Lime’s next-generation electric bikes have finally arrived in North America. Nearly a year after announcing intentions to invest $50 million in a massive e-bike expansion, the San Francisco-based micromobility startup has announced that the first wave of new bikes will be deployed in Washington, DC, beginning this week.
Lime claims the new bikes outperform those currently in service, which it received from Jump after acquiring the bike-share firm from Uber in 2020. The $50 million investment will be used mostly to design, manufacture, and assemble its next-generation bike, which will be available this year. The new model has a more powerful 350-watt engine and a swappable battery with a range of up to 25 miles.
The bikes have swappable batteries that are compatible with the company’s fleet of electric scooters, in addition to a new dual-speed automatic transmission. This will improve the customer experience by reducing the likelihood of seeing vehicles with drained batteries, according to Lime’s director of Mid-Atlantic and Northeast operations.
« We can now obtain the batteries faster, » Lime’s Paul Holley told The Verge. « There aren’t as many low-battery trucks out in the field. » Our work turnaround times are much faster. »
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Andrew J. Hawkins / The Verge
The swappable batteries are undoubtedly the most significant new feature in Lime’s next-generation e-bike. Lime sees the ability to switch batteries between scooters and bikes as beneficial not only to customers but also to the company’s bottom line. Lime saves money by streamlining its production process and operationally by lowering the amount of work that its staff in each city must complete.
« What you really accomplish when you unify that battery ecosystem and isolate it to a single battery is it increases the density of the work that needs to get done out in the field, » Holley explained. « So you don’t have to have two distinct teams that are just rushing out on their own lane and doing their own thing. »
Not every scooter and bike manufacturer is convinced. Bird, for example, has taken a different stance, claiming that swappable batteries are often smaller and store less charge than non-swappable batteries. The company also claims that swappable batteries have a higher carbon footprint since they necessitate additional vehicle miles to retrieve, replace, and recharge scooters.
Holley contended that swappable batteries do not necessarily imply reduced power or range; Lime can choose to install larger batteries if it so desires. « We can accomplish it within the context and constraints of a swappable battery environment, » he explained. « You can scale up and down in terms of size, range, amp hours, and other factors. »
Other new features on the bike include: handlebars similar to those found on Lime scooters, a phone holder in the front basket, and the ability to reach speeds of up to 20mph (depending on local regulations). It weights 72 pounds, which is heavier than the electric Citi Bikes, which weigh 65 pounds.
Late last year, I had the opportunity to test one of Lime’s new bikes. I was amazed by the motor’s capacity to deliver power when I rode the bike from Brooklyn to Lower Manhattan. As far as I could tell, the boost was practically instantaneous, with none of the jerkiness or lengthy motor build-up that I’ve experienced with other e-bikes. It’s not the most attractive e-bike I’ve ever ridden, but that’s by design because Lime’s e-bikes are designed for power, stability, and longevity.
Having said that, I don’t believe bike-share users will ditch their favored e-bikes in favor of Lime’s new models. Bike-share is a convenience tool, and users typically use the bike that is closest to their location.
Lime will continue to operate its cherry-red Jump bikes, with no plans to phase them out in favor of the new Lime-branded e-bikes. The company has indicated that it aspires to be a multimodal provider of a wide range of low-speed, electric cars. Lime added Wheels pedal-less e-bikes to its app in numerous locations in 2020 as part of a new attempt to integrate third-party micromobility suppliers. It has launched electric mopeds in a number of markets, including Paris and Washington, DC.
It’s encouraging to see Lime investing in new technical specs in order to expand the offerings offered in its app. Scooters are ideal for tourists or anyone who want to go for a short ride. However, bikes are superior for longer distances, and e-bikes, in particular, are excellent for replacing vehicle trips. In this regard, Lime will have a very potent tool in its arsenal for its larger effort to encourage electric, zero-emission transportation.
