The Micromobility Newsletter for September 20, 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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Thank You!🙏

Micromobility America 2022 is in the books and the response has been fantastic. The energy, enthusiasm, and innovation on display were unbelievable. We want to thank all attendees, speakers, exhibitors, influencers, and everyone else that made it happen. See some of the top highlights from the event below…

News from #MMAmerica

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• Ride Review is live! ICYMI, we launched a one-stop-shop to help consumers find expert reviews and ratings for all kinds of micromobility vehicles. Discover your next ride at Ride Review. (Start with a few of our favorite new reviews: the Apollo Pro, the Eli Zero, and the Vanmoof S5)
• Couldn’t make it to #MMAmerica? Relive all the key moments, killer, presentations, and extraordinary rides with this comprehensive highlight reel.
• Meet the seven innovative startups that participated in our Accelerate pitch contest. (Spoiler alert: Three Wheels United, a global fintech company from India that has developed a platform to finance light electric vehicles, took home the trophy this year!)

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• Forget cargo bikes. Your next Uber Eats delivery might pull up on the back of a cargo scooter. NYC-based Beyond announced the Cargo One, a subscribable scooter with a front platform that can carry 50 lbs of cargo.
• Who’s ready for micro-micromobility, i.e. picomobility? Escend unveiled Blades, a pair of 400W motorized rollerblades, at #MMAmerica.
• Faction displayed their driverless fleet vehicle built on the Arcimoto FUV platform.
• Apollo brought its next-gen flagship Pro scooter, which features a two-wheel drive and 60mph top speed.

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• Drover’s computer vision tech is being implemented to help deter electric scooters from being ridden on sidewalks in San Francisco.
• A (shared electric) bicycle built for two: Veo announced the Apollo, a 2-seater ebike made for carrying a friend or cargo.

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• Unagi is sunsetting its much-hyped Model Eleven because it was too expensive to make work for a subscription model. Instead, the scooter company will roll out a new version of its standard model, the Voyager One, which offers nearly 2x more range than its predecessor, among other perks.
• “Lighter. Faster. Even more portable.” Brompton revealed its Electric P Line bike, a compact, foldable model that weighs less than 35 lbs.

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What Else You Need To Know This Week

• “The EV that will change your life isn’t a car, truck, or SUV. It’s an ebike.”  Why you should invest in an ebike that will meet 90% of your daily needs.
• Indian shared moped operator Yulu has raised $77 million in a funding round led by Magna
• The Texas DOT is prioritizing vehicle traffic flow over pedestrian and cyclist safety.
• High-end ebikes are creating an aura of status among discerning riders.

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• Shell has been making moves into the micromobility space recently with the launch of ebikes and electric scooters. Now they will be installing over 10,000 EV charging stations in India that will serve two- and three-wheelers.
• How a cargo bike could save your life in the event of an earthquake.
• Why the next wave of micromobility innovation will feature more three- and four-wheeled vehicles.
• U.S. micromobility startup ACTON will install nearly 200 of its universal docking and charging stations around Paris
• Imagine a bike helmet designed to perfectly fit your melon. KAV uses 3D printing to create custom helmets based on your specific head measurements.

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• Bicycle insurer, Laka partners with Porsche Ventures and expands into the German market to provide micromobility insurance. Relatedly, Insurtech startup Boundless Rider has raised $4.75 million to serve the news of electric bike, scooter, and motorcycle owners.
• In the oil city of Maracaibo, Venezuela, innovators are developing solar-powered small EVs as an alternative to the struggles of gas shortages.
• The hilly city of Pamplona (population 200,000) has boosted its bike ridership rates to almost 2.7 million people per year by investing in bike elevators and bike lanes.

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• Browse over 20 of the best jobs in micromobility—and post your own—on our Jobs to Be Done board.

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