Voi deployed the first of its e-scooters on British streets today. The operator announced 300 scooters had been made available across Northampton and Kettering. We counted 200 of the salmon-coloured scooters in Northampton, with the Kettering programme not yet live at the time of writing.
The scooters cost £1 to unlock and 20p/min, which matches the cost of Lime scooters in Milton Keynes. Spin, also in Milton Keynes, is more expensive to use at 25p/min but, because it levies no unlock fee, works out cheaper over a typical 15min journey. Ginger remains the cheapest service, at £2/20min, although rides can only be ended at a hub.
The Voi system is primarily dockless but riders can earn a 20p discount by ending their rides in a designated parking area, most of which appear to be near the centre of town.
The company says it will create 50 local jobs to support the service.
The Northamptonshire towns are just two of many that have chosen to partner with Voi. From next week, a massive West Midlands project will see Voi scooters used across Birmingham and Coventry, with Kenilworth, Sandwell (West Bromwich), Solihull, Walsall, Wolverhampton and Warwickshire following shortly thereafter. Later this month, Cambridge will join the ranks of Voi affiliates, too.
