<keyword id="19895282" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Mumbai" source="keywords">Mumbai</keyword>: As many as 290 <keyword id="22610023" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="electric-motorbikes" source="keywords">electric motorbikes</keyword> have been seized and cases registered against 221 riders of such two-wheelers during a three-day special drive conducted by the traffic police in Mumbai, an official said. The police conducted the drive from August 9 to 11 against <keyword id="22767050" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="e-motorbike-riders" source="keywords">e-motorbike riders</keyword> for violating <keyword id="22767051" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="road-safety-norms" source="keywords">road safety norms</keyword> and endangering their own lives and those of others. <br /><br />During the drive, a total of 1,176 e-motorbikes faced action and a fine of Rs 1.63 lakh was collected from the erring riders, the official said on Monday. <br /><br />The campaign was aimed at stopping uncontrolled and rule-breaking e-motorbike riders, whose number has grown substantially over the years in the metropolis, he said. <br /><br />During the drive, cases were registered against 221 e-motorbike riders for violating traffic rules. Also, 290 e-motorbikes were seized over three days, he informed. <br /><br />Additionally, action was taken against 272 individuals for riding battered-operated two-wheelers in the wrong direction, against 491 riders for jumping traffic signals and 252 for driving in no-entry zones, the official said. <br /><br />Joint Police Commissioner (Traffic) Anil Kumbhare appealed to Mumbai residents to report to authorities any violation of rules by e-motorbike riders or food/grocery delivery executives who also use such vehicles.

221 e-motorbike riders booked for road rules violation in Mumbai; 290 vehicles seized

<keyword id="12952883" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ignitron-Motocorp" source="Orion">Ignitron Motocorp</keyword>, a new electric vehicle start-up, on Friday unveiled its third electric sports bike '<keyword id="13050599" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="GT-120" source="Orion">GT 120</keyword>' in the Indian market.<br /><br />According to the company, GT 120 has been designed and built indigenously with a combination of pioneering design, intuitive/ AI-enabled technology and safety features.<br /><br />"With our complete range of products, we aim to cater to the vast needs of our enthusiast customers by providing an electrifying experience with uncompromised features and unmatched style. We believe our motorbikes will be a game changer in the electric mobility segment," Raghav Kalra, Founder, Ignitron Motocorp, said in a statement.<br /><br />The bike aims to offer a superior EV experience that not only redefines the identity for electric sports mobility but also comes with environment-friendly technology.<br /><br />The GT 120 comes with a 4.68 kWH Lithium-ion battery that can churn out a top speed of 125km/h with a range of 180 km.<br /><br />The bike offers features such as Geo locate/Geo fencing, battery status, USB charging, Bluetooth, Key less ignition (remote control) and digital cluster.<br /><br />The battery is fixed due to its size and weight, weather proof and touch-safe, provides a back up of 4-5 hours with 100 per cent charging and comes with 15 amp fast home charger.<br /><br />The bike delivers acceleration of 0-40 km/h in 2.5 seconds. It features three riding modes - Eco, Normal and Sport, each suiting the riding style and needs of the rider. The motorbike is also equipped with reverse mode and parking assist along with multiple sounds.<br /><br />It comes with Telescopic Forks up-front and a fully-adjustable mono shock at the rear to give an exclusive riding experience.<br /><b>SEE ALSO:</b><br /><br /> <b><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/cost-of-owning-and-running-an-electric-scooter-vs-a-petrol-scooter/articleshow/89119184.cms">Here’s how much buying and owning an electric scooter costs in India versus a petrol scooter</a></b><br /><br /> <b><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/tork-motors-launches-news-ebikes-kratos-and-kratos-r-in-india/slidelist/89171224.cms">All you need to know about the latest Tork Motors e-bikes — KRATOS and KRATOS-R</a></b><br />

