Bolt to Launch Scooters in 45 Cities, Including Prague

Bolt on Wednesday launched its own electric scooter model and said it aims to launch the scooter service in more than 45 cities this summer.

“Beating the traffic is a big issue and a lot of trips are much more efficiently covered with an electric scooter rather than a car with a driver,” says Markus Villig, CEO and co-founder of Bolt.

Bolt said its model’s design and engineering are focused around modularity, which makes it easily repairable and lowers the cost of maintenance for the ride-sharing service.

The new scooter weighs 17kg, which makes it the lightest model used in scooter sharing. This reduced weight is achieved through the scooter being made of 90% aluminium.

The scooter features inflatable tires that help ensure better grip and smoother, safer rides. It can go for more than 40km on a single charge. Its maximum speed is 25km/h. But this is obviously limited according to local regulations.

The scooter also features front and rear lights, as well as front and side reflectors to help maintain riders’ safety during dark hours.

Bolt, founded in 2013, has raised more than $200 million from investors, including Daimler and China’s Didi Chuxing Technology Co.

Electric scooters, including those privately owned, would remain confined to sidewalks and cycle lanes, and the amends would introduce a new category of “light-duty” vehicle, which would also include electric skateboards, and hoverboards.

This would mean that electric scooter riders would be subject to similar requirements as apply to car drivers, including a ban on driving while intoxicated.

Photo: Bolt

Photo: Bolt

Photo: Bolt