Shared micromobility big Lime is piloting two new automobiles designed to enchantment to ladies and older people who would possibly admire a decrease step-through body, smaller wheels and an improve from pedal-assist.
Lime has experimented with a number of new type components over time in a bid to seize clients and adapt to altering tastes and developments. Its efforts have paid off in some essential methods. The corporate managed to develop into worthwhile at occasions in an business the place most others – like Tier, Fowl and Spin – have struggled to remain afloat. In 2023, Lime pulled in additional than $90 million in adjusted EBITDA, which the corporate says is greater than a 500% enhance over the earlier 12 months.
To keep up its dominant place, Lime must win over much more riders. And being extra inclusive doesn’t damage the corporate’s probabilities at profitable metropolis contracts.
Each of Lime’s new automobiles – the LimeBike and the LimeGlider – are based mostly on the identical platform, however with a number of tweaks. The LimeBike is Lime’s subsequent technology e-bike, following the corporate’s Gen4 bike that it debuted in 2022. The LimeGlider has the efficiency and weight of a motorcycle, however with a moped really feel.
Lime is piloting the next-gen ebike in Atlanta and Zurich, Switzerland this week. In the meantime, the Glider is predicted to return to Seattle and Zurich in August and September, respectively. Lime mentioned it is going to put 200 to 300 of the automobiles in every metropolis to check if the recent designs are attracting riders in the way in which it hopes.
“At its core, these merchandise are supposed to not solely enchantment to our present riders, however to achieve out to new riders,” Jason Parrish, Lime’s senior director of product administration, advised me as we stood subsequent to the brand new bikes at Bushwick Inlet Park in Brooklyn. “We talked to plenty of people about what they like about our automobiles, what they could prefer to see completely different, and one of many themes we heard is that there have been some teams of those who simply didn’t really feel like micromobility is for them.”
The info backs that assertion up. Lime says that round 70% of its riders are males, and its common person age is 33.
This isn’t the primary time Lime has launched new automobiles in an try to draw new riders. In 2021, Lime examined electrical mopeds in Washington, D.C. and New York Metropolis. It quietly killed them off a 12 months later, after which began testing its Citra bike in Lengthy Seaside. That car finally wasn’t added to Lime’s fleet, both.
So what’s completely different now?
Lime says its previous failures in addition to knowledge on how individuals trip has knowledgeable its new technique. It additionally constructed these new fashions utilizing components that overlap with its current scooters and bikes, making them simpler to restore.
And eventually, these automobiles are extra targeted on giving some riders what they’ve requested for: smaller and extra approachable frames with extra storage and a decrease heart of gravity.
Each the Bike and the Glider have smaller wheels – 20 inches, in comparison with 26 inches on the Gen4 bike – with a decrease step-through peak, which makes it simpler to hop on and off.
Additionally they have massive entrance baskets – Lime says the most important within the business – which can be formed to suit grocery luggage. Lime’s design workforce additionally added holes within the backside to let moisture and trash discover its means out. Parrish famous that Lime could be testing out rear baskets in sure markets on each automobiles.
Different adjustments to the brand new automobiles embody a brand new cellphone holder that’s much less of a spidery rubber grip and extra of a steady squeeze, and is ready at an angle that’s optimized to have the ability to see your display screen throughout a vivid day.
“We additionally modified the show, it’s now proper beneath the cellphone, so it’s all sort of one steady set of knowledge” mentioned Parrish. “We simplified the battery gauge right down to only a battery meter, and it’ll let you know the pace you’re going. And relying on for those who’re in a sluggish trip zone or no working zone, completely different icons will present as much as convey that message to you.”
One other change that’s coming to each bikes embody a standing gentle, just like those on Lime’s e-scooters, which permit riders to see from throughout the street if the car is able to lease. Riders may even be capable to inform the 2 automobiles aside as a result of the LimeBike is inexperienced and white, however the LimeGlider is all inexperienced.
First trip: LimeBike
My first thought leaping on the LimeBike instantly after taking the Gen4 for a spin was that it did, in actual fact, really feel smaller. And it was simpler getting on and off the LimeBike than its predecessor.
Whereas all the pieces like the peak of the handlebars and the gap between the seat and the handlebars had been the identical, I observed an enchancment within the ergonomics of the handles themselves. Moderately than a rounded grip, this one has a flat palm space to relaxation your hand.
The LimeBike additionally has a throttle, along with the pedal help. This addition is partly based mostly on suggestions from clients who don’t need to sweat on their method to work.
“What we really see is that some individuals would possibly begin out with the throttle to rise up to hurry quicker, however then they nonetheless prefer to pedal, so it provides them extra selection,” mentioned Parrish.
That throttle is on the appropriate facet, and the bell is on the left, which took only a contact of getting used to.
The Bike can be lighter than the Gen4, which helps once you’re making an attempt to lug it over a curb to park it after a trip. I really bodily couldn’t elevate the Gen4 entrance wheel off the bottom, a humbling realization. The Gen4 feels heavier as a result of the battery is on the down tube of the body (or the neck, as I confer with it in my thoughts). Whereas with the LimeBike, the battery is below the seat, making for a decrease heart of gravity that additionally feels extra steady. I managed to trip with no fingers for a minimum of 5 entire seconds.
In truth, I got here away from my trip considering that the LimeBike felt straightforward to deal with, sturdy and durable, whilst I intentionally raced it over Brooklyn’s best bumpy roads.
First trip: LimeGlider
The Lime Glider is constructed on the identical platform because the LimeBike, however with out pedals.
The concept with the Glider is that it’s as easy as a standing scooter, however extra snug to take a seat down and luxuriate in. It’s additionally not a high-speed car, so it’s ridden within the bike lanes.
The seat is extra of a moped seat than a motorbike seat, and whereas it appears like it might probably simply seat two riders, Parrish says that’s not the purpose of it. Actually, it’s so lengthy as a result of shorter individuals will need to sit in the direction of the entrance, and taller riders will sit in the direction of the rear.
I also needs to notice that I had my heavy backpack within the entrance basket, and located that due to the low heart of gravity of the car, I didn’t really feel like my bag impacted the soundness of the trip.
The Glider additionally supplied a strong trip with first rate absorption over bumpy roads and a easy acceleration that helped me dodge and weave via Brooklyn’s visitors. That is the kind of car that I’d trip for longer distances or if I had been sporting a skirt and heels, as a result of it truly is as straightforward as sitting down and going. Or standing up! I rode for a number of blocks standing as much as give my low again a break, and it felt much more steady than driving an e-scooter.
