Lime Launches E-Assist Bicycle "LimeBike" in Japan, First in Asia, Becoming a New Mobility Infrastructure Suited for Japan's Road Environment
Lime will launch its e-assist bicycle "LimeBike" in 16 Tokyo wards starting April 2026, marking its first deployment in Asia. They are also fully rolling out the "LimePrime" subscription service.
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- 📰 Published: April 23, 2026 at 22:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 23, 2026 at 13:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 23, 2026 at 23:35 (10h 3m after Collected)
Lime Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director and President: Terry Tsai, hereinafter "Lime"), which develops electric mobility sharing services in approximately 30 countries worldwide, will begin rolling out its electric-assist bicycle "LimeBike" in the Japanese market. This rollout marks the first introduction in Asia and will be provided as a new means of transportation contributing to last-mile mobility in urban areas and improved navigability during sightseeing.
As the first phase, we will sequentially deploy and start offering the service in 16 wards of Tokyo starting from April 2026. In addition, "LimeBike" will feature updated vehicle-mounted technology aimed at improving location accuracy, aiming to provide a mobility experience optimized for the Japanese road environment.
With this, Lime's available vehicles will consist of two types: the electric-assist bicycle "LimeBike" and the seated electric board "Lime Rakumo."
Furthermore, Lime will fully roll out its subscription-based service "LimePrime" in Japan, providing a system where frequent users can ride more affordably while aiming to realize an easy-to-understand fare structure through the introduction of a flat-rate system. By joining the membership for 999 yen (tax included) per month, users can ride for a flat rate of 90 yen (tax included) for up to 20 minutes per ride, as many times as they want. This makes it easier to use for short-distance, high-frequency travel. For usage exceeding 20 minutes, a charge of 21 yen (tax included) per minute will be applied.
■ Background: The Challenge of Last-Mile Mobility and Increasing Demand for Daily Use
In urban areas, driven by an increase in tourists and severe traffic congestion, improving the convenience of "last-mile" travel from stations or bus stops to destinations has become a challenge. Especially for short-distance travel, while it may not be unwalkable, there is some distance, and public transportation is often unavailable, resulting in inconveniences such as having to walk reluctantly or hesitating to travel at all.
Also, for daily travel, there is a demand for highly convenient transportation methods that anyone can use safely and that can accommodate carrying luggage.
Under these circumstances, Lime focused on the convenience of seated mobility based on user satisfaction and usage trend data in the Japanese market, and consolidated its provided vehicles to the seated electric board "Lime Rakumo" starting March 2026. Through this, we have been advancing the provision of a mobility experience focused on stability and comfort.
This time, by newly introducing the electric-assist bicycle "LimeBike" to Japan and launching the subscription service "LimePrime," we will expand our lineup of seated vehicles and realize improved choices and convenience tailored to usage scenarios. Through this, we aim to make short-distance, high-frequency travel more accessible and comfortable, and to realize a new mobility environment in cities.
■ Introducing "LimeBike" to the Japanese Market for the First Time in Asia
Lime is introducing the electric-assist bicycle "LimeBike" to the Japanese market.
This vehicle is designed with accessibility in mind and optimized to adapt to a wide range of users and usage scenarios.
By adopting small-diameter wheels and a clever frame structure, it accommodates a wide range of users from the 150cm to 190cm height range. It is also equipped with a motor capable of handling uphill climbs, comfortably supporting various daily travels.
The electric assist function reduces the burden even on slopes or long-distance travel, and its stable riding performance allows for comfortable rides. Furthermore, the body is equipped with a basket that can carry luggage, making it usable in various daily scenes such as shopping, commuting to work or school, and sightseeing.
■ Initiatives to Improve Safety
At Lime, we position safety as the foundation of all our initiatives. From vehicle design and maintenance to user education and the development of safe riding environments in collaboration with local governments, safety serves as the guiding principle for all our efforts.
For the "LimeBike" introduced this time, we have updated the vehicle-mounted technology aimed at improving the accuracy of location information.
In addition to these efforts, we aim to provide a safe and secure mobility experience by thoroughly communicating usage rules and developing appropriate usage environments.
