New operator announced for Essex e-scooter trial

E-scooters will once again be available for hire in Essex. Voi has been confirmed as the new operator of the trial in the county. The roll-out will begin in Chelmsford on Wednesday 27 August and will continue in Colchester and Braintree at dates to be confirmed soon.

Voi has extensive experience across the UK and Europe. Its offer includes advanced fleet management, responsive customer service and a strong emphasis on safety and compliance.

The e-scooter being deployed in Essex is the Voiager 5. This will have a wide range of safety features including triple-braking systems and highly visible LED beacons.

Voi is also committed to reducing pavement riding through improved real-time GPS tracking and geofencing to help manage speed and location. A hybrid parking model will be rolled out across all locations. This includes mandatory parking zones, painted or virtual parking bays and incentivised parking zones offering ride discounts. Area-specific parking plans have also been developed. These will include 75 bays in Braintree with a focus on outer areas and industrial zones and 150 bays in Chelmsford and Colchester in high pedestrian areas, growth zones and student or commuter routes.

Read the announcement.

You can provide feedback by talking with your local County Councillor or District Councillor, or by email to escootertrials@essex.gov.uk.

Emails sent to this address may be shared with the operator. By contacting us you are agreeing that your details can be shared.

If you’re using the e-scooters, please let us know how you’re getting on.

e-scooter trials - questions and answers

Trials of e-scooters are underway in Essex, find out more by reading the questions and answers