Bird, the once-darling of the shared electrical scooter market, has launched a brand new model of its electrical bike underneath a partnership with Tradehubb and Spring.
The design marks a stark departure from Bird’s unique e-bikes, which had been broadly accepted to be at greatest heavily-inspired by previously Amsterdam-based VanMoof’s design, and at worst largely a copycat of the now defunct Dutch e-bike firm.
The new Bird electrical bike is being introduced right this moment on the Micromobility America commerce present. The launch is finally a partnership between TradeHubb, a “leading supplier of electric bikes”, and Spring, a strategic retail progress firm.
The new Bird Bike will debut with an up to date light-weight body, a 7-speed Shimano transmission, and a extra highly effective, longer-lasting battery. The partnership introduced that a number of new fashions shall be available, probably referring to the completely different body types.
Critically, the Bird Bikes shall be each UL 2859 and UL 2271 licensed, protecting security rules for the e-bike battery in addition to your complete drivetrain. UL certification has grow to be more and more frequent within the e-bike trade and is even required in some areas comparable to New York City.
That UL-listed battery is barely bigger than the unique at 48V and 10.5Ah for 504 Wh of capability. The unique Bird Bike unveiled two years in the past measured 36V and 12.8Ah for a complete capability of 460 Wh.
While Bird hasn’t particularly said so, the battery appears to be like to be detachable. That would permit riders to cost it off of the bike if they need, in addition to take away it whereas the bike is locked outdoors to chop down on theft.
In one other nod to anti-theft, the bike will include a brand new IoT suite that integrates into the Bluetooth show and features a 120 dB bike alarm system that may additionally monitor the bike’s location. It will ship alerts to the proprietor’s telephone if the bike is tampered with and the IoT connectivity can be utilized by the proprietor to remotely lock and unlock the bike.
Other new options embrace hydraulic disc brakes for elevated stopping energy, entrance and rear LED lighting, an possibility of both step-over or step-through body, and an up to date LCD display screen for journey information.
Pricing will begin at US $1299, although availability is simply anticipated in Spring of 2024 the place will probably be provided at Bird Bike’s sellers in addition to a number of field shops which have but to be introduced.
Electrek’s Take
It’s good to see a brand new model of the Bird Bike after two years, although it looks as if that is extra of a “Bird’s name on a bike” scenario as a result of licensing deal; even so, it’s not a nasty trying bike. With BIRD plastered throughout the facet although, I simply hope somebody doesn’t preserve making an attempt to scan it on the road for a rental journey.
The upside of the licensing deal although is that help and servicing probably isn’t depending on Bird staying afloat, at the least within the brief time period. I’d name {that a} main plus contemplating the corporate’s inventory has taken a little bit of a nosedive during the last 12 months or two earlier than being delisted from the NYSE final month.
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