Ignitron Motocorp launches GT 120 electric sports bike in India

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5d5ff98f2e22af2680412f25-2400/jeff bezos - saul loebgetty images.jpg" border="0" alt="Jeff Bezos" data-mce-source="Saul Loeb/Getty Images" /><p class="source"><span>Saul Loeb/Getty Images</span></p><p class="caption">Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><ul class="summary-list"><li><strong>Amazon's major investment in British food delivery startup Deliveroo has hit another snag after the UK's competition watchdog decided to launch a formal investigation into the deal.</strong></li><li><strong>The Competition and Markets Authority has been weighing whether to conduct a formal probe since July 2019, after Amazon led a $575 million funding round into Deliveroo.</strong></li><li><strong>The CMA is worried that Amazon will effectively merge with Deliveroo with the investment, reducing competition.</strong></li><li><strong>The watchdog will decide in December whether to escalate its probe further, which would result in the deal being blocked or Amazon being forced to sell off parts of its business.</strong></li></ul><p>Amazon's massive investment into British food delivery firm Deliveroo has hit another snag, with the UK's competition regulator <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5da6ce3440f0b631f2ef21cd/Notice_commencement_initial_period_-_Amazon_-_for_publication.pdf">deciding to launch a formal investigation</a> into the deal.</p><p>The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-and-deliveroo-cma-halts-investment-2019-7?r=US&amp;IR=T">first mooted an investigation in July</a>, after Amazon led a $575 million funding round into Deliveroo, which is a major rival to Uber Eats outside the US.</p><p>At the time, the CMA said it was concerned Amazon might effectively acquire Deliveroo through the investment, potentially reducing competition. The watchdog also put the investment on ice, and asked Amazon and Deliveroo to keep their operations separate.</p><p>Deliveroo is a UK-based, fast-growing food delivery startup that works much like Uber Eats or DoorDash. The firm offers takeaway food from local restaurants and ferries meals out to customers via delivery riders on bikes or motorbikes. It is one of the largest and most successful startups in the UK, but has faced controversy over its categorization of delivery riders as contractors rather than employees, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/deliveroo-will-shu-profile-amazon-2019-7?r=US&amp;IR=T">and its internal working culture</a>.</p><p>Should Amazon's investment in Deliveroo go ahead, it would give the retail giant access to an innovative on-demand delivery network, which <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/analysis-amazon-investment-in-deliveroo-2019-5?r=US&amp;IR=T">may help tackle the "last mile" delivery problem</a> of getting packages to their ultimate destination.</p><p>Prior to the Amazon deal, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/uber-in-talks-acquire-deliveroo-uber-eats-report-2018-9?r=US&amp;IR=T">Deliveroo was in acquisition talks with Uber</a>, but sources indicated the pair could agree on a price. CEO Will Shu believes the firm is worth some $4-6 billion, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/deliveroo-history-and-timeline-2018-9?r=US&amp;IR=T">sources told Business Insider</a> last year. The company was last publicly valued at $2 billion. It also held early acquisition talks with Amazon, <a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/2018/09/24/amazon-made-two-approaches-deliveroo-uber-circles-2bn-delivery/">The Telegraph reported</a>.</p><p>Amazon and Deliveroo have previously argued that they are not planning to merge, and that they sought regulatory approval ahead of the deal.</p><p>The watchdog will carry out what it calls a "phase 1" investigation, meaning it will look more fully into concerns that a merger or investment would reduce competition for consumers. Amazon and Deliveroo could fend off further investigation by making changes to their business, or promising not to merge their operations.</p><p>If the CMA decides that the deal is anti-competitive, it will launch a "phase 2" probe that would likely halt the deal or force Amazon or Deliveroo to divest parts of their business.</p><p>The CMA said it will decide on a phase 2 investigation in December.</p><p>Amazon declined to comment. Business Insider has contacted Deliveroo for comment.</p><p class="tagline"><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/intelligence/40-big-tech-predictions-for-2019?IR=T&amp;itm_source=businessinsider&amp;itm_medium=ctgr_bii&amp;itm_term=ctgr_leadgen&amp;itm_content=amazon&amp;itm_campaign=40-big-tech-predictions-for-2019-3"><img src="https://static.businessinsider.com/image/5d5ecdddad2b472c89086704" alt="Exclusive FREE Slide Deck: 40 Big Tech Predictions for 2019 by Business Insider Intelligence" border="0" style="width: 100% !important" /></a></p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/e-scooter-riders-where-to-ride-what-rules-to-follow-2019-9">E-scooter riders are confused about where to ride and what regulations to follow</a></h3>        <div>            <iframe class="bijwplayerclass" data-player="jwplayer" src="https://content.jwplatform.com/players/nMSi2WG4-CEZHWCBG.html" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="auto" style="margin:0px;" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><script>function receiveMessage(event){ console.log(event.data.fullscreen); Android.fullscreen(event.data.fullscreen); }window.addEventListener("message", receiveMessage, false);</script>        </div>    </div>

Amazon's massive investment in food delivery startup Deliveroo faces further delays thanks to a formal antitrust probe

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5c3f44653028c1197a5c1512-2400/ap18213595169961.jpg" border="0" alt="Scooters Lime Bird Santa Monica" data-mce-source="AP Photo/Richard Vogel" data-mce-caption="People ride Lime and Bird scooters along the strand in Santa Monica, Calif. The shared electric scooters could be banned in Los Angeles until regulations are approved and permits are issued. A motion by a Los Angeles Councilman would tell city officials to take all available measures to ban scooters in LA and issue cease-and-desist letters to scooter companies. Santa Monica police have cracked down on flagrant violations. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel)" /><p class="source"><span>AP Photo/Richard Vogel</span></p><p class="caption">People ride Lime and Bird scooters along the strand in Santa Monica.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><ul class="summary-list"><li><strong>Since 2017, electric scooter startups like Bird and Lime have spread across the US and internationally.</strong></li><li><strong>Concerns have been raised about the safety of the dockless vehicles, which people often ride without a helmet.</strong></li><li><strong>Collating injury data has been tricky, but a new investigation from Consumer Reports shows a bare minimum of 1,545 accidents over the past year.</strong></li><li><strong>This data is incomplete, so the actual figure could be higher.</strong></li></ul><p><a href="https://www.consumerreports.org/product-safety/e-scooter-ride-share-industry-leaves-injuries-and-angered-cities-in-its-path/">An investigation by Consumer Reports</a> has revealed that there have been at least 1,545 accidents in the US involving electric scooters over the past year.</p><p>Lime (founded January 2017) and Bird (founded April 2017) have been the main players in e-scooter rental, although big ride-sharing companies like Uber and Lyft have been jostling to access the market as well.</p><p>But the sudden proliferation of scooters on city streets has prompted fears that they're spreading faster than regulation can keep up. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/san-francisco-ban-shared-dockless-scooters-2018-5">E-scooter companies were kicked out of San Francisco in May 2018</a>, then in September it allowed two smaller companies - Scoot Networks and Skip - <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/electric-scooters-return-to-san-francisco-after-a-citywide-ban-2018-10">to launch a pilot program</a>.</p><p>A large concern has been safety. Lime and Bird both emphasise safety on their websites, and advise riders to wear helmets - which are not provided with the scooters themselves.</p><p>At the same, Bird was also a major proponent of a California law, <a href="https://la.curbed.com/2018/9/21/17884220/bird-lime-scooters-rules-helmets-california">passed in September 2018,</a> which removed the legal requirement for scooter riders to wear helmets.</p><p><em><strong>Read more:</strong> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/e-scooter-accidents-on-the-rise-but-startup-helmet-policies-are-inconsistent-2018-11">E-scooters are sending dozens of people to emergency rooms - and the companies appear to have a double standard when it comes to safety</a></em></p><p>Reports about scooter riders ending up in ER rooms have already surfaced, but getting a wider picture of e-scooter safety has been difficult. In an attempt to get a handle on the issue, Consumer Reports (CR) on Wednesday published an investigation into scooter accident numbers across the US.</p><p>As no national data on scooter crashes currently exists, CR sent requests for information off to medical facilities. 60 facilities responded, of which 23 were able to provide information. They reported treating 1,545 patients for scooter-related injuries over the past year.</p><p>The other 37 were unable to provide CR with information either because they don't track scooter injuries, lack the capability to do so, or they had no reports of injuries on file.</p><p>Due to the amount of missing data, the number of e-scooter accidents is bound to be higher. "That's the one thing we've been able to show over and over again is that all of our datasets are incomplete," an Austin-based doctor told CR. His own staff counted e-scooter 53 injuries in Austin since last May. Both Bird and Lime have a presence in Austin.</p><p>A 21-year old exchange student was reportedly <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2019/02/05/amid-wave-severe-injuries-irish-exchange-student-becomes-latest-person-killed-electric-scooter-accident/?noredirect=on&amp;utm_term=.45663d947197">the first Austin resident to die in a scooter crash</a>. Police said he was riding a Lime scooter the wrong way down a busy street when he collided with an Uber driver. According to CR, there have been four confirmed fatalities related to e-scooters.</p><p>CR admitted that the scope of its investigation was limited, as it was unable to measure the rate of accidents without a measure of average trip lengths.</p><p>It referred to <a href="https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1326801/000132680118000022/facebook2018definitiveprox.htm">a recent study by Portland's Bureau of Transportation</a>, which found the e-scooter injury rate to be 2.2 accidents per 10,000 miles - much higher than the national average for motorbikes (0.05 per 10,000 miles) and cars (0.1 per 10,000). The study did note that not all those incidents were related to rental e-scooters, so the average is likely to be lower in reality.</p><p>Business Insider contacted Bird and Lime for comment.</p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/nasa-earth-supervolcano-apocalypse-2019-1">NASA has a $3.5 billion idea to save Earth from a supervolcano apocalypse</a></h3>        <div>            <iframe class="bijwplayerclass" data-player="jwplayer" src="https://content.jwplatform.com/players/qXw1AYG5-CEZHWCBG.html" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="auto" style="margin:0px;" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><script>function receiveMessage(event){ console.log(event.data.fullscreen); Android.fullscreen(event.data.fullscreen); }window.addEventListener("message", receiveMessage, false);</script>        </div>    </div>

Electric scooters were to blame for at least 1,500 injuries and deaths in the US last year

