With an estimated 40,000 couriers and growing working in New York City delivering food and groceries (80% of them on some type of electric vehicle), there have been a growing number of vehicles to choose from for delivery workers - ebikes, scooters, mopeds, and more.
We're going to breakdown the pros / cons of the most popular options in 2023, focusing on electric bikes and scooters (the preferred choice for most delivery riders operating in a general radius under 5 miles). Most of these are offered as monthly subscriptions - so we'll focus pricing on those terms, while including the purchase price if available.
Zoomo Electric Bikes
Zoomo bikes are currently available from their central pickup in Midtown Manhattan on 1st ave.
Weekly Price: $59 / Week ($49 + $10 required theft insurance). $150 Deposit.
Monthly Price: $199 / Month, $150 Deposit, minimum 3 month rental.
Own it: $279 / Month for 12 months ($3,348 total) - $200 Down Payment
Specs:
8hr charge time
40 Mile range
25 mph max speed
U-lock
Integrated Lights
Zoomo plans include maintenance on their bikes for both mechanical defects and normal wear and tear. However, users have reported that getting to their location and having an available mechanic ready to perform the repair may not always be readily available.
All Zoomo bikes require a minimum of a $150 deposit - which is important to keep in mind when comparing to other options below.
Joco Electric Bikes
Joco bikes must be picked up and returned to one of their garage locations around the city. They can only be used for 6 hours at a time before being returned. Availability fluctuates based on location, you will need to check the Joco App first.
6-Hour Price: $12 / 6 Hours
Daily Price: $21 / Day
Weekly Price: $65 / Week
Own it: Not Available
Specs:
30 Mile range
20 mph max speed
Electronic internal lock
Integrated Lights
Joco doesn't provide extra batteries with their bikes, but you can swap it out at one of their battery kiosk locations at their East 16th St location from 1:30pm-10:30pm and their West 51st St location from 12:30pm- 8:00pm.
Levy Electric Scooters
Levy is one of the only companies that rents high-range electric scooters for delivery workers. They are based in the Lower East Side and have 3 models of scooters available for monthly rentals.
Monthly Price: $115 / Month ($90 + $25 for additional battery)
Own it: $749
Levy's scooters are all relatively light, making them good options for couriers that need more portability. They can be locked through the Levy app and also include U-locks for added protection. But given their ability to be carried in / out of buildings easily, most don't need to keep them stored outside.
Specs:
20 Mile range
20 mph max speed
Electronic internal lock + U-lock
Integrated Lights
31 Lbs, Foldable
Whizz Electric Bikes
Whizz has a similar business model to Zoomo, with a location for pickup in Lower Manhattan on 10th street.
Monthly Price: $179 / Month + $49 / month for extra battery
Own it: $1790
Specs:
50 Mile range
20 mph max speed
U-lock and Basket Included
62 Lbs
Theft Protection: $29 / month but rider is still responsible for 50% of the cost if damaged or stolen. They also offer available overnight storage for $29 / month at their own location or Liberty cycles at 846 9th Ave.
Summary
While any of these electric vehicle options are suitable for deliveries, it really comes down to personal preference and payment terms. Each of the electric bikes is around the same size with comparable range, while electric scooters are much lighter but come with less range per battery pack.
When looking at plan options, it's important to have a general idea of how long you'll plan on using the bike or scooter for, as some companies offer plans that offer great flexibility for short term use.
We'll continue updating this article as more options come to market in the New York Metro area.
