INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Scoot, the electric moped company that first launched in San Francisco, is deploying two new modes of transportation in Barcelona
The first is an upgrade of its original scooter that the company deploys in San Francisco
Instead of maxing out at 30 mph, this new moped can go up to 60 mph
The second mode of transportation is a good old-fashioned pedal assist bicycle
To support Scoot ambitions in Barcelona, the company has a team of 20 people based in the European city.
Specifically, Scoot will deploy
1,000 bicycles that can lock to bike locks and other city infrastructure
Scoot will also deploy 500 electric scooters, designed by Silence
These mopeds are designed to not only drive faster, but also be more durable and carry up to two people
But Scoot won&t be the only shared electric moped and bicycle service in Barcelona
Instead, it will join the likes of moped startups Yugo and eCooltra, and bike-share startup Bicing.
Scoot is hoping to also launch its
stationless bikes in San Francisco, but can&t for a little while due to the fact the city has an exclusive permit with bike-share service
JUMP (now owned by Uber) until next June
However, Scoot founder and CEO Michael Keating told me he hopeful the city will change it mind, saying, &we would like to think we&d be able
to convince the city to let us do it before the JUMP pilot ends.&
Scoot CEO Michael Keating at the company SF HQ
That because Scoot has
been working with the city since 2012, and has, in Keating mind, proven its ability to work well with cities.Scoot was quite early to the
concept of shared mobility that you can leave and pickup anywhere
Fast forward a few years and now we see Lime, Bird, Spin and JUMP hitting the streets with electric scooters and bikes
Despite the entrance of several new mobility players in San Francisco, Keating said Scoot hasn&t seen any dips in ridership.
Whether Scoot
gets into stand-on scooters remains to be seen
Keating said he recognizes they&re a &cool product& but he has an issue with how often people ride them on sidewalks
You may also remember when Scoot launched ten of those mini electric cars that could hold up to two people
Scoot has since pulled them from the streets, but Keating said the company is currently looking for the right electric car for San
