News: Bloomberg shows how micro is the mobility solution for climate and more | Interview: Oonee CEO Shabazz Stuart
Sep 18, 2023
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CEO of Oonee, Shabazz Stuart, discusses the rise of electric two and three-wheelers and their impact on oil demand. The podcast also explores the popularity of electric bike vouchers in the US and highlights the importance of standardized agreements and infrastructure for micro-mobility.
The rise of e-bikes and the increasing popularity of electric two- and three-wheelers worldwide are displacing oil demand and contributing to the EV revolution.
Uni emphasizes the importance of infrastructure in addressing safety concerns and making micro-mobility a safe and viable transportation option.
Deep dives
The Importance of Micro-Mobility Infrastructure
Uni, an infrastructure company, focuses on working with cities and private property owners to build micro-mobility infrastructure, such as parking and charging systems. They believe that infrastructure is crucial for the micro-mobility industry to reach its full potential and become a dominant mode of transportation in cities. The evolution of the industry, including the rise of e-bikes and the need for secure bike parking and charging, has highlighted the importance of infrastructure in supporting the growing demand for micro-mobility. Uni has developed parking and charging centers and is also working on a charging cabinet platform called 'Uni Power' to accommodate the needs of e-bike users. They recognize that infrastructure is a necessary component for the industry to thrive and achieve higher levels of mode share.
E-Bike Fires and the Future of Battery Storage
As the popularity of e-bikes increases, concerns about safety, particularly related to battery fires, have arisen. Insurance companies, risk managers, and fire marshals have imposed restrictions on e-bikes and e-bike battery storage in buildings due to safety concerns. Uni's founder, Shabazz Stewart, anticipates the rollout of best practices from New York, where e-bike bans on trains and restrictions regarding battery storage have already been imposed. The city serves as a model for other markets in terms of safety regulations and fire risk management. Battery swapping, on-street and lobby charging cabinets, and government regulations are some of the solutions being considered to enhance e-bike safety and charging infrastructure. Uni also aims to make it easier and more affordable for e-bike users to procure high-quality batteries and chargers. The future of battery storage for micro-mobility vehicles involves addressing safety concerns and implementing robust charging solutions that resemble electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
The Role of Infrastructure in Micro-Mobility Safety
Uni recognizes that safety is a significant concern in the micro-mobility industry, and they emphasize the importance of infrastructure in addressing these concerns. While cities invest millions in safety measures, focusing on factors like speed and convenience rather than exclusively on safety can enhance the perceived safety of micro-mobility. The company works with cities to develop high-quality infrastructure, including parking and charging solutions, to ensure that micro-mobility becomes a safe and viable transportation option. By checking the boxes of speed, convenience, and reliability, in addition to safety, micro-mobility can potentially achieve a mode share similar to that in European cities like Amsterdam and Copenhagen.
Uni's Mission and Expansion Plans
Uni's mission is to collaborate with cities and private property owners to build the necessary infrastructure for micro-mobility. They have already made progress by establishing the nation's first secure bike parking system on the municipal level in Jersey City. They also have various locations in New York City and have partnered with delivery workers to develop charging solutions. Uni aims to expand their services to additional markets across the country, with plans to announce partnerships in other cities in the near future. Their focus remains on utilizing infrastructure to support and enhance the micro-mobility industry, with the goal of making it a dominant mode of transportation in cities.
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Chapters:
00:00 - 3:10 Announcements and giveaways
3:11 - 7:47 Bloomberg says micro is making all the difference with climate
7:48 - 14:29 Utah Clean Air Partnership successful ebike voucher program and the failure of others
14:30 - 16:02 LATimes stands up for electric bikes
16:03 - 20:57 Encinitas update on state of emergency around Electric Bikes
20:58 Shabazz Stuart, Founder and CEO of Oonee
According to Bloomberg NEF, there are nearly 300M electric two- and three-wheelers on the road worldwide, and collectively, they displace about 4x as much oil demand as the entire global fleet of electric cars. The EV revolution has arrived… on two/three wheels.
Electric bike vouchers are increasing in popularity across the U.S. In Utah, the Utah Clean Air Partnership is working with Magnum Bikes to provide eligible residents with vouchers of up $1,200. The voucher program offers up to $800 off Magnum e-bikes and $1,200 for the cargo e-bike models. For income-qualified applicants, the voucher amount goes up to $1,000 and $1,400 for cargo e-bikes.
While the New York Times continues to bash ebikes as a menace to public safety at every turn, the LA Times is more discerning about the real problems affecting our urban road networks: “The focus on young ebike riders’ safety can obscure the bigger crisis: People driving cars and trucks are killing more people on our roads.”
How do scooter and bike sharers gain permission to operate in a given locale? Many municipalities base their decision, in part, on lucrative revenue sharing requirements, a practice that some experts say is creating a “negative cycle” for both operators and cities. → need standardized agreements
We have Shabazz Stuart, Founder and CEO of Oonee
Oonee builds, finances, and operates automated bike parking infrastructure that humanizes public spaces. It is driven on changing the mobility game in cities by building a network of smart, modular, pods that provide secure parking for bikes and scooters on the interior while providing public space amenities on the exterior.
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