'E-scooters have been really popular in many other areas'

06:00, 03 Jul 2026

Hundreds of electric scooters will soon be on the streets of Plymouth after the council gave the green light for a two-year trial.

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Available to hire from this month, the e-scooters will join the existing Beryl e-bike scheme, launched in Plymouth in 2023.

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Beryl will introduce 50 e-scooters in the first week, followed by a further 150 during August which will be available alongside the e-bikes at Beryl’s 68 docking sites, including at the three rail stations, the coach station, Torpoint Ferry, Barbican landing stage and Admirals Hard.

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The maximum number of e-scooters that will be permitted is 750. They will be hireable via the Beryl app and riders will need to complete a mandatory tutorial before their first trip, covering safety and parking.

Although not legally required, helmet use is strongly encouraged and there will be in-app education modules designed to promote responsible riding.

The e-scooters, which travel at a top speed of 15.5mph, can be ridden on roads and cycle lanes but not on pavements.

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There will be a 3mph “go slow” area in the city centre, on and around Armada Way. The e-scooters will automatically slow down to 3mph in this area.

The trial starts on July 28 and ends when the contract with Beryl expires in March 2028, unless the council extends it. The council can terminate the trial at any time.

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Unlike privately owned e-scooters, which remain illegal on public roads, Beryl e-scooters include insurance as part of their hire and operate under strict safety controls.

To hire one, riders need to be aged 18 or over and hold a valid full, provisional or supported international driving licence.

The trial is part of our Connect Plymouth sustainable transport initiative, which integrates “micromobility”, that’s e-bikes and e-scooters, electric vehicle charging bays and an electric car club with public transport including buses, ferries and trains. It will be closely monitored.

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The trial comes after the council last year approved its Net Zero Action Plan 2025-28 and submitted an application to take part in the Department of Transport's e-scooter trial. Approval has now been given, allowing a trial to go ahead.

The trial was then given the go-ahead by the council under delegated powers, though may be subject to call-in for scrutiny.

It was signed off by Cllr John Stephens, cabinet member for strategic planning and transport, who said: “We’re really keen to explore greener, healthier ways for people to get around the city and it’s so exciting to be taking part in the DfT’s national e-scooter trials.

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“The more travel options we can offer, the better and e-scooters have been really popular in many other areas.

“I hope people will give them a go and see them as an easy, convenient way to either make their essential everyday journeys or just explore the city.”

The e-scooter trial, which is backed by the DfT, is fully funded by Beryl, which, since 2023 has seen more than 35,000 people use its e-bikes to make almost 298,000 journeys, clocking up more than 685,000kms.

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The council said research indicates more than 74,000 car trips have been replaced, reducing emissions and easing pressure on the city's road network.

But the company behind the Beryl Bike brand, Smidsy Ltd, continues to make large losses. Its annual report for the year to the end of March revealed an after tax loss of more than £8.1m.

This followed a £7.3m loss the year before and a £4.2m loss in both 2022 and 2023 - and therefore about £24m over the four years.

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But major shareholder ACG Ltd has said it will provide sufficient financial support and the business continues to adopt a going concern basis.

Last year, docking bays were removed in more than 50 locations in Plymouth, but the 450 e-bikes in the scheme remained, concentrated into areas where they are most used.

Phil Ellis, Bryle’s chief executive, said: “The stunning city of Plymouth will soon have one of the most frequently requested forms of public micromobility, e-scooters.

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“ This expansion to our existing e-bike scheme is helping both residents and tourists access a convenient, active and affordable form of transportation.

“We will use our existing dock system to help reinforce user behaviour, proactively working with the community to replicate the immense success we have seen in other cities, such as Leeds.”

E-scooter safety information

Beryl e-scooters have been engineered specifically for UK urban environments, with safety and reliability at the core of their design. Key features include:

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  • GPS-enabled geo-fencing to automatically manage speed limits and parking compliance
  • autonomous electromagnetic braking systems designed for hills and wet conditions
  • always-on front and rear lights for improved visibility
  • a large front wheel and suspension fork for greater stability on uneven roads
  • tamper-resistant hardware and remote locking capability.

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