Uber is locked in a battle to fix Egypt's $8 billion traffic problem, and its success could decide which tech giant will dominate the Middle East and Africa

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5c9e464c2cc7404d4f3a51c9-960/woman bird scooter.jpg" border="0" alt="woman bird scooter" data-mce-source="Reuters" /><p class="source"><span>Reuters</span></p><p class="caption">A woman rides a Bird scooter in Los Angeles.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><ul class="summary-list"><li>This year marks the first spring and summer where well-funded scooter startups, such as Bird and Lime, will be fully operational in Europe.</li><li><strong>It's an important test because more people are likely to choose to hop on scooters as the weather warms up.</strong></li><li><strong>But these companies are fighting multiple regulatory battles around the world, as various cities try to stem a flood of scooters either through licensing schemes or banning them altogether.</strong></li><li><strong>City regulators have, by now, heard lots of talk about the future of mobility from well-funded companies such as Uber, Mobike, Ofo, and Taxify who then caused major headaches.</strong></li><li><strong>Business Insider spoke to scooter startups Bird and Wind to find out how they will balance expansion with avoiding their predecessors' mistakes.</strong></li></ul><p>The story is, by now, familiar.</p><p>An ambitious, multi-billion dollar company thinks it can help solve one of the biggest problems facing humanity right now: Climate change.</p><p>Too many people rely on driving their cars to get to work, the argument goes, and that's bad for city congestion, air pollution, the planet, and overall health and happiness.</p><p>This bolshy, well-funded upstart says it has the right solution, if only your city would consider changing the rules.</p><p>Its name? Uber, Taxify, Mobike, Obike, Ofo, Bird, Lime - delete as applicable.</p><h2>Scooters are the third wave of companies promising a radical change to city commuting</h2><p>The summer of 2019 promises to be the summer of scooters, at least in Europe.</p><p>Bird, the California poster child of the scooter startups, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/r-bird-scooters-roll-into-paris-tel-aviv-2018-8?r=US&amp;IR=T">only launched in Europe in July 2018</a>. Rival Lime similarly only expanded in June 2018. European peers, such as Sweden's Voi and Berlin's Wind, have also expanded through 2018. </p><p>In other words, this will be the first time big, well-funded scooter startups are fully operational during Europe's warmest season - and it's a crucial test. Scooter firms expect that the warm weather will herald an increase in demand, since people are more likely to zip around outdoors while it's sunny.</p><p><strong><em>Read more</em>:</strong><em> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/profile-reddit-de-google-community-2019-3?r=US&amp;IR=T">Thousands of Reddit users are trying to delete Google from their lives, but they're finding it impossible because Google is everywhere</a></em></p><p>"Springtime is where it gets really exciting," Matt Turzo, EMEA chief operating officer for Wind, told Business Insider. "These last few weeks, as the weather turns, have been enormous. People see Wind scooters are they walk around the city. The weather is so nice, they just jump on them."</p><p>But this crop of startups will need to prove to regulators they can handle the additional load, both in terms of wear-and-tear on vehicles, and ensuring scooters aren't just dumped around cities.</p><p>They will also need to prove they're different from some of their predecessors in mobility.</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/59a4a8ae79bbfd21008b5cb1-813/travis kalanick.jpeg" border="0" alt="Travis Kalanick" data-mce-source="Thomson Reuters" data-mce-caption="Uber founder and former CEO Travis Kalanick" /><p class="source"><span>Thomson Reuters</span></p><p class="caption">Former Uber CEO Travis Kalanick, who was widely perceived to have encouraged a culture of rule-breaking.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>London's regulators, for example, may well be feeling jaded after several waves of venture-backed companies arrived promising to relieve the city's congestion and instead caused further headaches, or simply disappeared.</p><p>The capital's transport regulator had a lengthy fight with Uber over safety issues, and <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/uber-wins-london-licence-2018-6?r=US&amp;IR=T">ended up granting the company only a temporary licence for London</a>.</p><p>The regulator <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/taxify-stops-operations-london-tfl-investigation-license-2017-9?r=US&amp;IR=T">separately banned rival Taxify</a>, which skirted the city's licensing rules.</p><p>Then the Chinese bikesharing giants Mobike, oBike, and Ofo arrived, promising to get the city's population exercising. Obike <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/local-councils-unhappy-after-obike-littered-the-streets-of-london-with-thousands-of-yellow-bicycles-2017-7?r=US&amp;IR=T">dumped bikes all over London without asking local authorities</a>, then shut up shop a year later. Mobike pulled out of the UK after a year in operation. Ofo is reportedly close to bankruptcy.</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/59cadedf351ccfd9008b45b0-1335/obike.png" border="0" alt="oBikes" data-mce-source="Twitter/DanielRDup" data-mce-caption="oBikes dumped on the top of a bus stop shelter in Melbourne." data-link="https://twitter.com/DanielRDuP/status/909597625405415425" /><p class="source"><span><a href="https://twitter.com/DanielRDuP/status/909597625405415425">Twitter/DanielRDup</a></span></p><p class="caption">oBikes dumped on the top of a bus stop shelter in Melbourne.