How Much Does it Cost to Develop an E-Scooter App Like Lime?
Published: October 8, 2024
15 min read
In this article, you'll learn:
1
💰 The Actual Cost to Develop an App like Fitbit - $63,500-$85,500
2
⚙️ Factors that Affect Costs of Building Apps like Lime
3
📉 4 Ways to Reduce the Cost of Lime App Development
4
📈 Estimating Return on Investment (ROI) of Scooter Apps like Lime
5
🌟 Why Choose Stormotion to Make an e-Scooter App like Lime?
6
👂Takeaways
Let's continue our series of articles on app development costs! Today, we want to tell you how much it would cost to build an e-scooter mobile app like Lime — one of the most popular apps in the world for electric vehicle and automobile rentals. This American transportation company, headquartered in San Francisco, operates electric scooters, e-bikes, and mopeds in 30 countries (that's about 280 cities).
In this article, you'll learn:
- How much does it cost to build an app like Lime?
- Pricing structure and rate of development costs
- Factors influencing the cost of developing an app like Lime
- Ways to reduce development expenses
- Expected return on investment (ROI) for an e-bike rental app.
Let's dive into the lime-like app development cost!
💰 The Actual Cost to Develop an App like Fitbit - $63,500-$85,500
How much does it cost to develop an e-scooter app like Lime? Approximately between $63,500 and $85,500, depending on many factors that we will discuss today. Let's delve into the details.
At first, a brief overview of Lime company:
Find and book the nearest electric scooters with the Lime app.
(image by Lime)
Lime is the largest electric scooter-sharing company in the world. Its main mission is to provide shared and accessible transportation that does not pollute the environment with carbon dioxide emissions.
A brief reference from Wikipedia:
Company type: Private
Industry: Dockless electric scooter-sharing, dockless bike sharing
Founded: January 2017; San Francisco, California, United States.
Founder: Brad Bao, Toby Sun.
Headquarters: San Francisco
Area served: Asia, Europe, Middle East, North America, Oceania, South America
The Lime app currently has over 10 million downloads, with an average rating of 4.8 out of 5! The year 2022 was a record year for Lime. In its report, the company provided data showing that its revenue was approximately $466 million! This was almost double that of Lime competitor - Bird.
Additionally, among the impressive statistics for this scooter rental app in 2022:
- 120 million rides (4 rides every second in 2022)
- 1.5 million new riders (over 4 million riders in total)
And that's not all! The results for 2023 will surprise you even more:
- The company’s revenue is about $616 million, which is a 32% increase compared to last year
- 156 million rides in 2023 (5 rides every second)
- Over 9.2 million new riders
- More than 3.1 million monthly active users
🛴 Understanding the Cost Components of Developing e-Scooter Apps like Lime
What are the cost components of an application? As an e-scooter app development company, we identify four main components that determine the cost to make a Lime-like scooter app:
Software Licensing
An application like Lime, or its clone, requires several software licenses for seamless operation and related services. These include:
- Online maps and geolocation services. A commercial license for Google Maps integration API (or alternative services like Mapbox or Here Technologies) is necessary to display maps in the app.
- License for integrating payment gateways. Services like Stripe, PayPal, or others require strict adherence to licensing terms and data protection.
This can significantly increase the cost of building a scooter app like Lime, but it's absolutely essential.
Understanding the cost components of developing e-scooter apps like Lime involves customizing the user experience to enhance engagement and satisfaction.
(image by Kostya Sobol)
Implementation and Development Costs
In addition to all the core features of the app (which we will discuss below), Lime has several unique new features, such as Lime Vision — a new AI technology that helps prevent accidents. Lime Vision includes the Advanced Sidewalk Detection function, which immediately recognizes when a rider is on the sidewalk.
For example, there is also the Late-Night Rider Reaction Test—another technology that measures a rider's reaction time, thus helping to prevent drunk riding.
Lime Vision doubles down on our commitment to building vertically-integrated hardware and software as we aim to provide the safest possible service to cities and our riders. We’re excited about this transformative array of safety measures, particularly Advanced Sidewalk Detection supported by Lime Vision, which will set a new standard for the industry. Building this in-house means we can integrate Lime Vision into our hardware, constantly refine the technology through learnings from our global operations and scale Lime Vision to new cities with ease.
Joe Kraus, President of Lime.
The implementation of such features can also significantly impact the Lime-like scooter app development cost.
