Neuron eBikes hit Darwin streets for the first time in Australian first

NEURON’S eBikes will be roaming Darwin’s streets this morning in an Australian-first, with the first fleet unveiled across the CBD’s outskirts.

Neuron Mobility’s Richard Hannah on one of the new eBikes. Picture: Che Chorley

• Neuron to launch 150 eBikes on Darwin streets, add more eScooters to existing fleet

NEURON’S eBikes will be roaming Darwin’s streets this morning in an Australian-first, with the first fleet unveiled across the CBD’s outskirts.

With 150 eBikes to be rolled out in the coming weeks, Neuron is looking at further extending its smart vehicle capabilities into the northern suburbs next year, with the eBikes working in tandem with the existing eScooters to bring people into the city and get them swiftly from store to store, and venue to venue.

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Neuron Mobility regional manager Richard Hannah said Neuron’s and Darwin council’s vision would see the eBikes used to get from the suburbs into the CBD and on the Esplanade and the Waterfront, while the eScooters would be kept within the city grid.

“The eBikes travel up to 25km/h with pedal assist, so we see them as a way for people to travel longer distances (than the eScooters), getting in and out of the city,” he said.

“They’ll go out to East Point at first and eventually out to Nightcliff.

Neuron Mobility’s Richard Hannah on one of the new eBikes. Picture: Che Chorley

“The eScooters will be extended out to East Point but they will be coming (into the city) as part of the next extension.”

Mr Hannah said the eBikes would function similarly to the eScooters, but would provide a different option to customers, which the micromobility company hopes to unroll in other cities across Australia.

“All the geofence technology we have on the scooters, we’ll apply to our eBikes as well,” he said.

“We have speed-limiting geofences in the city as well, so the motor will only power you up to that speed.”

Darwin council general manager innovation Joshua Sattler said the eBikes and eScooters had been a useful tool in measuring activity and helping plan the city’s development.

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“It helps us make decisions where to invest in infrastructure upgrades,” he said.

“It’s really exciting. It strengthens the partnership we’ve had with Neuron over the last 12 months to look at evolving the product we’re offering.”

There will be no cost discrepancy between the eBikes and eScooters, which will have the same insurance policies and safety features, including an emergency call button and helmet log.