Superpedestrian raises £93m to expand e-scooter services

Superpedestrian, provider of the Link e-scooter, has raised $125 million (£93m) in its latest funding round to invest in expanding its micromobility services across Europe and the US.

The new funding will be used to expand the Link shared e-scooter service, boost the company’s advanced R&D programs, and deploy scooters with Superpedestrian’s new Pedestrian Defense (PD) safety system in the first 25 cities across the US and Europe during 2022.

The AI-based software combines data from multiple vehicle sensors and integrates them with the scooter’s on-board vehicle intelligence to take real-time action on the scooter.

Superpedestrian says its PD technology can precisely detect vehicle positions, detect pavement riding, stunt riding and aggressive riding and can intervene to automatically slow or stop a scooter in real time when unsafe behaviour is detected.

Following successful field tests of Pedestrian Defense in recent months, the system will now be integrated into Superpedestrian’s Link e-scooter fleet, which has launched in 57 cities.

Jean Andrews, policy director of Superpedestrian for UK and Ireland, said: “This funding will strengthen our position as a world-leader in the next generation of safety technologies that safeguard riders, communities and the environment.”

Wind replaced its e-scooter fleet in Nottingham and Derby with Superpedestrian's Link vehicles at the end of 2021. 

Wind switched to the Link scooters in a bid to improve safety during its e-scooter trial.

In addition to the new e-scooter, Wind UK added a community manager in Nottingham, to further address the local concerns and lead in-person safety training sessions.

Wind UK also began distributing free personal helmets and strongly promote their use, after local data showed just 4% of riders used the helmet-mounted communal helmets in the first 12 months of the programme.

This change of approach is underlined by a recent YouGov poll, in which nearly 80% of respondents agreed they would feel safer using a personal helmet compared to one worn by others too.