Infrastructure Costs
The Lime app collects, manages, and stores a vast amount of data about its users and electric vehicles. For the app to operate without interruptions, it is critical to have a reliable and scalable cloud infrastructure.
Ongoing Maintenance and Support Costs
To ensure that your app remains competitive, it's important to continuously implement new ideas to attract and retain customers with your service. For instance, recently, Lime created the Juicer program, allowing any client to sign up and charge the vehicles themselves. As a result:
- A circle of loyal customers is formed, who choose Lime's electric vehicles.
- Fleet managers are relieved, allowing them more time to address urgent issues.
- Increased availability leads to higher customer engagement and interest.
By understanding these four important cost components of developing an app like Lime, you can be prepared for the upcoming challenges and issues in app development and maintaining competitiveness in the market.
Knowledge of these elements will help developers and companies that are planning to create their e-scooter booking app to determine the financial expenditures, avoid obstacles in the application’s functionality and boost revenue from customers so that the created application will be in demand in the future and will be competitive among its counterparts.
⚙️ Factors that Affect Costs of Building Apps like Lime
Many factors can influence the cost to design a scooter mobile app like Lime. We would like these factors to help reduce costs, but unfortunately, in most cases, we are talking about factors that can increase the cost to make a Lime-like scooter app
Let’s take a closer look at each of them:
App Type
Three main types of scooter rental apps can be identified:
- Rent-Based Model - the user finds and unlocks a scooter using a QR code/Barcode scanning, and the fee is calculated based on the number of minutes of the ride.
- Subscription-Based Model - a fixed fee is charged to the user each month, allowing unlimited rides on the scooter.
- Demand-Based Model - users are offered a wide selection of various scooters with different prices and specifications.
Each type has its own functions and development requirements. Depending on which type of app you choose, the cost of developing an app like Lime or similar app may vary.
Platform (iOS, Android, Cross-Platform)
When developing for iOS or Android, or when using cross-platform frameworks like Flutter or React Native, the platform decision determines the cost. Designing applications simultaneously for multiple platforms or screens requires comparatively less money, and this applies to projects like EV charging station app development, which can benefit from cross-platform compatibility than designing separate apps for each platform, which incurs higher costs.
The digital transformation of app development significantly impacts the costs of building apps like Lime.
(image by JIE LIU)
Development Cost Factors | Estimated Cost Range |
|---|---|
Platform Choice | $500 - $1000 |
Features and Functionality
In fact, the development of an application like Lime, which offers electric scooter and bike rentals, involves creating various control panels for different user groups: the customers, sharing operators, and administrators. Each of these panels has its own unique features and requires a tailored approach to product design and implementation. The complexity of the tasks for each group directly affects the development cost and the subsequent maintenance of the application.
User Panel
The panel for end users is the key interface through which regular customers rent electric vehicles. Among the main features of the Lime app are:
- Registration/Login
- Safe Riding Guidelines
- Scooter/Bike Locator
- QR Code/ Barcode Scanning & Unlocking
- Ride Stats
- Payment Gateway
- Push Notifications
- Ride History
- Mobility Gamification
However, this is not the full extent of the app's functionality. Lime continually strives to improve and develop new features and technologies for its customers. For example, some of the latest innovations include the use of artificial intelligence in technologies such as Lime Vision, Sidewalk Detection, Late Night Test, and others.
Lime-like Feature | Estimated Cost Range |
|---|---|
User Panel | $16500-$23500 |
Admin Panel
The administrator panel in the Lime app allows administrators to control the entire platform, manage business operations, handle finances, and ensure regulatory compliance. This panel is crucial for maintaining the functionality of the Lime app, optimizing operational efficiency, and supporting growth. Below are the main features and capabilities of the admin panel:
- Dashboard and Overview
- User and Operator Management
- Scooter Management
- Analytics and Reporting
- Payment and Pricing Management
- Issue Management
- Fleet Expansion
- Security and Access Control
Lime-like Feature | Estimated Cost Range |
|---|---|
Admin Panel | $22500-$27500 |
Partner/Operator Panel
The partner panel in the Lime app is designed for external partners or third-party contractors who collaborate with Lime in managing fleet operations, vehicle maintenance, and charging services. These partners can include local businesses, logistics providers, or individuals who assist with fleet maintenance and rebalancing. The partner panel provides them with specialized tools and information to manage their assigned tasks efficiently:
- Registration and Onboarding
- Fleet Monitoring
- Battery Management
- Maintenance and Repair Workflow
- Revenue Sharing
- Perfomance Analytics
Just as Lime's features affect costs, if you’re adding functionalities like QR code scanning or real-time EV charging station mapping, it's essential to consider the PlugShare-like app development cost for comparable functionalities.
