Micromobility Newsletter for November 8, 2022

This post was originally published in the weekly Micromobility Newsletter. For more insights, analysis, and news about the future of urban mobility, subscribe here.

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Hey! Are you heading to Los Angeles for Comotion next week? So are we. Come join us and our friends at Automotus for a very fun, very special Happy Hour in DTLA on 11/16. We’ll have good drinks and lively conversation with old and new friends in mobility + tech - register now, space is limited!

Elimination Rounds for RCAs Start Soon

Don’t get voted off the island! The first elimination round of the Rider’s Choice Awards is coming up soon… let’s recap the rules.

🗳 Voting:  Vote for your favorite companies in +30 categories, then invite all your fans, friends, and colleagues to do the same to boost your candidate’s odds of winning.

🪓 Eliminations: On November 15th, the bottom 30% of nominees by vote in each category will be eliminated from the race. Then, on December 15th, the next bottom 30% will be cut.

👩‍⚖️ Judging: On January 9th, the top 5 vote-getters in each category will advance to the finals in which an independent panel of judges will choose the ultimate winners.

🏆 Awards: Winners will be announced on January 19th at the virtual Micromobility World conference. Register now while tickets are still free.

Cast Your Vote Today!

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What You Need To Know This Week

• While businesses that rent electric scooters and bikes are facing a VC drought, companies that make and sell these vehicles are faring better. This week Sequoia China announced it is backing ebike manufacturer Aventon at a $590 million valuation, up from $200 million eight months ago.
• “Bicycles deliver the freedom that auto ads promise.” On the double standard in advertising for cars vs micromobility.
• Honda was slow to market for small two-wheeled electric vehicles but is now entering the game with plans for its first electric moped.
• In less than one year, Ola has built 100,000 electric scooters and now has its sights set on producing electric motorcycles in the future.
• Are you a micromobility manufacturer or retailer planning a Black Friday/Cyber Monday deal? Let us know here so we can help our global community find the best savings.

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Webinar Tomorrow

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+30% CAGR? 😮‍💨

Subscription is the fastest-growing model in micromobility right now. But how does the business work? Tomorrow, in the next episode in our webinar series, we’ll discuss how HaaS is reshaping the way we access electric bikes and scooters. Join us live.

Register Here

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• The auto industry is building bigger and more expensive cars that trap people in a cycle of car dependency and debt. The golf cart is the disruptor that could break the chain.
• Lyft is laying off 13% of its workforce, including many employees from its micromobility division.
• Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser announced new Vision Zero initiatives in response to the city’s worst year for traffic fatalities since 2007.
• Cobalt producers in Africa are straining to meet the rising demand for EVs.
• Inspired by a 20% increase in cycling in 2022, Montreal Mayor Valerie Plante announced plans to build 125 miles (200 km) of new bike lanes.

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• The average cost of a new car in the U.S. has hit $48,000, a stunning figure that doesn’t even take into account the rising total cost of ownership.
• Radio Flyer introduces a folding cargo ebike that is surprisingly lightweight and portable.
• Micromobility makes its way to Top Gear in the form of mini city cars like the Carver Electric and the Citroen Ami.
• “The transport that will win is the most efficient way of transport.” VanMoof co-founder gives his thoughts on the future of mobility, bikes, and public transit.
• The Corbicyclette, an ebike hearse, is helping France decarbonize the very last mile.

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• Lime invests £6.3 million in micromobility infrastructure in London.
• When it comes to road design, U.S. transportation leaders should step back and learn from other countries that have proven track records of reducing road fatalities.
• Whee!, a subscription cargo ebike service from Norway and the first winner of our Micromobility Accelerate investor pitch contest, has raised just under $920k.
• A fire in a Manhattan apartment building caused by a cut-rate scooter battery highlights the need for higher vehicle standards.
• This feather-light ebike folds up in just a second.

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The Best Electric Cargo Bikes for Families

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Move over minivans. Almost out of nowhere, cargo bikes have emerged as one of the most popular ways for families to quickly and conveniently zip around town.

With the capacity to carry multiple people at once, as well as sizable loads of groceries, packages, plants, pets, toys, and more, cargo ebikes can do almost anything that a car, truck, or SUV can, but at a fraction of the cost. 

This is a guide for helping you choose the best electric cargo bike for getting your kids to school, carrying a week’s worth of groceries, and performing any other task you can imagine. 

10 Top Notch Cargo Bikes

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Pod People

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This week Oliver interviews Jonas Nyvang, CEO and founder of Stilride, a company that is building a very novel electric motorbike out of Sweden. Specifically, they tackle:

- The background of Stilride and what they are building

- The significance of alternative vehicle fabrication techniques

- Why Jonas is working on his own vehicle and what’s significant about it

- The manufacturing technique and what it offers

- The details about the moped

- Fundraising to date and what has worked/not worked

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