FLINT—Officials at Helbiz Inc. (Nasdaq: HLBZ), the New York City-based urban transportation company, announced that the company will deploy a fleet of its innovative e-scooters and e-bikes in Flint, Michigan after securing a two-year permit.
The vehicles will be powered by Kuhmute Inc., a Flint-based micro-mobility charging network that increases reliability and improves efficiency among shared electric devices.
“We are excited to bring our e-scooters to Michigan, a state that is accelerating the expansion of sustainable, equitable and accessible micro-mobility options for all residents,” said Gian Luca Spriano, director of international business development at Helbiz. “We look forward to working closely with Kuhmute and the city of Flint as a whole to safely integrate Helbiz into the community and help reduce street congestion.”
Kuhmute utilizes in-house developed universal vehicle adaptors to ensure its charging network is compatible with every micro-mobility company’s suite of e-scooters and e-bikes, enabling them to charge at the same station. Kuhmute charging hubs will be accessible throughout the city and at the University of Michigan-Flint and Kettering University campuses.
“We are very excited to be working with world-class partner Helbiz in our community of Flint, Michigan. Formerly known as ‘Mobility City,’ we hope that together we can achieve the city mantra in a way that fosters sustainability and accessibility,” said Peter Deppe, co-founder and CEO of Kuhmute. “Both our team and Helbiz are eager to bring the most innovative mobility options alongside our charging network in the area.”
To demonstrate its commitment to driving awareness and adoption of micro-mobility solutions, Helbiz plans to execute community engagement initiatives across the city throughout the duration of its permit. This will include frequent safety events with Helbiz-branded helmet giveaways and discounted rides for low-income residents through the Helbiz Access Program. In partnership with the UM-Flint and Kettering University, Helbiz also plans to implement a local apprenticeship program to provide career pathway opportunities in the high-demand micro-mobility industry.
Helbiz will open a Flint office and warehouse to run its operations, employing a full-time team to ensure its fleet is charged, repaired and well-maintained. The nearest operations team member will be alerted if a device needs maintenance or has a low battery. As part of the company’s ongoing safety guidelines, each device will be cleaned and disinfected regularly.
Users can download the Helbiz mobile app on iOS and Android to instantly geolocate, rent and unlock e-scooters and e-bikes for a flat fee of $1, followed by a 35-cents-per-minute charge for riding time. Helbiz also offers a subscription plan for $39.99 a month for up to 30 minutes of riding time per day. All pricing options are displayed to customers as soon as the Helbiz app is installed and open.
Launched in 2015, Helbiz offers a fleet of vehicles including e-scooters, e-bicycles and e-mopeds on one convenient, user-friendly platform in 35 cities around the world. Helbiz uses a customized, proprietary fleet management technology, artificial intelligence and environmental mapping to optimize operations and business sustainability. Helbiz is expanding its urban lifestyle products and services to include live streaming services, food delivery, financial services and more, all accessible within its mobile app. For additional information, please visit www.helbiz.com.
Founded in 2018, Kuhmute deploys charging networks worldwide to provide reliability and organization to any shared fleet, as well as personally-owned vehicles on our network. More at www.kuhmute.com.