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HumanForest has raised a £1.8 million investment as it looks to roll-out 2,000 e-bikes by the end of 2020.
Set up by former Cabify lead Agustin Guilisasti and backed by Cabify founders Juan de Antonio and Vicente Pascual, HumanForest provides 20 free minutes daily, and then costs 12p per minute. There is no unlocking fee and users can pause their ride, parking the e-bike for up to 23 hours.
The e-bikes can reach up to 15mph, are GPS-tracked and are locked and unlocked exclusively via the HumanForest App.
Pascual said: “I worked with the team at HumanForest for ten years at Cabify and I believe that this is another disruptor. It is three disruptors in one; it provides free mobility for users through its partnership model, protects the planet and appeals to partner companies who seek to demonstrate their social impact. We are already seeing the success of the model and I am excited to be involved in its future growth.”
Vicente Pascual joins the board along with Stefan Tilks, ex-Volvo president and CEO of NEVS AB.
Tilks said: “I am pleased to be part of the HumanForest board in this new adventure. With over 30 years of experience in the mobility sector at traditional companies such as Volvo, I know how important this next phase of the electric transport revolution is going to be. HumanForest has a unique business model that is completely new to the industry and it couldn’t be timelier as electric transport is set to change the way people move.”
Since HumanForest launched in June, 14,000 riders have taken almost 42,000 rides with the number of rides increasing by over 100% month on month. According to HumanForest, its users have avoided emitting eight tonnes of Co2, which is the equivalent of planting almost 300 trees.
Seton added: “HumanForest offers something for all; a weekend leisure activity, a ‘return to work’ solution and an accessible, simple way to get from a to b. All the while, our e-bikes are helping support a sustainable planet. This investment and the completion of our board are further positive steps for HumanForest as we grow our footprint in London to service this demand. We will benefit enormously from Vincent and Stefan’s expertise.”
