Dott Bike Sharing Launches in Paris | Electric Bikes

Dott Expands Mobility Options with Bike-Sharing Launch in Paris

Approximately one year following the initial announcement, Dott has initiated its bike-sharing service in Paris. While primarily recognized for its scooter-sharing presence throughout numerous European cities, Dott is now broadening its offerings to include electric bikes.

Existing Micro-Mobility Landscape in Paris

Alongside Dott, both Lime and Tier currently operate scooter-sharing programs within Paris. These companies have each been granted permits to deploy fleets of 5,000 scooters. Dott’s operational footprint extends beyond Paris, encompassing key European cities across Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Norway, Poland, Spain, and the United Kingdom.

Evolution of Dott’s Bike-Sharing Plans

Originally, Dott intended to introduce bike-sharing utilizing a uniquely designed bicycle in March 2021. The realization of this plan has encountered delays. However, the company remains committed to the European manufacture of its own bikes.

As an interim solution, Dott is collaborating with Okai, its current scooter manufacturing partner, to expedite the service launch.

Availability and Usage of Dott E-Bikes

The e-bikes are now integrated into the Dott application in Paris. Users can view the locations of both scooters and bikes within the app. A filtering option allows users to specifically focus on either bikes or scooters.

Dott anticipates deploying a total of 3,000 e-bikes in Paris by the year's end.

Pricing Structure for Dott E-Bike Rentals

The cost of renting a Dott e-bike is equivalent to the price of renting a Dott scooter. Pricing varies depending on the city.

In Paris, unlocking a bike or scooter incurs a €1 fee, with a per-minute usage charge of €0.23. Various subscription passes are available, offering unlimited rides for a defined period or waiving unlock fees; these passes are valid for both scooters and e-bikes.

Competitive Landscape: Dott vs. Lime and Vélib’

Within Paris, Dott’s bike-sharing service faces competition from Lime, which incorporated Jump’s e-bikes through an investment arrangement with Uber. Lime’s pricing is €1 for unlocking and €0.20 per minute.

Pony provides an alternative with free-floating bikes at a rate one-third of Lime’s.

However, Dott’s primary competitor is Vélib’, the city-subsidized, dock-based bike-sharing system. Vélib’ boasts hundreds of thousands of subscribers in Paris.

Even with a free V-Libre account, users pay €3 for an e-bike ride lasting 45 minutes or less. Comparatively, a 20-minute ride on a Dott e-bike costs €5.60.

Future Expansion and Operational Details

Despite the price difference, user adoption is evident, with individuals already utilizing Dott bikes. The convenience of a single app for both scooters and bikes is expected to drive usage.

Dott intends to extend its bike-sharing service to Rome, Milan, Brussels, and London. These bikes will be equipped with swappable batteries and managed by dedicated in-house logistics teams.