Upway Chief Executive Toussaint Wattinne Talks Making Electric Bikes More Accessible To All, New Trend Report, More In Interview

Upway: Making Sustainable Transportation Accessible with Certified Pre-Owned E-Bikes

When I connected recently with Upway co-founder and CEO Toussaint Wattinne via email to talk about his e-bike startup, he explained the value proposition for his France-based company, launched in 2021, “resonates very well” with customers. The young company, he said, serves as a secondary market for e-bikes that offers the vehicles at prices up to 60% off retail price—all done without compromising on quality. Every bike sold by Upway undergoes what Wattinne characterized as a “meticulous certification” process, which includes a one-year warranty, at Upway’s Brooklyn warehouse before being delivered to buyers.

A Distinctive Operating Model

“What sets us apart from other marketplaces is our distinctive, fully integrated operating model that covers everything from sourcing to sales,” Wattinne said of his company’s value proposition. “We acquire e-bikes directly from brands, local bike shops, and consumers. Collaborating with businesses, we establish trade-in channels for their customers, providing a new acquisition avenue. We also offer individuals a seamless way to upgrade their e-bikes by purchasing their old ones.”

Fast-Growing Business with Sustainable Mobility

Wattinne expounded further, saying Upway’s combination of speed of execution and financial discipline has translated into a “fast-growing business” sporting healthy and ever-improving economics for himself and co-founder Stéphane Ficaja. He noted he and Ficaja strongly believe in the “power of sustainable mobility and share the motivation to make individual transportation more sustainable with new mobility concepts.”

E-Bikes: A Growing Market with Environmental Benefits

When asked about the decision to focus on e-bikes, Wattinne said Upway is “helping accelerate a large-scale underlying trend” that electric bikes are increasingly becoming popular. He noted they are amongst the “world’s largest growing transportation categories” poised to expand at a compound annual growth rate, or CAGR, of 13.5 percent by the end of the decade. Moreover, Wattinne emphasized how Upway has “given a new life” to more than 20,000 e-bikes in less than two years.

“With Upway, we’ve paved the way for easy access to sustainable transportation solutions,” Wattinne said. “Not only do we provide e-bikes at significantly lower prices compared to buying directly from retailers, but we also reduce the carbon footprint of each purchase. By selling certified pre-owned e-bikes, we are reducing 60% of their environmental footprint.”

Accessibility and Affordability

Wattinne’s point about providing easier access to transport cuts both ways. Not only does he and his team provide people with lower cost, environmentally-friendly e-bikes, but the price factor plus high quality can be attractive to a disabled person looking for more accessible transport options. For those who can ride a bike but still remain constrained by their budget, buying from Upway indeed may be the best way for them to get their next mode of accessible transportation. Upway is yet another example of accessibility showing off its many legs; for a disabled person needing transport, that they can get a bike at low cost makes it accessible in more ways than one—especially with the vast majority of disabled people always needing to pinch their pennies.

Positive Feedback and Future Goals

In terms of feedback on Upway, Wattinne was succinct in saying it’s been “overwhelmingly positive.” He pointed to the 4.7 rating on TrustPilot garnered from more than nearly 5,000 customer reviews.

Looking towards the future of his company, Wattinne said Upway still is “at the very beginning of our journey” but noted the overarching goal is to give new life to over a million e-bikes worldwide by 2030. This goal, he added, will go a long way in “helping drive mass adoption of e-mobility in an accessible, convenient, and safe way.” A major step towards that future will be the opening of a warehouse in California, which Wattinne told me is slated to happen by the end of this year.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Analysis:

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
• SDG 13: Climate Action

The article discusses the value proposition of Upway, a company that focuses on providing affordable and sustainable e-bikes. This aligns with SDG 9, which aims to promote sustainable industrialization and foster innovation. Additionally, the article mentions how Upway contributes to reducing the carbon footprint and supports the circular economy, connecting to SDG 11 and SDG 12. Lastly, the emphasis on sustainable mobility and reducing environmental impact relates to SDG 13.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• SDG 9.4: Upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable
• SDG 11.2: Provide access to safe, affordable, accessible, and sustainable transport systems for all
• SDG 12.2: Achieve sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources
• SDG 13.3: Improve education, awareness-raising, and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction, and early warning

The article highlights how Upway contributes to upgrading the infrastructure of the e-bike industry by providing a secondary market for affordable and quality e-bikes (SDG 9.4). It also mentions how Upway offers accessible and sustainable transport options through its trade-in service and lower prices (SDG 11.2). Furthermore, Upway’s focus on selling certified pre-owned e-bikes and reducing the environmental footprint aligns with the target of achieving sustainable resource management (SDG 12.2). Lastly, the company’s commitment to sustainable mobility and reducing the carbon footprint supports the target of raising awareness and capacity on climate change mitigation (SDG 13.3).

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Number of e-bikes sold through Upway’s secondary market
• Percentage reduction in the carbon footprint of each e-bike purchase
• Number of partnerships established with bike shops for trade-in services
• Number of e-bikes given a new life through Upway’s initiatives
• Number of positive customer reviews and average rating on platforms like TrustPilot

The article implies several indicators that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets. These indicators include tracking the number of e-bikes sold through Upway’s secondary market to assess the impact on sustainable industrialization and infrastructure (SDG 9.4). The percentage reduction in the carbon footprint of each purchase can be measured to evaluate progress towards sustainable resource management (SDG 12.2). The number of partnerships established with bike shops and the number of e-bikes given a new life can indicate progress in providing accessible and sustainable transport options (SDG 11.2). Lastly, monitoring customer reviews and ratings can provide insights into customer satisfaction and the company’s overall performance.

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Behold! This splendid article springs forth from the wellspring of knowledge, shaped by a wondrous proprietary AI technology that delved into a vast ocean of data, illuminating the path towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Remember that all rights are reserved by SDG Investors LLC, empowering us to champion progress together.

Source: forbes.com

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