Shaero, a folding electric bicycle sharing service operated by Shared Mobility Networks, has raised a total of 300 million yen through a third-party allotment of shares to domestic investors, bringing its cumulative funding to 600 million yen. The company plans to expand its services in the future.

Launched in September 2021, "Shaero" is Japan's first folding electric bicycle sharing service. As the only service of its kind in the country, it has been well-received as an eco-friendly tool for efficiently navigating short distances between stations in urban areas.

The electric bicycles can travel 30km on about 10 yen worth of electricity. By "sharing" them, even small batteries are charged frequently, resulting in low environmental impact, no noise, and no exhaust fumes – making them kind to both the "environment" and "people." Amidst the emergence of new lifestyles, it offers a free and convenient means of transportation that better suits individual lives.

Amidst the current COVID-19 situation, Shaero has been positioned as a new mode of transport that avoids "crowds," with 65 stations established primarily in Tokyo's 23 wards as of February 16, 2022. It can be used for travel between any points in urban areas and supports the realization of a sustainable society from the perspective of an "efficient and free transportation method."

Shaero has now raised a cumulative total of 600 million yen in funding. Moving forward, the company plans to expand within the Kanto region, centered on Tokyo, as well as deploy Shaero in regional cities and develop a sharing service using small EVs that can be ridden by a wider range of age groups. The goal is to establish 200 stations by the summer of 2022 and 600 stations by the summer of 2023.

By changing your mode of transportation, you may discover new value in your daily commute that you never noticed before.