More e-scooters coming

Uber’s Jump electric scooters and New Zealand’s Flamingo Scooters both launch in Wellington on June 18.

Flamingo released a limited number of e-scooters in Auckland this week where it will fully launch on July 29, also providing them in Christchurch from September 1.

The scooter-share service was started by Nick Hyland and Jacksen Love to help Wellingtonians get around the city in a fun, affordable, safe and easy way while reducing reliance on cars.

“We couldn’t be more excited to launch Flamingo in our home city,” Love says.

Flamingo’s fleet comprises Segway-Ninebot scooters and the company says strict safety checks are performed before they are released.

It has a safety device that can monitor and control any scooter at any time and utilises GPS and geofence technology to create low-speed zones and restrict riders from riding and parking in designated areas. A free helmet available for all riders can be ordered through the app.

Hyland says Flamingo is committed to the safety of its riders. “So users can expect some unique features such as an in-app safety tutorial and free helmets.”

Both Flamingo and Jump e-scooters cost $1 to unlock and 30 cents a minute to hire, using appropriate apps.

Uber is expected to start rolling out about 400 Jump e-scooters in Wellington, its first foray in the New Zealand and Australia markets, launching in the latter later this year.

Lime was in Upper and Lower Hutt but says it will suspend operations there during winter as fewer riders are about, the NZ Herald reports.

Uber vice president and new mobility head Rachel Holt also indicated Uber may introduce its updated Jump electric bikes but doesn’t say when.

Holt says Uber wants to see how the e-scooters are received by Wellington users before expanding further into Auckland and other major cities, the Herald says.

Both companies have permits to operate e-scooters in Wellington.

Uber acquired German bike-share start-up Jump last year for a reported $200 million and has rolled out its bikes and e-scooters throughout the US and Europe.

As well as owning Jump, Uber is one of the major investors in Lime with which it has a partnership in 30 US cities. Holt suggests Uber might do the same in New Zealand.

Wave is another e-scooter firm operating in New Zealand, joining Auckland’s e-scooter trial in March.