Two Dockless Electric Scooter Services Will Be Trialled in Auckland

Update (Monday, 15 October, 2018): California-owned transportation company Lime has officially launched 600 electric scooters in Auckland and 400 in Christchurch. The e-scooters can now be unlocked using the company's app for $1 plus 30 cents per minute. They have an approximate range of 48 kilometres and top speed of 27 kilometres an hour, and while helmets are not supplied, you're required to state that you will wear one as part of the terms and conditions.

Thousands of electric scooters will soon be roaming the streets of Auckland thanks to a new license issued by Auckland Council. Following the arrival of Auckland's first dockless bike sharing service OnZo last year, two new shared e-scooter systems are set to be trialled across a three-month period.

According to Newsroom, California-owned transportation company Lime aims to launch 1000 e-scooters in Auckland, while current bike sharing service OnZo will roll out its own fleet of black and yellow scooters.

The trial will operate in much the same way as the bike share service. Users will download an app to locate and unlock the scooters and pay for them based on how long the ride lasts. Peter Knight, Auckland Council's manager of street trading, says that due to their wheel diameter the scooters can be used on the road, footpath, cycleways and shared paths.

They are controlled by pushing down on a throttle and come fitted with a hand brake to slow down and stop. While Lime's e-scooters have an approximate range of 48 kilometres and top speed of 27 kilometres an hour, users are not required to wear a helmet when riding them.

Auckland Transport will review the system after the three-month trial and decide whether or not to extend the licence. The pilot has also been approved for Christchurch. Wellington will be further down the track.