New partnership aims to integrate Zipp’s e-scooters and e-bikes on the Free Now app this year.
A new deal between mobility app Free Now and micromobility operator Zipp Mobility will enable people to choose between taxis, e-bikes and e-scooters when getting around.
Zipp, headquartered at NovaUCD, has already launched in the UK and mainland Europe and plans to launch both e-bikes and e-scooters across Ireland in 2022 along with beginning operations in Portugal and Spain.
“We understand that our customers want to make more sustainable choices and having the option to book an e-scooter or EV taxi facilitates this”
Free Now, which recently entered its 10th year in the Irish market, enables passengers to book taxis through its popular app and across Europe already offers access to e-scooters, e-bikes, e-mopeds as well as car sharing.
Recent research conducted by Free Now shows that 40% of passengers plan to use e-scooters like Zipp’s for everyday transport when they are made widely available in Irish cities this year, and three quarters think that Ireland needs more sustainable, electric transport options in line with other European countries.
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“It’s a really exciting time for the industry now that legislation on e-scooters is in motion, and we look forward to having e-scooters available on our app in 2022,” said Free Now general manager Niall Carson.
“We understand that our customers want to make more sustainable choices and having the option to book an e-scooter or EV taxi facilitates this. Using FREE NOW allows you to choose the best means of transport for you and your specific journey on any given day. Some longer trips make more sense in a taxi and for others using an e-scooter or e-bike will be quicker! It’s all about convenience and giving our customers the choice.”
Young start-up Zipp Mobility has now raised over €2m in funding and a number of high-profile private investors, including former Irish rugby international Brian O’Driscoll, have already invested in the company.
Zipp is currently operating e-scooter schemes in eight cities including three in Poland and five in the UK and plans to roll out across Ireland in 2022.
“We are thrilled to join the group of operators that are able to offer their micro-mobility services on the Free Now platform,” said CEO and founder Charlie Gleeson.
“At Zipp we understand that micro-mobility is not a ‘silver bullet’ solution to decarbonising transport so we must collaborate with platforms like Free Now to give our customers a full spectrum of sustainable transport options. This is the only way we can meaningfully reduce our reliance on the private car and get to net-zero emissions in transport.
“This year we hope to launch our e-scooters and e-bikes in cities across Ireland including Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway and this partnership will be a great asset to our users. Zipp was founded with Ireland in mind and we are so excited to bring our ethos of “mobility done right” to Irish cities during 2022,” Gleeson said.
Main image at top: Zipp Mobility CEO Charlie Gleeson with Free Now Ireland general manager Niall Carson