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>It is a delicate time, then, for newcomers to wade in with promises of a transport revolution. </p><p>Patrick Studener, Bird's European chief (and an Uber alumnus), told Business Insider in an interview that the company was aware of the sector's short history. </p><p>"We have to be respectful because we've seen other companies or other modes of transport roll out very quickly, and there's a backlash to innovation, if innovation passes too aggressively or in the wrong way," he said.</p><p>"I certainly know, I feel sometimes there's scar tissue there from time to time. When you talk to people, it's like, 'Oh no, not another innovation on mobility.' But it's up to us to explain why there should be room for us. I think we've been showing this."</p><p>Studener said Bird's approach was not about growth at all costs, but launching sustainably. "I don't want to launch in all of the cities," he said. "We want the right cities, we want to launch the right way."</p><p>Studener said Bird had spent "a lot of time in advance" talking to various cities before launching scooters there.</p><p>"We're the new kids on the block, so people should ask questions, and we should have good answers for those questions," Studener added. "That's resulted in us having great relationships with regulators and city planners, who are ultimately stewards of the city... that's certainly what we'll do going forward, instead of just rushing in."</p><p>That may be true now, but Bird certainly ran into regulatory trouble when it first got started in the US. The company <a href="https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-bird-scooters-20180215-story.html">had to cough up $300,000 in fines</a> in Santa Monica, its first ever city, over allegations it didn't secure the right business licenses.</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5b7464168ea82f33008b53cd-2400/bird-scooters-santa-monica-california.jpg" border="0" alt="bird scooters santa monica california.JPG" data-mce-source="Lucy Nicholson/Reuters" data-mce-caption="People ride Bird scooters in Santa Monica, California, U.S. July 23, 2018. Picture taken July 23, 2018." /><p class="source"><span>Lucy Nicholson/Reuters</span></p><p class="caption">People ride Bird scooters in Santa Monica, California, U.S. July 23, 2018. Picture taken July 23, 2018.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>Wind's Matt Turzo came to the startup from Lyft. Lyft, although it has run into the same regulatory issues as Uber, doesn't quite have the same reputation for a growth-at-all-costs mentality.</p><p>Like Bird's Studener, he said the firm tries to be as open as possible with regulators.</p><p>"At Wind, we take a Lyft-esque approach of having that conversation and being willing to have a discussion," he told Business Insider. "We enter those discussions with the assumption that regulators want to do the best for their constituents, they have a job to do." </p><p>Some cities are more receptive than others.</p><p>Bird launched in France with comparatively few problems, which Studener described was keen to trial technologies that would reduce CO2 emissions, and work new regulation out as it went. </p><p>But in London, electric scooters are technically illegal <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/electric-scooters-illegal-1835-highways-act-2018-8?r=US&amp;IR=T">thanks to a 135-year-old law</a> originally designed to regulate horse-drawn carriages.</p><p>The UK government, lobbied by the likes of Bird and Lime, is making friendly noises about change but progress is likely to be slow. Both firms have hired former UK government advisors to help make their case to European city regulators. And Bird has won the right to carry out an extended <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/bird-launches-electric-scooters-in-london-olympic-park-2018-11?r=US&amp;IR=T">trial of its scooters in the Olympic Park</a> in east London.</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5c4b6fdb2bdd7f27447bcfe8-911/gettyimages-1081231246.jpg" border="0" alt="Lime electric scooter" data-mce-source="Salwan Georges/The Washington Post via Getty Images" /><p class="source"><span>Salwan Georges/The Washington Post via Getty Images</span></p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>And Madrid banned the bulk of e-scooters of its street last year, but then granted thousands of licenses to a range of companies including Voi, Wind, and Uber's Jump scooter service. Bird was <a href="https://diario.madrid.es/blog/notas-de-prensa/el-ayuntamiento-concede-18-autorizaciones-a-servicios-de-patinete-electrico-compartido/">one of seven scooter startups to be declined</a>.</p><p>Ultimately, Studener is optimistic, since most countries want to reduce their emissions. Bird and its rivals, of course, bill themselves as an environmentally friendly way to commute - although <a href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/climate-benefits-of-trendy-e-scooters-remain-unclear/">researchers say the picture isn't so simple</a>.</p><h2>A summer of scooters will probably mean a summer of injuries too</h2><p>When Business Insider rode a scooter last week at Bird's offices in east London, it was undeniably exhilarating.</p><p>The appeal is clear, particularly on a sunny day: hop on a scooter and you can get from A to B while also getting to know a city. It's also distinctly more pleasant than suffering through the fug of London's metro.</p><p>Wind's Matt Turzo said this is a key selling point for his firm's scooters. "There's a role to play in terms of liberating the commuter, and getting people to engage with their city in a way they never have before. It's about not having to plan a journey two hours in advance, to make sure you can get across the city."</p><p>A rise in scooter usage will probably mean more accidents too, which will be another test for startups.