<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss version="2.0" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/" xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/" > <channel> <title>Bird e-scooters | Clean Fleet Report</title> <atom:link href="https://cleanfleetreport.com/tag/bird-e-scooters/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" /> <link>https://cleanfleetreport.com</link> <description>All about green cars, electric, PHEV, hybrid and high-mpg vehicles</description> <lastBuildDate>Wed, 20 Dec 2023 07:56:38 +0000</lastBuildDate> <language>en-US</language> <sy:updatePeriod> hourly </sy:updatePeriod> <sy:updateFrequency> 1 </sy:updateFrequency> <generator>https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.2</generator> <image> <url>https://cleanfleetreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/favicon-70x70.png</url> <title>Bird e-scooters | Clean Fleet Report</title> <link>https://cleanfleetreport.com</link> <width>32</width> <height>32</height> </image> <item> <title>Micromobility: Scoot Rolls Out Bird Two e-Scooter in SF</title> <link>https://cleanfleetreport.com/micromobility-scoot-rolls-out-bird-two-e-scooter-in-sf/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=micromobility-scoot-rolls-out-bird-two-e-scooter-in-sf</link> <comments>https://cleanfleetreport.com/micromobility-scoot-rolls-out-bird-two-e-scooter-in-sf/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Steve Schaefer]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Tue, 04 Feb 2020 07:44:13 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Electric Vehicles]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Micromobility]]></category> <category><![CDATA[News]]></category> <category><![CDATA[battery]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Bird e-scooters]]></category> <category><![CDATA[electric scooters]]></category> <category><![CDATA[micromobility]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Scoot e-scooters]]></category> <category><![CDATA[tech]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://cleanfleetreport.com/?p=21005</guid> <description><![CDATA[<p>Bird’s latest model, the Bird Two, aims to address battery range, rider safety, damage, theft and longevity, aiding both riders and making running an e-scooter fleet more profitable.</p> The post <a href="https://cleanfleetreport.com/micromobility-scoot-rolls-out-bird-two-e-scooter-in-sf/">Micromobility: Scoot Rolls Out Bird Two e-Scooter in SF</a> first appeared on <a href="https://cleanfleetreport.com">Clean Fleet Report</a>.]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Latest Model Offers More Range, Durability</strong></h2> <p>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.</p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" width="913" height="530" src="//i2.wp.com/cleanfleetreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Bird-2-scooters-1.png" alt="Bird Scoot e-scooters" class="wp-image-21007" srcset="https://cleanfleetreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Bird-2-scooters-1.png 913w, https://cleanfleetreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Bird-2-scooters-1-300x174.png 300w, https://cleanfleetreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Bird-2-scooters-1-768x446.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 913px) 100vw, 913px" /><figcaption><strong>Bird is boosting the viability of e-scooters for customers and vendors</strong></figcaption></figure> <p>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.</p> <p>“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.†</p> <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Battery Upgrade</strong></h3> <p>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.</p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" width="1024" height="1024" src="//i1.wp.com/cleanfleetreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Bird-logo-1024x1024.png" alt="" class="wp-image-21009" srcset="https://cleanfleetreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Bird-logo-1024x1024.png 1024w, https://cleanfleetreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Bird-logo-300x300.png 300w, https://cleanfleetreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Bird-logo-150x150.png 150w, https://cleanfleetreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Bird-logo-768x768.png 768w, https://cleanfleetreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Bird-logo-70x70.png 70w, https://cleanfleetreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Bird-logo-800x800.png 800w, https://cleanfleetreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Bird-logo.png 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure> <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Safety</strong></h3> <p>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!</p> <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Scooter Longevity and Reliability</strong></h3> <p>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.</p> <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>The Bottom Line</strong></h3> <p>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?</p> <p>For more information, visit the <a href="https://two.bird.co/">Bird Two website</a>.</p> <p><em>A version of this story originally appeared on <a href="https://stevegoesgreen.com/2020/02/01/scoot-rolls-out-bird-two-the-latest-generation-e-scooter-in-san-francisco/">SteveGoesGreen</a>.</em></p>The post <a href="https://cleanfleetreport.com/micromobility-scoot-rolls-out-bird-two-e-scooter-in-sf/">Micromobility: Scoot Rolls Out Bird Two e-Scooter in SF</a> first appeared on <a href="https://cleanfleetreport.com">Clean Fleet Report</a>.]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://cleanfleetreport.com/micromobility-scoot-rolls-out-bird-two-e-scooter-in-sf/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>3</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>Interview: Melinda Hanson of Bird</title> <link>https://cleanfleetreport.com/interview-melinda-hanson-of-bird/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=interview-melinda-hanson-of-bird</link> <comments>https://cleanfleetreport.com/interview-melinda-hanson-of-bird/#respond</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Steve Schaefer]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Tue, 05 Nov 2019 08:15:37 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Connected Mobility]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Electric Vehicles]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Interview]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Micromobility]]></category> <category><![CDATA[News]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Sustainability]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Sustainable Mobility]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Bird e-scooters]]></category> <category><![CDATA[electric scooters]]></category> <category><![CDATA[EV]]></category> <category><![CDATA[micromobility]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Personal]]></category> <category><![CDATA[scooter]]></category> <category><![CDATA[sustainability]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://cleanfleetreport.com/?p=19310</guid> <description><![CDATA[<p>Bird, the two-year-old, Santa-Monica-based scooter-sharing company, has been growing and developing its trademark electric scooters since it was founded in September 2017.</p> The post <a href="https://cleanfleetreport.com/interview-melinda-hanson-of-bird/">Interview: Melinda Hanson of Bird</a> first appeared on <a href="https://cleanfleetreport.com">Clean Fleet Report</a>.]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Bird Flies Sustainably with Sturdy Scooters</strong></h2> <p><a href="https://www.bird.co/">Bird</a>, the two-year-old, Santa-Monica-based scooter-sharing company, has been growing and developing its trademark electric scooters since it was founded in September 2017. One question about scooters, though, is how <em>sustainable</em> they are. I spoke with Bird’s head of sustainability, Melinda Hanson, at last month’s <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.greenbiz.com/events/verge/2024" target="_blank">VERGE 19 in Oakland</a> to find out.</p> <div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="alignright"><img decoding="async" width="250" height="316" src="https://cleanfleetreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/mhansonweb.jpg" alt="Melinda Hanson, Bird e-scooters" class="wp-image-19314" srcset="https://cleanfleetreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/mhansonweb.jpg 250w, https://cleanfleetreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/mhansonweb-237x300.jpg 237w" sizes="(max-width: 250px) 100vw, 250px" /><figcaption><strong>Melinda Hanson wants to get you to downsize from four wheels to two</strong></figcaption></figure></div> <p>Hanson has two facets to her role: One is promoting the carbon mitigation potential of electric vehicles while helping cities meet their clean energy transportation goals. The other is working to make sure Bird itself is a more sustainable company.</p> <p>Hanson is focused on developing climate policy that gets people into EVs, including the small scooters that are Bird’s mainstay. She’s concerned emissions are still going up despite the rise of EVs and scooters.</p> <p>As anyone who lives in a city can attest, the scooter sharing business is booming.</p> <p>“The main growth in EVs in 2018 was in scooters,†said Hanson.</p> <p>She told me that Bird’s goal is to get people out of their cars for short trips, especially in crowded cities.</p> <p>“The data show that many car trips are less than three miles,†said Hanson. “They should be riding scooters.â€</p> <p>I asked if people were really replacing car trips with scooters and Hanson said that one-third to one-half of e-scooter trips were replacing personal car trips—and much of the rest was in place of using ridesharing services, such as Uber and Lyft—which are not environmentally positive if they’re powered by internal combustion engines—and contribute to traffic congestion.