Scooterson Founder and CEO Mihnea de Vries (L) and Co-Founder and CTO Deepansh Jain
Micro-mobility company Scooterson has bagged a US$74-million contract to build electric scooters in Singapore.
The company didn’t disclose the contractor’s name since it has signed a non-disclosure agreement with the firm. “I can reveal that it is an electric vehicle (EV) unicorn in the US,” Scooterson’s Co-Founder and CTO Deepansh Jain told e27.
Scooterson is setting up a manufacturing facility at JTC Launchpad, one of the hottest startup spaces in Singapore. “We plan to produce around 850 units monthly (over 10,000 units annually). We will go in full swing starting April-March 2023,” he shared.
The company chose Singapore to base its factory because it is an ideal hub for innovation and enterprise in Asia and globally. The island nation also occupies a unique position for hardware development with many key advantages.
“Because of Singapore’s strategic location and how it provides access to resources and industry knowledge, we’ve been able to focus on enhancing our R&D to create products in the island nation that can be marketed in countries like the US,” said Scooterson Founder and CEO Mihnea de Vries.
Also Read: Now, Scooterson’s AIR smart scooter can be moved from one place to another remotely
The mobility company will also strengthen its R&D department in Singapore to create streamlined components and reduce hurdles related to manufacturing and costs. “We plan to lower manufacturing costs by doing away with the margins being paid to the component suppliers, particularly costly components like batteries for its e-scooters,” added Vries.
The EV venture plans to hire 15 employees to strengthen its R&D department, which currently employs nine people. It plans to employ 20-25 more people in the manufacturing department in the next six to nine months.
Originally founded in 2016, Scooterson offers Rolley+, a semi-autonomous e-scooter that requires zero learning curve and can accelerate on its own. Its Smart Mode Acceleration feature works in tandem with the scooter’s sensors, phone sensors and prior ride data to optimise speed.
Unlike conventional scooters, Rolley+ doesn’t have a gear shifter or acceleration lever. It adjusts the speed and performance according to the rider’s body movements.
Rolley+ also boasts of a minimalist dashboard with an intuitive interface. Backed by AI technology, the e-scooter can adjust its torque settings to match its battery levels, allowing riders to enjoy peak performance without sacrificing power. The technology also makes the e-scooter energy-efficient and safe by analysing the rider’s riding patterns, profile, and surroundings.
The model uses components made of magnesium alloys and aerospace-grade aluminium alloys. It has a polymer chassis reinforced by Carbon/Kevlar and sports a lightweight composite body 3x lighter than conventional e-scooters. Its battery supports a 120km range.
The other model is AIR (short for Artificial Intelligence and Remote operations). This scooter is designed as a teleoperation and autonomous fleet-rebalancing solution for micro-mobility operators. This enables scooter-sharing companies to do fleet distribution for their customers remotely.
According to Jain, AIR is specifically designed to lower operational costs by reducing the staffers required to rebalance the fleets on the streets or deal with footpath obstruction and urban clutter. It will also curb the misuse by recording the errant user’s actions and restricting him/her access to the service in case of vandalism.
The Scooterson mobile app allows users to remotely lock/unlock their scooters, share their travel information and the scooters with family and friends, and send charging notifications when the battery is running low. Moreover, its anti-tapering alarm system and Find My Scooter function allow users to locate their scooters if they are stolen or lost.
Vries also shared that most of Scooterson’s sales are online, with most buyers coming from the US. As of now, the US is its biggest target market, and it plans to set up a brick-and-mortar store with a partner. “We are looking to enter other potential markets, including Europe and Asia, specifically the Philippines, South Korea, and Japan.”
In 2018, Scooterson bagged Red Dot Design Award for Rolley. A year later, the startup unveiled a new foldable lightweight smart e-scooter Elf, with plans to launch in Singapore in October. However, the plans hit a roadblock when the government restricted the use of personal mobility devices.
The startup is backed by Singapore-based ElevateVC.
—
Echelon 2022 aims to provide intimate and focused discussions on key topics and business matching services to facilitate business-driven connections during the two-day event. e27 will curate and invite key stakeholders of startups, investors, corporates, and ecosystem enablers to drive towards fruitful business outcomes at Echelon.
The 2022 Echelon edition will be co-located with SWITCH at Resorts World Sentosa from 27 to 28 October 2022. Learn more here.
The post Exclusive: Scooterson lands US$74M contract to build electric two-wheelers in Singapore appeared first on e27.