attitudes be harnessed for micromobility, and transcend the left/right divide. 


Follow Matthew on Twitter and on LinkedIn.


And now, here is Matt and Julia.



Catch us on TwitterHorace and Oliver are also active on their personal accounts and would love to hear from you.

Catch us on Twitter @MicromobilityCoHorace and Oliver are also active on their personal accounts and would love to hear from you.

Our Micromobility Newsletter is completely free, and you can subscribe to have it in your inbox every Tuesday and Thursday morning. And for those who want more, we offer Micromobility Pro membership that includes exclusive content and conference discounts, as well as live calls with Horace and team.

We’re also on LinkedIn and Instagram



Mar 09, 202356:15