Lime's third-generation or G3 e-scooter is on its way to Auckland. Video / Michael Craig
Lime's third-generation or G3 e-scooter is on its way to Auckland.
The US-based company can't give an exact date for a mass rollout, but its NZ public affairs manager Lauren Mentjox says G3s have just been released in Berlin, with other cities to follow shortly.
The Herald got a sneak preview of the G3 on Auckland's Viaduct this morning.
The first thing you notice is that in many ways, the G3 is bigger and chunkier than the current scooter on Kiwi streets, the G2.5.
There's a bigger baseboard, the size of the wheels has been boosted from 8-inches to 10-inches, and spring suspension has been replaced by mountain bike-style shocks.
Bigger wheels and better suspension should also mean you're less likely to spill - though Mentjox maintains the G2.5 was perfectly safe (earlier this year, it did suffer a braking issue that saw the council temporarily remove Limes from Auckland streets).
The new Lime G3 (left) side-by-side with the G2.5. Photo/ Michael Craig
The new Lime is also noticeably heavier - 22.5kg to the current model's 17kg.
And it's range is actually boosted from 22km to 40km on a single charge, thanks to a larger battery (both range and speed depend on terrain and other conditions).
The battery also moves from the stalk (where the CCU or central control unit is located) to under the baseboard - allowing for a lower handlebar design. Where Lime's handlebars used to be set high, they're now on the same level as rivals Flamingo and Wave.
The G3 also features a larger display, upgraded to colour, which can relay messages such as when you're being automatically slowed down because you're in one of the new speed-limited areas (currently, alerts come through the app on the rider's phone).
The Lime G3 (foreground) has a larger baseboard, bigger wheels and better suspension than the G2.5. Photo / Michael Craig
Mentjox pushed the fact that Lime is the only scooter operator that controls its own manufacturing (Flamingo and Wave use modified versions of the ubiquitous Segway Ninebot).
Lime would not comment on the cost of a G3 or G2.5, but a recent police report on 50 Lime scooters stolen by a Christchurch man put the value of the theft at $37,500 - that is, valuing each Lime G 2.5 at $750.
Mentjox claims Lime's June price rise to 38 cents per minute has not affected rider numbers (Flamingo stayed at 30 cents. Wave did too, initially, but just days ago joined Lime on 38c).
June also saw 15 roles affected as Lime - which had earlier missed out on the Wellington trial - pull out of Lower Hutt.
The company said it was taking a "seasonal pause" and intended to resume service later in the year.
This morning, Mentjox said Lime had yet to decide on if or when it would resume service in the Hutt.
Auckland Council and AT extended their original scooter trial to October 31 this year.
Phase two of the trial, which began in May, saw a 15km/h speed limit introduced in various waterfront and shared areas, with "geo-fencing" GPS technology used to automatically slow scooters in the restricted zones.
After the trial wraps up, Auckland Council and AT will confer on whether to grant permanent licences, and if so on what conditions.
Lime has around 950 scooters on Auckland streets under its trial licence.
Similar trials are underway in Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin - where councillors are considering a bylaw that would restrict the areas where scooters can be ridden, plus the time of day they can operate.
