E-bike-share start-up HumanForest is to launch the UK’s first fleet of shared electric mopeds. An initial trial will see 100 e-mopeds made available in London from January with plans to double that number by later in the year.
Founded in November 2019, HumanForest aims to put sustainability at the heart of its business model with all its rentals running off electricity from certified renewable sources.
The firm relaunched its e-bike-share scheme earlier this year after previously halting an initial roll-out in September 2020 when a bike defect was uncovered.
Users reportedly covered almost 100,000 miles in the first month after the relaunch. Buoyed by this and several further rounds of funding there are now plans to expand the fleet with electric mopeds.
While there are a number of e-moped share schemes elsewhere in the world, this is the first we’ve heard of in the UK.
The scheme will use the same advertising revenue model as HumanForest’s bikes where users receive one advert through the HumanForest app before and after their journey.
In terms of cost, users will get five minutes free per day, with rides costing 20p per minute thereafter. This means a 20-minute journey would cost £3.
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HumanForest’s e-mopeds will be capable of speeds of up to 28mph and users will have to be 18 or over and hold at least a provisional licence.
Each moped will be equipped with two helmets and will have cargo compartments to carry up to 5.6kg of items. They can be docked in existing dedicated moped parking spaces across the capital.
Founder and CEO of HumanForest Agustin Guilisasti commented: “The arrival of our electric mopeds is an exciting moment for London and the UK.
“Our e-mopeds will be good for people and businesses looking to move around London in an affordable and sustainable way, helping to reduce air pollution in the city.
“Our mission to reForest London is well and truly underway; following the successful launch of our e-bikes, these new vehicles will help people travel faster without releasing any emissions.
“The introduction of electric mopeds into the UK’s market will pave the way for embedding better and healthier ways of moving around our cities into our national transport ecosystem.”
