Superpedestrian’s LINK e-scooter to launch in Rome in September 2020: All you need to know

A couple of months back, Superpedestrian, a spinoff of MIT Senseable Cities Lab announced the launch of LINK, its new shared micro-mobility division. The expansion into the shared micro-mobility space is fueled by the acquisition of Zagster’s scooter business, amid the pandemic. According to the report, Superpedestrian specifically bought the “permits, software and other IP, and talent”, related to Zagster’s scooter fleet division.

Launching in Rome

In the latest development, LINK announces the expansion into Rome in September 2020. It marks the first European launch for LINK, which serves several US cities. It’s worth mentioning that LINK will bring up to 1,000 e-scooters on the road initially. 

“Our intelligent e-scooters can safely navigate the oldest cobblestone streets, and ensure riders adhere to local rules,” says VP for EMEA, Haya Douidri.“We’re thrilled to partner with Rome to usher in the next generation of micro-mobility and fully integrate e-scooters into the local transport ecosystem.”

Fully custom-engineered e-scooters

Through this platform, riders can rent Superpedestrian’s e-scooters using a smartphone. LINK offers a safer and more sustainable shared mobility service with custom technology to improve the rider experience and effectively manage large fleets of vehicles following city needs. 

For example, LINK scooters can autonomously enforce geofences in less than a second thanks to onboard map storage which enables the vehicle to bypass the vehicle-to-cloud lag. It also allows the vehicles to slow to a stop before entering no-ride zones safely.

Monitors 140 parameters of the vehicle

Furthermore, it has a proprietary Vehicle Intelligence System (VIS) that monitors the entire vehicle in real-time — including a self-diagnostic check before each ride — and proactively averting issues that could pose a safety risk down the line.

The VIS continually monitors more than 140 indicators of vehicle performance per second, helping to address minor issues, including braking force, battery, and thermal events, before they become significant problems.

“We’re the only company that has full control over what’s going on in our e-scooters,” says founder Assaf Biderman. “Our superior geofencing technology addresses the main challenges that cities face with micro-mobility, keeping sidewalks clear and riders where they should be.”

Lasts more than 2,500 rides, 30+ micro-mobility patents and more

Superpedestrian’s e-scooters last more than 2,500 rides – far longer than the industry standard – and can travel up to 55 miles on a single charge. The company is the only shared e-scooter company with a significant portfolio of granted patents, with 30+ micro-mobility patents and more on the way. 

In the past couple of years, a wave of e-scooter operators emerged in the European market flooding the streets with micro-mobility scooters. As the market becomes more saturated with operators, can LINK make a difference? 

Let us know in the comments below!

Main image credits: LINK