MOBILITY

THE SUSTAINABLE

MOBILITY SERVICE

Urban living is changing and organisations have found an innovative way to transport individuals sustainably: using electric scooters

The majority of people living in cities these days will have experienced electrification benefits through the growing e-scooter initiative. In recent years, there has been an influx of new micro-mobility solutions that not only provide great decarbonisation efforts, but also allow ease of movement for city residents.

For the Gen Z population, now entering into the world of work or building their careers, e-scooters have become the norm, particularly across areas of the world where micro-mobility is now widespread across Europe, the Middle East, and the Americas. The sheer fact that we can't remember some of the most well-visited cities before micromobility appeared shows how rapid the pace of change has become.

“THE KEY INDUSTRY TRENDS AT THE MOMENT ARE ABOUT CREATING A SERVICE THAT IS ABLE TO SUPPORT OPERATIONS IN THE LONG-TERM”

JESS HALL HEAD OF CITIES UKI,TIER MOBILITY At first, micro-mobility seemed like a novelty, allowing travellers to work their way round a city in an exciting new way. But as the industry evolves, it’s becoming a movement that’s here for the long-term, thanks to undeniable benefits.

MICRO-MOBILITY REPRESENTS A MINDSET SHIFT

According to research by Grandview, the global e-scooter market was estimated at a combined value of US$20.78bn in 2021, and there have only been more applications since that period. As a result of a 78% compound annual growth rate, the industry is expected to develop much further between now and the 2030 climate change deadline for electric vehicles (EVs).

Electric transportation is a response from governments to decarbonise their cities, and one of the most effective ways to do that is to eliminate cars from the equation—for the most part. Alternatively, public transport is more in demand with more electric buses produced for innercity transit, but the more noticeable change is micro-mobility, which is being used by commuters, fun-lovers, and delivery drivers alike, as well as anyone who needs to get somewhere in a pinch. What cities need are solutions that challenge the norm, as those are the initiatives that facilitate a shift in not just sentiments, but livelihood, too.

It’s more common these days to go against the grain, and that’s exactly what businesses in the micro-mobility sector have done. Tapping into a new method of transport has ultimately transformed the lives of many and created lasting change in the way consumers use transportation.

“MAAS PLATFORMS ARE ENABLING THIS BY BRINGING TOGETHER DIFFERENT TYPES OF MOBILITY AND MAKING IT EASIER FOR PEOPLE TO PLAN”

MATTHEW PENCHARZ HEAD OF PUBLIC POLICY FOR UK, IRELAND & THE NETHERLANDS, VOI TECHNOLOGY the last mile. By reclaiming road space from the car, we can reduce traffic and pollution to make cities more liveable.”

The ability to facilitate such a shift in mobility plays into the hands of companies like TIER Mobility, Voi, and Bird, who wish to change the course of climate change while addressing the need to transport a much larger population.

THE E-SCOOTER INTEGRATES INTO MOBILITY-AS-A-SERVICE

There is something in common with many of the latest and greatest transportation options used today—technology. Specifically, app-based mobility. It seems that more commuting methods have become integrated with applications to provide consumers with what can be best described as ‘mobility-as-a-service (MaaS)’.

As a collective, the idea behind e-scooters, e-bikes, and e-mopeds is to transform mobility by defiance of convention; a method that will transition the world from heavily-polluting cars. “Our urban areas have been designed around the car for decades, at the expense of developing transport systems that put people first,” says Jess Hall, Head of Cities UKI, TIER Mobility.

“Our aim with shared micro-mobility is to offer a sustainable alternative to today’s reliance on personal cars by expanding the reach of existing public transport networks and offering a personal mobility solution for

“MaaS is an extremely broad term, encompassing everything from ride hailing to both docked and dockless shared micromobility services. But at its core, MaaS removes the need for the consumer to own their own personal form of transport,” says Hall, as she sums up the term in the best possible way.

Although micro-mobility was far from the only driving force in influencing MaaS, Hall explains that it’s meeting the demand for multi-modal journeys. “I wouldn’t say that e-scooters influenced the demand for MaaS so much as shared that micro-mobility has proven to be the answer to consumer demand for accessible, sustainable, and affordable personal mobility for shorter journeys,” says Hall.

From another brand in this space, Matthew Pencharz, Head of Public Policy for UK, Ireland & the Netherlands at Voi Technology, adds to this: ”Shared e-scooters have

delivered a sustainable ‘last-mile solution’. Instead of just jumping in a private car, you can use an e-scooter to travel to the train station or bus stop, and use public transport for the rest of your journey.

“MaaS platforms are enabling this by bringing together different types of mobility and making it easier for people to plan, pay and access these services. Over a third of our trips are taken in conjunction with public transport, a number that will only increase as more MaaS platforms are launched.” What e-scooters represent is, as mentioned, a change in mindset, which is the first step for any e-mobility industry that looks to grow purely through sustainable influence, and by meeting the developing needs of a growing population.

Nevertheless, the industry continues to rise, and further concerns around e-scooters will shape how businesses adapt their products and services—one of these is the safety aspect of publicly-used e-scooters. “The key industry trends at the moment are about creating a service that is able to support operations in the long-term,” says Hall. “There’s some ongoing dialogue with local authorities on what a successful

“OUR URBAN AREAS HAVE BEEN DESIGNED AROUND THE CAR FOR DECADES, AT THE EXPENSE OF DEVELOPING TRANSPORT SYSTEMS THAT PUT PEOPLE FIRST”

JESS HALL HEAD OF CITIES UKI, TIER MOBILITY

TIER MOBILITY: A GLOBAL MICRO-MOBILITY OPERATOR

Operating in 560 cities across 33 countries globally, TIER Mobility has a rather special sustainability focus, which is driven by circularity and the ability to support individuals to travel sustainably around cities.

Offering a dedicated app that allows consumers to log in safely and securely, the company allows driver’s licence holders to use its services on demand, creating a network of e-scooters that are maintained, easily accessible, and convenient.

The company is also dedicated to circularity. A critical part of the company’s operating model is repairs and maintenance, which, for a publiclyused micro-mobility service, allows TIER Mobility to monitor the condition of its products and ensure that the replacement of parts is carried out successfully while also managing the recycling of old components.

Committed to emissions reduction, TIER Mobility is focused on reaching net-zero; currently, however, it’s operating on a carbonneutral basis, eliminating emissions from its supply chain while strategically offsetting any remaining greenhouse gases (GHGs) that aren’t covered in the process.

TIER Mobility also offers docked pedal bikes and electric bikes through its Nextbike brand, which is currently in operation across the EMEA region.

service looks like and educating what tools are at our disposal to make services safe.”

Pencharz also explains how safety and convenience, as well as climate positivity, are shaping the demand for the industry. “Innovation in vehicle development and technology, including improving safety features and parking solutions as well as developing new models, is critical to creating a service that people want and use,” says Pencharz.

“Outside of the industry, concerns about sustainability and the cost-of-living crisis are encouraging people to explore using micromobility. In the UK and Ireland, we’re looking forward to the legalisation of e-scooters, with more schemes launching across towns and cities outside of the current areas.” As the e-scooter movement grows, companies like TIER Mobility will look to develop a universal sound for e-scooters. As Hall says: “This is in response to concerns raised by organisations and charities for the visually impaired around how quick, but silent, e-scooters are.”