This week, ItalianmicromobilityvendorHelbizannouncedit signed a letter of intent to acquire US escooter company Wheels.
Founded in 2018 in California, the company creates a throw in of scooter that expands the market accessibility.
The escooters feature seats with a low center of gravity and 14-inch wheels to help navigate uneven pavement surfaces.
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A first-of-its-kind integrated helmet system gives riders access to a shareable helmet.
Helbiz has also developed severaladaptive vehicles, which have been deployed in Charlotte in the US.
An escooter attachment fits mostwheelchairs, turning them from manual into motorized, capable of 12mph (19kmph).
Also available is a three-wheeled sit-down adaptive scooter.
Both are free to use.
Having all of these options available could expand the micromobility user profile significantly.
Further, having more commercial product offerings like regular escooters and mopeds helps the company stay profitable.
Its unclear how it will all fit together.
This is a far smaller reach than contemporaries likeTierandLime.
Wheels is available in 11 US cities, including Berlin in Germany, and via four US college campuses.
And getting more people out of cars?
I am all for it.
Story byCate Lawrence
Cate Lawrence is an Australian tech journo living in Berlin.
