Do shared electric bikes appearing on Beijing streets again have a future?

Recently, a group of uniform yellow electric bicycles can be seen parked on the streets in Chaoyangmen, Guomao and other places in Beijing. It is understood that this is put into use by an Internet sharing platform from Wuhan - Badiandao. Badiandao has been operating in Wuhan for a year and a half, and Beijing is the second city they have entered. It is said that Badiandao's operation center will also be moved to Beijing.

Nowadays, shared bikes represented by Mobike are well known to everyone. What is the difference between the shared electric bikes operated by Eight Points and shared bikes? First of all, of course, the bikes are different. Electric bikes are what we usually call electric bicycles. In the words of Du Xianghui, the founder of Eight Points, shared bikes solve the problem of commuting within 2 kilometers, while shared electric bikes solve the problem of commuting within 2-20 kilometers. They hope to make riding electric bikes a convenient way of travel through high-quality vehicles and a shared model.

I don't know why Eight Points chose to move to Beijing. Perhaps in their minds, Beijing is a holy land for Internet startups, and people here are more receptive to new things. But can their shared electric bikes really have a future in Beijing and in the city? I'm afraid it's a bit uncertain.

In fact, strictly speaking, the shared electric bikes of Eight O'Clock can no longer be considered as the sharing economy. This is because the bikes are rented on a daily basis, with a maximum rental period of 30 days. In this way, the service is only for one person from 1 day to 30 days, and an important reason is to avoid damage to the bike. When the user renews the lease, he must return the rented vehicle and replace it with a new electric bike, which is actually handing the original bike over to the management staff for inspection and maintenance. However, since it is rented on a daily to monthly basis, isn't it the rental industry? Why do we have to say it is the sharing economy?

According to the idea of ​​8:00, users can choose bicycles like Mobike for short distances, and Didi for long distances. They can be said to have filled the gap in the short- and medium-distance market demand. However, this is likely to be a wishful pseudo-demand. Why are there users willing to rent bicycles or cars? Cars may be unavailable or not being driven. Bicycles don’t cost much to buy, but inflating, repairing, and preventing theft are a headache. Electric bicycles are not unaffordable, and their value and frequency of use make owners willing to "serve" them. It's like books can be rented, large machinery can be rented, but few people rent mobile phones temporarily.

Du Xianghui, the founder of Eight O'Clock, said that the heavy mode is the only reliable mode for their shared electric motorcycles at present. The so-called heavy mode means that administrators should be arranged for each outlet. According to their operational concept, first-tier cities will directly operate, and second- and third-tier cities will franchise. However, in second- and third-tier cities, how many people who rely on electric vehicles for daily transportation do not buy their own vehicles? In first-tier cities such as Beijing, there are indeed fewer people who buy electric vehicles, but the city is too large, and it is inconvenient to ride an electric vehicle to far places. For medium-distance places, subways and buses are the best options. Except for a few special personnel such as couriers and real estate agents, there are not many people who have the need to ride electric vehicles, let alone renting electric vehicles to ride to work continuously.

Eight Points said that it is expected to build 100 pick-up points and 20 warehouses within the Fourth Ring Road of Beijing by the end of October. From the current situation, their motorcycles are parked on the roadside. After all, if they rent a store, the cost will be too high. However, will Beijing's road surface really allow you to set up 100 parking spots with administrators? Will the relevant departments interfere? In addition, as we all know, due to congestion and serious violations of electric vehicles in Beijing, many areas have already restricted the use of electric vehicles, which will certainly make it more difficult for more people to rent motorcycles.

Eight Points also said that they have launched many cooperative models such as electric scooters and electric balance bikes, which will be available to users in Beijing after mid-October. I want to ask, don’t they know that Beijing has banned electric scooters and electric balance bikes from the road?

The author Li Qing is an Internet operator and observer, WeChat: 13520508091

As a winner of Toutiao's Qingyun Plan and Baijiahao's Bai+ Plan, the 2019 Baidu Digital Author of the Year, the Baijiahao's Most Popular Author in the Technology Field, the 2019 Sogou Technology and Culture Author, and the 2021 Baijiahao Quarterly Influential Creator, he has won many awards, including the 2013 Sohu Best Industry Media Person, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Beijing Third Place, the 2015 Guangmang Experience Award, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Finals Third Place, and the 2018 Baidu Dynamic Annual Powerful Celebrity.