Grab Ventures and NUS launch e-scooter service at Singapore campus

Grab Ventures has launched a three-month electric scooter pilot at the National University of Singapore’s (NUS) Kent Ridge campus for three months. The subsidiary of technology firm Grab says it offers a green transportation option for NUS staff and students. The scooters are available at eight parking locations on the campus. Grab intends to increase this number to 30 by the end of December. Professor Yong Kwet Yew, NUS senior vice president, says the partnership provides a last-mile transportation op
November 26, 2018 Read time: 2 mins

Grab Ventures has launched a three-month electric scooter pilot at the National University of Singapore’s (NUS) Kent Ridge campus for three months.

The subsidiary of technology firm Grab says it offers a green transportation option for NUS staff and students.

The scooters are available at eight parking locations on the campus. Grab intends to increase this number to 30 by the end of December.

Professor Yong Kwet Yew, NUS senior vice president, says the partnership provides a last-mile transportation option and also offers research opportunities to develop mobility solutions.

Grab and NUS will study how commuters use the e-scooters to gain a better understanding of how the technology can address transportation needs.

The company is also piloting its GrabWheels Beta app which allows users to unlock and use the e-scooters.  

Riders will pay a special rate of S$0.20 (£0.11) for every 30 minutes of use and all journeys include insurance coverage, at no additional cost, the company adds.

Upon reaching the destination, the app directs users to return the e-scooter to the nearest parking location – where it can be locked by scanning a QR code at the parking locations. Grab’s operation team will collect, recharge and return the vehicles to their original parking location for use the next day.

Grab is providing in-app messages to users which include safe riding advice while a 24/7 support team is available to offer assistance with any issues.

In July, Grab and NUS announced a partnership to develop %$Linker: 2 External <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-16"?><dictionary /> 0 0 0 link-external smart cities false http://www.itsinternational.com/categories/utc/news/grab-and-nus-set-up-ai-lab-in-singapore-to-make-cities-smarter/ false false%> in South-east Asia. The partnership unveiled an artificial intelligence laboratory to help solve challenges such as congestion and the liveability of cities in the region.

Related Content

  • Last date for ITS World Congress papers - reminder
    January 6, 2015
    The deadline for the ITS World Congress 2015 Call for Papers and Special Interest Sessions submission is fast approaching. Authors must submit technical, scientific, commercial papers and special interest sessions by 19 January. No extensions will be granted.
    Read More
  • Agendum changes name as it moves into smart cities solutions
    April 5, 2019
    Enforcement systems specialist Agendum has rebranded to Parkius as it prepares to expand its services to include smart city solutions. Agendum says users of its parking solution can then use smart data services for monitoring and predicting traffic and parking intensity or inspect traffic signs, street furniture or other objects in the public space. The company’s new website is www.parkius.io
    Read More
  • Beat to bring ride-hailing service to Mexico City
    November 19, 2018
    Beat, a Daimler ride-hailing firm, is opening offices in Mexico City during the first quarter of 2019 and expects to recruit thousands of drivers. Beat says the move is part of a strategy to expand its presence in Latin America. The service and user app are currently available in Lima (Peru), Santiago (Chile), and Bogota (Colombia). Nikos Drandakis, founder and CEO of Beat, says the company initially deployed it service in Mexico City five years ago but did not have the resources at the time to succe
    Read More
  • Nasa tests drone traffic management system in Nevada and Texas
    February 25, 2019
    US space agency Nasa is moving into the final phase of its four-year programme to prove that it can safely control drones flying over urban centres. Drones, less commonly called unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), are likely to form an increasing proportion of the transportation mix for future cities, but questions remain over their safety – particularly in built-up, heavily populated areas. Nasa will test them in two areas – the gambling hotspot of Reno, Nevada, and the Texan city of Corpus Christi.
    Read More

Highlighted Content