Zipp Mobility has launched a new shared e-bike service in Dublin in partnership with Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council as part of a pilot scheme.
The Irish company, which is based at UCD, said it plans to roll out the service in other cities across the country later this year.
From today e-bikes will be available to rent in various locations across Dublin, with more bikes due to be added over time.
To use the bikes you need to download the Zipp Mobility app, create an account and scan an e-bike to start your journey.
Users are asked to start and finish all their journeys at designated parking locations.
"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," said Charlie Gleeson, CEO and founder, Zipp Mobility.
"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," he added.
Councillor Lettie McCarthy, Cathaoirleach of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council welcomed the issuing of the 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," he said.
Zipp Mobility has raised over €2 million in funding since it was set up in 2019, from a number private and angel investors including, former Irish rugby international Brian O’Driscoll and Barry Maloney of Balderton Capital, Enterprise Ireland, and through a crowdfunding campaign on the Spark crowdfunding platform.
The company said it plans to launch shared e-scooter services in several Irish towns and cities including Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway, Kildare and Waterford - once the Road Traffic and Roads Bill 2021 is passed into law.
The company is also planning to begin operations in Spain later this year.
Zipp Mobility currently employs 25 people across its offices in Dublin, UK, Spain and Poland and is looking to create 50 new jobs in Ireland alone over the next year.
