Uber To Launch Jump e-Bikes in Europe, Starting With Germany
Uber’s on-demand electric-bicycle service is coming to Europe.
Uber is jumpin’ into Europe. The ride-hailing company’s Jump bikes will arrive in Berlin by the end of the summer and expand to other European cities later.
This expansion comes after Uber bought Jump in April, the company’s first acquisition since Khosrowshahi joined the ride-sharing company as CEO last year.
“Uber stands ready to help address some of the biggest challenges facing German cities: tackling air pollution, reducing congestion and increasing access to cleaner transportation solutions,” said Dara Khosrowshahi, Uber’s chief executive, in Berlin on Wednesday.
In the U.S., Jump bike rentals generally cost $2 for 30 minutes of ride time.
A big advantage of Jump’s service is that the bikes are not assigned docking stations; instead you can lock them to any bike rack in the city. Each Jump bike has a built-in U-Bar Lock for easy locking to any pole, and it can be stored in a holster while riding.
These bikes are also electric with an electric-assist motor on board; The motor kicks in when you pedal and can hit speeds up to 20 mph. The range of each bike is between 30-40 miles depending on your ride style.
Though under new CEO Dara Khosrowshahi Uber has also been expanding in some European markets — where regulatory requirements allow.
Khosrowshahi said the company planned to launch a fully electric Uber Green service in Berlin by the end of the year, following its launch in Munich.
“Uber stands ready to help address some of the biggest challenges facing German cities: tackling air pollution, reducing congestion and increasing access to cleaner transportation solutions,” he said.
Currently, Berlin, already has several bike rental options. OBike, Mobike and LimeBike (also offering an electric option) have established app-based services in the German capital.