</p><p>Reliable injury data on scooter injuries is difficult to obtain. In the UK, the Department of Transport measures vehicle accidents, but doesn't break out electric scooters into a separate category.</p><p>What data has come from the US suggests scooters can cause serious injuries, and possibly a higher rate of injuries. There have also been a number of deaths in the US related to e-scooters.</p><p><span><a href="https://www.portlandoregon.gov/transportation/78431">A study by Portland's Bureau of Transportation</a> found the e-scooter injury rate to be 2.2 accidents per 10,000 miles - much higher than the US national average for motorbikes (0.05 per 10,000 miles) and cars (0.1 per 10,000). Not all of these incidents relate to rental e-scooters, so the average is probably lower. </span></p><p><span>Tarak Trivedi, an emergency physician and health services researcher at UCLA, conducted a comprehensive study last year about how scooters could send people to A&amp;E departments. </span></p><p><span>The study found electric scooters were associated with 249 emergency room visits between September 2017 and August 2018, with injuries reported including bone fractures, lung contusions, and dislocations. Only a tiny fraction of riders had been wearing a helmet. </span></p><p><span>(Bird <a href="https://mashable.com/article/e-scooters-helmets-bird-lime-injury-study/?europe=true#f8TG6dNkKkqm">criticised the report</a> for not focusing on road injuries and deaths from motorcycles and cars too.)</span></p><p>Trivedi told Business Insider he decided to research emergency room visits after using electric scooters himself when they first rolled out in Los Angeles.</p><p>"I recognised that once [scooters] became a billion dollar industry, these would come to all parts of the world," he said. "These are vehicles that can move you up to 15mph, but some people we saw were disrespecting the nature of the beast. There were people who were intoxicated, or riding irresponsibly with two people on one scooter. It's about recognising this isn't just a toy, it's like an automotive."</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5c9e47c509b6036aba32a96c-2400/gettyimages-1048127588.jpg" border="0" alt="Scooter 2 people" data-mce-source="Getty Images" data-mce-caption="It's not a good idea to ride these things two abreast." /><p class="source"><span>Getty Images</span></p><p class="caption">It's not a good idea to ride these things with two aboard.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>Trivedi added that earlier designs meant the scooters didn't work properly. "There was a certain type of thumb brake, which stick. You want something that you can clutch and the mechanism won't fail when you need it most," he said. Small wheels, he added, would throw someone off the scooter if they hit an obstacle.</p><p>Despite records of some fairly horrifying-sounding injuries, Trivedi thinks scooters are ultimately a good innovation.</p><p>"Anything that reduces car rides is a good thing for the environment and for us as a society," he said. "There's definitely a focus on safety that could be encouraged... maybe there should be slower speeds, and proven safety designs."</p><p>Both Bird and Lime have promised to take steps on safety, with Lime's chairman saying last year the firm <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/lime-chairman-on-scooter-companys-high-tech-safety-plans-2018-12?r=US&amp;IR=T">would lock out drunk users</a>. Both firms have also given away free helmets as part of marketing campaigns.</p><p>Studener said: "Everything we do starts with safety, the development and design of the scooter, to tutorials that we lay out."</p><p>He said, if used correctly, scooters were "on par" with bicycles in terms of safety, and that most road accidents could be attributed to cars rather than other vehicles. </p><h2>The UK will miss out on scooters for the time being</h2><p>The UK, for now, will miss out on the summer of scooters.</p><p>While the Department of Transport (DfT) announced in March that it would review the legal status of electric scooters, it didn't say when such a review would take place. </p><p>A spokesman for London's transport regulator emphasised the safety of scooters in a statement to Business Insider: "We welcome the review's focus on safety as this aligns with our commitment to Vision Zero and ensuring that any new forms of transport are safe. However, the key question is on timing as there no indication when the review will take place."</p><p>Bird's Studener acknowledged it could be many months before rental electric scooters are available en masse in the capital.</p><p>"Regulatory reviews can go on for many months," he said, adding: "I'm really excited about this. Any movement in the right direction, I'm excited about. If they had come out and said 'Scooters are fine starting Monday,' that would have been lovely. But that's also a bit unrealistic.</p><p>"A lot of the regulation is quite old, and [the Department for Transport] said it's not shy about updating the law, and that's what we're for. I appreciate that whatever they do, it'll be around for a while, so they have to think about all the knock-on effects."</p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/google-stadia-video-game-platform-console-unveil-2019-3">Watch Google unveil Stadia, its new video-game platform that streams across devices without a console</a></h3>        <div>            <iframe class="bijwplayerclass" data-player="jwplayer" src="https://content.jwplatform.com/players/DsyKEEn0-CEZHWCBG.html" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="auto" style="margin:0px;" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><script>function receiveMessage(event){ console.log(event.data.fullscreen); Android.fullscreen(event.data.fullscreen); }window.addEventListener("message", receiveMessage, false);</script>        </div>    </div>

