What kind of E-Scooters do BIRD & Lime Use?
Bird and Lime are two of the most prominent global players in the ride-sharing industry. But which electric scooter models do they use? Let's find out.
Lime currently uses the Lime Gen.4 and Lime-S 4.0 models
Lime's latest fleet primarily consists of two models: the Lime Gen.4 and the Lime-S 4.0. These models are designed exclusively for Lime's ride-sharing service and are not available for consumers to buy.
Here are the known specs of the two models:
| Specification | Lime Gen.4 | Lime-S 4.0 |
|---|---|---|
| Max speed | 25 km/h | 20/25 km/h (region-dependent) |
| Battery Capacity | 414 Wh / 468 Wh | 444 Wh / 458.8 Wh |
| Battery (Ah) | 11.5 Ah /13 Ah | 12 Ah /12.4 Ah |
| Net weight | 27.7 kg (61.1 lbs) | 27.7 kg (61.1 lbs) |
| Power (nominal) | 350W | 250W |
| Brakes | Dual drum (front, rear) | Dual drum (front, rear) |
| Removable battery | Yes | Yes |
| Tire size | 12 inches | 12 inches |
| Screen type | Simple speed/battery | Simple speed/battery |
| NFC | Not specified | Yes |
| Ambient lights | Not specified | 3-color strip below display |
| IoT generation | Not specified | Lime-4.0-US / Lime-4.0-EU |
| Dimensions | Not specified | 45.3 x 23.8 x 51.2 in 115 x 60.5 x 130 cm |
Bird currently uses the Bird Three scooter
Bird’s current fleet consists mostly of the Bird Three, introduced in March 2021. Even after Bird went bankrupt and was relaunched under Third Lane Mobility Inc., the Bird Three remains the flagship model.
The known specs are admittedly a little scarce, but here's what we've confirmed:
| Specification | Bird Three |
|---|---|
| Max speed | 20/25 km/h (region-dependent) |
| Battery Capacity | Up to 1kWh |
| Lifespan | Over 14,000 miles |
| Brakes | Dual drum (front, rear) |
| IP Rating | IP68 |
| Screen type | Simple speed/battery |
| Ambient lights | 3-color strip below display |
| IoT generation | Bird OS |
The Bird Three is Bird’s new commitment to sustainability, safety, and user experience as it re-enters the micro-mobility space under new management.
Older models used by Lime and Bird
Lime and Bird have gone through many scooter generations over time. Early ones would last as little as 3-4 months in service (so they weren't such a green means of transport after all). That has largely been fixed in recent years, with today's models being much more heavy-duty and reliable.
Older Lime scooter generations
| Specification | Lime-S 1.0 | Ninebot SN1.0BLK | Sx2.5 | Lime-S 3.0 | M1.1 | X1.3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Max speed | 24 km/h | 25 km/h | 25 km/h | 20/24 km/h (region) | 20/24 km/h (region) | Not specified |
| Battery Capacity | 460.8 Wh | 371 Wh | 317 Wh | 572 Wh | 460.8 Wh | 324 Wh |
| Battery (Ah) | 12.8 Ah | 10.2 Ah | 8.8 Ah | 15.9 Ah | 12.8 Ah | 9 Ah |
| Number of batteries | 1 | 2 | Not specified | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Voltage | 36V | 36V | 36V | 36V | 36V | 36V |
| Net weight | 15 kg (33.1 lbs) | 14 kg (30.9 lbs) | 17 kg (37.5 lbs) | 22.5 kg (49.6 lbs) | 20 kg (44.1 lbs) | 20 kg (44.1 lbs) |
| Motor | 250W | 300W | 250W/300W | Not specified | 250W | Not specified |
| Motor type | Front/Rear hub | Front hub | Not specified | Not specified | Not specified | Rear hub |
| Brakes | Rear drum | Electronic front, rear foot | Rear drum | Front drum | Not specified | Dual drum (front, rear) |
| Shock absorption | Front spring | None/Front spring (revision) | Front spring | Not specified | Not specified | Front dual telescopic |
| Front tire | 8 in | 8, 7.5 in | 8 in | 10 in | 10 in | 10 in |
| Screen type | Varies | Speed/battery | Speed/battery | Advanced | Speed/battery | Speed/battery |
| Ambient lights | No | Green under | No | 3-color strip below display | 3-color strip below display | Not specified |
Lime scooters have gotten bigger and heavier over time. They now feature more heavy-duty parts and stronger brakes, which has boosted their lifespan - from just a few months back in the day to up to two years today.
They used to buy source their scooters from Ninebot (like the Ninebot SN1.0BLK which was basically a fleet version of the Segway Ninebot ES4). Now they design scooters more specifically geared towards the ride-sharing market.
Older Bird scooter generations
Bird scooters have come a long way since opening doors in September 2017.
Bird ES and Bird M365
Bird started off with fleet versions of industry-standard models from that time, namely the ES1, ES2, and ES4 models from Segway Ninebot and the M365 from Xiaomi.
You can still buy Xiaomi M365 or Segway Nibot ES scooters today, but the designs are dated and not intended for the harsh treatment that ride-sharing scooters receive. Not surprisingly, these vehicles had a statistical half-life of just 3-4 months.
Bird Zero
October 2018 marked the launch of Bird's first own-designed scooter, the Bird Zero. This scooter was designed to offer a longer range, better visibility, and a longer lifespan.
Bird One
Less than a year later, in May 2019, Bird launched the "One". With a fully encrypted controller and a modular body, this version was better protected against hacking/modding. It was also easier to repair part for part.
Bird Two
Only a few months later, we got the Bird Two. Apart from a shift in direction visually, this scooter finally emphasized sustainability: an ultra-rugged body, long-life battery, and easily replaceable and recyclable parts.
Today, we have the Bird Three. It's closely similar to version Two but has an industry-leading IP68 weather resistance rating and stronger anti-theft firmware, with an expected half-life of around 24 months—a vast improvement from the early days.
