Overview
UPDATE: July 3, 2019 — Since publication, Neuron has confirmed that its e-scooters will cost the same as Lime's: $1 to unlock, then 30 cents per minute. It has also revealed that its first batch of 200 e-scooters will hit the streets on July 22, with the remaining 400 rolling out in mid-August.
Since November last year, Brisbane's inner-city streets have been littered with a sea of green, all thanks to Lime's electric scooters. Pick any corner between Bulimba, Paddington, West End and Teneriffe, and you'll likely spot one of the bright-coloured two-wheeled modes of transport. Soon, they'll have orange company.
While Lime's arrival in the city hasn't been smooth by any means — including accidents, fines for safety breaches and, sadly, fatal injuries — e-scooters are here to stay. Last week, Brisbane City Council not only extended the company's tender, but welcomed a competitor. Singapore-based Neuron Mobility has received the nod to enter the market — adding to its operations in Thailand and Malaysia, it'll unleash 600 tangerine vehicles onto the streets. With Lime's fleet being reduced to 400 (from around 750), it will take Brisbane's motorised stand-up scooters tally up to 1000.
Brisbane is the one of Neuron's first two Aussie sites — a 12-month trial will start in Darwin this year. In both cities, it'll introduce a brand new scooter, the N3, which features 12-inch tyres and a 21-centimetre-wide floorboard — which is apparently all the better for standing on safely, comfortably and with greater stability. The vehicle also includes a GPS-enabled parking indicator on its handlebar display, which'll help users find designated parking zones. So, while they're still dockless, hopefully the orange scooters won't be left just anywhere.
Neuron Mobility in Singapore
As yet, a Brissie launch date hasn't yet been announced, and nor has pricing. In Bangkok and Chiang Mai, two of Neuron's existing cities, a scooter costs 20 baht to unlock, then one baht per minute to use — around 93 cents and then five cents, in Australian currency. Neuron also offers daily, weekly and monthly passes overseas, for the equivalent of AU$4.65, $9.30 and $28. But given Lime's current fees ($1 to unlock and 30 cents per minute), it's safe to expect that Neuron may up its Aussie prices.
Overall, Neuron's service works in a familiar way. Patrons download the company's app, scan a QR code on their chosen scooter, ride to wherever they need to, find a parking spot and then add a photo of the stationary scooter to the app to end their transaction. It will also have an on-ground operations team taking care of daily maintenance, making sure that the right spread of scooters are available across the city, swapping out batteries to keep the vehicles juiced and overseeing parking.
For more details about Neuron Mobility, visit the company's website. We'll keep you updated on news of a Brisbane launch.