I lately had the prospect to attend Micromobility Europe 2024, the most recent trade tradeshow selling the proliferation of right-sized private electrical automobiles. For 2 days, the present took to Amsterdam to showcase lots of the latest improvements and corporations pushing the envelope on what micromobility automobiles can supply to city residents.
Here’s a smattering of lots of the most fascinating issues I noticed (and take a look at rode) whereas exploring the present.
I’m going to run by way of these in no specific order, apart from how they ended up being downloaded on my exhausting drive.
And to see much more, be sure to take a look at my video from the occasion, under. Then hold studying for all the particulars!
Voltaire
This French electrical bicycle firm was new to me, however I immediately fell in love with their slick designs that invoke a classier, classic vibe than we’re used to seeing in at this time’s ultramodern e-bike market.
With belt drives for simplicity and seat tube batteries to keep away from a chunkier downtube, the bikes appear like they’d make nice commuter rides for anybody on the hunt for a extra basic vibe.
Veloretti
The present’s European setting was an important likelihood to get launched to e-bike firms that I don’t usually get to go to. Veloretti is predicated in Amsterdam, not removed from the present’s venue, and so I acquired to see their extra fashionable tackle Dutch e-bikes firsthand.
I all the time love seeing a pleasant mixture of previous and new, so Veloretti’s Dutch-inspired designs have been a refreshing sight. They appear to supply the form of rider commuters are after, whereas nonetheless drawing on many years of the Netherlands’ wealthy historical past of biking tradition.
Cowboy Cross
Belgian e-bike firm Cowboy had their latest mannequin on the present, that means I acquired to take the Cowboy Cross for a take a look at experience by way of the encircling Amsterdam neighborhoods.
With an inverted suspension fork, a suspension seat submit, and barely chunkier tires, the Cowboy Cross is certainly designed to deal with rougher roads than a typical commuter bike.
This received’t take you offroading, however it is going to make these cobblestones and pot holes rather a lot much less noticeable!
Bo
I all the time love seeing Bo’s electrical scooters, as there’s simply nothing else prefer it available on the market. The scooter doesn’t fold, which is a rarity within the standing electrical scooter world. However which means it’s way more inflexible.
The scooter has a design all its personal, and that appeared to win favor with the judges as Bo took the prize on this years Startup Awards on the present.
Now if I might simply cease listening to the tune “I’m Bo, yo!” in my head each time I write the scooter’s identify, that’d be grreeeaaat.
Luna Techniques
Out of left subject was Luna Techniques, which makes use of laptop imaginative and prescient to make micromobility automobiles safer.
To this point, they’ve largely labored with industrial shoppers like scooter-sharing and bike-sharing firms, the place their digital camera techniques have helped enhance the protection of these automobiles and hold riders accountable by monitoring issues like sidewalk driving.
However in addition they simply unveiled their first consumer-facing product, the Luna Oculus, which is a digital camera system for cyclists that may warn you of upcoming close-passing automobiles which may danger your security. Should you opt-in, you may as well share that information so different cyclists in your metropolis can use the compounded information to study which roads are essentially the most harmful for cyclists.
Luna is a startup that’s funded by EIT City Mobility, an EU accelerator that appears for a lot of these progressive firms, in addition to the subsequent firm on this record.
AD Knight
Persevering with with the theme of utilizing cameras and sensors to raised defend susceptible street customers, AD Knight has a set of software program options that cities can use to know and adapt to their rising micromobility ridership.
The corporate is presently beginning a pilot with Peachtree Metropolis, Georgia, the place intersections will be capable to monitor and analyze the quantity and sort of micromobility customers on the street. Sooner or later, these intersections might probably use AD Knight’s know-how to adapt in actual time, reminiscent of stretching a yellow gentle a couple of seconds longer to permit a slower-moving scooter rider to slide by way of earlier than the sign adjustments for cross site visitors.
Superfast Scooter
This one is a bit wild. These 40 mph (64 km/h) electrical scooters are designed to supply motorcycle-like dealing with but are supposed to fold up so compact that they will slot in a golf bag for touring.
They even use powertool batteries which might be individually sufficiently small to satisfy airline necessities for flights, but add as much as sufficient capability and energy for a quick electrical scooter like this.
The design in nonetheless present process adjustments however the prototype confirmed what the corporate thinks is feasible.
FLIT
This British folding e-bike makes me suppose that that is what Brompton ought to have constructed, as a substitute of creating one thing that appears like an e-bike conversion package stuffed right into a Brompton.
FLIT’s electrical bike was purpose-built as an e-bike, that means the electronics are built-in. Nonetheless, it nonetheless folds up practically as small as a Brompton, that means it’s completely tiny.
You positively want to look at it in motion in my video on the high of this text.
Ebike OS
Whereas we’re speaking about Bromptons, I must also point out EbikeLabs, which confirmed off its management software program in an electrical Brompton on the present.
EbikeLabs doesn’t make any bodily {hardware}, however as a substitute gives spectacular management software program that can provide e-bikes new options like hill maintain and progressive regenerative breaking, amongst a number of different patents the corporate holds.
I examined out that regenerative braking, which is activated by pedaling backward like a coaster brake. It labored very well, which is saying one thing, contemplating a Brompton’s 16-inch wheel is the worst case state of affairs for highly effective regenerative braking. Think about that being utilized to a bigger commuter wheel, and the influence could be spectacular.
Hydroride Europe AG
Ever tried a hydrogen-powered bicycle? Neither had I, a minimum of not till I hopped on one in all Hydroride Europe AG’s fashions on the present.
These hydrogen-powered bicycles have an on-board gasoline cell that converts hydrogen from a small tank into electrical energy to energy the rear hub motor.
To be sincere, the experience didn’t really feel that a lot completely different from most electrical bicycles I’ve examined, which is form of the purpose. The gasoline could also be completely different, however the experience is simply nearly as good.
Now whether or not or not hydrogen is a viable gasoline for bicycles (or some other automobile) is one other query, and I’m undecided I see it taking off for shoppers. However Hydroride is focusing on industrial clients like bike-sharing firms who need to keep away from depots filled with charging batteries, so maybe they’ll discover some success on that entrance. For the remainder of us, I don’t suppose we’ll be operating hydrogen turbines in our dwelling rooms anytime quickly.
Micromobility American present is coming quickly!
It was nice to see all of those firms and extra at Micromobility Europe, and now it has me much more excited for what’s to return at Micromobility America this yr.
The present will transfer to a brand new location this November, from San Francisco to Los Angeles this yr, so be sure to stick round to listen to what we discover on the present this yr. Should you’re near LA, you’ll be able to nonetheless get early hen tickets, too.
