Driving change: all-electric last-mile mobility and logistics

An electric mobility infrastructure startup lets drivers swap out depleted batteries for fully charged ones, eliminating the need to wait for a charge

Spotted: Last-mile delivery is a challenging area of business for many companies as the task lies at the intersection of sustainability, speed, and customer expectation. Practices that achieve all three are something that brands are constantly seeking to develop and improve. All-electric motorbikes and cars for last-mile deliveries are some of the most promising solutions. 

UAE-based Neo has built the infrastructure and provides the vehicles that enable delivery services and any business taking full control of their logistics to reduce their emissions with high-speed electric motorbikes and cars. Vehicles are available on a lease-to-own basis with costs dependent on the size of the fleet. Part of Neo’s solution includes driver safety support, insurance, smart helmets, and software to track working hours.  

Neo’s motorbikes have a range of up to 300 kilometres, while the company’s cars can travel up to 550 kilometres on a full charge. Part of what makes Neo’s solution so helpful is its battery swap option. Drivers use the Neo app to find the nearest battery charging station with an available battery. They then deposit the used battery for recharging and drive away with a full charge. The swap generally takes only a minute to complete. 

The company plans to partner with a number of different electric vehicle (EV) brands and is already using Tesla vehicles in its initial rollout. By the end of 2024, Neo hopes to have 200 of its cars on the road. With $10 million (around €9.1 million) in pre-launch seed funding raised in 2023, Neo can further develop its technology and expand the team. 

Motorbikes and scooters are often a more affordable means of transport for communities without access to mass transit options and innovators are improving sustainability at scale by developing renewable-powered options in cities around the world. Two examples from Springwise’s database include projects in Kenya and Thailand.

Written By: Keely Khoury