Author Archives: LEVA EU

• Car trips cut by shared e-scooters and e-bikes according to Dott research

  02/10/2023 21:30 Comments Off on Car trips cut by shared e-scooters and e-bikes according to Dott research

  New data reveals the impact of shared micromobility services for EU Mobility Week

  Images available here.

  Dott, a responsible European micromobility operator, today unveils new research highlighting the impact of its shared e-scooter and e-bike services in cities across Europe. More than one quarter (26%) of Dott trips replaced motorised alternatives such as the car, taxi or motorbike, equal to removing over 8 million polluting journeys last year.  

  Nearly two thirds of Dott users (62%) that previously travelled by car, said that they are using that mode less since starting to use Dott.3 And riders are travelling for longer, with the average ride distance up by 9% to 2.36km in the first half of 2023. 

  Dott’s shared vehicles have become a frequent, everyday solution for its users, with 63% of its trips used for commuting. By combining public transport with shared e-scooters and e-bikes, Dott’s riders benefit from a compelling alternative to cars across longer distances. 58% of riders combine Dott with public transport and 50% use a public transport pass. The figures demonstrate that shared e-scooters and e-bike services support, rather than replace, public transport.  

  Persistent high fuel costs are continuing to influence people’s travel decisions. Over one in four (28%) say that they are using shared e-bikes and e-scooters more, as a result of the energy crisis. Shared micromobility services save users from vehicle purchase and maintenance costs, providing a reliable and efficient alternative to ownership. 

  Henri Moissinac, Co-Founder and CEO, Dott, said: “As we approach the end of our peak season, European Mobility Week provides an opportunity to explore how our riders are using our service. With the majority of trips now coming from an everyday solution to commuting, we’re having a real impact in reducing car use. We are focused on providing a safe, reliable service at scale to help more people choose sustainable transport when travelling across their city.”

  
  ‘Inside Dott’ 

  To mark European Mobility Week, Dott has opened up the doors to its Operations Centres across Europe. Visitors have been able to see how Dott’s unique in-house model, and commitment to delivering its service responsibly, provide a high quality and reliable service for its users.

  The environment and social impact are at the heart of every business decision at Dott. The micromobility company has set out its goals and progress at ridedott.com/sustainability. 

  -ENDS-

  Notes to editors

  1 Based on Dott research targeting 6,930 Dott users who had ridden within the last 30 days, conducted between 27 July and 14 August 2023. 

  2 Based on Dott’s total number of rides in 2022 (33,603,491)

  3 Respondents who said they used personal cars, taxis or ride-hailing services less.

  About Dott

  Dott is a European micromobility operator founded by Henri Moissinac and Maxim Romain, with the mission to free our cities with clean rides for everyone. Dott currently operates over 40,000 e-scooters and 10,000 e-bikes in top cities in Belgium, France, Israel, Italy, Poland, Spain and the UK. Dott has a staff of over 600, with its main teams located in Amsterdam, London and Paris.

• Changes to road safety laws in Italy impact e-scooters

  21:21 Comments Off on Changes to road safety laws in Italy impact e-scooters

  Source: ETSC

  In Italy, significant road safety reforms have passed in Italian Parliament following approval by the Council of Ministers. These reforms encompass several key changes, including the following:

  1. Drink and Drug Driving: The blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit for individuals previously convicted of drink-driving will be set at zero. Mandatory alcohol interlocks will be imposed on repeat offenders. A positive drug test will result in automatic license withdrawal, with no need to prove psychological impairment.
  2. New Drivers: Italy currently applies a 70kW power limit for internal combustion engine cars for new drivers during their first year after they pass their test. An upcoming study will demonstrate the effectiveness of this measure in reducing accidents, injuries, and fatalities. The proposed reform will extend this restriction to three years.
  3. E-Scooters: Helmets will become mandatory for riders of both private and shared scooters equipped with license plates. Additionally, insurance coverage will be obligatory. E-scooter circulation will be prohibited in extra-urban areas, and shared scooter operators will need to implement geo-blocking measures to prevent this. Furthermore, indicator lights and front and rear brakes will be compulsory.

