PBSC, Careem to Launch Electric Bike Sharing Network in Middle East

Flickr

PBSC has partnered with Careem, the top ride-hailing company in the Middle East, as well as Dubai’s RTA, to bring its electric bikes to the Emirate.

PBSC Urban Solutions, one of the leading smart bike-share solutions provider has announced that it has partnered with Careem, the top ride-hailing company in the Middle East, as well as Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), to bring its electric bikes to the Emirate.

Over the coming months, the company will start deploying its E-FIT electric pedal-assist bikes and smart stations throughout Dubai. The multi-year contract provides for 3,500 bikes and 350 stations. This is PBSC’s first foray into the Middle East, after successfully launching earlier this year in cities such as Barcelona, Buenos Aires, Santiago and Monaco. It is also the region’s first large-scale electric bike-share network. 

“We are excited to bring our bike-share and technology solutions to Dubai. This is an important step for our company that builds on our recent momentum in Europe. Together with Careem, we’re on a mission to re-invent what transport means for the millions of people in the Middle East. We look forward to giving Dubai residents a viable and sustainable transportation alternative — one that’s in line with the government’s mobility goals,” said Luc Sabbatini, CEO of PBSC. 

In recent years, the RTA has made a concerted effort to improve mobility infrastructure in Dubai through a network of cycling lanes, with plans to more than double these dedicated thoroughfares by 2030. The E-FIT is the perfect vehicle to help the city’s residents and visitors take advantage of these efforts. While Dubai’s topography is relatively flat, the e-bike will give riders a boost when temperatures soar, reducing the amount of energy required to pedal.

Dubai’s system, dubbed Careem Bike, will feature PBSC’s smart station technology, which allows riders to recharge their e-bikes directly at the docking point. This means that operators don’t have to worry about swapping out batteries or manually charging the e-bikes. Adding to the operational efficiency of PBSC’s system is its smart tech that transmits data about battery, bike and network health back to operators, who monitor their system through a bespoke management platform. Both the smart stations and PBSC’s e-bikes have been thoroughly tested and hold multiple safety certifications.