Pittsburgh Launches Ride-Sharing Program With Genze 2.0F Electric Scooter

Pittsburgh, Pa., is launching a new ride-sharing program called “Scoobi”, allowing anyone with a Class C driver’s license to rent Genze 2.0F electric scooters for trips around the city. The “F” model is similar to the Genze 2.0 model Troy tested here but with a center stand and a storage compartment.

The Scoobi service will launch with a fleet of 100 scooters. Each scooter comes with two different-sized helmets in the storage case, with charging stations located at parking garages around the city. Reservations are made through a mobile app, and the scooters will be allowed to park for free in designated areas.

Rental rates are set at $5 for the first 20 minutes, and $0.20 for each additional minute.

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Residents, workers, students and tourists in Pittsburgh will soon be able to experience the city like never before. Starting in June, on-demand mobility service Scoobi will introduce Pittsburgh’s first dockless electric scooter fleet, offering a new transportation option to the city’s 300,000-plus residents and visitors.

The shared e-Scooter fleet aims to fill the gap between public transit and rideshare options, providing riders with an affordable, convenient and eco-friendly solution for short-distance transportation across the Steel City. According to research, Pittsburgh drivers spend an average of 81 hours per year commuting, often in traffic throughout the downtown area.

“Our goal is to reinvent the way Pittsburghers travel, providing an affordable, environmentally conscious way to experience the City,” said Scoobi CEO Mike Moran. “Scooters allow people to skip the cramped city bus or expensive rideshare car and enjoy a low-cost way to get around town. It’s about fun, efficiency and freedom-of-movement.”

Scoobi’s initial program launches with 100 electric scooters produced by Fremont, Calif.-based GenZe. The model 2.0F electric scooters, which are assembled in Ann Arbor, Mich., are purpose-built fleet versions of the Silicon Valley brand’s 2.0S e-Scooter.

The GenZe 2.0 e-Scooters’ smartphone-connected IoT technology and removable battery with standard wall-outlet charging are proven to help shared electric fleet operators.

“GenZe was founded on the idea of revolutionizing personal transportation in cities through two-wheel, zero-emissions vehicles,” said Vish Palekar, CEO of GenZe. “Shared fleets like Scoobi are a great example of how these innovative electric scooters can transform our approach to local commuting and urban exploring.”

Riders locate and operate the scooters using Scoobi’s mobile app, which identifies available scooters throughout the City, and holds the selected vehicle for 10 minutes. The Scoobi app displays the battery life for each scooter, and enables the vehicle to be started, plus provides access to a lockable trunk where two different-sized helmets are stored. To charge the user’s phone while riding, Android and iPhone chargers are provided in the scooter’s trunk, that connect to a phone mount with charging point located on the handlebars. Scoobi’s mobile app also provides users with a running total of miles driven and the user’s carbon footprint impact. The cost for riding the Scoobi scooters is $5 for the first 20 minutes, and $0.20 for each additional minute.

There will be charging stations located throughout the East End where a rider will be able to park in garages and charge the scooters after their ride has ended. If parking in a charging station is inconvenient, riders will also have the option to park on the street in various “blue zones” outlined in Scoobi’s mobile app throughout the East End and in parts of the North Shore and South Side.

Scoobi electric scooters have a maximum speed of 30 miles per hour and a range of up to 34 miles per battery charge. Since a Class M license is only required for vehicles in Pennsylvania over 50cc, Scoobi scooters can be ridden by any person with a standard Class C driver’s license.

For more info and a link to download the Scoobi app, visit www.scoobi.co.