Sequoia Capital-backed electric scooter hire startup Bird Rides Inc. is expanding its services, adding electric moped sharing to its lineup.

The mopeds, formally called the “Bird Cruiser,” are closer in appearance to an e-bicycle but with big wheels and seating for two. Formally Bird refers to them as an “electric vehicle.”

Designed exclusively for Bird, the mopeds include a padded seat “to make a rider’s journey comfortable;” the option of “pedal-assist,” which is a fancy way of saying that users can use the moped as a standard bike; hydraulic disc brakes; a 52V battery for reliability; and a custom motor that is claimed to deal well with inclines.

In addition and arguably the most interesting feature is the inclusion of an “LCD Matrix Display for easy viewing.” Details of the display were not provided but are reported to offer route progress and other key trip details.

“Bird’s introduction of shared e-scooters spurred a global phenomenon and mode shift away from cars,” Travis VanderZanden, founder and chief executive officer of Bird, said in a statement. “To further accelerate progress on our mission to make cities more livable, we are providing additional environmentally friendly micro-mobility alternatives — including Bird Cruiser. Starting this summer, people can move about their city and explore new neighborhoods together, without a car.”

Bird was last in the news in May when it started selling its Bird One electric scooter to the public for $1,299. In March, Bird also launched a platform for others to own their own e-scooter hire business, an attempt by the company to turn itself into the McDonald’s of e-scooter hire. It’s unclear right now whether the mopeds will also be offered as part of a Bird franchise program.

The company continues to expand off the back of $415 million in venture capital funding, including $300 million in June 2018. Bird has also been the subject of occasional acquisition rumors, the most recent involving Uber Technologies Inc. in December.

Photo: Bird