■ About the Subscription Service "LimePrime"
"LimePrime" is a service where, by joining a membership for 999 yen (tax included) per month, the base fee becomes free compared to the traditional pricing model (base fee + usage fee), allowing unlimited rides up to 20 minutes for 90 yen per ride. The regular usage fee is 45 yen (tax included) for within 5 minutes, 90 yen (tax included) for up to the first 20 minutes, and 21 yen (tax included) per minute after exceeding 20 minutes. It offers a pricing structure that makes short-distance, high-frequency travel more easily accessible.
Lime aims to make micro-mobility more
As the first phase, we will sequentially deploy and start offering the service in 16 wards of Tokyo starting from April 2026. In addition, "LimeBike" will feature updated vehicle-mounted technology aimed at improving location accuracy, aiming to provide a mobility experience optimized for the Japanese road environment.
With this, Lime's available vehicles will consist of two types: the electric-assist bicycle "LimeBike" and the seated electric board "Lime Rakumo."
Furthermore, Lime will fully roll out its subscription-based service "LimePrime" in Japan, providing a system where frequent users can ride more affordably while aiming to realize an easy-to-understand fare structure through the introduction of a flat-rate system. By joining the membership for 999 yen (tax included) per month, users can ride for a flat rate of 90 yen (tax included) for up to 20 minutes per ride, as many times as they want. This makes it easier to use for short-distance, high-frequency travel. For usage exceeding 20 minutes, a charge of 21 yen (tax included) per minute will be applied.
■ Background: The Challenge of Last-Mile Mobility and Increasing Demand for Daily Use
In urban areas, driven by an increase in tourists and severe traffic congestion, improving the convenience of "last-mile" travel from stations or bus stops to destinations has become a challenge. Especially for short-distance travel, while it may not be unwalkable, there is some distance, and public transportation is often unavailable, resulting in inconveniences such as having to walk reluctantly or hesitating to travel at all.
Also, for daily travel, there is a demand for highly convenient transportation methods that anyone can use safely and that can accommodate carrying luggage.
Under these circumstances, Lime focused on the convenience of seated mobility based on user satisfaction and usage trend data in the Japanese market, and consolidated its provided vehicles to the seated electric board "Lime Rakumo" starting March 2026. Through this, we have been advancing the provision of a mobility experience focused on stability and comfort.
This time, by newly introducing the electric-assist bicycle "LimeBike" to Japan and launching the subscription service "LimePrime," we will expand our lineup of seated vehicles and realize improved choices and convenience tailored to usage scenarios. Through this, we aim to make short-distance, high-frequency travel more accessible and comfortable, and to realize a new mobility environment in cities.
■ Introducing "LimeBike" to the Japanese Market for the First Time in Asia
Lime is introducing the electric-assist bicycle "LimeBike" to the Japanese market.
This vehicle is designed with accessibility in mind and optimized to adapt to a wide range of users and usage scenarios.
By adopting small-diameter wheels and a clever frame structure, it accommodates a wide range of users from the 150cm to 190cm height range. It is also equipped with a motor capable of handling uphill climbs, comfortably supporting various daily travels.
The electric assist function reduces the burden even on slopes or long-distance travel, and its stable riding performance allows for comfortable rides. Furthermore, the body is equipped with a basket that can carry luggage, making it usable in various daily scenes such as shopping, commuting to work or school, and sightseeing.
■ Initiatives to Improve Safety
At Lime, we position safety as the foundation of all our initiatives. From vehicle design and maintenance to user education and the development of safe riding environments in collaboration with local governments, safety serves as the guiding principle for all our efforts.
For the "LimeBike" introduced this time, we have updated the vehicle-mounted technology aimed at improving the accuracy of location information.
In addition to these efforts, we aim to provide a safe and secure mobility experience by thoroughly communicating usage rules and developing appropriate usage environments.
■ About the Subscription Service "LimePrime"
"LimePrime" is a service where, by joining a membership for 999 yen (tax included) per month, the base fee becomes free compared to the traditional pricing model (base fee + usage fee), allowing unlimited rides up to 20 minutes for 90 yen per ride. The regular usage fee is 45 yen (tax included) for within 5 minutes, 90 yen (tax included) for up to the first 20 minutes, and 21 yen (tax included) per minute after exceeding 20 minutes. It offers a pricing structure that makes short-distance, high-frequency travel more easily accessible.
Lime aims to make micro-mobility more