• Many e-scooters and e-bikes to be “treated just like bikes” under new Irish law

  16:15 Comments Off on Many e-scooters and e-bikes to be “treated just like bikes” under new Irish law

  Source: Newstalk

  New Irish road safety legislation will categorise e-scooters and e-bikes similarly to traditional manual bikes, according to Irish transport consultant Conor Faughnan.

  The Road Traffic and Roads Act 2023 was signed into law in June 2023, and has given the green light for regulations to govern e-scooters for the first time. Although the comprehensive regulations are not yet available, Faughnan told The Pat Kenny Show that this legislation will treat most electric bikes and e-scooters the same as regular pedal bikes.

  “In the primary legislation, we know the maximum speed [for e-scooters] is going to be 25 kilometres per hour. The new law says an e-bike is grand – if it’s a light vehicle, if it’s 25km/h, then for all legal purposes, it’s a bike. Whenever you see in the law “bicycle” think “e-bike” – they have the same rules,” explained Faughnan.

  E-bikes typically have average speeds ranging from 20 to 25 kilometres per hour, whereas e-scooters have an average speed between 25 to 48 kilometres per hour. According to Faughnan, this new legislation around the speed and power of electric scooters and bikes follows a trend in most European countries.

  Faughnan emphasized that integrating legislation for e-bikes and e-scooters with regular bicycles will contribute to the safe operation of these electric vehicles, and people shouldn’t be intimidated by their seemingly faster speeds.

  “If you just forget the engineer or the motor for the moment, [fast cyclists] exist already, imagine the guys zipping down the hills in their spandex, cycling at very fast speeds. In town, a lot of new cycle tracks… they have plastic bollards, and the cyclists are single-file. That’s quite frustrating if you’re on a big bike and you’ve got a lot of steam or you’re trying to get into town, and there’s a slow-moving mum with kids on a ‘trike’. It’s no different really whether the bike is e-powered. The simple rule of thumb is ‘it’s a bike’, until it gets too big and then it’s a moped.”

• THOR AVAS conducts tests with blind listeners

  15:46 Comments Off on THOR AVAS conducts tests with blind listeners

  Recently a team from LEVA-EU member THOR AVAS gathered to conduct another experiment and test their Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System (AVAS) product among the participants who most depend on sound sensations in this world – with blind listeners. The World Blind Union initially influenced with its appeal to the UN several years ago, for the implementation of sound in silent electric cars in order to reduce the number of accidents with their wards.

  It was this step that led to changes in the legislation of the EU and the USA, and then China and Japan, where AVAS systems became mandatory for installation on all hybrid and electric cars.

  

  The difference between THOR AVAS and other systems is its more complex and at the same time harmonious sounds, consisting not only of warning layers (high-frequency repeating signals), but also softer components, which makes soundtracks more enjoyable. Plus, all the sounds are associated with movement, speed up and down, and don’t just beep like toys.

  A team of engineers, acousticians and sound designers create sounds and upgrade the system, subjecting it to various tests, including live tests, where real people help determine the visibility of an approaching electric car.

  

  To conduct tests on the street, a stand with many sensors and microphones was assembled. Participants were seated on chairs and given remote controls to press, triggering a signal which the operator received on the main computer, collecting data about the speed of the car, the volume of the system and the distance at which people noticed the approach of the electric car. The work was carried out in different speed modes – 10-20-30 km/h – and at different AVAS volumes, but within the limits permitted by UN rule No. 138, according to which all AVAS systems must operate. Listeners also participated in tests where AVAS was completely turned off to understand the difference between the sound from the tires and the system.

  The THOR AVAS team state that it is too early to talk about results, since there is still a huge amount of data processing work to be done; they will talk about it in their next report.

  

• Fluctuo reveals latest shared mobility data

  15:20 Comments Off on Fluctuo reveals latest shared mobility data

  Source: Fluctuo

  The Q2 Shared Mobility Index reveals that Europe’s shared mobility market continues to grow in terms of fleet size, with ridership remaining stable.

