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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Scooter sharing gets rolling in sweaty Singapore | Scooter sharing gets rolling in sweaty Singapore |
| (about 17 hours later) | |
| Anyone who lives in Singapore has walked a short distance, only to find themselves sweating through their shirt. | Anyone who lives in Singapore has walked a short distance, only to find themselves sweating through their shirt. |
| Three local companies think electric scooter-sharing services could be an answer. | Three local companies think electric scooter-sharing services could be an answer. |
| Customers join the service via an app, scan a QR code on the scooter and then ride away. | Customers join the service via an app, scan a QR code on the scooter and then ride away. |
| The businesses are betting that locals will opt for a scooter instead of braving the heat on foot. | The businesses are betting that locals will opt for a scooter instead of braving the heat on foot. |
| Too hot to walk | Too hot to walk |
| Singapore has a very extensive public transport network, but walking the last few hundred metres through the equatorial heat and humidity can be very uncomfortable. | Singapore has a very extensive public transport network, but walking the last few hundred metres through the equatorial heat and humidity can be very uncomfortable. |
| "Oftentimes there are no direct services, and walking is too hot," said Kelvin Emmanuel Ng from PopScoot, which is one of three companies who are rolling out scooter-sharing services. | |
| According to the Meteorological Service Singapore, daily average maximum temperatures are 31-33C all year round, and the minimum rarely drops below 23C. | According to the Meteorological Service Singapore, daily average maximum temperatures are 31-33C all year round, and the minimum rarely drops below 23C. |
| This, in a nutshell, is why scooter-sharing companies think Singaporeans will use the service. | This, in a nutshell, is why scooter-sharing companies think Singaporeans will use the service. |
| "Singapore is such a such a hot place, it's summer all year around," said Shakir Othman, from Telepod. | "Singapore is such a such a hot place, it's summer all year around," said Shakir Othman, from Telepod. |
| Bike sharing competition | Bike sharing competition |
| Scooter-sharing operates in a similar manner to bike-sharing services, which have grown popular in Singapore over the last year. | Scooter-sharing operates in a similar manner to bike-sharing services, which have grown popular in Singapore over the last year. |
| Mr Ng said the two are not in direct competition, because scooter customers are seeking a more comfortable ride with less effort. | Mr Ng said the two are not in direct competition, because scooter customers are seeking a more comfortable ride with less effort. |
| In fact, he said bike-sharing services would help, because Singaporeans are now familiar with the sharing model. | In fact, he said bike-sharing services would help, because Singaporeans are now familiar with the sharing model. |
| "In terms of education, they've done a lot of the legwork for us," he said. | "In terms of education, they've done a lot of the legwork for us," he said. |
| Dock shortage | Dock shortage |
| Bikes have one major advantage: they aren't electric and don't need to be recharged, so they can be left anywhere. | Bikes have one major advantage: they aren't electric and don't need to be recharged, so they can be left anywhere. |
| In many parts of Singapore, it's very common for residents to find share bikes left next to their apartment blocks. | In many parts of Singapore, it's very common for residents to find share bikes left next to their apartment blocks. |
| Electric scooters, on the other hand, need to be taken to a recharging dock. At the moment, there aren't very many of those. | Electric scooters, on the other hand, need to be taken to a recharging dock. At the moment, there aren't very many of those. |
| Mr Othman said the next challenge was to expand the service and to make docks more accessible. | Mr Othman said the next challenge was to expand the service and to make docks more accessible. |
| Telepod is currently trying to convince local businesses to host docks for their scooters. | Telepod is currently trying to convince local businesses to host docks for their scooters. |
| Mr Othman said many cafes in Singapore's central business district have been very positive about adding them, because customers would see a dock as an additional service. | Mr Othman said many cafes in Singapore's central business district have been very positive about adding them, because customers would see a dock as an additional service. |
| Unique market | Unique market |
| Singapore might be a better market for scooters than many other countries. | Singapore might be a better market for scooters than many other countries. |
| The heat gives people a reason to use them, and the government tends to be sympathetic to transport solutions that help keep cars off the road. | The heat gives people a reason to use them, and the government tends to be sympathetic to transport solutions that help keep cars off the road. |
| Low crime means that the companies are not too worried that someone might steal the scooters. | Low crime means that the companies are not too worried that someone might steal the scooters. |
| That wasn't the case for one umbrella sharing company in China, which lost most of its 300,000 umbrellas to theft. | That wasn't the case for one umbrella sharing company in China, which lost most of its 300,000 umbrellas to theft. |
| It's one reason PopScoot is in no hurry to try its luck overseas. | It's one reason PopScoot is in no hurry to try its luck overseas. |
| "There is interest, for sure. The question is whether it is practical and when do we jump into that market," said Mr Ng. | "There is interest, for sure. The question is whether it is practical and when do we jump into that market," said Mr Ng. |