Recently published studies in The Lancet Planetary Health journal link some 1.8 million excess deaths and nearly 2 million asthma cases to air pollution globally in 2019.
These findings reveal the desperate need for strategies to improve air pollution and reduce harmful exposures – particularly to the most vulnerable groups in society, children and the elderly. It has been revealed that 2.5 billion people, 86% of those living in urban areas worldwide, are exposed to unhealthy particulate matter levels. World Health Organisation (WHO) states, “there is a close, quantitative relationship between exposure to high concentrations of small particulates and increased mortality or morbidity, both daily and over time.”
The European Commission is currently preparing a legislative proposal that acts to more closely align EU air quality standards to those recommended by WHO; this will make up one part of the flagship European Green Deal, planned for late 2022. The deal is crucial as many European locations fall behind the NO2 limit. There are currently 13 infringement cases open against member states, with NO2 concentrations in these locations continually exceeding the upper limit of 40 μg/m3.
It should be noted, that pollution in the EU has seen a general decrease in the last two decades, including key pollutants PM2.5 and NO2. While this is positive, there is a long road to cleaner air and a healthier society; even with these improvements, NO2 was still associated with 1.85 million new pediatric asthma cases in 2019.
Micromobility is a relatively new term lacking a formal definition, however, it can generally be summarised as short-distance travel with light and small vehicles. Within EU classification, micromobility vehicles fall under the L category:
A motor vehicle with less than 4 wheels
Curb weight up to and including 350kg (771 lb)
Top speed up to and incl;uding 50km/h (31 mph)
Continuous rated power does not exceed 15 kW
In cities such as Paris, facing the issues of congestion, loss of public spaces, pollution, and poor air quality, micromobility may provide a solution. Generally being better for traffic and the environment, micromobility vehicles are seeing a rapid uptake in city centres, allowing the public to travel with ease and decongest the city. The increased availability of green transport options encourages city-goers to leave their cars at home for shorter journeys, alleviating many of the issues previously discussed.
Jocelyn Loumeto, the General Delegate of the Federation of Micro Mobility Professionals (FPMM) highlights the schemes of various Parisian businesses to promote micromobility in their own workforces, such as the provision of e-scooters. View the full discussion here.
A new study published in Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment reveals commuter LEV preference and impact.
The research provides insight into travel behavior in the rapidly expanding micromobility market, analyzing the data of over 500 users. Understanding the influences on mode choice is essential for successful transport planning, allowing service providers and policymakers to better implement transport options in urban and rural areas.
The first findings show that all else equal, the choice of transport mode is fundamentally altered by trip distance, precipitation,and access distance. Generally, users are willing to walk between 60-200m to access shared micromobility services; however, the ability to pre-book devices can extend this travel distance. Consumer choice patterns such as these should be fully considered when implimenting shared transport options, or undertaking vehicle repositioning schemes.
The study also provides insight into the CO2 emissions of e-bikes and e-scooters, crucial for future policy when aiming to reduce transport-related pollution in city centres. It is found that while personal e-bikes and e-scooters emit less CO2 than the transport modes they replace, shared e-bikes and e-scooters emit more – though still less than a personal car. This goes against the common vision that shared mobility in city centres is a ‘green’ option; operational services and vehicle manufacturing are the two main emission contributers.
While this may be a negative in the short-term, shared services can aid in sparking a sustainable mobility movement if long-term usage leads to personal ownership; additionally, city administrators may collaborate with micromobility providors to reduce emissions in the two main release stages.
Eurobike 2022 is reporting a record number of registrations.
Expanding the concept and explicitly integrating the topics Future Mobility and Urban Mobility in all their facets is perfectly complementing classic bike topics. Working hand in hand with competence clusters from politics, administration, and business, as well as experts from research and practice, Eurobike is actively advancing the transformation of transport from the viewpoint of stakeholders in the bicycle industry. Two established Eurobike features, namely the Start-Up Area and Cargo Area, are moving into Hall 8 – the new flagship for alternative mobility solutions on the exhibition grounds.