  Fluctuo’s latest report for Q2 2023 examines the data for shared mobility in 33 European cities, across five vehicle types: station-based bikes, dockless bikes, scooters, mopeds and cars. The report can be viewed in full here.

  

  General trends

  Compared to 2022, the overall shared mobility sector has increased by 7% year-on-year, though ridership saw a slight decrease of -1%.

  A notable trend is a decrease in the number of shared service operators, which is an effect of cities increasingly putting out tenders to limit the numbers of operators in a city. Where a city might once have had five operators deploying scooters, there might now only be two. The number of vehicles available has continued to grow, and cities are finding that fewer operators with more vehicles each can provide a better service.

  

  Scooters have the largest share of ridership at 42%, though have seen a reduction in growth year-on-year. This dip can be attributed to several factors, including market saturation in some under-regulated markets, and the introduction of stricter regulations in other markets.

  Bikes have seen strong growth, and this is expected to continue. Notable data from individual cities include operators in Paris adding to their bike fleets ahead of the city’s ban on e-scooters which came into force in September; a fresh dockless-bike system in Marseilles operated by Inurba seeing ridership grow by 429%; and Madrid’s BiciMAD bike system remaining popular, thanks to its free-to-use status to the end of 2023.

  

  A global overview

  Europe continues to be a global leader in shared mobility usage. The North American Bike and Scooter Share Association (NABSA) 2022 report allows direct comparison, demonstrating that Europe’s shared mobility sector leads in terms of fleet size, total trips, trips per vehicle per day (TVD) an per-capita usage. In short, Europe’s shared mobility fleet is used more frequently, and on an individual level, Europeans are taking nearly double the number of trips than North Americans do.

  

• NABSA publishes annual Shared Micromobility State of the Industry report for North America

  13:29 Comments Off on NABSA publishes annual Shared Micromobility State of the Industry report for North America

  The report shows e-bike and e-scooter numbers and rides continue to rise, with annual total trips having now returned to pre-pandemic levels.

  Source: NABSA

  

  NABSA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing resources, education, and advocacy for the shared micromobility industry, and to creating spaces for the industry’s public, private, and nonprofit sectors to convene and empower each other.

  NABSA unveiled its fourth annual Shared Micromobility State of the Industry Report for North America on August 10th. The 2022 edition of the report reveals that shared micromobility ridership in North America rebounded to levels seen before the pandemic and expanded to encompass more cities than ever before. In 2022, a staggering 157 million shared micromobility trips were recorded across 401 cities in North America. Furthermore, the systems expanded significantly, boasting the highest count of shared micromobility vehicles deployed to date, totaling 289,000.

  This year marked a period of resilience and growth for the industry. In 2022, trip numbers returned to pre-pandemic norms, and the proliferation of shared micromobility in various cities accelerated. The landscape of shared micromobility vehicles underwent continuous evolution, with e-devices such as e-scooters and e-bikes gaining momentum and increasing in popularity.

  Docked bikes just take the majority in trip numbers, at 50% of 157 million trips (46% to e-scooters), with electric bicycles accounting for 30.9 million of all trips within the bicycles category (docked and dockless). Therefore for electrically assisted trips, e-scooters dominate at 72.2 million journeys in 2022. In terms of units available for use across the country, scooters take a clear lead at 172,000 (60%) with electric bikes making up the smaller portion of the bicycle category, at 41,000 units.

  Download the report in full here

  

  

• Autonomy World Mobility Expo: call for speakers

  12:03 Comments Off on Autonomy World Mobility Expo: call for speakers

  Source: Autonomy World Mobility Expo

  The Autonomy Mobility World Expo has put out a call for public speakers for its 2024 edition, seeking insightful contributions and innovative initiatives within the framework of sustainable, equitable, inclusive, safe, healthy and collaborative mobility. 

  Proposals are invited from public representatives from cities, governments, NGOs, public transport authorities, social innovators, research centers, think tanks, universities, public agencies, non-governmental organizations and social activists. This is an opportunity for representatives to share knowledge, expertise and insights with a wider audience within the sustainable mobility sector.