The scooters wars are coming to Europe this summer. But first they have to prove they're not like Uber.

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container float_right"><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5748799ddd089515598b4853-4098-3073/img_1579.jpg?maxX=529&amp;maxY=397" alt="alta motors bike" width="529" height="397" data-mce-source="Aaron Brown/Tech Insider" /><p class="source"><span>Aaron Brown/Tech Insider</span></p></div><p></p></div></p><p>Since 2007, the guys behind the California-based startup Alta Motors have been working to bring the ultimate enthusiast bike to the American market, and <a href="http://www.techinsider.io/alta-motors-redshift-electric-bike-photos-2016-5">that product is just about here</a>. </p><p>The company's first electric motorcycle, called the Redshift, is slated to begin deliveries this Fall and is already backordered 13 weeks. </p><p>But Mark <span>Fenigstein, Alta Motors co-founder and CEO, told Tech Insider that it wasn't until Tesla became popular that consumer demand for electric motorcycles really took off. </span></p><p><span>And now, Fenigstein is aiming to follow in Tesla's footsteps, in a sense, and become a leading electric motorcycle maker. </span></p><h2><strong>"Standing on the shoulders of Tesla"</strong></h2><p>Fenigstein said that<span> Tesla </span>"<span>paved the way somewhat technologically and absolutely in terms of public opinion" for Alta and the rest of the electric transport market.</span></p><p>It was only a few years ago that people shunned the idea that there would ever be widespread appreciation for electric bikes, <span>Fenigstein said. But the public's growing appetite for electric vehicles, as well as advancements in battery technology, have helped e-motorbikes become a viable option for personal transport, he added. </span></p><p><span><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5748799ddd089515598b4854-2400/img_1610.jpg" alt="alta motors marc" data-mce-source="Aaron Brown/Tech Insider" /><p class="source"><span>Aaron Brown/Tech Insider</span></p><p class="caption">Fenigstein with the Redshift bikes.</p></div><p></p></div></div>That being said, Fenigstein still estimates that it will be awhile before electric motorcycles are mainstream. </span></p><p>"I think on a 10 year timeline you'll see mainstream acceptance on the order of what the Model 3 just achieved," <span>Fenigstein said.</span></p><h2>Built for performance</h2><p><a href="http://www.techinsider.io/tesla-roadster-history-2016-3">Tesla's first car, the Roadster, </a>was a two-door sports car that embraced fun driving and zero-emissions all at the same time.</p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Similarly, Alta's first bikes are also all about performance. </span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span>Fenigstein said that </span>Alta's <a href="http://www.techinsider.io/alta-motors-redshift-electric-bike-photos-2016-5">Redshift bikes </a>were designed so that riders could have as much control as they need to over their bike. Alta also wanted to make sure that its bikes could help its rider progress as a faster and more confident motorist. </span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5748799ddd089515598b4855-1671/alta motors .jpg" alt="Alta Motors " data-mce-source="Aaron Brown/Tech Insider" /><p class="source"><span>Aaron Brown/Tech Insider</span></p></div><p></p></div></div></span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;"> The Redshift bikes are punchy when you want them to be, built to be able to handle both potholes and motocross jumps, and engineered to put a smile on motorcyclist's faces.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Like Tesla's Roadster, Alta's Redshift could be the first of a wider range of electric motorcycles or even utility vehicles. </span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">However, for now, the company is focusing on getting the Redshift right and out to customers before it expands. The RedShift MX currently sells for about $15,000 and the RedShift SM, which is for on-road use, prices for $15,495. </span></p><h2>Made in California </h2><p>Like Tesla, Alta has its own factory based right in California.</p><p><span>Fenigstein said having its factory in Northern California is "<span style="font-weight: 400;">just good business."</span></span></p><p><span><span style="font-weight: 400;">He said that the close proximity of the factory and Alta's San Francisco headquarters is critical for R&amp;D purposes and for the fast-paced development and manufacturing the company wants to maintain. </span></span><span><span style="font-weight: 400;">It also enables t</span></span><span style="font-weight: 400;">he engineering team to learn from the manufacturing team in real-time, which in turn allows them to create better bikes. </span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">There's even a secret-keeping aspect to why Alta felt the need to build out its own factory. </span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"On a couple of the pieces of proprietary technology, we didn't want other people learning how to build it," <span>Fenigstein said. "</span>So the best way to protect our battery technology, for example, was for us to do to the pack manufacturing in-house. Really similar to Tesla in that respect."