Greetings and welcome back to the InsightEV Weekender. Here, I like to focus on things we did not cover during the week.
Another Week, Another Spellbinding Design
Infinite Machine, the New York-based electric scooter manufacturer of the P1, a scooter for the fashionistas, has unveiled the Olto. It looks like a scooter but is actually an e-bike, a Class 2 e-bike.
The top speed is billed at 33 mph (53 kph), and Infinite Machine claims a range of 40 miles (64 km) from the 1.2 kWh removable pack. While riding in bike lanes, the top speed is restricted to 20 mph (32 kph).
The hub-mounted motor is no slouch for an e-bike. It is rated at 750W and peaks at 2.0 kW.
While the design is radical and we love it, there are interesting things in the Olto that are worth talking about. The e-bike has magnetic foldable pedals. These can be locked into place with magnets and converted to footpegs.
The e-bike is a two-seater as the rectangular seat has enough space for two and magnetic foot pegs that retract when not in use.
Everywhere else, the product brief comes across as aimed at creating a compact scooter and not an e-bike. There is full lighting – headlamps, tail-lamps, and turn indicators.
At the front, there is a custom control cluster with a 4.3″ display and a mount for your phone.
Honda Reveals eQuad; New Micromobility Brand
Honda is establishing Fastport, a new B2B business focused on last-mile delivery. The first product would be an eQuad, an all-electric quadricycle delivery vehicle, designed for use in bike lanes.
The eQuad is pedal-assist, energised by Honda Mobile Power Pack (MPP) swappable batteries.
This marks Honda’s entry into the micromobility market, which holds a lot of potential in North America and Europe. There is a form factor gap between bikes/e-bikes at the lower end and full-scale delivery vans at the top end when it comes to delivery fleets.
Deliveries would start in late 2025 with target markets in North America and Europe.
The eQuad has pedal assist and also has a regenerative braking system, normally not found in this segment.
There is also a canopy that provides rider protection, and Honda has been thoughtful about providing a ventilation fan.
The rather narrow eQuad is as narrow as full-size touring motorcycles. It can operate in bike lanes in cities. Honda is offering two sizes – small and large, with different vehicle lengths.
Fastport will also offer a Fleet-as-a-Service (Faas) model.
Roam Air Gen-2
Roam is a leading electric motorcycle manufacturer in Africa with thousands of motorcycles deployed with bike taxis (bodabodas) in Kenya.
The company sells/leases the Roam Air motorcycle, which is supported through Roam’s swapping network. Now the company has launched the second generation of the motorcycle.
While the aesthetics of the motorcycle have not changed noticeably, Roam says that it has incorporated over 40 rider-inspired upgrades, all tailored for Kenya’s boda boda sector.
Roam has also enhanced comfort with redesigned footrests, a reshaped seat, and a stronger rear carrier to better support both the rider, passenger and their load.
A key aspect is the improvement in payload capability, which is now 240 kg, 20 kg more than earlier. This is important as moto-taxis in Africa see some heavy use.
Roam also claims increased rust protection and further waterproofing, including the storage area and electronics. There is also more simplified cabling, better lighting, and mechanical refinements.
The Gen-2 Roam also has a 36% localisation level and would attract duty benefits as it exceeds Kenya’s Legal Notice 112.
Should you Vertically Integrate?
Two weeks back, we published an analysis covering the vertical integration obsession of mobility startups.
When electric vehicle start-ups write their business plans, they inadvertently run into two questions. First, what should I make in-house (and what should I outsource)? Second, what level of vertical integration would make one profitable faster and provide an unassailable edge?
InsightEV – Global Electric Mobility
That’s a wrap for today. This newsletter will be back next Sunday. The posts on the website are more frequent. This is your editor, and you may view my LinkedIn profile here.
