Transport for London (TfL) has launched a second phase of rental e-scooter trials as it continues to explore how e-scooters can be rolled out successfully in the capital.

The second phase of the trial is run in partnership with e-scooter operators Dott, Lime and Voi

The new trial phase will build on learnings from the first phase, as well as provide opportunities to test new onboard technologies such as pavement riding detection and audible vehicle alerts.

It’s being run in partnership with London Councils, participating London boroughs and e-scooter operators Dott, Lime and Voi, which won a tender deal earlier this year.

More than three million trips have been made on London’s rental e-scooters since the trial first launched in June 2021.

The trial currently runs in 10 London boroughs and will now expand coverage, including to the south of Lambeth with around 190 new parking bays later this year.

Rental e-scooters are subject to a number of regulations compared to private e-scooters – which are still banned on public roads. Rules include a top speed of only 12.5mph and GPS-controlled parking and no-go zones. New technologies now being trialled include AI to improve parking compliance.

The findings from the trials will be used to see what regulations could allow e-scooters to be used as part of a more sustainable future for the capital.

Helen Sharp, TfL’s e-scooter trial lead, said: “This new phase of the trial will provide even more data and insights to determine the longer-term role e-scooters could play in our strategy for a greener and healthier future for London.”