</span></p><h2>Battery technology is key</h2><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Fenigstein claimed that Alta's battery, <a href="http://www.techinsider.io/alta-motors-redshift-electric-bike-photos-2016-5">the Alta Pack</a>, is the most impressive part of the company's two bikes. </span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"Our battery is about 80 percent or five years ahead of the curve in terms of range per pound." </span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/573b83dcdd0895db168b4585-2400/img_1581.jpg" alt="alta motors bike" data-mce-source="Aaron Brown/Tech Insider" /><p class="source"><span>Aaron Brown/Tech Insider</span></p></div><p></p></div></div></span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This means that Alta is able to fit more battery capacity into a smaller and lighter unit.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span>Fenigstein said that the same goes for <a href="http://www.techinsider.io/alta-motors-redshift-electric-bike-photos-2016-5">Alta's electric motor</a>.</span><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"Our motor is also about half the size of any state of the art 40 horsepower electric motor you would find anywhere else," he said. </span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Currently, Alta's Redshift SM road bike is rated for just 50 miles of range. <span> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"We picked categories where the range requirements are relatively low," he said. "</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">We feel like we're building the bikes that meet the daily need and meet the same use capabilities as the gas bike."</span></span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span>However, Fenigstein did admit that when he wants to participate in a long trail-riding day, he'll bring out one of his gas bikes because his </span></span></span>Redshift MX doesn't have the range quite yet.</p><h2>Two Tesla co-founders have invested</h2><p>Alta Motors doesn't just share operational and technological similarities with Tesla, though. It also shares investors.</p><p>The startup has also managed to attract investments from two of the same guys who helped create Tesla: <span>Martin Eberhard and </span><span>Mark Tarppening. </span></p><p><span>Eberhard and <span>Tarppening both left Tesla in 2008, but both helped finance and craft the Tesla brand in its early days before Musk led the company's $7.5 million Series A investment. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In 2012 when Alta first began looking into developing its own battery technologies, it hired Rob Sweney to lead the way. </span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">While Sweney manned his post as Head of Battery Engineering, Tesla co-founder and Sweney's former mentor, Martin Eberhard, acted as a "casual advisor" for Alta. </span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"He was </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">involved first as a casual advisor, as a colleague, then formally as an advisor,</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> part of our board of advisors for at least a year, and </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">then it was a joint investment from him and another co-founder of Tesla Mark Tarppening," <span>Fenigstein said. </span></span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"The two of them, after getting to know us and watching us kind of notch away milestones, they both were willing to invest."</span></p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/tesla-model-x-test-drive-2016-4">Here's what it's like to drive the Tesla Model X - 'the best car ever' according to Elon Musk</a></h3>        <div>            <div>    <script src="http://player.ooyala.com/v3/6e12e8b3387a44daacfb73afba25a76e"></script>    <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="k0MXIxMzE6sCdwMcdIX8ipSCrtU17yJH" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>    <script>    if (typeof RunFunctions === 'undefined') { var RunFunctions = []; }     RunFunctions.push(function()    {         var ooyalapopvideo = OO.Player.create('ooyalaplayer_popvideo', 'k0MXIxMzE6sCdwMcdIX8ipSCrtU17yJH',{ autoplay: 'false' });     });    </script>    <noscript><div>Please enable Javascript to watch this video</div></noscript></div>        </div>        <script>(function() { function createPlayer() { OO.ready(function() { RunFunctions.forEach(function(ooyalaFunction) { ooyalaFunction(); }); RunFunctions = [];}); } createPlayer(); }()); </script>    </div>

You Searched For "e motorbike riders" and got 7 results

221 e-motorbike riders booked for road rules violation in Mumbai; 290 vehicles seized

PTI

Ignitron Motocorp launches GT 120 electric sports bike in India

IANS

Amazon's massive investment in food delivery startup Deliveroo faces further delays thanks to a formal antitrust probe

Shona Ghosh

Electric scooters were to blame for at least 1,500 injuries and deaths in the US last year

Isobel Asher Hamilton,Isobel Asher Hamilton

Uber is locked in a battle to fix Egypt's $8 billion traffic problem, and its success could decide which tech giant will dominate the Middle East and Africa

Harrison Jacobs

The scooters wars are coming to Europe this summer. But first they have to prove they're not like Uber.

Shona Ghosh

This startup could become the Tesla of electric motorcycles

Aaron Brown,Aaron Brown