  The submission deadline is October 16th 2023; the 2024 edition of Autonomy Mobility World Expo takes place March 20th-21st in Paris. Applications can be submitted here.

• FRIKAR Signature Deliveries by Podbike are Expanding

  25/09/2023 16:16 Comments Off on FRIKAR Signature Deliveries by Podbike are Expanding

  The maker of the four-wheeled e-bike with weather protection has updated that all local buyers in the Stavanger area of Norway have now received their Podbike® FRIKAR™ Signatures and are enjoying their rides around town. Currently, Podbike is in the process of expanding its delivery reach.

  Customers residing in and around the coastal town of Bergen, which is approximately a four-and-a-half-hour drive from Stavanger, have also received their bikes.

  Sending FRIKARs to other cities in Norway marks an important milestone for Podbike, as it represents the company’s first deliveries beyond its home area. The Bergen deliveries have been successfully completed, and deliveries to Oslo have commenced. Looking ahead, Podbike has set October as the target month for deliveries to Trondheim, a city significantly distant from Stavanger (800 km). Following this, the company will proceed with deliveries to the rest of Norway.

  In a previous update shared in May, Podbike announced its decision to transition from traditional stick-building techniques to small-batch production. The company acknowledges that there may have been inquiries regarding the progress of this transformation. Rest assured, every moment of anticipation has been worthwhile. Starting from August 1st, Podbike’s workshop has reinvigorated its production capacity, with an impressive ten bikes manufactured this month alone. This substantial increase in production has been achieved through a dedicated commitment to streamlining processes.

  Many pre-order customers are located in Germany, and Podbike anticipates commencing deliveries to German buyers before the end of the year. Podbike has already contacted its earliest pre-order customers in Germany to confirm their interest in purchasing a Podbike FRIKAR Signature.

  Podbike is committed to addressing each area one at a time, with the first area for deliveries to be announced in the next update from the company.

• OVG6 reports upward trend in e-bike ownership and journeys in Belgium

  15:56 Comments Off on OVG6 reports upward trend in e-bike ownership and journeys in Belgium

  Source: network duurzame mobiliteit

  Since 1994, the Flemish Government has been conducting research into the travel behaviour of Flemish people. This research is called the Research on Travel Behaviour, or OVG. In this study, a number of mobility characteristics of families and persons are studied, such as: characteristics of the person who moves, when, why, from where, to where, with what, for how long and how far someone moves. In the meantime, we are in the 6th edition.

  Results were shared in an article entitled ‘How do we move post-corona?‘, with detailed information broken down by sector. The data indicated positive trends for LEVs both in levels of e-bike ownership and in their modal share of journeys.

  Vehicle and driving licence ownership: more than 1 in 3 families own an e-bike

  

  77% of Flemish families have at least one bicycle, a number that is in line with previous studies. The number of Flemish families who own an electric bicycle is rising sharply. 35% of Flemish families also have an electric bicycle. For comparison: pre-corona (2019) this was only 20%.

  A Flemish family has an average of 2.13 bicycles (of which 1.61 regular bicycles and 0.49 electric bicycles). That figure remains stable over the years. 77.3% of families have at least one bicycle (including electric bicycles).

  The number of families with an electric bicycle continues to increase sharply: in OVG 5.2 this was still 10.89%, in OVG 5.3 16.93%, in OVG 5.4 17.78% and in OVG 5.5 more than 1 in 5 families (20.13%) has at least 1 electric bicycle. In OVG6, e-bike ownership is making another big leap: 35% of families will have an electric bicycle by 2022. Booming business.

  Much more often by electric bicycle (modal split)

  

  Flemish people cycle and walk more and more: 18.1% of journeys are made by bicycle and 17.3% on foot. The electric bicycle is on the rise: 5.3% of trips are with the electric bicycle and 0.3% with the speed pedelec.

  Based on OVG6, the Flemish government’s goal of making at least 40% of all journeys in a sustainable way has already been achieved.