e-scooters are going to be popping up on UK streets all over later this year, and one of the big concerns with any ride-sharing enterprise is the insurance. Accidents happen, so riders and pedestrians alike want to feel sure that there is cover in place, when someone rocks up to a charging point and scoots off into the sunset. Don’t worry, Zego are on it.
London-based insurtech Zego has partnered with e-scooter company, Ginger, to provide insurance for the UK’s first ever e-scooter trial, which has just launched in the Tees Valley. The partnership follows the Government’s announcement to legalise rental e-scooters on UK roads as part of a 12-month trial period.
Ginger has deployed an initial 100 scooters as part of the trial, with an expected 300 scooters by August. Zego’s policy covers all units and is fully integrated into Ginger’s sign-up process to ensure that users have the Government’s required Third-Party Liability insurance. Zego also supplies additional personal accident cover which automatically switches on and off as the rider uses the vehicle. Ginger is absorbing the price of the insurance so that no extra cost is passed onto its riders.
Zego’s bespoke model helps Ginger to fulfil its requirements from an insurance and safety point of view, whilst equipping the company with real-time data analysis, enabling it to better understand the behaviour of its riders and take informed decisions around safety to reduce the risks of accidents. Zego will ensure that its experience as the first official UK e-scooter insurer contributes to future policy decisions surrounding the widescale introduction of the vehicles.
Zego was founded in 2016 and offers a range of flexible B2B insurance models for fleet businesses and new mobility services, from minute-by-minute insurance to annual cover, providing far more flexibility than traditional insurers, with pricing based on usage data from vehicles. It is already partnered with European micro-mobility company, Dott, to insure its fleet of shared e-scooters across France, Belgium and Italy. Whilst Zego utilises the same insurance product across Europe, its model is adapted to suit local requirements.
Ginger is a British based electric micro-mobility company, which operates a fixed location model, unique among their competitors. Using docks or location technology, as well as working in partnership with Local Authorities and Councils, this ensures streets remain free of abandoned scooters, which has dogged rollouts across Europe, as well as the world more broadly. The company also offers shared bikes, e-bikes and e-microcars.
Sten Saar, (middle of photo) CEO and co-founder of Zego, said: “We are delighted to be partnering with Ginger and playing an important part in the UK’s first e-scooter trial. These schemes offer huge potential and will play a key role in helping cities get moving again in a safe and sustainable way. We want to support the growth of this industry across the UK by creating adaptable insurance models to suit the needs of e-scooter fleets, riders and local cities. For this form of transport to be widely adopted and welcomed by all, it’s essential that e-scooters come with the right insurance without causing inconvenience for riders.”
Paul Hodgins, CEO of Ginger, said: “Ginger is delighted to be working with Zego to bring the first operational e-scooter trial to the UK. Both Ginger and Zego share a passion to make the world a better place through zero-emission sustainable transport and this partnership has been the product of a genuine understanding of our needs and the communities we operate.”
Earlier this month, the Government announced the legalisation of shared e-scooter schemes in the UK as part of a 12-month trial period. Teesside was the first trial to go live, as a number of other cities and counties have now opened their tender processes and are expected to roll out their own trials in the coming weeks and months. This includes, West Midlands, Cambridgeshire & Peterborough, Slough Borough, Nottingham & Derby, Liverpool, York and Bristol. Once submissions for tenders have been submitted, the cities will announce who their preferred partner is for the trial.
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