Bounce vs Yulu: e-scooters or hybrid cycles, what'll make it in India?

It’s a race between two approaches. On one track is Bounce’s refurbished e-scooter—easy to put together but comes with a dubious history. On the other is Yulu’s mutant bicycle—cost-heavy but has a sustainable model. India’s ride-sharing space is getting more and more interesting, but who’ll make it through?

Shared micro-mobility goes consumer. And companies like Yulu, Bounce and Vogo are fighting it out for number 1

The first phase, with bicycles, was riddled with problems. But these ride-share companies have new tricks up their sleeve

Yulu and Bounce are pulling in different directions. One is designing a new ecosystem. The other is disrupting it

In the long race for survival, in a sector with low margins and even lower patience, will Yulu's hybrid Miracle bike outpace Bounce's e-scooter play?

Ceiling-to-floor whiteboards cover the walls of the second floor sun-lit office. One date, in a bold red circle, is unmissable. “We will be launching our EV [electric vehicle] operations by 15 April. 1,000 electric scooters across Bengaluru,” says Vivekananda Hallekere, co-founder at India’s largest two-wheeler ride-sharing company, Bounce, whose office this is.

Hallekere talks in clipped sentences, afraid to give too much away. He also seems to be in a hurry. A hurry to finish the interview. Hurry to scale and grow Bounce. Hurry to the finish line.

While Bounce makes the switch to e-scooters, its rival Yulu, another shared, eco-friendly micro-mobility offering, is giving bicycle-sharing a makeover.

AUTHOR

Olina Banerji

Based in Delhi, Olina writes about mega-trends in urban mobility, education, skilling and the environment, with a focus on how institutions and innovations can help cities grow sustainably. She is a graduate of the London School of Economics, and has worked previously with India Today and global non-profit Ashoka.

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