Zipp Mobility has launched a shared e-bike service in south Dublin as part of a pilot scheme with Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council.
The scheme represents the NovaUCD company's first micromobility operation in Ireland after establishing operations in eight cities in the UK and Poland, with plans to launch several more e-bike schemes in other cities later this year.
The e-bikes will be available to rent in various locations across the area using the Zipp Mobility app, and the fleet of e-bikes will be increased over time.
Users need to create a Zipp Mobility account and scan an e-bike to start their rental, and they are asked to start and finish all rides at designated parking locations and Sheffield bike stands. The company plans to launch daily, weekly and monthly passes in the coming weeks.
Charlie Gleeson, CEO and founder of Zipp Mobility, said: “We started Zipp to bring sustainable, safe and community-centric transport solutions to Irish towns and cities, so we are so excited to be able to finally launch on home soil.
In Association with
"Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council are a true trailblazer in the sustainable mobility space, and we are so proud to be partnering with them as we seek to bring ‘mobility done right’ to Irish communities.”
Councillor Lettie McCarthy, Cathaoirleach of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, said: "I welcome the issuing of a further temporary Bike Share Licence to Zipp Mobility.
"These low cost bike share schemes can encourage more people to cycle over short trips, especially those who do not own a bike."
Zipp Mobility said its operations in Dublin would use only zero-emissions vehicles such as e-cargo bikes, and the firm added it will hire a local team to run the operation and avoid the gig-economy staffing model.
Since forming in 2019, Zipp Mobility has raised €2.1m in funding from a number of investors including Brian O'Driscoll, Barry Malone of Balderton Capital, Enterprise Ireland and through the Spark crowdfunding platform.
The company, recognised by Enterprise Ireland as a high potential-start-up, plans to launch shared e-scooter services in Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway, Kildare and Waterford once the Road Traffic and Roads Bill is passed into law to regulate e-scooter usage.
Zipp Mobility also plans to commence operations in Spain this year. The firm has a staff of 25 split between Dublin, the UK, Poland and Spain and aim to add 50 jobs in Ireland over the next 12 months.
Rowena Dwyer, head of sustainability and climate at Enterprise Ireland, said: "Enterprise Ireland is delighted to see Zipp Mobility launch its first e-bike service in Ireland.
"Sustainability is a core pillar in Enterprise Ireland’s new ‘Leading In A Changing World’ strategy and it is very positive to see an innovative Irish start-up partnering with a local authority to provide low-carbon travel options.
"We look forward to further working with the team at Zipp Mobility as it continues to implement its ambitious growth strategy, both in Ireland and overseas."
Photo: Councillor Lettie McCarthy (left), Cathaoirleach, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council; Charlie Gleeson, CEO and founder, Zipp Mobility and Rowena Dwyer, Head of Sustainability and Climate, Enterprise Ireland. (Pic: Nick Bradshaw/Fotonic)