The green transformation in transport policy is gathering pace. Even though it currently remains to be seen what priority the new Federal government will assign to the issue of transforming mobility, development – above all in urban areas – is already overtaking what is commonly being discussed as forward planning. Through bicycles, e-bikes and electrically assisted small vehicles such as e-scooters and sharing services, the transition to micromobility is already taking place, while the space required and CO2 footprint per user are falling. The new Eurobike is both a driving force and a catalyst in this development; it is showcasing new products and innovations while also offering mobility stakeholders a platform, networks, concepts, and contents extending beyond the bicycle and e-bike. The nucleus and epicenter of Future Mobility will be Hall 8 on the Frankfurt Messe exhibition grounds with a connection to the Demo Area.
In order to extend the concept towards urban mobility, the organizers of Eurobike have augmented the team with powerful reinforcement from a range of different disciplines. MotionLab.Berlin with its founder and leading light Christoph Neye, who sees support for Eurobike as a logical consequence of his commitment to new mobility: “As co-initiator of MotionLab.Berlin, I have been able to experience the potential for new mobility every single day. The bike segment, in particular, which is being increasingly supplemented by light electric vehicles (LEVs) in urban applications, is witnessing the emergence of new technologies and services capable of changing our mobility for the better in the long term. It is therefore also a matter of personal concern for me to support and advise Eurobike as it pursues this path. And, as a proponent and supporter of the hard-tech start-up scene, I am delighted by this opportunity to introduce exciting and unique innovations to a large public at the leading trade fair for future mobility.”
Cargo bikes – guaranteeing the switch to greener transport
Future mobility is inconceivable without cargo bikes. Only if we succeed in moving cargo over short distances in a safe and environmentally aware manner will we manage to transform transport policy. The cargo bike will also be finding a new home in Hall 8 “Mobility of the Future”. Eurobike Show Director Dirk Heidrich explains: “Since 2018, the Cargo Area has been a meeting point for the dynamic cargo bike sector. Through the choice of Frankfurt, we will be offering the product a fitting territory, a real laboratory, the right setting, and a connection to the subject matter.” Community events such as evening cargo bike excursions both with and into the local cargo bike scene will be just as much a part of the program as cargo bike races on the Festival weekend (16 and 17 July). The all-inclusive stand offers as well as direct access to the Demo Area with ideal opportunities for testing as well as proximity to the topic areas of Start-Ups, Urban Mobility, Sharing as a Service, Infrastructure and the like all combine to produce a nicely rounded package.
The Eurobike organizers are now extending their cooperation with the Berlin-based think-and-do tank cargobike.jetzt, which acts as a supporter and driving force in this field. “Eurobike is the place to be for the cargo bike sector,” says Arne Behrensen, founder of the undertaking. “Frankfurt Messe is a top international address. And in the streets of the city, the cargo bike revolution is in fact already in full swing.” Cargo bike-sharing is set to play a tremendous role in the future as well. For many city-dwellers, this now represents the first option to really live without a car. After all, the easier it becomes to borrow a cargo bike for specific needs, the more matter-of-fact it will become to manage without a car.
It is quite clear that the changing mobility needs new traffic infrastructure. Rapid cycle paths are under construction – direct, flat, junction-free routes for bikes and pedelecs that link A to B and then lead on to C and D. They too are a major step towards alternative (bike) commuting. Eurobike will be highlighting the development and projects also in conjunction with exhibitors from the field of infrastructure and planning. An atmosphere of change prevails in all areas of the new mobility,” says Show Director Dirk Heidrich. “And we are already looking forward to reproducing precisely this atmosphere.”
The 30th edition of Eurobike runs from Wednesday 13 July, to Sunday 17 July 2022, from 09:00 to 18:00 each day, and is open to the general public on Saturday and Sunday.
Oakland’s local Department of Transportation (OakDOT) has recently introduced a Univeral Basic Mobility Pilot, aiming to reduce dependency on cars, and remove the financial barriers limiting alternative modes of travel.
Oakland residents can benefit from US$300 credit, valid for use with sustainable modes of transport – this includes public transit, bikeshare, and shared e-scooter options. In its first stage, 500 pre-paid debit cards were distributed to interested participants at random; if the pilot receives longer-term funding after evaluation in spring, more residents will be selected from the waiting list.
