Hundreds of cardboard boxes containing unassembled electric scooters fill the corner of Lime’s Brisbane warehouse, a short stroll from a riverside park. A waist-high pile of damaged scooter stems and handlebars is stacked like kindling; partially dismantled models sit in neat piles, their exposed aluminium frames reminiscent of a scene from Westworld.

I’m here to see how a personal transport revolution is unfolding, as two firms with different business models compete for the booming e-scooter hire market. I’ve seen how Lime charges and maintains its vehicles: now it’s time for a demonstration.