Teeside is the first area in the UK for the e-scooter trial to go live with Zego providing insurance 

Insurtech Zego has partnered with e-scooter company Ginger to provide insurance for the UK’s first e-scooter trial, which has launched in Tees Valley, North East England.

Zego’s insurance policy covers all units and is fully integrated into Ginger’s sign up process so that e-scooter riders have the government’s required third-party liability insurance. The insurtech also provides additional personal accident cover, which is flexible according to when the rider uses their vehicle.

Zego claims that it the first official UK e-scooter insurer for the UK’s trial roll-out and hopes that its experience will contribute to future policy decisions surrounding the widescale introduction of the vehicles.

So far, Ginger has deployed 100 e-scooters for the trial with 300 more expected by August. The e-scooter firm is also paying for the insurance, so that no extra cost is passed on to riders.

It follows the government’s move earlier this month, to legalise rental e-scooters on UK roads as part of its 12-month trial.

Safe and sustainable

Teeside was the first trial to go live, other cities and counties have now opened their tender process with trials expected in the coming weeks. This includes, West Midlands, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, Slough Borough, Nottingham & Derby, Liverpool, York, and Bristol.

After tenders have been submitted, the cities will announce their preferred partner for the trial.

Sten Saar, chief executive and co-founder of Zego, said: “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.”

Zego’s bespoke model helps Ginger fulfil its requirements for insurance and safety as well as arming the company with real-time data analysis to better understand the behaviour of its riders and make informed decisions around safety therefore reducing the risks of accidents.

The insurtech was founded in 2016 and it offers flexible B2B insurance for both fleet businesses and new mobility services using usage-based pricing data.

Zego previously partnered with European micro-mobility company, Dott, to insure its fleet of shared e-scooters across France, Belgium and Italy. Zego uses the same insurance product across Europe but its model is adapted to suit local requirements.

Making the world a better place

Paul Hodgins, chief executive at 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.”

Ginger is a British-based electric micro-mobility company. It operates a fixed location model, unique among their competitors, using docks or location technology.

It is also working with Local Authorities and Councils to ensure 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.

Tees Valley mayor, Ben Houchen, added: “Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool are leading the UK in new, clean and innovate technologies. E-scooters are a part of that. I have been a big fan of e-scooters for a very long time, and when the government announced their plans to fast track their introduction, it was obvious that our region should be the first trial area.

“So, I am thrilled that the UK’s first trial on e-scooters on UK roads will take place across Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool.

“It has been fantastic working with a forward-thinking company like Ginger to make this trial a reality, and to be able to do it in such a short period of time shows just how committed they are to making e-scooters more widely used. I am also pleased that by working together we have been able to make using e-scooters cost-effective with the price of a ride competitive with other forms of public transport.”


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