Voi wins contract for Northampton e-scooter trial

Voi has won the tender competition to run Northamptonshire County Council's 12-month e-scooter trial.

Voi will introduce 300 e-scooters across the region, with the option to extend the trial up to 2,000 units.

By reducing car and public transport use, the e-scooters are expected to reduce CO2 emissions by 400 tonnes across the region by August 2021.

Jason Smithers, cabinet member with responsibility for Highways and Place for Northamptonshire County Council, said: “Northamptonshire is committed to improving access to greener, more sustainable, more affordable transport for the benefit of everyone. We’re thrilled to be partnering with Voi to bring this exciting new form of transport to residents and businesses across the region.

“We chose to partner with Voi because of its collaborative, responsible approach which is going to help us achieve our 2030 Climate-neutral target. In the short-term ‘post-lockdown’, we are keen to see how the use of e-scooters can help people get back to work, education and training, especially with capacity restricted on public transport.” 

The Department for Transport (DfT) is introduced new regulations to allow rental e-scooter trials to start from July 4 across towns and cities in the UK.

Northamptonshire's trial forms part of the Smart Move Northamptonshire initiative, which is using new technology and innovative solutions to help manage the transport network, provide better information to users and offer more choice as to how they travel.

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 with 60% of car journeys in the UK between one to three miles, significantly adding to congestion.

"We estimate that one in five of these journeys across Northamptonshire 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.”

Using the e-scooters will cost £1 plus 20p per minute. Subscriptions are available for £10 per day or £40 per month.

Across the country, more than 50 councils and regional authorities are putting in place e-scooter pilots.

Tees Valley Combined Authority began hosting the first e-scooter trials last month. The Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority has also appointed Voi to provide e-bikes across the region and test out e-scooters in the centre of Cambridge.