Air force trials 10 e-scooters

Ten pink Flamingo scooters are free for Base Ohakea staff to use as part of a six-month trial ending soon.

Corporal Huma Tysoe came up with the idea after being prompted by base commander group captain Robert Shearer who, with warrant officer Aaron Jeffries, supported Tysoe through the process.

Tysoe says she researched the idea over a weekend and organised a presentation to the base leadership team.

“They all loved the concept,” she says.

“I took on their feedback, created a minute and sent it through to the base commander. My workmates were so helpful, letting me bounce ideas off them as well as helping me construct a pretty awesome minute.”

Flamingo was also keen on the trial and met Tysoe’s criteria, such as the e-scooters being geo-fenced to limit them to the base and away from areas such as flight lines.

The trial started mid-January.

An hour after the fleet arrived Tysoe says she saw people zooming around on them, and she says many people have requested more e-scooters.

Benefits arise in using a zero-emission scooter rather than a squadron vehicle which has emissions of 121g of CO2 per kilometre, Tyseo explains.

The e-scooters were cheaper to buy and run, easier to park and store, and reduce the burden on squadron vehicles as well as lowering traffic volumes around the base.

“There are also the health benefits as people get some vitamin D and fresh air while moving around base.”

Shearer says the trial is a great initiative by Tysoe.

“E-mobility is on the rise everywhere; it is efficient, encourages engagement, is clean, a bit of fun and makes sense,” he says.

As part of the Carbon Neutral Government Programme, the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) aims to reduce gross emissions by 21% by 2024-2025 and 42% by 2029-2030.

If successful, the Flamingo trial will complement the NZDF Electric Vehicle Project and others helping reduce the NZDF’s carbon emissions.

E-scooter schemes have been running at military bases around the world.

Ohakea riders must follow safety rules and have a paper-based register for using the e-scooters.

“It is only the trial period but if we can think of a better way then we will definitely try that,” says Tysoe.

“Nothing wrong with paper though, it is recyclable.”