Shared mobility giant Bolt has unveiled a new AI-equipped e-scooter model aimed at encouraging safer and more compliant riding.
The scooter comes with a full-colour screen display integrated into the handlebars which provides turn-by-turn navigation and signals riding regulations and trip information in the local language. Alongside this, an onboard AI system detects prohibited behaviour such as riding on pavements, issuing warnings to users in real time.
Bolt has already begun rolling out the new model in Germany and Belgium, with Switzerland set to follow next month. Further expansion will depend on performance and feedback. While the company has not disclosed total investment figures, it revealed to Zag Daily that €25 million is being allocated to the German rollout alone.
Dmitri Pivovarov, VP of Rentals at Bolt, said that uncertainty around local regulations remains “one of the key barriers” to wider e-scooter adoption.
“For many riders, especially occasional or new users, it’s not always clear where they can ride, where they should park or how local rules apply,” Pivovarov told Zag Daily. “That uncertainty creates hesitation and, in some cases, leads to unintentional misuse.”
According to Pivovarov, the new model addresses this challenge by making guidance “visible and immediate” via the handlebar display. Rather than relying on riders to interpret rules or check their phones, the scooter delivers real-time information throughout the journey.
“The shift from penalisation to guidance is important,” he said. “When riders are supported in making the right decisions in the moment, the experience becomes more intuitive and compliance improves naturally.”
The AI system up close
The onboard AI system works in tandem with the dashboard display, monitoring riding behaviour and delivering real-time alerts within the rider’s line of sight to encourage compliance.
It can detect pavement riding and issue warnings to riders “almost immediately”. If the behaviour continues, the scooter can automatically reduce speed to discourage it. It also recognises when riders enter restricted or low-speed zones, triggering real-time alerts on the display.
In addition, the onboard AI can identify nearby parking racks and guide riders to appropriate parking locations via the display. This works alongside Bolt’s Riding Score feature which evaluates rider behaviour over time.
“In some markets, riders with consistently high scores may no longer need to submit an end-of-ride photo,” Pivovarov said. “In others, local regulations still require photo verification and this remains in place.”
Beyond AI capabilities, the new scooter includes several hardware upgrades. Its headlight is reportedly four times more powerful, improving visibility in low-light and poor weather conditions. Braking has been refined for smoother performance, the handlebar position has been slightly lowered for accessibility and an audible overspeed alert provides an added safety measure on steep descents.
Bolt reports that durability has improved by at least 15% in regular operations, thanks in part to simplified internal components that reduce breakdowns and maintenance time.
What’s next?
The current rollout marks the first phase of deployment across Bolt’s key markets.
Bolt will monitor performance, rider feedback and city response in Germany, Belgium and Switzerland to guide future expansion. Pivovarov said the company aims to progressively upgrade its wider fleet with “newer, more advanced models like this one” though the pace will depend on market conditions and regulatory environments.
AI will remain central to Bolt’s strategy. The company is continuing to develop its systems to make “local rules easier to follow” with future capabilities expected to include traffic sign recognition, zebra crossing detection and automatic school zone geofencing.
