Grab partners NUS to pilot new electric scooter sharing service on campus

Grab to pilot new electric scooter sharing service. Source: assets.grab.com

Grab’s innovation arm, Grab Ventures, is collaborating with the National University of Singapore (NUS) to introduce an electric scooter (e-scooter) sharing service on the NUS Kent Ridge campus. During the three-month trial, which started on 19 November 2018, e-scooters are deployed across eight parking stations on campus. The number of parking locations will be increased progressively to 30 by the end of December 2018. This is also the first time that the new shared active mobility app, called GrabWheels, is being tested in Singapore.

The pilot programme, which offers a green transportation option for NUS staff and students, aligns with the University’s commitment to campus sustainability and complements its current transport infrastructure.

As part of the trial, Grab and NUS will also study the patterns of how commuters utilize the shared e-scooters, to gain insights into how e-scooters can help address transportation needs on campus.

Users will first need to download the GrabWheels Beta app and link to the main Grab app to set up the application. To start using GrabWheels, users can go to any of the dedicated parking locations across the NUS Kent Ridge campus to get an e-scooter. They can then unlock the e-scooters with the GrabWheels Beta app, and start their journeys.

During the pilot period, users will pay a special rate of S$0.20 for every 30 minutes of use, and they can make payment using GrabPay. They will also receive 5x GrabRewards Points for every dollar spent. All rides also include insurance coverage, at no additional cost to users.

Upon reaching the destination, the app will direct the rider to return the e-scooter to the nearest parking location. The rider can only end the trip and lock the e-scooter by scanning a specific QR code at the 8 dedicated parking lots. Every evening, Grab’s operations team will collect all e-scooters, recharge them and return them to their original parking locations for use the next day.

The GrabWheels e-scooter product meets the set of rules stipulated under the Active Mobility Act for use on public paths. In addition, the e-scooter model used in the pilot programme also meets the UL2272 fire safety standard.

To encourage users to ride safely within the campus, Grab will educate users on safe riding behavior through in-app messages. There will also be a support team on standby round the clock, to assist users when they encounter any issue during the pilot period.

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