Oakland Mayor, Libby Schaaf shared, “Oakland is a place where our drive to innovate with our public services matches with our community values, and I’m so proud that OakDOT is proving the value of that pairing once again with this pilot effort.”
Additionally, the scheme integrates community-based organizations to provide education on alternate transportation options. In the long-term, Oakland hopes to transform the way residents think about transport, causing a modal shift and moving away from a dependency on cars.
Comments Off on Greenway Technology and LG Energy form long-term cell supply cooperation
In the final quarter of 2021, Guangdong Greenway Technology Co., Ltd (Greenway Technology), a leading manufacturer of lithium-ion batteries for micro-mobility and energy storage applications, signed a contract with LG Energy Solution, Ltd. (LG Energy) to invest in a new production line for battery cells from LG Energy in Nanjing.
Shenzhen, October 2021, General Manager John Zeng from Greenway Technology and Ray Kim from LG Chem China Investment Co.,Ltd. after signing the new cell supply cooperation.
LG Energy, one of the world market leaders in battery products and energy solutions, guarantees Greenway Technology deliveries of lithium-ion cells of automotive quality with price advantages from 2023 to 2028. With this agreement, Greenway Technology continues to expand into the growing market of light electromobility.
This strategic supply agreement will help Greenway Technology achieve its margin and cost targets to provide attractive battery systems to the electric bike, motorcycle, and energy storage markets. Greenway Technology focuses on products of high quality, making LG Energy the ideal partner due to its many years of experience as a cell manufacturer.
The subject of this long-term partnership is 21700 cylindrical NMC cells with 5000mAh of the latest generation, an excellent fit for application in light electric vehicles (LEVs) such as pedelecs, e-bikes, and e-scooters.
“Greenway Technology is proud to enter into a new stage of collaboration with LG Energy,” said John Zeng, General Manager of Greenway Technology. “We build on our strong relationship with LG Energy to supply the market with the best quality products to provide sustainable and safe energy solutions for the world’s big challenges in mobility and emission.”
Greenway Technology is one of the market leaders developing and manufacturing innovative lithium-ion battery systems for the micro-mobility industry, drive system suppliers, and vehicle manufacturers in Europe and Asia.
LG Energy was established in 2020, as a subsidiary of LG Chem. According to SNE Research, LG Energy is the world’s second-largest supplier of EV batteries, with a market share of 23.7% in 2021. LG Energy sets a strong focus on industry-leading performance cells for electric mobility vehicle producers, and is currently a cell supplier for Tesla.
Over 2021, a total 386 funding applications were submitted in Saxony by clubs, companies, municipal and special-purpose associations.
Since March 2021, Saxony has offered a subsidy of up to 500 euros for bicycles and up to 1500 euros for pedelecs. Organizations can apply to have up to five companions sponsored each year, with a further 700,000 euros available in 2022 to continue building on the scheme’s success. Economics Minister Martin Dulig (SPD) shared, “The continuously high number of applications shows that there is a great need for such means of transport. Especially in urban areas, the cargo bike has great potential as an agile and environmentally friendly means of transport.”
While there has been minor criticism of the program as it finds its feet, there is no denying the transformative effect it is having on communities in Saxony. Highlighting the massive potential of green transport methods.
Comments Off on STILRIDE raises £2.5m to produce sustainable e-motorcycles using ‘industrial origami’ robotics technology
Swedish technology and design startup STILRIDE has raised £2.5m to produce sustainable electric motorcycles and scooters using a groundbreaking process dubbed ‘industrial origami’. The trailblazing manufacturing technique involves robots that are able to fold single sheets of recyclable steel into intricate, lightweight, and durable new structures – significantly reducing the environmental impact of production. This process is being used to create the chassis and body for a fleet of next-generation e-motorcycles which will be made available to consumers in Europe later this year.
This £2.5m seed round was joined by angels and private investors that include Gustaf Hagman, Saeid Esmaeilizadeh, Sam Bonnier, and Andreas Adler.
