Web 3.0 is the future of mobility and blockchain the key.

Cate Lawrence
3 min readDec 2, 2021

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We’ve been hearing about the potential of Web 3.0 for years — a decentralized web where information is distributed across nodes, making it more resistant to shutdowns and censorship. Specifically, its foundation lies in edge computing, artificial intelligence, and decentralized data networks. But what we haven’t talked enough about, is the massive impact Web 3.0 will have on mobility.

Web 3.0 aims to build a new scalable economy where transactions are powered by blockchain technology, eschewing the need for a central intermediary or platform. And in the mobility space, there are lots of things happening.

Um, but how does Web 3.0 relate to mobility?

Over the next few weeks, I’m taking a look at a bunch of startups that are integrating mobility and the potential of Web 3.0 into their product offerings in interesting ways.

We’ve been hearing about the potential of Web 3.0 for years — a decentralized web where information is distributed across nodes, making it more resistant to shutdowns and censorship. Specifically, its foundation lies in edge computing, artificial intelligence, and decentralized data networks. But what we haven’t talked enough about, is the massive impact Web 3.0 will have on mobility.

Web 3.0 aims to build a new scalable economy where transactions are powered by blockchain technology, eschewing the need for a central intermediary or platform. And in the mobility space, there are lots of things happening.

Um, but how does Web 3.0 relate to mobility?

Over the next few weeks, I’m taking a look at a bunch of startups that are integrating mobility and the potential of Web 3.0 into their product offerings in interesting ways.

For the sake of brevity, I’m going to assume that if you’re reading this far without your eyes glazing over, you probably have a basic, if not working, understanding of Web 3.0 and blockchain tech.

However, the main thing to know about Web 3.0 is that aims to build a new scalable economy where transactions are powered by blockchain technology, eschewing the need for a central intermediary or platform.

Beyond that, don’t worry too much about it. I’m going to simplify a bit and include plenty of juicy links for added context (and not just ones written by the companies themselves shilling their products).

So let’s dive into one of the ways Web 3.0 has already begun to alter mobility.

Introducing Pave Motors and its electric motorbike

Pave Motors is a mobility company founded by two brothers that produces an electric “fusion of bike and motorcycle.” But its sleek Pave 1 ebike isn’t the only ace up the company’s sleeve, as it’s also doing some nifty things with data and sharing.

I spoke to founder Nicolaus Nagel, who founded the company in 2019 with brother Caspar Nagel. He told me the bike was a convergence of his passions for ebikes and blockchain tech. He shared:

The scooter industry is over 100 years old, but little has changed — internal combustion engine step-through scooters are still the norm globally. Growing up in Berlin, we always wanted the capability to move around the city quickly and easily. After we moved to Brooklyn, we discovered advancements in electric drive trains and batteries, which opened the opportunity for a new two-wheeler.

Sounds promising, so let’s take a quick look at the bike’s functionalities. It weighs 45 kilograms (99 pounds) and can operate at a maximum speed of 48 kmph (30 mph) and a range of between 80 kilometers and 105 kilometers (50 to 65 miles).

A 50.4 V 39 Ah lithium-ion battery powers the bike and can be charged up to 80% in just 90 minutes or fully charged in three hours.

So where does the blockchain come into it?

Pretty cool overall… but where does the blockchain come into it? Well, according to Nagel there are several central tenants:

Want to read more take a look over at https://thenextweb.com (Originally published on December 2, 2021.)

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Cate Lawrence

Tech journo and writer, based in Berlin, Germany. I don't really write on medium much but you can find me on LinkedIn and Twitter