Neuron e-scooters to return to Brisbane after Beam loses contract

Familiar orange e-scooters will return to the streets of Brisbane after another company had its contract torn up after claims it cheated Brisbane City Council out of $330,000 in revenue.

Lorenz Villalba from Bowen Hills and Jairaldine Cruz from Springfield on the way to Howard Smith Wharves on Neuron e-scooters. Picture: Richard Walker

Familiar orange e-scooters will return to the streets of Brisbane after another major company had its contract torn up after claims it cheated the local government out of $330,000 in revenue.

Neuron Mobility will join Lime as the city’s two e-scooter and e-bike operators with its ‘safety orange’ vehicles back from December 3 after being awarded a contract by the Brisbane City Council.

The new agreement comes after Neuron’s e-scooters first arrived in Brisbane in 2019 before ending in July this year when its second consecutive contract expired.

It also comes after less than two months after Council cancelled the contract of Singapore-based Beam Mobility after they alleged the company placed on average 500 extra devices daily across the city – exceeding their cap by more than 27 per cent.

Neuron electric scooters are used in cities across Australia. Picture: Neuron Mobility.

In July a Brisbane City Council spokesman said the Council allowed up to 5000 shared e-scooters across the city, before boosting the number of licensed number of scooters to 6000.

When the contract was cancelled Beam, whose contract lasted just two months, said they were “disappointed” by the decision and disagreed with the “reported assertions and claims made by BCC”.

Council did not answer questions on how they were going to monitor these contracts so a breach like Beam’s didn’t happen again or what guidelines were in place.

But Council’s Civic Cabinet Chair for Transport Ryan Murphy said their shared e-mobility scheme made it easier for people to leave their cars at home, helping to reduce congestion across the city.

“It’s important to have multiple operators as it drives healthy market competition, ensuring delivery of the newest, safest devices while keeping prices competitive,” he said.

“Starting in December, Neuron will join Lime as one of Brisbane’s shared e-mobility providers.

Jayden Bryant from Neuron Mobility. Picture Lachie Millard

“We look forward to Neuron returning to Brisbane in December to deliver even more transport options for residents and visitors to help keep Brisbane moving.”

Neuron Mobility’s general manager for Australia and New Zealand, Jayden Bryant, said they looked forward to returning with renewed energy and would pick up where they left off when it comes to serving the city.

“Brisbane was our first Australian city, and in many ways, it has pioneered the use of micromobility,” he said.

“Over the last five years, we’ve had the opportunity to collaborate closely with the council to introduce features such as our app-controlled helmet lock – innovations that first launched in Brisbane are now making a difference all around the world.”

Beam has been reducing their devices since their contract was cancelled, with all devices to be removed by December 2.

Originally published as Neuron e-scooters to return to Brisbane after Beam loses contract