Uber and Google fund e-scooter startup Lime

Both Uber and Alphabet, Google's mobility affiliate, are part of a group of investors putting up $335 million to boost Lime, a California-based startup company focused on delivering electric shared scooters (pictured). 

Founded in 2017, Lime already has a presence in 70 markets across the U.S. and Europe.  Uber has added Lime to its mobility options: Uber customers can book a Lime scooter in the countries where they are available.

Electric scooters are having a moment: Bird, another California-based electric scooter startup, announced the successful completion of a $300-million funding round, and will soon be expanding into Amsterdam.

Both companies offer customers the opportunity to rent electric scooters in a set urban area, at a rate of between 15 cent and 1 dollar per minute. The extra funding for both companies is likely to lead to rapid expansion into even more markets.