</p> <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Serious Scooters</strong></h3> <p>Bird takes its scooters seriously. They have developed and refined them over the last two years to be more robust, so they last longer.</p> <div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="584" height="339" src="https://cleanfleetreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/birdtwo_1.jpg" alt="Bird e-scooters" class="wp-image-19315" srcset="https://cleanfleetreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/birdtwo_1.jpg 584w, https://cleanfleetreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/birdtwo_1-300x174.jpg 300w, https://cleanfleetreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/birdtwo_1-500x290.jpg 500w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 584px) 100vw, 584px" /><figcaption><strong>Bird took its electric scooters back to the drawing board</strong></figcaption></figure></div> <p>“Our first scooters were consumer models, not rugged enough for many trips a day by multiple people,†said Hanson. Bird has built its own custom models now, which they test for ruggedness. They have learned a lot from the last two years.</p> <p>“We used to have screws come loose, and shock absorbers wore out,†Hanson said. “We have increased frame density and put on better kickstands,†she said.</p> <p>The Bird 2 model—the newest one—is much improved. The company wants riding a Bird to be a great experience, so customers will come back and ride them regularly.</p> <p>Bird has doubled the battery capacity of the latest scooters. This means that they can be used by more customers before needing to come in to be recharged. To facilitate local charging, Bird has a distributed charging program where gig workers can pick up the scooters and charge them at home and put them back on the street. These folks are called “chargers.â€</p> <p>“We want to reduce friction,†Hanson said. That means making not only the riding experience fun and easy, but also signup and payment.</p> <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Expanding the Portfolio</strong></h3> <p>Bird has started working with Scoot, a company it acquired in June, to bring out other types of two-wheel transportation, such as mopeds.</p> <p>“We want to provide a bunch of vehicles for different trip modes,†said Hanson. But the starter vehicle is still likely to be the little scooter, which is easy to ride and easy to park.</p> <div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" src="https://cleanfleetreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Bird-lineup-2019-1-1280x720-1-1024x576.jpg" alt="Bird e-scooters" class="wp-image-19316" srcset="https://cleanfleetreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Bird-lineup-2019-1-1280x720-1-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://cleanfleetreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Bird-lineup-2019-1-1280x720-1-300x169.jpg 300w, https://cleanfleetreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Bird-lineup-2019-1-1280x720-1-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cleanfleetreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Bird-lineup-2019-1-1280x720-1-500x281.jpg 500w, https://cleanfleetreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Bird-lineup-2019-1-1280x720-1-1000x563.jpg 1000w, https://cleanfleetreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Bird-lineup-2019-1-1280x720-1-800x450.jpg 800w, https://cleanfleetreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Bird-lineup-2019-1-1280x720-1.jpg 1280w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption><strong>Keeping it on two wheels, but offering some choice</strong></figcaption></figure></div> <p>Safety is a concern, and Bird has worked with cities to try to create bike lanes. They have offered to send riders free helmets (the customer pays only for shipping).</p> <p>Hanson is looking for a systems impact. She thinks there’s room to start converting parking spaces to scooter parking at some point, when there are enough of them out there.</p> <p>“When scooters become a major aspect of urban mobility the streets will start changing the way they look,†said Hanson.</p> <p>Why will Bird succeed where others falter? Hanson thinks their emphasis on a great customer experience will lead to winning in the marketplace. And, their major investments in R&D to create better quality scooters will help too.</p> <p>Summing up, Bird’s goal is to improve the overall efficiency of vehicles, using clean energy; they want to get people out of their cars for all those short trips. And they want to do it sustainably.</p>The post <a href="https://cleanfleetreport.com/interview-melinda-hanson-of-bird/">Interview: Melinda Hanson of Bird</a> first appeared on <a href="https://cleanfleetreport.com">Clean Fleet Report</a>.]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://cleanfleetreport.com/interview-melinda-hanson-of-bird/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> </item> </channel> </rss>