[23 November 2023] Australia’s largest shared micromobility operator, Beam, will bring its latest model Saturn 5 e-scooters to inner-city Perth for the first time today through to early 2025, under an operational license granted by the City of Perth. 

250 safety-first purple e-scooters will roll out across the city from this morning, bringing Beam’s blend of technology innovation, rider education and enforcement, and a community-centric approach to Perth.
Beam currently has shared micromobility operations in Rockingham, Bunbury, Albany, Denmark, Esperance, Geraldton, Broome and Kalgoorlie-Boulder, and is the largest operator across Western Australia. 

The app-based service features affordable pay-as-you-go rates from $1 to unlock and $0.45 cents per minute, with 3 day, 7 day and 30 day ride subscriptions available for purchase. Concession rates are available via Beam’s concession pricing program, ‘Beam for All’. 

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Beam’s ‘Beam Safe Academy’, the company’s major safety education and enforcement program, is in place to educate riders on local riding rules and safe handling of e-scooters. The program includes:

• A pre-trip in-app safety briefing for every rider, featuring instructions on how to park and ride safely
• An in-app Beam Safety Quiz with free credits offered to encourage rider education
• Beam Safety Ambassadors patrolling high-traffic areas, promoting safe riding and parking 
• A three-strikes policy, with riders facing suspension for bad riding and parking offences. Those caught riding dangerously or breaking the law face permanent bans. 

Beam’s operations will also utilise ‘virtual docking’ to protect city amenity. Riders will not be able to end a trip outside of a parking spot. 

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“We are pleased to be joining the City of Perth’s E-scooter Share Scheme, and bringing our purple e-scooters to the heart of the city”

‍says Beam’s General Manager (ANZ) Tom Cooper. 

“Over two million kilometres have already been ridden across Western Australia on a Beam e-scooter, so we know West Australians already know and love the service we provide to communities across the state. 

“Data from our other Western Australian operations shows a shift from cars to a preference for e-scooters for shorter trips under 5 km, which is something we’re looking forward to seeing in Perth.

“We’re excited to introduce our Saturn 5 e-scooter to Perth which caters for longer commuting journeys with features like wireless phone charging and auditory alerts, as well as best-in-class geofencing capabilities to ensure safe operation of micromobility alongside other modes of transport.

“We have worked closely with the City of Perth, and are committed to contributing to the success of Perth’s E-scooter Share Scheme to date, forming partnerships with the local community and engaging in discussions around the safe operation of e-scooters to ensure the safety of riders, pedestrians and other road users.” 

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Features of Beam’s Saturn 5 e-scooter

New-generation IOT, featuring high precision geofencing and increased GPS accuracy

The Saturn 5 feeds not just off satellites but off information gathered from the vehicle’s own systems. The result is centimetre-perfect position accuracy, ensuring riders remain inside approved micromobility vehicle use zones, and swift action as the rider moves between zones with differing restrictions.

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Auditory alerts and hands-free phone charging 

Building on previous generations of e-scooters that featured phone holders for rider ease, the Saturn 5 adds wireless phone charging capabilities, enabling longer journeys. 

The Saturn 5 also features audio messaging, with safe riding reminders and riding zone changes delivered audibly. For those who prefer visual cues, the Saturn 5 conveys riding notifications when entering and leaving slow zones, no parking zones and other riding areas, via an on-screen display. 

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Hardware designed for safety, inclusiveness and durability

To further insulate the rider from unevenness of roads and pavements, the Saturn 5 features larger front and back wheels, giving riders an increased sense of confidence whilst on the scooter. 

Additionally, the Saturn 5 features noticeably smaller handlebars, designed smaller hands to ensure better grip and quicker access to the safety features alongside the handlebars, including the brake levers, left and right indicators, and bell. 

The vehicle has also been designed with sustainability at its core, with the Saturn 5 boasting up to 120 kilometres of battery life.