How many resources will be needed to implement all the features and functionality of the application (with an hourly rate of 50 dollars per hour)?
Lime-like Feature | Estimated Cost Range |
|---|---|
Partner/Operator Panel | $12500-$18000 |
Developing an app like Lime requires creating several control panels, each tailored to different user groups: customers, administrators, and partners. Each panel performs unique functions. The customer panel allows vehicle rentals and trip management, the admin panel controls the entire platform and operational processes, and the partner panel provides external contractors with tools for fleet management and maintenance. Developing such panels requires a custom approach and impacts the overall cost to develop an e-scooter app like Lime and complexity of the project.
UI / UX
It becomes crucial to ensure the program is dressed in a nice and sensible-looking cover: the interface is the key to longevity. Designing distinct interfaces for both the consumer and administrative sides can be expensive, especially if done with the agenda of enhancing branding and usability.
Development Cost Factors | Estimated Cost Range |
|---|---|
UI/UX Design | $3000-$4000 |
Backend Development
Creating a strong backend infrastructure to manage e-scooter fleets, users, and real-time tracking is difficult. The higher the scalability required of the backend, the greater the cost.
Development Cost Factors | Estimated Cost Range |
|---|---|
Backend Development | $4000-$5000 |
Third-Party Integrations
Additional services, which include payment processors (Stripe, PayPal), mapping solutions (Google Maps integration), and connectivity to IoT for scooter tracking, can also increase the total cost.
Development Cost Factors | Estimated Cost Range |
|---|---|
Third-Party Integrations | $2000-$3000 |
Learn more about our Internet of Things software development services!
Here are some technologies that Lime, a e-bike and e-scooter rental company, is known to use:
- Kubernetes for managing and scaling its microservices architecture.
- Amazon Web Services (AWS) for cloud hosting and data storage.
- Datadog monitors performance and provides real-time security alerts.
- Google BigQuery for real-time data analytics to track usage patterns and optimize fleet management.
Testing and Quality Assurance
For instance, real-time GPS and payment options testing come with a high-stakes real-time component to guarantee that the app works seamlessly in a variety of scenarios across different platforms. QA increases total development time by approximately 10% as well as the cost.
Development Cost Factors | Estimated Cost Range |
|---|---|
Testing and QA | $2500-$3500 |
Maintenance and Updates
Subsequently, constant updates, bug fixes, security patches, feature additions, and enhancements are required, and EMSP app development services can streamline this process. It is vital to budget for such expenses, as they take about 33% of the initial budget per year.
Development Cost Factors | Estimated Cost Range |
|---|---|
Maintenance and Updates | ~33% of the initial development budget per year |
For example, Lime recently introduced a new electric scooter designed for a broader audience, including elderly people and individuals with disabilities.
We’re excited to roll out the Gen4 Seated scooter globally to welcome more riders onto the Lime platform. The new design allows for added comfort and, when paired with our new storage compartment, will provide for more use cases, encouraging more people to consider Lime to fit their needs. The Gen4 Seated aims to empower our riders to navigate their day-to-day with ease, welcoming a wider audience to micromobility via a more approachable and comfortable ride.
Joe Kraus, President at Lime
Contact us to find out how much does it cost to make an app like Lime!
📉 4 Ways to Reduce the Cost of Lime App Development
Outsource the Development
A common example is where software development teams are outsourced from cheaper areas of the globe, such as Eastern Europe or South Asia. Huge development costs can be saved while still maintaining quality.
Validate Your Idea
Before going for fully fledged product development, you can test your idea by conducting a survey or market study to assess the demand for your product. Additionally, by building a basic model or administering questionnaires, an organization can prevent making expensive errors while developing features that customers need.
Implementing DevOps practices can streamline the Lime app development process, ultimately reducing costs.
(image by Musemind Mobile)
Create an MVP
Start with a Minimum Viable Product (MVP development) that includes only the essential features like rider registration, GPS tracking, and in-app payments. Once the scooter-sharing app is functional, you can gather user feedback to develop additional features.
Use 3rd Party Resources
This includes using pre-existing navigation and payment mechanisms, which will shorten the development period. For example, using Google Maps as a navigation option or Stripe as the payment method is more economical than developing these aspects oneself.
