By Oystein Bergmann, Bureau Chief, Scandinavia
Ericsson and Lyft, a leading transportation-as-a-service provider in North America,have announced a collaboration to enhance the connected micromobility ecosystem across key US hubs.
Man connecting to scooter
Using the award-winning Ericsson IoT Accelerator platform, Lyft can manage the connectivity for tens of thousands of connected e-bikes and scooters, regardless of location. This delivers on Lyft’s promise to provide a micromobility service with scalability and reliability and on its mission to build cities around people and not cars. Deutsche Telekom, one of the world’s leading integrated telecommunications companies and an Ericsson IoT partner, provides the reliable and secure global connectivity and connectivity management, both key to enabling real-time data transmission.
By mid-2023, Lyft will have over 20,000 connected micromobility vehicles through this collaboration. With a large serviceable market, Lyft’s micromobility efforts will continue to benefit from the Ericsson IoT Accelerator global ecosystem with tier-one carriers like Deutsche Telekom.
According to Ericsson’s Micromobility report, the micromobility market is expected to grow rapidly, at a compound annual growth rate of 16% between 2019 and 2027. Shared bikes and scooters have become a primary source of transportation in urban centers, providing an efficient, affordable, and sustainable way to get around. However, this connected transportation ecosystem is only made possible through reliable, well-managed cellular connectivity – which is where Ericsson’s IoT Accelerator and Deutsche Telekom global IoT connectivity come in.
Fast and reliable cellular activity allows e-bikes to communicate between the app, Lyft’s servers and bikeshare stations so riders can be on their way in a matter of seconds. It also improves fleet management capabilities for Lyft’s operations team and can help reduce theft and loss.
“In partnership with Ericsson and Deutsche Telekom, we have been able to implement industry-leading connectivity and global IoT management, improving our ability to manage large fleets of vehicles but also—more importantly—improving the rider experience,” said EVP and Head of Transit, Bikes and Scooters, Lyft, David Foster. “With over 2 million new riders last year alone, it is more important now than ever that our micromobility vehicles are always online and ready to go.”
The Ericsson IoT Accelerator platform offers a seamless operation by ensuring a smooth connection and user experience so that Lyft can achieve its goal of connecting people through transit. Through the Ericsson and Deutsche Telekom collaboration, Lyft can better achieve its goal to provide the mobility solutions that riders love and cities need.
Lyft operates in many of the largest micromobility hubs in the US, including San Francisco, Chicago, and New York. It has fostered a culture of bike riding in cities, especially for trips under three miles, and for first- and last-mile solutions in conjunction with public transit. Thanks to connected e-bikes and scooters, cities around the world can offer a micromobility experience that not only reduces traffic congestion but also avoids carbon emissions through a shift away from cars. Lyft’s e-bikes are designed to last 10,000 shared rides, providing longevity that plays a key role in their low carbon footprint. Micromobility is helping move communities toward becoming the smart cities of the future, while also improving the quality of life for those who reside in them.
“In order to serve users, e-bikes need to be able to quickly, efficiently and reliably communicate with the rider’s mobile application, the operator’s back-end system, and the docking station in order to provide a seamless experience,” said General Manager of IoT at Ericsson, Kyle Okamoto. “Our continued collaboration with Deutsche Telekom will support Lyft’s rider experience with constant, affordable connectivity, while growing the reach of Lyft’s connected micromobility ecosystem.”
