Swedish e-scooter startup Voi wins first large-scale exclusive e-scooter trial in UK

A couple of weeks back, the UK government granted permission to legally ride e-scooters on the streets of London as a part of a 12-month trial. However, a lot of rules were framed to make sure the trial goes smoothly as expected. 

Voi e-scooters on UK streets soon

In this regard, Voi, a Swedish micro-mobility company gets ready to put its first fleet of e-scooters on UK streets, after being selected to run an exclusive e-scooter trial for Cambridge and provide micro-mobility services across the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough region. 

Fredrik Hjelm, co-founder, and CEO of Voi Technology said: “We are delighted to announce that Cambridge, the world’s most renowned city for innovation and technology, will be the first place in the UK where people can use a Voi e-scooter and enjoy the benefits of this liberating new form of transport. People are keen to get out of their cars and want greener transport choices. Cities that are serious about cutting pollution and congestion see that this is a huge opportunity to introduce a mode of transport that can radically improve how we get around urban areas.”

Live in 45 cities in 11 countries

Notably, the company was the only e-scooter operator selected for the university city of Cambridge. Consequently, Voi will deploy the first of its distinctive coral e-scooters into Cambridge by September. Also, the operator will work closely with local transport providers, including train and bus operators in the cities. The initial trial will last for 12 months. With this exclusive contract, the Swedish e-scooter provider now live in more than 45 cities in 11 countries.

Fredrik Hjelm, added, “We can’t wait to get started in Cambridgeshire which has some of the best cycling infrastructures in the UK making it an ideal location to launch this revolutionary transport. We are seeing the biggest change in the way people travel in a hundred years and Voi is here to help the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority bring about this huge shift in culture and travel habits, to the benefit of both cities and their residents.”

The plan

As a part of the trail, Voi offers rides at £1 to unlock + £0.20 per minute. On the other hand, the company offers subscriptions for £10 a day/£40 a month alongside subsidised Voi-4-All Passes for low-income groups at £10 per month. As per the company claims, it will create 50+ FTE jobs and support key workers with free rides and support local businesses to enable them to offer, or extend, delivery services. 

Mayor James Palmer, the leader of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority, said: “Electric bikes and scooters have the potential to revolutionise travel and I am delighted that Cambridgeshire and Peterborough will be the first region in the country to make both available to the public so they can enjoy quicker healthier journeys. This year has seen a 27% drop in carbon emissions and a 200% increase in cycling, with people enjoying soaring air quality and fitter lifestyles, the benefits to moving away from cars and buses are clear and our investment shows we are committed to rolling out a fully integrated active travel network for our region.” 

#RideLikeVoila

Furthermore, Voi will integrate fully with Iomob as the network provider’s preferred partner, the Cambridgeshire Cycling Campaign, and support CPCA’s plans for the Cambridge Autonomous Metro (CAM). The company is also launching #RideLikeVoila, its online traffic school, for local riders, with incentives to encourage riders to take a course before they ride.

Voi and CPCA join forces to reduce CO2 emissions 

On average, 106 deaths per year in the Greater Cambridge region alone can be attributed to air pollution. The partnership between Voi and the CPCA will aim to reduce CO2 emissions by 395 tonnes across the region by August 2021.

Within the first three months of operation, Voi will assess and present recommendations to the CPCA on any additional infrastructure requirements for e-scooters, based on user feedback and user journey data, including feedback from disability group associations such as RNIB and Disabilities Move UK.  

Shieldex Copper-Tape on handlebars

As a preventive measure against COVID-19 spread, Voi is rolling out Shieldex Copper-Tape tape on handlebars, designed to kill 99.98% of coronavirus on contact, and all scooters are disinfected every 24 hours.

Across the country, more than 50 councils and regional authorities are putting in place e-scooter pilots, which can run for 12 months. Cities including Liverpool, West Midlands (including Birmingham, Coventry, Wolverhampton, and Dudley), Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, Milton Keynes and Southampton were amongst those to express interest in running a pilot. 

Richard Corbett, UK GM of Voi Technology, said: “As normal life resumes across the UK and people return to workplaces and shops, the need for quick, convenient, and COVID-safe transport is increasing. Cars no longer suit the way we live now. 60% of car journeys in the UK are between 1 to 3 miles, significantly adding to congestion. We estimate that 1 in 5 of these journeys across the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough region could be replaced by low-carbon e-scooters with a minimum 24-month lifespan. E-scooters provide a compelling alternative that will outrun the car.”

Main image credits: Voi