As vehicles and technologies continue to advance and become essential nearly every second of our days, having access to easy charging resources is becoming more and more of a priority. Continued innovations in this sector are helping ensure dead devices are never an issue. So, what are some of these innovations, how much of an impact do they truly hold, and what are the main benefits? Scroll below to read more.
Low vehicle batteries can really put a stump in one’s day. But battery swapping stations are an up-and-coming trend that addresses this issue. Vehicles with low batteries can “stop and swap” their low charge battery for a fully charged battery at these stations and earn credit toward their next ride while doing so.
Current charging methods that exist are locking and charging stations and charging-only docks, which are compact and less costly. Unfortunately, not all stations can accommodate varying scooter types. Inductive charging helps combat this by creating an air gap that can accommodate various tube angles and heights as well as different deck heights. Inductive charging is also beneficial because it reduces the number of mechanical parts needed for the station. Many companies have begun working on battery and infrastructure standardization.
So, why is advancing micromobility so important today, especially in urban settings? Micromobility infrastructure innovator DUCKT sees is as a way to organize public spaces and lower transportation costs.
With over 15,000 electric scooters on the streets of large cities like Paris, increasing micromobility will allow faster access to the full scope of the city. Ultimately, the goal is to ban gas-powered cars in Paris by 2030.
From an operator standpoint, micromobility offers those living on the outskirts of bustling cities access to the mainstream areas that would previously require significantly more time and effort to access. Spin’s launch in the Treptow-Köpenick district in the Adlershof district demonstrates this firsthand. They are collaborating with Swobbee, a Battery-as-a-Service provider. Spin has employees distribute scooters on bikes from battery charging stations, while Berliners do not have to worry about returning them to the stations. Bolt has also jumped onto the micromobility train, launching charging stations in Europe that will not only reduce user transport time to recharge, but will also fight the frustration of congestion issues for users while preventing potential accidents.
Other municipalities, such as office buildings, residential compounds, hotels and guest houses, and retail centers, are even seeing the benefit of micromobility to their entities. With 68 percent of the world’s population projected to live in urban settings by 2050, CityDock is implementing docking stations at these municipalities to facilitate transportation in all aspects of life. Government employees, such as New York City Council Members Paul Vallone and Fernando Cabrera, see e-bikes and e-scooters as a way to continue safely growing the city population. They believe charging stations and docks are a must for large scale implementation of e-transportation to keep the sidewalks and streets clear and ensure safety.
Clearly, charging solutions are a keystone to spreading e-transportation to reap these accessibility, sustainability, and urban growth benefits. KNOT spent three years designing an incredibly compact dock charging station that powers scooter battery 60 percent in a speedy 30-minute period. Their station also locks scooters to the extent that a hopeful thief would break the scooter itself in any attempt to steal. Segway’s Max, Max Pro, and Max Plus models can accommodate docking stations to reduce scooter litter, decrease collection time and costs for scooter companies, and increase security, all of which are characteristics attractive to users, companies, and cities. The Segway Max series is even interoperable with KNOT, DUCKT and INTIS charging stations, marking the next big step to catalyzing the e-transportation revolution.
So, what’s next for e-transportation and micromobility? It seems it will be up to these companies to spread their innovations by continuing to make contracts with local governments. Are we about to see a transportation revolution? Only the actions of companies such as Segway and government entities will tell.
