Car makers invest in e-scooters and e-bikes

Global car makers are investing in electric scooters and bikes.

Ford and General Motors (GM) announced their electric two-wheeler plans at nearly the same time last month.

GM’s development of two integrated and connected e-bikes – one folding, are part of its “flexible electrification” featured in EVtalk on November 28. Meanwhile, Ford bought e-scooter start-up Spin for a reported $US$100 million the same month, although Reuters reports the investment is closer to US$200m.

A San Francisco-based e-scooter rental provider, Spin runs in nine US cities including Denver, Detroit and Long Beach, as well as five colleges.

Ford have previously invested in ride-share GoBikes in 2013 and was involved in an e-scooter rental trial “Jelly” at Purdue University in October.

Ride-share company Lyft also acquired bike-share firm Motivate in June for a reported US$250m.

Uber is moving into electric scooters as well.

What’s behind the drive for electric two-wheelers?

Most e-scooters and a variety of e-bikes can be folded, useful for carrying in the car boot or on public transport.

That’s prompted some media like Stuff

to speculate e-scooters might be the top car accessory for 2019.

Certainly the popularity of e-bikes and Lime e-scooter hire show electric two-wheelers are now a part of urban transportation, especially over first and last mile journeys.

Auto makers are also reported to be looking at ways of making their brand “green”, and the introduction of electric two-wheelers is also cheap.

Some have considered integrating e-scooters and e-bikes with their cars so they can be charged from the vehicle.

Car makers which have already switched to making electric bikes include BMW and Audi.

So it seems automakers are broadening their business to become mobility companies rather than simply selling cars.