📈 Estimating Return on Investment (ROI) of Scooter Apps like Lime
Determining the ROI is essential for assessing the feasibility of an e-scooter app. Initial expenses may range from $63,500 to $85,500, giving a clear idea of how much it costs to make an app like Lime. In some cases, profitability is measured by key success indicators such as market share, number of vehicles, and tariff policy. Given that the average cost per trip for such a system is $3 and that it operates in a region with a large population of active users. Once operational, it can generate substantial amounts of revenue and cover the costs of development and daily operations in the long run.
Estimating the ROI of scooter apps like Lime involves analyzing the delivery efficiency and usage patterns over time.
(image by Asal Design )
Check out our blog to find more insightful articles 👇
- Discover how to build a car insurance app that revolutionizes the way users manage their policies and claims.
- Dive into the world of car rental app development and learn how to create a seamless booking experience for your customers.
- Explore innovative strategies in companion app development to enhance user engagement and retention.
- Unlock the secrets of how to make an EV companion app that caters to the unique needs of electric vehicle owners.
🌟 Why Choose Stormotion to Make an e-Scooter App like Lime?
It's time to share with you our experience in creating an app for e-scooters like lime. Our experienced Stormotion development team had the opportunity to work with creating an app for the Egret e-scooter.
Egret app
(image by Stormotion)
Egret is one of the leading scooter manufacturers in Hamburg, Germany. The company approached us when they migrated their application architecture from Native to React Native. But they soon discovered problems with OTA updates that needed an urgent solution. That's where we helped Egret!
Stormotion overcame significant technical hurdles:
- Delayed OTA updates: To address key issues such as the long periods of time required for firmware updates, Stormotion created a proprietary Bluetooth module for the e-scooter-only app. This improved security and ease of use for users by making it impossible, for example, to power down the scooter during an update.
- BLE communication: Stormotion, as a company that develop a BLE applications as well, found that BLE communication was incompatible across models, so by analyzing protocols backwards, the company developed a protocol handler for e-scooter models. This allowed for proper communication between the app and different scooter models, which in turn improved the efficiency of the app.
By doing away with traditional constraints in the form of third-party application libraries and optimized deployment, we created an application that effectively increased Egret's customer loyalty and sales.
Stormotion is well-positioned to build e- scooter apps, like Lime, that rely on advanced technology interfaces to provide a consistent and satisfying user journey. If you are interested in collaborating with us - email us!
👂Takeaways
We hope this article has helped you understand and calculate the cost to create an app like Lime a little more. Let's go over the key points of the article again:
- Developing an app like Lime can cost anywhere from $63,500 to $85,500 depending on various factors such as software licensing, development, infrastructure, and maintenance.
- Ongoing maintenance costs account for approximately 33% of the development cost per year.
- Lime's applications vary by rental, subscription and demand models, each of which affects the complexity and cost of development.
- Utilizing third-party services such as payment systems and mapping solutions can save development time, but will increase overall costs.
- Start your application by developing a minimum viable product (MVP) to launch with basic functionalities, which will reduce initial costs.
If you want to create a powerful and functional vehicle rental app like Lime, it's important to partner with an experienced company with a wide range of electric vehicle charging app development services that can help you consider every nuance, from product design to implementation.
Contact our team to get a detailed estimate cost to build an e-scooter mobile app like Lime for your project and start realizing your idea!
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Questions you may have
Take a look at how we solve challenges to meet project requirements
What is the estimated timeline for developing such an app?
Typically 4-6 months, depending on features and complexity.
Can the app be developed for both iOS and Android platforms simultaneously?
Yes, the app can be developed for both platforms simultaneously using cross-platform technologies like React Native.
How can I reduce the development costs without compromising on quality?
Outsource development, focus on MVP, and use third-party APIs for common functionalities.
What are the ongoing maintenance and support costs after the app is launched?
Approximately 33% of the initial development cost annually.
Do you offer post-launch support and updates?
Yes, we offer ongoing support, updates, and feature enhancements after launch.
How do you ensure the security and privacy of user data in the app?
We implement encryption, secure APIs, and follow best practices to ensure personal data privacy.
Can we start with a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) before full-scale development?
Yes, starting with an MVP allows for faster release and feedback before scaling.
How can I validate my app idea before investing in full development?
Conduct market research, surveys, and build prototypes to test the app's viability.
What are the infrastructure requirements for running an app like Lime?
Cloud hosting for real-time data, secure payment gateways, and fleet management systems.
Can you assist with the app's deployment in app stores?
Yes, we assist with deploying the scooter-sharing app on both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
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