STILRIDE’s pioneering industrial origami technology, called STILFOLD, is the brainchild of best friends Tue Beijer and Jonas Nyvang, whose backgrounds span the worlds of fashion, industrial design, and engineering. With STILRIDE, the duo aims to reimagine how high-performance electric-mobility products are manufactured and distributed using cutting-edge steelwork, advanced robotics, and ambitious design.
The injection of funding will be used to bring the startup’s first product to the mass market: the futuristic Sport Utility Scooter One (SUS1). Unlike traditional scooters (which consist of a tubular frame and plastic body), the SUS1 is constructed by folding sheets of stainless steel over curves, much like origami. Not only does this result in a durable body and distinctive aesthetic, but it also requires fewer raw materials and reduces labor costs. Compared to a traditional scooter, the SUS1 requires 70% fewer components, driving a 25% reduction in labor costs and a 20% reduction in material costs.
E-motorcycles are the first application of STILRIDE’s proprietary STILFOLD technology. Next, STILRIDE will use this technique to add Cargo Bikes and trailers to its product offering.
To reduce the product’s carbon footprint, the company is aiming to create a production process that allows the steel sheets to be flat-packed and shipped to local factories across Europe where they’ll be folded and fitted with a hub motor and battery pack. Already, the climate impact of developing the SUS1’s chassis is 50% lower than that of traditional scooters.
There are already 90,000 people on the waiting list for the STILRIDE SUS1 e-scooter, with the first pre-series set to be released to customers in the autumn of 2022.
Jonas Nyvang, co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of STILRIDE, comments:
“STILRIDE sits at the intersection of technology, mobility, and design. My co-founder Tue first introduced the idea for the scooter to me at a dinner in 2019. He sketched out how it could be manufactured using origami folding and built a model out of paper. It’s surreal to have now created a high-spec electric motorcycle that’s true to that original vision. It meets our commitment to sustainability whilst also having a radical and distinctive design identity. Not only is it unisex, but it’s uni-age. It’s designed for everyone and we hope it can be an accessible entry point to the world of scooters and motorcycles for those with an eye for style and a love of nature.
“The STILFOLD technology is best described as a dance between robots and steel. We have created a process that builds high-performance, sustainable personal mobility products that are also durable, lightweight, and desirable. The SUS1 is the first application of the technology and the ambition is to apply it to cargo bikes and trailer products.
“Using STILFOLD, manufacturers can minimize resource consumption and waste, cut down on labor costs and ultimately reduce the environmental impact of production. We’re launching in Europe first as it’s a market that relies heavily on outsourcing and has much to gain from increasing its domestic manufacturing capabilities. Next, we will look to expand into other international markets.
“We’re incredibly proud to be working with such esteemed investors to push ahead with production of this first product and get it in the hands of customers. It’s an exciting time to be in the green mobility space and we’re ready to make our mark.”
Saeid Esmaeilizadeh, entrepreneur and STILRIDE investor, comments:
“There is a very strong team behind this whole solution, which made the choice to invest easy. They have found a solution to build lighter electric vehicles which is a key challenge for the whole transportation industry. In addition, the first product’s place in the market is a total no-brainer.”
Gustaf Hagman, serial entrepreneur, business angel, and investor, comments:
“Their Green Steel production technique STILFOLD is groundbreaking and there are endless application areas, this is just the beginning”.
The ten minute city is a key research theme for the Knowlege Institute for Mobility Policy (KiM) this year.
A ‘ten-minute city’ refers to the spatial planning concept in which daily services and amenities can be reached from any home within a ten-minute walk or bike ride. While the concept of mixing functions in urban areas is well-established, there has been additional interest in the theory after a fifteen-minute variant was recently opted for in Paris. KiM aims to further expand the understanding of this concept in 2022, exploring the concept from a mobility perspective.
One factor to consider is that a large part of new residential construction is centralized in urban areas, promoting the use of public transportation and bicycles and impeding that of cars. When taking into account the growing popularity of e-bikes, the 10-minute city concept transforms once again as commuters boast an expanded travel distance – with this in mind there are sure to be extensive findings as KiM develops this research theme through 2022.
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