Tier to partner with High Street locations for e-scooter charging

26/08/2020

E-scooter company Tier is looking to partner with High Street locations across the UK to create a network of charging stations.

The charging stations or ‘SwapSpots’ feature removable batteries that e-scooter users can switch to when they’re running low on range.

Tier is looking to partner with supermarkets, cafés, and other High Street locations to host these SwapSpots.

Tier said the SwapSpot PowerBoxes require no installation and are self-service so do not require Partner staff oversight.

Tier Partners will not be charged for hosting a SwapSpot and the brand will pay for all the required electricity used for charging batteries for e-scooters.

Tier said the benefit for Partners is that new customers will be attracted to their shop or cafe in order to charge their e-scooter.

Lawrence Leuschner, Tier chief executive and co-founder, said: “By integrating this new kind of swappable battery technology, we are building a Europe-wide charging network that allows users to play an active part in adopting climate-neutral travel and building better cities.

“At the same time, by hosting the charging pods in local businesses, we are helping high streets to recover from lockdown.”

Leuschner said Tier is planning for the SwapSpot charging network to not just service e-scooters, but other products Tier is planning to introduce too, like its electric moped.

Tier is currently going through several UK tender processes including London, where it believes it can replicate the approach which recently helped it to win tenders for e-scooter rental services in Paris and Lyon.

Tier scooters feature a foldable helmet, and indicator lights on the steering bar and back fender.

Since it was founded in 2018, Berlin-based Tier has launched in 70 cities.

The company plans to roll-out its swappable battery technology across all its operations by the end of 2021 and is actively seeking strategic partners to the charging pods.

The Department for Transport (DfT) introduced new regulations to allow 12 month trials for rental e-scooters to start from July 4.

Tier has already imported over 1,000 of its e-scooters in preperation for winning tender contractst for the e-scooter trials across the UK.

Watch now: Connecting Policy To Solutions Virtual Conference 2021

Smart Transport Conference returned on June 8th & 9th, to facilitate pivotal discussions on the future of transport.

The UK’s most senior public and private sector transport leaders discussed the impact of Covid-19, achieving the Government’s decarbonisation ambitions, the need for more efficient living and better health, and much more.

Kwasi Kwarteng, secretary of state at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), who spoke on BEIS's approach to decarbonising transport, particularly the electrification of the vehicle industry. Watch his presentation below: