Russ Curry, Ministry of New Media
At an event in London on Tuesday, TIER, the leading European micro-mobility operator, launched the first ever scooter with user swappable batteries along with a European-wide charging network that they say is set to revolutionise urban transport.
Lawrence Leuschner, CEO and co-founder of TIER, said “Today marks a step change in safe and sustainable travel around our cities. By integrating this new kind of swappable battery technology, we are building a Europe-wide charging network that allows users to play an active part in adoptingclimate-neutral travel and building better cities. At the same time, by hosting the charging pods in local businesses, we are helping high streets to recover from lockdown. This is a crucial step in TIER’s electric revolution to make mobility better. It is our plan that in time our charging network will not just service e-scooters, but other vehicles too.”
The new e-scooter model enables riders to exchange batteries at charging stations which TIER is setting up across European cities, allowing them to earn free rides in the process. This in turn creates an even more sustainable operation as much of the congestion and noise pollution previously associated with operating e-scooter fleets is eliminated, while recharge costs for fleets are also greatly reduced. TIER’s vision is to introduce the same swappable battery to its portfolio of shared vehicles so that in the future all will be powered by the same charging network.
Placed inside convenience stores, cafés, and other partner locations, the charging stations are fully-automated and require no store staff oversight while simply plugged into mains power no installation is required either. Hosting a charging station is at no cost for partners as TIER is also paying for all electricity. At the same time it helps to attract new customers and increases sales, while reducing the carbon footprint of customer travel, helping them reach their own climate goals. The charging technology was pioneered by the London-based hardware startup Pushme, which TIER acquired earlier this year.
The new scooters will initially be deployed in Tampere, Finland, where a 1,000-strong fleet will be supported by a network of 50 charging stations across the city, following an oversubscribed process to select participating venues. This industry-first model, with charging stations housed in various locations around cities, will shortly be rolled out across all European countries where TIER operates. To fulfill this plan by the end of 2021, TIER is actively seeking strategic partners to host the network. Those interested are encouraged to register their details here.
The latest features that Berlin-based TIER has added to its e-scooter cements its position as innovation leader and the most sustainable and safest operator in the industry: a foldable helmet and indicator lights on the steering bar and back fender that clearly signal the rider’s direction to other road users. This adds to safety features previously developed by TIER, including the largest front wheel in the industry, a wider foot plate, dual suspension, a double kick-stand and dual drum brakes for stable riding on uneven surfaces and conditions.
Since it was founded in 2018, TIER has launched in 70+ cities and was the first micro-mobility provider to go climate-neutral. It recently emerged as a winner in the highly competitive Paris tender, which will see 5,000 TIER e-scooters deployed in the city, as well as the Lyon tender, where 2,000 e-scooters will be deployed.
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