Micromobility: Scoot Rolls Out Bird Two e-Scooter in SF

Latest Model Offers More Range, Durability

If you’ve been in the city lately, you’ve probably noticed people zipping around on electric scooters (e-scooters). They’re great for quick trips, being faster than walking and requiring no parking space. But, there are issues with scooters, including battery range, rider safety, damage, theft and longevity. Bird’s latest model, the Bird Two, aims to address these, both for riders and for making running an e-scooter fleet more profitable.

Last week (January 30, 2020) Scoot, owned by Bird, debuted the Bird Two in San Francisco. Scoot plans to transition all of its existing scooters to the new, improved model. San Francisco will be the first city to have 1,000 of these scooters on the street.

“With each new generation of electric vehicle we bring to San Francisco, fewer San Franciscans have a need to get in a car,” said Michael Keating, founder of Scoot and senior vice president for cities at Bird. “Bird Two continues this trend with industry-leading performance, range and safety features, allowing our riders to replace even more of their car trips with micromobility.”

Battery Upgrade

Bird’s new battery management system can handle extreme weather, so the battery holds a charge for greater range and lasts longer. Although San Francisco’s temperatures are moderate most of the time, it still provides an advantage and keeps the scooters in service more of the time because they spend less time charging. With the new e-scooter’s greater range, riders can feel more confident about riding to farther destinations. And the new model’s sensors and self-diagnosis system send alerts to the fleet operator of dangerous humidity changes in the battery encasement.

Safety

The Bird Two’s sleek design has fewer exposed screws, so there’s less chance of an injury while handling the scooter. New puncture-resistant tires mean safer travel and less maintenance time in the shop for the scooters. Of course, be sure to wear your helmet while you’re riding!

Scooter Longevity and Reliability

We’ve heard stories of how scooters suffer from vandalism and theft. The Bird Two has self-reporting damage sensors, like those found in new cars, so Scoot mechanics can fix scooters fast and get them back out on the street. An industrial-grade anti-tipping kickstand helps keep the Bird Two upright when it’s parked, reducing damage from being dropped on the pavement. With anti-theft encryption, riders are protected from malicious software hacks.

The Bottom Line

E-scooters have come a long way. With these upgrades, the Bird Two is safer and more pleasant to use. With its extended durability and higher quality, it can stay in the fleet long enough to keep the business case viable while taking cars off the road. And that’s the real point, isn’t it?

For more information, visit the Bird Two website.

A version of this story originally appeared on SteveGoesGreen.