← Back to blogHow to start building a scooter sharing app like LimeBy Kyrylo SavytskyiMar 3, 20209 min readscootersharingNeed more information on how to start building a scooter sharing app like Lime? Check out our article ⏩ Table of contents Intro Why are scooter sharing apps so popular? Top scooter sharing apps Must-have features of an e-scooter sharing app $30,000 to build your scooter sharing app like Lime Best ways to monetize your app Summing up With the extreme environmental pollution, a vast majority of automotive companies start looking for ways to reduce their negative impact on the Earth. With environmental pollution on one hand and traffic jams on the other, e-scooters are seizing the market. Let’s find out how to create a scooter sharing app and save our planet ⏩ Why are scooter sharing apps so popular? It’s no doubt that mobile apps are changing every service in our world from food delivery to transportation. Here’re some reasons why mobile apps like Lime have become so popular. Price Users are likely to adopt not expensive trends. So the price is a decisive factor. When it comes to scooter sharing, it’s cheaper to rent an e-scooter than take a cab with Uber or Lyft. A scooter ride costs around $2-3 (depends on location) compared to $25 per cab ride. A low price is your ultimate selling point. Fun Electric scooters are breaking the stereotypes of daily commuting. According to the latest survey by Bikeportland, nearly 28% of local people choose to ride an e-scooter just because it’s more fun than sharing a cab. Portable You don’t have to care about parking and maintenance of a scooter. That’s a considerable advantage. Take, drive, and leave your bike wherever you need. Environment-friendly While cars emit gases that affect our environment, e-scooters run on electricity with zero emissions. When compared to other transportation means, electric scooters are the most environmentally-friendly means to get to work or supermarket. No traffic jams Electric scooters are the best way to avoid traffic and get to your endpoint as fast as you can. Ideal for short distances E-bikes are perfect transportation means when it comes to short distances since it’s cheaper and faster to use a scooter sharing app than request and wait for your cab. Why should you invest in scooter sharing app development? The world is changing and going towards cleaner and greener solutions for all spheres of our daily lives. And the everyday commute isn’t an exception. Moreover, electric scooters provide a considerable advantage of being the most cost-effective means of commute. Also, they allow for faster and traffic jam-free commute. The user interest in e-scooters is growing at a blistering pace since more and more people become really environmentally conscious. The following trend makes building a scooter sharing app a profitable venue for startups and entrepreneurs. Need one more app idea for your startup? Check out How to make a babysitting app like Uber to find more detailed information on building an Uber-like app for babysitters. You can build an app like Lime that will work in any part of the world. Electric scooters are in high demand not only in the US but in Europe and Asia as well. You don’t have to limit your market. Still, it’s better to launch a local e-scooter sharing business and then opt for a bigger market. Let’s find out what the best scooter sharing apps are before building your won one. Top scooter sharing apps Before developing an app, it’s vital to research your market and find out your competitors. Analyze the existing apps and point out its pros and cons in order to build the best app for electric scooter sharing. How scooter sharing apps work All scooter sharing apps share the same work algorithm. Here’s how most of the electric scooter sharing apps work: 1. Find and download the app from any app store (Google Play or App Store) 2. Create a personal profile, fill in payment details, and sign in 3. Search for nearby scooters 4. Scan the QR code, unlock the scooter, and go 5. Take your ride, park safely, and lock the scooter Lime Lime is a free scooter sharing app for iOS and Android. It’s the youngest and the most popular scooter sharing app in the US and Europe, covering 75 markets worldwide. The company was founded by Brad Bao and Toby Sun. It helps users to move around the city cheaper than catching a cab. Lime offers three transportation means - electric scooters (Lime-S), e-assist bikes (Lime-E), and bikes (LimeBike). The app charges users per ride. The prices start from $1 for a 30-minute ride for bikes while renting an electric bike or scooter cost $1 to unblock and $0.15 per minute. Lime’s features: Map with nearby vehicles Vehicle ID or QR code to lock or unlock Secure and safe payment Bird Bird is a free app that provides access to personal electric vehicles and e-scooter in 100+ locations all over the world. The pricing policy of Bird is quite similar to Lime’s - $1 to unblock the vehicle and $0.15 per minute. With the app, users can quickly locate, lock or unlock the nearest scooter. Bird’s features: Smart lock Built-in payment system QR code scanner Real-time tracking Smart maps to find nearby scooters Spin Spin is another scooter sharing app covering 50+ markets worldwide. In the US, Spin provides services in 19 cities, and its market reach is still expanding. Spin started with only 500 bicycles in Seattle, but the app has enormous success. During its first week of operation, the app exceeded 5,000 rides. Customers need to pay $1 to unlock the vehicle and $0,15 a minute. Spin’s features: Integration with Google Maps Bonus trip when entering payment details QR code scanner to unlock or lock the vehicle Read also: How to develop an app like Uber for a handyman Must-have features of an e-scooter sharing app Having analyzed the top three scooter sharing apps, we’ve found out all the essential features. Here’s a list of must-have features for