Lime Launches App-Less Rides & Fee-Free Reservations

Lime Introduces App-Less Rides and Free Reservations to Expand Rider Base

Lime is currently deploying a range of innovative features, notably the capability to utilize electric scooters without requiring prior application download, as a strategic move to broaden its user base.

The micromobility provider revealed on Wednesday a suite of product features specifically engineered to diminish obstacles for prospective users and enhance accessibility to its fleet of vehicles.

New Features for Enhanced Accessibility

• Free vehicle reservations for up to 10 minutes.
• Recommendations for the nearest available vehicle.
• An option to switch the application interface to dark mode.

The app-less functionality is presently operational in over half of Lime’s 130 operational areas, with developers actively monitoring and evaluating its performance. Currently, this feature is limited to e-scooters.

The free reservation and recommendation functionalities are applicable to both Lime’s e-scooters and e-bikes, and are available across all markets and supported languages, according to Lime’s development team.

“User feedback is central to our development process,” explained Vijay Murali, Senior Product Manager, in an interview with TechCrunch. “We gather insights from app store reviews, customer support interactions, rider surveys, and research sessions globally to guide our feature development.”

Murali further elaborated that the team pinpointed three primary objectives driving these recent updates.

“Firstly, many potential users are interested in trying micromobility but are hesitant to download an application and commit to it. Secondly, pricing is a significant consideration for frequent riders. And thirdly, locating the closest vehicle, particularly in urban environments, can be challenging.”

Upon launching the application, users will now be directed to the closest vehicle and presented with the option to reserve it at no cost, streamlining the process and encouraging regular use.

The app-less riding option is designed for individuals new to micromobility, those with limited storage space on their devices, or users with costly international data plans.

To utilize this feature, users scan a QR code using their device’s camera application, which connects to Apple’s App Clips or Android’s Instant App capabilities. This allows ride confirmation and payment via Apple Pay or Google Pay. Technically, a small portion of the application – approximately 10 megabytes compared to the full app’s 100 megabytes – is downloaded for a limited duration of eight hours.

To the user, it appears as a simple file or application launch, significantly faster than the traditional process of downloading, account creation, payment setup, and tutorial completion, which typically takes around five minutes versus 30 seconds.

While this feature may lead to fewer full Lime application downloads and consequently less user data collection, Lime prioritizes immediate sales growth.

“We observe a substantial download-to-conversion rate,” stated Zach Kahn, another Senior Product Manager. “Reducing friction and simplifying payment and vehicle selection significantly boosts conversion, contributing a considerable percentage to our initial rides.”

Kahn refrained from disclosing specific conversion rates for users introduced to Lime through app-less rides. Murali also indicated that vehicle reservations increased notably after the removal of associated fees, with adoption rising from around 3% to a higher level.

“Our focus is on ensuring accessibility for individuals from all socioeconomic backgrounds, particularly in underserved communities,” Murali emphasized. “In these areas, the cost of a scooter ride is paramount, and eliminating reservation fees increases the likelihood of usage.”

Competing for New York City Pilot Program

Backed by Uber and Alphabet, Lime is a contender for the highly sought-after New York City e-scooter pilot program in the Bronx, an area characterized by numerous low-income communities and limited public transportation options. Each applicant presents unique strengths.

Superpedestrian, for instance, prioritizes advanced safety features and strict adherence to geofencing regulations. However, Murali asserts that Lime’s advantage lies in its scale and rapid implementation of new features.

“We don’t merely claim to prioritize riders; we actively determine how to achieve this and swiftly integrate improvements into the application,” Murali explained. “This is our differentiating factor – the substantial progress we are making, at scale, and with speed. We quickly tested and deployed this new technology, App Clips, and are now expanding it to all possible markets.”

Lime asserts its position as the first micromobility company to introduce app-less riding. However, Apple showcased App Clips with a scooter rental from Spin, another applicant for New York’s RFP. A Spin spokesperson confirmed their collaboration with Apple to integrate the App Clip experience into their e-scooters in the future.