TIER partners with Northvolt for ‘greener’ e-scooter batteries

European micro-mobility company TIER has announced a partnership with battery company Northvolt to improve the environmental impact of batteries used for the company’s electric vehicles.

A first pilot project will see 5000 TIER scooters equipped with batteries from the Swedish manufacturer.

The mining of raw materials for batteries and battery manufacturing processes account for the majority of greenhouse gases an e-scooter or e-vehicle is responsible for over its lifetime. Responding to this concern, Northvolt claims to minimize the carbon and environmental footprint of batteries at every opportunity.

End-of-life batteries are treated as a valuable resource and recycled to provide raw materials for future batteries. Northvolt’s primary manufacturing facility, Northvolt Ett gigafactory, is powered by 100% fossil-free energy in northern Sweden.  The battery company also only sources materials from responsible suppliers, ensuring a supply and distribution chain that is free from conflict, child labour, and human rights abuse. 

Says Lawrence Leuschner, co-founder and CEO of TIER:

“Sustainability is one of our core values at TIER and I am proud of the goals we have achieved so far. We are aware that there is still a long journey ahead, especially concerning the sustainable creation and recycling of lithium-ion batteries used for micro-mobility services.”

“A partnership with such an innovative and pathbreaking company as Northvolt is, therefore, all the more important to show that it is possible to use batteries that are manufactured in an environmental and socially responsible form of construction. This is the future.”

Adds Peter Carlsson, co-founder and CEO of Northvolt:

“Our ambition is to provide the world’s greenest battery for the electromobility markets. In TIER, we have found a like-minded partner that shares many of our values on that journey. We can’t wait to get started and look forward to supporting TIER in their rapid expansion plans.”

The pilot project, including the distribution of batteries for 5000 e-scooters, is planned to be rolled out by the end of 2021. The partnership with Northvolt follows TIER’s recent introduction of user-swappable batteries, which allow riders to charge batteries themselves at charging stations in exchange for free rides.

This year TIER plans to set up 4,500 charging stations within local businesses across Europe, creating a green energy network which the company hopes can transform urban transport and help to electrify cities.