Voi harshly criticizes London’s electric scooter program
Voi considers that London’s electric scooter program is the “worst among more than 100 cities in Europe” where it is present.
According to Fredrik Hjelm, CEO and co-founder, the heavily regulated trials of electric scooters “cannot compete” with dockless electric bicycles, which are not subject to strict regulations and can be deployed in unlimited numbers and locations.
Competitiveness Issues
Currently, Voi and Lime operate electric scooter trials in London, but Hjelm stated that Voi might have “no other choice” but to withdraw from the program or deploy 20,000 electric bicycles to “restore fairness”.
These comments echo those of operator Dott, who exited the London program after accusing the rapid and unregulated rise of electric bicycles. Dott also moved its 2,500 electric bicycles from London to Paris and Rome.
Letter to the Mayor of London
In a letter addressed to the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, Hjelm emphasized the importance of micromobility for reducing car dependency and promoting sustainable and accessible transport.
He also highlighted the significant role of electric scooters in improving air quality in London. Hjelm noted that despite the success of scooters in other British and European cities, the London program is the least performing due to overly strict regulations.
Future Options
Hjelm mentioned two options if Voi cannot improve the situation with Transport for London (TfL):
- Withdraw from the city, which would mark the “failure and end of TfL’s program”, leaving Lime as the sole operator.
- Invest in and deploy 20,000 electric bicycles across London this summer.
Voi also criticized the fact that the electric scooter program is only available in nine boroughs and the City of London, creating a fragmented area of operation and limiting travel. Insufficient parking points, no-go zones, and other restrictions also complicate the program.
Call to Action
Hjelm concluded his letter hoping that the Mayor could use his influence to collaborate with the government after July 4 to improve the situation, while expressing his willingness to discuss and share his experiences from Europe.