London to trial first fleet of shared electric mopeds

London-based bike-sharing company HumanForest is set to launch the UK’s first fleet of shared electric mopeds.

From this month, 100 of the electric mopeds will be available during a trial period. Users will get five minutes free per day, before rising to 20p per minute thereafter. By the end of the year the number of scooters is expected to rise to 200 as the trial expands.

“The arrival of our electric mopeds is an exciting moment for London and the UK. Our e-mopeds will be good for people and businesses looking to move around London in an affordable and sustainable way, helping to reduce air pollution in the City,” says Agustin Guilisasti, founder and CEO of HumanForest.

“Our mission to reForest London is well and truly underway; following the successful launch of our e-bikes, these new vehicles will help people travel faster without releasing any emissions. The introduction of electric mopeds into the UK’s market will pave the way for embedding better and healthier ways of moving around our cities into our national transport ecosystem.

The scooters are capped at a top speed of 28 mph and will be equipped with two helmets. Prospective riders will need to have at least a provisional driving license before they can start riding.

Users will be able to find the e-mopeds in dedicated parking spaces across London before unlocking them using the HumanForest app. HumanForest has not provided details on where the trial will operate. At present, HumanForest’s e-bikes can be found in areas in the West, South, and East London.