Smoove and Zoov (now Fifteen) joined forces in April 2021 to promote the uptake of cycling in all regions, and to give cities the means to offer universal, integrated access to bikes. Fusion is the product of this mission. It is the first connected electric bike designed for both self-service and long-term leasing.
September 6, 2021
Fifteen unveils Fusion: its latest connected electric bike
Fusion is here: A connected electric bike for self-service and long-term leasing to give cities universal access to cycling.
1. Thinking bigger to improve the quality of life in our cities
There is no doubt that electric bikes are the most reliable and efficient alternative to cars. But, despite the significant uptake of cycling in affluent areas, it hasn't yet developed enough in the areas where it's needed the most:
- In major French cities outside of Paris, less than half of inhabitants live a 10-minute walk away from a self-service bike station. (Internal study)
- Three quarters of all self-service bike systems are in cities with over 50,000 inhabitants. (ADEME and Inddigo)
We must accelerate the adoption of bicycles to all urban and suburban areas to reduce transport-related CO2 emissions and noise pollution, to improve health and, ultimately, to make our cities more peaceful places to live.
The key to the mass-adoption of cycling lies in a city’s ability to offer their citizens equitable access to efficient active mobility services that are always available, whatever the time, place and need. Fifteen intends to support cities and their elected officials in their mobility transformation, for the benefit of the lives of their inhabitants.
– Benoît Yameundjeu, CEO of Fifteen
2. Fusion & an all-inclusive electric bike "as a service" offer, from short to long-term use
Fifteen advocates the implementation of Augmented Bike Networks to connect entire cities - bike services interlaced with public transport to make sure there is no ‘end of the line’.
The all-in-one service created by Fifteen blurs the boundaries between bike-sharing and personal cycling, which allows cities of all sizes to offer a complete bike solution to all inhabitants - from city centre to suburbs - whatever the nature or duration of their need.
Bikes can be rented on an ad hoc basis, but can also be privatised at any time for more frequent use. With this in mind, here is the first self-service electric bike that is perfectly suited for long-term rental.
What completely changes the game is that each city can offer a complete service, addressing all use cases, with the same fleet of bikes. This generates strong operational synergies - from the management of repairs and spare parts to human resources - that drastically reduce the cost of access to the service.
– Amira Haberah, Marketing and Sales Director & Co-founder of Fifteen
Charging Fusion
When being operated in self-service, Fusion can be recharged through the world's most compact charging station. Each station accommodates up to 10 bikes, locked together with electromagnets - which also allows for the transfer of energy from one bike to the next. For long-term rental, the removable battery is secured by an electronic lock, giving the user the freedom to recharge when necessary and total peace of mind when leaving the battery in the bike.
Controlled via an app
The electric bike is controlled by a mobile app, allowing the user to:
- Sign up to, manage or cancel their subscription at any time
- Locate their own bike or a nearby self-service bike
- Unlock and lock the bike
- Unlock and recharge the battery (long-term leasing)
- Follow an integrated GPS route
- Receive theft or low battery alerts (long-term leasing)
- Speak to customer service, and much more.
When operated in a fleet or shared bikes, Fusion can also be unlocked from a payment kiosk or with a transport card thanks to RFID compatibility.
From the design of the bike and compact smart station, to the built-in intelligence and the mobile app, a high-quality user experience is at the heart of the mission to create long-term, committed cyclists:
The first challenge we confronted was to build a bike that flourished at the crossroads of self-service and long-term rental whilst also remaining accessible, in terms of cost. The second challenge was to use connectivity and software to turn data-driven innovation into a seamless experience and provide a level of service that continually exceeds expectations.
– Arnaud Le Rodallec, Chief Product Officer & Co-Founder of Fifteen
3. Subscription-based electric bikes arrive in Bordeaux
This autumn, the company will launch its inaugural long-term rental service in Bordeaux. The subscription includes a personal electric bike, a charger for the battery, insurance against theft and damage - and an on-demand maintenance/repair service (guaranteed within 24 hours).
Early-bird registration for the subscription-based offer in Bordeaux is now open to the general public at www.zoov.eu. The number of places is limited.
