Beam e-scooters in Queenstown

Micromobility company Beam will roll out up to 300 Saturn 5 electric scooters in Queenstown from March 8.

Beam has partnered with more than 15 local businesses across Queenstown to introduce the service, with e-scooters parked at partner business locations for riders to use, with fixed ‘virtual docking’ technology requiring the rider to end their trip at a partner business location identified within the Beam app.

The app-based service costs $1 to unlock and $0.65 cents per minute, with subscription passes available for regular riders.

Beam e-scooters will be available for hire seven days a week from 6am to 10pm.

Its rider education programme the ‘Beam Safety Academy’ will be in place, consisting of in-app and online safety education for rider and community safety.

“We’re thrilled to be partnering with the local business community to deliver Queenstown’s first shared micromobility operations, and to bring our industry leading e-scooters to the region,” says Beam ANZ general manager Tom Cooper.

“We have seen shared micromobility take off in other areas of New Zealand, with the data from our other New Zealand operations such as Auckland and Wellington showing a shift from cars to e-scooters for shorter trips under five kilometres.”

Cooper says Beam’s operations are expected to expand further across the Otago region.

Beam aims to go carbon negative by 2025.