3 ms·

Unit economics make sense, since you don't have to pay a human for every trip. A $500 scooter, with about a $2-$3 charge per trip breaks even in 166-250 trips,

Unit economics make sense, since you don't have to pay a human for every trip. A $500 scooter, with about a $2-$3 charge per trip breaks even in 166-250 trips, which is about 83 days if there are 3 trips a day. So in 2-3 months the devices pay for themselves. Yes there is vandalism and paying chargers, but the general principle stays about the same. And if you have bikes then you don't need chargers, just occasional collectors. If the scooters last for 1000 trips, then you have 750 trips of 'pure profit'. Something like a $1000 heavy duty bike will cost more initially, but will last for many more trips. Carrying a bike/scooter on the bus or subway is annoying, even when it's a 15lbs electric skateboard.

masonic 8y ago
Using your numbers, that's $6-9 of total gross revenue per day, with up to 3 pickup/charge/redeploy charges per day. That would mean a lot of days with a net operating loss even before fixed costs and debt service are considered.
- woolvalley 8y ago
  Pickups to recharge only happen once a day with birds AFAIK, and I don't know if half charged scooters are recharged. Most people do not use the full battery capacity of these things, which are 20+ miles. More charge used usually means more time used, which means more money. Lime's scooters have a 20 mile range and charge $.15/min + $1 per use[1]. So assuming an average speed of 10mph, using the full battery would be 120 minutes of use, which is $18. Then you add the $1 unlock fees which would of happened multiple times, and you have something of at least $20 average gross revenue per day of a 'fully used scooter'. These scooter companies probably have better data on average usage, which is probably why they are getting such huge funding amounts due to the $$$ potential. [1] https://www.limebike.com/electric-scooter https://www.limebike.com/electric-scooter

masonic 8y ago

Using your numbers, that's $6-9 of total gross revenue per day, with up to 3 pickup/charge/redeploy charges per day. That would mean a lot of days with a net operating loss even before fixed costs and debt service are considered.

woolvalley 8y ago
Pickups to recharge only happen once a day with birds AFAIK, and I don't know if half charged scooters are recharged. Most people do not use the full battery capacity of these things, which are 20+ miles. More charge used usually means more time used, which means more money. Lime's scooters have a 20 mile range and charge $.15/min + $1 per use[1]. So assuming an average speed of 10mph, using the full battery would be 120 minutes of use, which is $18. Then you add the $1 unlock fees which would of happened multiple times, and you have something of at least $20 average gross revenue per day of a 'fully used scooter'. These scooter companies probably have better data on average usage, which is probably why they are getting such huge funding amounts due to the $$$ potential. [1] https://www.limebike.com/electric-scooter https://www.limebike.com/electric-scooter