Wave e-scooters to take on Lime e-scooters in Auckland

Tuesday, 12 March 2019

Wave is the latest e-scooter firm to launch in Auckland.

The e-scooter firm, which promises to offer riders an 'eco-friendly and affordable way to travel', made the announcement at Māngere Bridge, on Tuesday.

If Wave's initial two-week trial is successful, the number of e-scooters available for rent in the city could rise to 2000 and will see the firm become the first commercial competitor to current sole operator Lime.

Fifty Wave e-scooters will be on the streets of Auckland's CBD on Wednesday. Pictured: Toi Katipa Jr.

It follows months of concerns over the safety of e-scooters which saw Lime's licence suspended after a glitch caused wheels to lock up and sent riders flying over the handlebars.

* Lime e-scooters off Auckland and Dunedin streets over wheel-locking issue

* Lime confirms e-scooter fault caused by software glitch

For safety, the speed of Wave e-scooters are capped at 25kmh.

* Lime has one-day deadline to explain safety glitch to Auckland Council**

Wave Scooters riders will be able to find, unlock and rent the scooters in a similar way to Lime, using an app.

Auckland Transport (AT) chief executive Shane Ellison said Wave would be trialling speed limited areas. The scooters have a maximum speed of 25kmh.

'Wave will be restricting its scooters to 15kmh on Queen St, and in the Wynyard Quarter and Viaduct Basin areas.

'This is a good opportunity for us to test slower speeds in areas with lots of people walking.'

Wave Scooters launched with a pōwhiri and blessing on Tuesday.

Ellison said there would be a 'three strikes' policy for riders breaching the terms and conditions of the service.

Wave will also host pop-up events, run an ambassador programme, and run a 'safe rider of the month' award for helmet use and safe riding, he said.

Wave has assured AT its scooters had no reports of brake locking, or any other known issues, Ellison said.

'It has also provided assurance that it will recall its fleet immediately if any malfunctions occur, until these issues are addressed.'

Each scooter will have a daily maintenance check when collected overnight for charging.

Auckland Council chief operating officer Dean Kimpton said Auckland Council and AT would continue to work closely with Wave throughout the duration of the trial which runs until March 31.

'Having a second operator as part of the trial will give us the opportunity to see how different operators work and help us to inform any future decisions from the trial.

'Wave's licence and the council and AT's expectations around its operation are consistent with the conditions applied to Lime, including adherence to the code of practice.'

Louise Bristow, Wave's co-founder, said the scooters would cost the same as a Lime to hire - $1 to unlock and 30c per minute - and will be ready to use on Wednesday.

She said Aucklanders could expect to see 50 Wave scooters on the streets of the CBD and more would be available in the coming days and weeks as the company continued with its 'phase-in approach'.

Wave was granted a licence by Auckland Council in October to operate 1000 scooters, starting with an initial 500.

The Australia-based firm had been expected to launch in Auckland in late 2018 but company founder, Albert Hoeft, delayed the rollout because of concerns about the 'high number of accidents on Lime scooters'.

In a statement in November he said: 'Our mission is to help councils and cities reduce carbon emissions and traffic congestion in a safe and responsible manner.'

'I want Wave Scooters to be part of the solution, not part of a problem so I will let AT address the current e-scooter rider safety issues, which I am confident it will accomplish in the next three months.'

Rented e-scooters have been on the streets of Auckland since October and much has been said about their safety, following a raft of injuries and e-scooter-related ACC claims.

After Lime's temporary suspension, the company was made the subject of a number of conditions which include it notifying the council and AT 'at most' 24 hours after any significant injuries involving its e-scooters.

Lime must also inform them of any safety issues elsewhere and the e-scooters must also be mechanically inspected weekly.

The conditions currently only apply to Lime's e-scooters at this stage.