Uber ties up with Yulu to offer e-bikes in Bengaluru

Ride-hailing company Uber Technologies Inc. has tied up with micro-mobility platform service Yulu to offer electric bikes to users on a pilot basis in Bengaluru.

“The push towards electrification has to be multi-modal, and the collaboration with Yulu only goes to demonstrate the intention therein,” Uber said in a statement.

Yulu uses internet of things (IoT) to offer dockless e-bikes on a pay-per-use basis. Users can unlock e-bikes by scanning QR codes on their device. Yulu’s pick-up and drop-off centres are spread across Bengaluru. Users do not need a licence to ride the e-bikes.

Yulu said its partnership with Uber will make commute efficient and eco-friendly. The company also plans to offer its services in other cities.

Yulu started operations in 2017 as a bicycle-sharing platform. It was launched Amit Gupta, a co-founder of mobile advertisement technology company InMobi, along with R K Misra, Naveen Dachuri and Hemant Gupta.

In March last year, Yulu raised $7 million in a seed funding round from Blume Ventures, Binny Bansal, Naveen Tewari and Girish Mathrubhootam.

Uber has launched an array of services to diversify its offerings. Earlier this year, it launched its pilot speedboat service in partnership with Maharashtra Maritime Board in Mumbai.

Last year, Uber rival Ola had joined hands with scooter-sharing platform Vogo to offer micro-mobility devices. In November, scooter-sharing platform Bounce announced the acquisition of the Indian assets of Chinese cycle-sharing company Ofo.