your e-scooter sharing app. Registration and onboarding Only registered users can use the app and rent scooters. Moreover, consider adding an onboarding section to help your customers find out how to use e-scooters properly. An interactive tutorial is the best way to introduce users to your scooter sharing app. Map integration Integration with Google Maps allows users to look for nearby free scooters. The app can also help to find the shortest route to your scooter. QR code scanner QR code scanners are used to start and end the ride. Users scan the QR code of the vehicle to unlock it or lock it for a few hours. Lime and Bird take advantage of the scanner SDKs for iOS and Android operating systems. Built-in payment system A scooter sharing app should have a built-in payment system to allow users to pay for scooters without leaving the app. Consider integrating payment gateways such as Stripe, PayPal, or Braintree. GPS tracking Real-time tracking helps customers easily locate available scooters. And it allows managers to keep track of scooters and collect ones that need maintenance. Smart locks In order to allow users to unlock scooters via QR codes, you have to add an IoT-enabled locking system. Don’t forget to equip your scooters with microcontrollers. Otherwise, the system won’t work. Ride history and stats The following feature allows users to keep track of their rides. Also, ride stats are important when it comes to measuring the efficiency of customer rides. Booking A built-in booking system allows users to pre-book a scooter and plan a trip with their family, friends, or colleagues. Also, it ensures that there will be free scooters for a ride. Social media integration Social media is the best way to engage your users. Allow them to share their rides and emotions directly via the app. It can also help you get more customers. Push notifications You need push notifications to communicate with your users, send them special discounts, tell them about offers & special events, and suggest more convenient routes. $30,000 to build your scooter sharing app like Lime Users App Development time Cost Registration 1 - 2 weeks $1,500 - $2,500 Maps Integration 1 week $1,000 - $2,000 Real-time GPS tracking 1-2 weeks $1,500 - $2,500 Payment 1 week $1,000 - $2,000 QR code scanner 1 week $1,000 - $2,000 Lock and unlock a scooter 1-2 weeks $1,500 - $2,500 Social media integration 1-3 days $300 - $800 Online booking system 1-2 weeks $1,500 - $2,500 Rides Stats 3-5 days $840 - $1,040 Push notifications 3-5 days $840 - $1,040 ID Verification 1-2 week $1,500 - $2,500 Total (1 platform) 3-4 months $13,000 - $20,000 Total (iOS + Android) 4-5 months $22,000 - $28,000 Admin Panel Development Time Cost Core features 3-4 weeks $3,000 - $5,000 Payment management system 1 week $1,000 - $2,000 Analytics 1-2 weeks $1,500 - $2,500 Customer management system 1 week $1,000 - $2,000 Scooter management system 1 week $1,000 - $2,000 Total 2-3 months $7,500 - $13,500 Taking into account the information mentioned above, creating an e-scooter sharing app will take around 1,000 hours. Our standard app development rate $35 per hour, so a fully-functioning app for scooter sharing will cost around $30,000. And if you hire the US-based app development company to make a scooter sharing app like Lime, get prepared to double your app development costs. Hiring developers in the US has only one advantage - no time and culture differences (if you find developers right in your state or within stone’s throw. Check out Android app development for more information on how to build apps for Android OS. Best ways to monetize your app Did you know that app developers can get the money even off free apps? Defining a strong value proposition is key to your app success. For example, Uber’s unique selling point is “Forget about driving, request a ride”. Focusing on the value of Uber, the app shows users how they can ease their daily life. The following approach is much better than just stating the benefits and saying that’s fast and cheap, etc. Despite how good your app may be, users aren’t likely to pay for the app. In 2017, only one-third of users bought apps according to research by eMarketer. Top four app monetization strategies In-app advertising Freemium mobile apps Premium mobile apps Subscription-based apps But not all app monetization strategies can fit the e-scooter sharing app model. In-app advertising is the most widespread monetization way that can be used with any app type. For example, you can promote shops, hotels, bars, and restaurants in your scooter sharing app. Moreover, you can sell memberships and offer your customers annual, monthly, or weekly pass at a lower price (for example, if the average ride costs $3, offer your users a weekly ride pack for $12 a week). One more way to generate money with your e-scooter sharing app is to distribute promo codes and coupons. When you decide how to make money with your scooter sharing app like Lime, follow these simple approach to get the most out of your app: Define goals for monetizing your app Choose a monetization strategy that best suits your app type Track app engagement and your revenue Check out iOS app development to find out more information on how to make an app to pick up scooters like Lime for iOS. Summing up With the rising pollution and increased environmental awareness, people pay more attention to the way they live and commute. The concept of eco-driving and going green is growing at a blistering pace making leading car manufacturers build more electric and eco-friendly vehicles. E-scooter sharing apps have just entered the market, and they’re becoming more and more popular like crazy. It’s high time to develop your electric scooter sharing app and get on top of the market before it’s too late. Contact us to discuss all your app ideas. Have a question? Just write to us at: 📮 mail@mova.io Or leave your contact info, and we will write back!
